Certain modifiers do tend to have some more traditional methods of use, especially when using a beauty dish. Sometimes we can get hung up on what is the "right" way to use them and lose out on creativity. Here's a different way you can use a beauty dish when shooting indoors.

Lighting equipment can be expensive, confusing, and cumbersome, but it doesn't have to be. Some of the most interesting and enjoyable lights to use are much cheaper than studio strobes and can unlock real creativity.

When you make the decision to become a professional photographer, it's easy to get wrapped up in all the gear you need, the software, and the technical abilities. However, there's a lot more to a successful career in this industry, and overlooking many of these elements can hold you back.

Say what you will about mobile phones, their cameras have improved faster than anyone could have predicted with the blend of hardware and software upgrades, as well as a lot of innovation. In this video, watch some creative shots that can be taken with just a phone.

When you think of retouching skin, you likely think of using Photoshop over Lightroom, and for deep or intricate work, that is definitely where you should be working. However, Lightroom offers some built-in tools for this, and they can often be all you need to produce a finished photo. This great video tutorial will show you how to use them to produce naturally retouched portraits that still retain detail in the skin.

The Fujifilm X-T30 is a more affordable version of the company's flagship line, but it still comes with an impressive range of features that make it useful for a wide range of photo and video scenarios. This great video discusses five reasons it makes an excellent choice for a lot of users.

I am regularly being asked which cameras people should buy. My reply is always the same: never ask a photographer that question; we always recommend what we own. How many Sony owners would recommend a Canon or Nikon? Here are seven hints to buying the perfect camera for you.

Most of us simply take our photographs, pop the memory card out of the camera, put it in our computer, and download the photos. But many professional studio photographers tether their cameras to their computers, and it can do a lot to improve both your workflow and the quality of your images. This excellent video tutorial discusses 10 reasons why tethering is worth trying in your own work.

Few camera brands have ever been able to achieve the same reputation that Contax film cameras managed to achieve during the height of film. A large part of that reputation came from the Contax G1.

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2021, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

A great way to add variety to the poses during a session is to add a prop. Having an assortment of props can be very beneficial, and some good ones to have are apple boxes. They seem to be a very popular choice in portraits, especially more editorial-styled ones. These are a must-have for any photography studio, at least in my opinion.

A VFX artist has produced a beautiful feature-length film that compiles the work of 2,400 artists around the world.

Nikon’s newest Z-mount camera draws on Nikon’s heritage and the design of the Z fc is heavily influenced by the ultra-classic FE launched back in 1978. Does it feel as good as it looks?

70-300mm lenses offer an alternative to the more standard 70-200mm zoom for photographers who do not need the wider aperture and would prefer a bit more reach on the long end. Sony shooters have a few options, namely the company's own FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS and the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD, and this excellent video review compares the performance of both.

We hear all the time about how camera gear does not matter, and while there is a useful sentiment in that, the truth is far more nuanced than that. This excellent video essay details a lesser-discussed reason why camera gear matters and why you should consider it more often.

The Mac Pro is in a class of its own as far as Apple computers go, but the new M1 Macs have turned the industry on its head, offering frankly ludicrous performance for their price. Can a $900 Mac Mini keep up with a Mac Pro model that goes for over 15 times the price? The results are mightily impressive, and this great video shows you what you can expect.

Photography is quite full of rules on pretty much every topic, and they can be a bit of a double-edged sword in that they can guide you and help you to realize technically apt images, but they can also be creatively restrictive. So, what should your relationship with photography rules be? This excellent video essay discusses the topic and how to incorporate rules into your photography in a beneficial way.

There is considerable buzz around Nikon's latest camera and it's easy to see why. Here is a hands-on look at it, paired with the wide-angle prime you can buy with the body as part of a package.

Hasselblad is and was a photography company with a true pedigree, known for making the cameras NASA chose to use on the moon. But in the early 2010s, they seemed to have lost their way. Nikon seems to be in a similar position. Can they turn it around as Hasselblad did?

Fujifilm's X Series has been highly refined over several generations and is now a powerful system capable of tackling a wide variety of scenarios that still maintains the design and controls that won it praise upon its release. Currently, the X-T4 stands at the top of the line, and this great video review discusses how it holds up in the long-term as well as what would be nice to see in the X-T5.

Landscape photography is a challenging genre that demands a combination of a wide variety of skills to bring a finished photo to fruition. There are a lot of places where a mistake can derail things, and this excellent video tutorial discusses seven such mistakes and what you can do to fix them or avoid them altogether.

Starting out in photography can offer some harsh lessons, but here are six useful insights and hints that will give you a sense of perspective and potentially improve your images.

You might already have an idea of what your favorite YouTuber is using to film their videos, but what about everyone else? Here are insights into the gear of 40 successful channels.

There are many bad photographers who think they are good. The topic of why has been discussed on countless occasions. But, is it a bad thing? Is it really wrong to be bad and think you’re good? Let’s find out.

