Sculpting Storytelling Light for Engagement Photos

Capturing the spirit of love’s celebrations demands thoughtful artistry behind the lens. In his latest tutorial, seasoned wedding shooter Pye Jirsa demonstrates essential techniques for intentionally crafting evocative engagement portraits through deliberate light shaping. Through five versatile lighting recipes, Jirsa spotlights how to create desired moods and contexts to transform setups into narrative tools.

Unfold The Beauty of Layflat Photo Books

There are many options out there for printing and presenting your images. In this article, we look at the multitude of benefits of creating a Layflat Photo Book and shed light on why they are fast becoming a favorite amongst professional photographers looking for a budget-minded alternative to Flush Mount Albums.


The Boundless Creativity of Your iPhone With The Reeflex Apps

The iPhone 15 Pro Max could possibly be considered one of the best mobile phone cameras for modern photography and videography. With a sophisticated camera system, and when paired with the Reeflex Pro app, it becomes even more powerful. This app unlocks the full potential of iPhone photography, allowing users to have complete control over their shots.

Sculpting Style With Light: Unlocking Artistic Vision Through Multi-Flash Setups

Many photographers looking to pursue more conceptual portraiture are intimidated by elaborate lighting configurations required to achieve intensely stylized effects. However, this excellent video tutorial makes the case that venturing beyond single-source illumination opens doors for bringing unique creative visions vibrantly to life.

Mastering Manual Flash: Go In-Depth on Off-Camera Lighting

Photographers often hit walls when controlling off-camera lighting on shoots. While TTL flash offers some automation, real mastery means moving to manual settings for predictable, quality results. The excellent video tutorial will put you on the right track.

5 Tips for a Smoother Workflow in Photographing Interiors

Shooting interiors can be a daunting task for an unprepared photographer. No matter how big or small the space is, there will be challenges that you need to face and problems you need to solve. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Meta Ditches Responsible AI Team

Meta has dismantled its team devoted to developing ethical artificial intelligence, according to an internal memo leaked recently. The Responsible AI group, formed in 2019 to ensure fair and bias-free model training, has been redirected to focus on expanding the company's generative AI capabilities instead.

Increase Your Photography Revenue Using Albums and Print Sets With Album Designer

In the digital age of photography, the imaging process has almost become effortless. Professional photographers can struggle to stand out in the crowded market. Although creating outstanding images is crucial to succeed in this craft of photography, photographers should take into consideration the business side of this profession, especially in increasing revenues. One of the potential ways to increase revenue is through the sale of albums and print sets.

How To Expose Your Images Like a Pro

There is nothing quite as misleading in the photography internet as exposure guides, triangles, life hacks, and all that noise of information. There isn’t a topic that is as widely discussed as exposure. In this article, I will describe my method of exposing images, which has not yet failed me.

Want to Start Getting Paid for Your Photography? Follow This Formula

Aspiring photographers often hit a wall when trying to transition from hobbyist to professional work. It's one thing to take nice photos for fun, but landing those first paid gigs requires a strategic approach and understanding of what a client needs, not just what you like to shoot. The fantastic video tutorial boils down a simple yet effective formula any beginner can follow to start photographing local small businesses and getting paid.

Mastering Off-Camera Flash: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Learning to shoot with off-camera flash brings a whole new level of control and creativity to photography. But along with the endless possibilities comes ample room for slip-ups. This fantastic video tutorial outlines the five most common mistakes people make when first stepping into off-camera lighting, along with fixes to set you up for success.

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Choosing the Ideal Lens for Portrait Photography

Selecting the right lens for portrait photography is a pivotal decision for photographers of all levels. This comprehensive video offers valuable insights into the intricate world of portrait lenses with in-depth exploration of various lens types, from prime lenses to zooms, wide angles to telephotos, making it an invaluable resource for photographers seeking to refine their portrait photography skills.

Six Months With the Nikon Z8 as a Landscape Photographer

The Nikon Z8 has been out for over six months now. The camera has many promising new features, but is it the best camera for landscape photography? This is a look at the Z8 after six months of usage by a landscape photographer.

Why Your Zoom Lens Is More Useful Than You Think

When it comes to telephoto lenses, most people think the main use is to take photos in situations where you can't get close to the subject, things like being stuck at the back of the chapel during a wedding ceremony. And while this reason is valid, there are more uses than just that.

AI Masking That Beats Lightroom

With the latest Capture One, you get an incredible level of control over your images. I’ve already been a fan of the layers and masks in Capture One for a while, but with the new update, the software can create those for you. This, and so much more, is why you should try out the new Capture One.

Alert for Photographers: Package Theft Soars to Record Levels

As the holiday season approaches, the Better Business Bureau has issued a warning to photographers, revealing that package theft is currently "at an all-time high." This troubling trend is a cause for concern, especially as we anticipate an increase in package deliveries during this busy holiday season.

Why Aperture Priority Is One of the Most Important Camera Modes

In the world of photography, creativity often hinges on the control of light and focus. One powerful tool that grants photographers the ability to manipulate these elements is "Aperture Priority" mode. This enlightening video delves into the realm of Aperture Priority mode, unlocking its potential to enhance your photographic journey and show why it's such an important tool.

Not Just Another Kit Lens: We Review the Fujinon XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens

When it comes to versatility and performance, the Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS Lens is an excellent choice. Available as part of a kit or sold individually, this lens performs exceedingly well. Although there are other lenses with a similar focal range for the X-mount system, and great ones at that, this lens should not be dismissed as merely a kit lens, as it produces some great results.

What's the Future of the Big iMac?