Having two cameras can give you so much more versatility and security when you're out shooting. If you are in the market for something cheap yet amazing, this addition could be for you.

Canon has announced its latest RF-mount lens: the 14-35mm f/4L IS, a smaller, lighter, more affordable brother to the 15-35mm f/2.8L IS.

For some, having a wide variety of poses can be challenging. The model is limited by what they are wearing, what they have to hold or interact with, or even the vision or mood of the shoot. Beauty headshots provide their own limitations, here are some posing tips for your next beauty shoot.

Nikon has unveiled its latest Z-mount camera: the Z fc, an APS-C camera that leans heavily into Nikon’s history, offering chunky dials and a tactile shooting experience — all for less than a grand.

Given the growing interest in film photography, should Canon and Nikon consider making brand new versions of the AE1 or FM2 for today’s retro enthusiasts?

Fujifilm shooters are lucky to have a lot of choices in prime lenses, with many focal lengths having both f/1.4 and f/2 options. And as such, you might wonder if the f/1.4 versions are worth the premium price or if you would be better suited sticking with the more affordable f/2 versions. This excellent video comparison takes a look at three f/1.4 lenses and their f/2 counterparts to help you decide.

A supertelephoto zoom lens is tremendously useful in a wide variety of genres, and in recent years, we have seen an influx of affordable, high-quality third-party options from companies like Sigma and Tamron. Tamron's latest is the 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VXD, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and how it compares to a native Sony option, the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS.

As a professional fashion photographer, I rely on a myriad of different equipment to enable me to create my work. Anything from a light to a super-clamp is useful at some point. However, what gear is always with me? Hint: the camera is not item one.

When starting out as a photographer, understanding how colors work together can be confusing, with color theory feeling daunting and sometimes a bit pointless. This short video gives you a fantastic introduction that will give you an insight into how to harmonize the colors in your photographs.

The FAA has some new regulations you have to follow as a drone pilot, regardless of whether you're just flying recreationally, or even if you already hold the Part 107 certification. Fortunately, compliance is free and easy, and you can do it right now.

NFTs have become a very controversial topic in the world of photography. Whether you believe in their model or think they are the ultimate waste of resources, there's a lot to digest here, and I encourage you to join in on the discussion.

Capturing great video is difficult for a number of reasons. There is a lot of work that goes into creating such work and to achieve the desirable, cinematic feel, you are required to hit a number of markers. Here are four tips to help you with just that.

In this article, you will discover the best video settings for editing on your iMac or Macbook Pro when you are color grading your footage in Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve 17.

Photography is tech-reliant. With cameras coming out so often, it’s easy to get lost in constantly upgrading your camera, lens, light, and so on. However, there is one thing that I am always upgrading as a professional photographer.

There have been persistent rumors that Nikon is readying a heavily retro-inspired mirrorless camera called the Zfc for release, and more information has emerged, including a likely announcement date of June 28. Other information includes an expected price and likely specifications.

Composition is one of the trickiest parts of landscape photography, particularly since unlike most other genres, you do not get control over the elements in the frame. If you are having a bit of trouble with your compositions, check out this great video tutorial that will show you some ways to improve them and show you some helpful examples as well.

A good medium telephoto macro lens is one of the most versatile a photographer can have, useful not just for macro shots, but for sharp portraits, wedding ring shots, and much more. For Nikon mirrorless shooters, there is the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro, and this excellent video review takes a look at the kind of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Fashion photography is a team effort. You just can’t be the photographer, makeup artist, stylist, retoucher, assistant, and a whole crew by yourself. But how much should you outsource? Most photographers are happy to leave makeup to a dedicated specialist, but when it comes to retouching opinions differ. Some claim that retouching is solely the photographer's job as no one can convey the exact vision, while others choose to trust a professional.

Travel photography can be a tremendously fun and rewarding genre, but it comes with its own unique challenges, particularly with regards to time pressure and the need to be able to familiarize yourself with an environment and produce good images efficiently. This excellent video tutorial features National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson giving five tips that will improve your travel photographs.

Making fun of owners of Leica cameras is easy, but that’s never a reason not to do it.

I listen to podcasts every day on all sorts of topics, including photography. Thus, I began thinking about how you start a podcast from scratch and whether, ultimately, you can turn them into money. I asked a veteran podcaster these questions and more.

Back in April, Sony quietly updated its a7R IV, bumping the quality of its rear display and renaming it the a7R IVA, in keeping with manufacturers’ tendency to choose model names that follow no logic. The a7R IV has now disappeared from sale, and right now, you’ll struggle to buy either of these cameras.

The SLR camera is a great and versatile tool for pretty much every photographer, but sometimes the systems don't offer enough control. Which set me about the task of building the ultimate camera for my work.

Handmade selling is on the rise and with it comes an increasing number of new product photographers. Quality product photography is essential for marketing your goods, but it doesn't need to be expensive or overly technical. In fact, there are some easy things that you can adjust that will help elevate your product photographs to the next level!