I have been a longtime user of the iMac, indoctrinated into the Bondi Blue clan since late high school. I've owned a 27" 2009 model, and a 27" 2013 one. But there's no longer a clear, linear upgrade path for longtime users of the big iMac.

5 Tips for Creating Realistic Drop Shadows in Photoshop

Have you ever cut out an object in Photoshop, put it on a new background, added a “drop shadow” effect, and sat in front of your monitor thinking, “This just looks so Photoshopped”? I’m here to help! Here are five easy steps to creating realistic drop shadows in Photoshop.

Are You Savoring the Photographic Experience?

There can be a lot of pressure on photographers to get the shot, move on, and get the next one. It's important to remember to enjoy the craft, though. This great video tutorial reminds you to savor the moment.

You Can Learn Photography Without a Camera

While a camera may be indispensable for producing photographs, there are manifold ways to learn the art of photography without one. Besides technical proficiency, great photographers like Dorothea Lange relied on less tangible traits like emotional intelligence and inspiration, and we can learn from them.

Practical Use of the Interval Timer on a Camera

I've been using both standard and programmable shutter release cables for ages. With the built-in interval option in modern cameras, these remote cables have become almost obsolete. Just remember one setting when using the interval option: the length of the exposure.

A Review of the New Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 Lens

Tamron has gained popularity among photographers for their practical and budget-friendly lenses, as well as their innovative designs. The 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 is a prime example, being a staple, yet cost-effective option. Can it compete in a marketplace crowded with extremely capable 70-200mm f/2.8 options? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Harman Phoenix 200: Brand New Color Film Made in the UK

There hasn’t been a huge amount of good news on the film photography scene this year. Every “new” film announcement either seems to be rebadged cinema film, rebadged Kodak film, or rebadged ORWO / Wolfen film.

A Review of This Rare Third-Party Canon Lens

Canon has been infamously restrictive over the RF mount, disallowing most third-party lenses, which is what makes the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.0 Aspherical a rare find. And that isn't even considering its useful focal length and extremely wide aperture. What sort of performance and image quality can you expect from this unique lens? This excellent video review takes a look.

Why Artistry Is Harder Than Technique

In this important and insightful video, a professional photographer tackles the complex balance between the technical and artistic aspects of photography. He contends that while the mechanics of operating a camera can be readily taught, cultivating an artistic eye is far more nebulous. As a consequence, many amateur photographers overly fixate on technical perfection in critiquing photos, rather than considering the photographer’s intent, and it's to their detriment.

Just How Good Is the New Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera?

The Sony a9 III is undoubtedly one of the most important cameras to come along in quite some time, offering the world's first consumer full frame global shutter in tandem with plenty of other remarkable features. How does it hold up in practice? This in-depth video review takes a look.

Freezing Night Fashion Photography Done Right

This is one of my most favourite test shoots I’ve done to this date, not only based on how we got the shot but also how they turned out. Here’s how we shot it, how it was lit, and everything that came together to make this shot happen.

How to Fix Dark Circles Under Eyes in Photoshop

Under-eye bags are some of the most common things clients will want you to retouch, and as such, it is important to know how to take care of them efficiently and convincingly. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to do exactly this.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (November 2023): Kareem Quow

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 2023, 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.

How Does the EOS R6 Stack Up Against Its Newer Mark II Counterpart?

As the holiday season approaches, you're going to see some fire-sale prices on previous gen hardware. One of these that's probably on the mind of a lot of Canon shooters is the EOS R6, as it's going to be a lot cheaper than its newer sibling, the EOS R6 Mark II. Is it worth saving the money?

Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Versus Leica Sofort 2: Which Is The Best Instant Camera?

Instant photography has long held a special place in the hearts of photo enthusiasts, offering the unique charm of instant, tangible memories. In this modern era where digital photography predominates, the allure of instant film cameras persists, blending nostalgia with contemporary technology.

A Review of the Super-Affordable Viltrox AF 75mm f/1.2 XF Lens

Few manufacturers can compete with Viltrox when it comes to price, but of course, cheap does not mean much if you can't back it up with performance and image quality that can satisfy the needs of discerning users. The AF 75mm f/1.2 XF is a great example of one such lens, and yet, it offers impressively competitive results, even against much more expensive options. Is it the lens for you? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

What's Your Favorite Lens?

A rich and engaging discussion about favorite lenses unfolds in this video, blending technical insights with personal experiences. Touching on a huge range of lenses from the most pragmatic tools for the job to some of the most extreme designs available today, there is something for everyone.

We Review the Godox SL60D II: The First Really Good Budget Video Light?

If you’ve followed my work for any time now, you might be familiar with my obsession with lighting. Lights are perhaps some of my favorite things to review. This time around, I decided to give budget lights a try, more notably Godox. It shocked me, somewhat. Read on to find out why.

Avoid These Composition Mistakes

In landscape photography, good composition is as important as the right light. A photo with amazing light won't necessarily be great unless the elements within the frame are properly composed. William Patino offers tips on effective composition and what to avoid.

Perfect Power Solution for Photographers on the Road

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Bluetti AC60 compact power station. This device was already great on its own. But, I had a critique about its capacity of only 403Wh. Today, I show how to extend the AC60 to become the perfect power solution for the road and the office.

The Photographer's Comprehensive Safety Guide to Navigating Deals, Discounts, and Used Offerings This Season

The frenetic final months of the year tempt photographers with screaming deals on cameras, lenses, software, supports, accessories, and more. However, the most tempting bargains also invite increased perils around online fraud, box damage, counterfeit risks, and problematic used gear. As eager shoppers hungry for savings paired with prudent consumers, here is how to diligently navigate both established retailers along with secondary marketplaces to avoid financial headaches and make well-informed purchases.