Why Do Photo Apps Keep Going With the Subscription Model?

When Adobe changed its Creative Suite software to a subscription-based Creative Cloud a few years ago, there was much gnashing of teeth and consternation amongst the photo community. We were used to paying a one-time payment for software to use for many years, without being forced to upgrade. So why is it that photo apps get a pass for doing the same thing when it comes to subscription models?

Who Should Pay for the Reshoot?

At some point, we all mess up a photoshoot. It is part of being a photographer. However, when money comes into play, it can really complicate things. This is how I feel we should deal with the cost of reshoots in various situations.

Is Film Really Dead?

These days, there aren't many people that are still shooting with film. For some people who used to shoot professionally with film, the idea of going back is simply unbearable — the chemicals, missed shots, and the hassle to finally produce an image that takes all but a simple click on a digital camera. Have we gotten to a point where film is finally dead?

A Review of the Sony a7R IV

The Sony a7R IV is a fantastically capable camera with a versatile feature set that should satisfy the needs of lots of photographers. This excellent video review takes a complete look at the camera to help you decide if it is the right one for your work.

Associated Press Announce New Exclusive Partnership With Sony Cameras

Sony and the Associated Press just announced a new exclusive partnership, giving Sony a firm lead in the race to be considered the industry standard for photography and videography. Sony will begin distributing equipment including the full frame mirrorless Alpha series, 4K XDCAM, and a wide variety of lenses and accessories to journalists around the world.

A List of Free or One-Time Payment Alternatives to Adobe Subscription Programs

A few years ago, Adobe moved to a subscription model for their Creative Suite, a decision that was fraught with controversy, particularly since many creatives felt it was a money grab. If you prefer to work with software that is either free or that only requires a one-time payment, here are some great alternatives.

How a Spectral Frequency Graph Can Improve Your Audio

Good audio is just as important to creating a successful video as the images on screen, and as such, anyone working with video should have at least a basic knowledge of how to edit and improve their sound. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to use the spectral frequency display in Adobe Audition to make more precise audio edits.

The Sony a7 III Versus the Fujifilm X-T4: Which Is Right for You?

Both the Sony a7 III and Fuji X-T4 are the result of several generations of refinement, and they are both highly capable cameras for a wide variety of applications in both photo and video. This great video comparison takes a look at both cameras to help you decide which is right for you.

How to Edit Your Comet NEOWISE Astrophotos

Comet NEOWISE has been hanging around in night skies around the world for a little while now, and most photographers who have been blessed with clear skies have captured at least one shot of the comet. Beyond getting a good exposure, how do you process your astro shots for the best effect? In this tutorial, I'll show you how I edit mine.

5 Editing Tricks That Will Transform Any Landscape Photo

Editing landscapes can revolutionize an image that didn't quite pan out how you had intended, or bring out all the best features that did. Here are five tips that can dramatically improve your landscapes.

This Is the Easiest Way to Understand Stops of Light and the Exposure Triangle

When it comes to getting started in photography, one of the most complicated things for people to wrap their heads around is "stops of light." This phrase only leads to more confusion when paired with the aperture numbers, shutter speed, ISO, and how they form the mysterious exposure triangle. But this is the easiest way I have seen to understand it all.

A Review of the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 DF UWM Lens

Once known for making very affordable speedlights, Yongnuo also moved into the lens market a few years ago, producing similarly affordable optics. This excellent video review takes a look at the Yongnuo 35mm f/1.4 DF UWM lens.

Do You Have a Bucket List Photo?

Do you have a bucket list shot — a photo that you have always wanted to take? This great video follows a photographer as he gets to take a shot on his own personal bucket list.

Create Stunning Comet NEOWISE Composites

Anyone who's shot Comet NEOWISE has noticed one thing: it looks a bit small in the frame when shooting on wider lenses. That's why with the help of some image editing, creating a composite where we replace the sky may be the best way to produce a stunning comet composite.

Shooting Five High-Key Portraits With One Light

It can be intimidating when you see some behind-the-scenes photos of studio setups, and there are multiple lights everywhere, and you only have one light. While sometimes, it does come in handy to have multiples, there is a lot you can do with only one light. Could you do a high-key portrait with only one light?

Is Artificial Intelligence the Next Major Step for Photographers?

Eye autofocus, insanely fast burst rates, 8K raw video, and more. There is no doubt that camera features are getting better and better at a crazy pace. But the thing I am most excited for is not on a camera, it is in post-processing: artificial intelligence.

Perseverance in Bird Photography

This year, my shot list for which bird species I was most eager to capture was kept very short in order to be realistically achievable. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, from that list I had already missed the migratory opportunities for two of them. I wasn’t about to let my final target bird slip away as well.

Why I Won't Ever Price-Match

In this video, I talk about my rejection rate for jobs and my ethos on pricing and price matching. I also go over a real-life quote that I sent off and got rejected for and give a breakdown as to why this happened.

The Power of Moving 12 Inches

Photographers are obsessed with improving their work through new gear purchases, extra lighting, and better retouching, but there's one trick that's often overlooked: the power of moving 12 inches.

A Review of Nikon From a Business Perspective

With a bevy of camera announcements (and rumored announcements) setting the internet on fire over the last couple of weeks, I thought it might be fun to offer a review of a different sort.

AI-Powered Retouching With Portrait Pro 19

Retouching can take a long time, especially cleaning up skin. But Anthropics aims to fix that with their new version of Portrait Pro, with AI-powered skin retouching. Does it live up to the hype? Let's find out.

Intrepid Camera Co. Launch a Lightweight and Affordable 5x7 Large Format Camera

One of the benefits of film, is the option to shoot with much larger formats. Currently, the largest and highest resolution commercially available sensor, is the 150mp system from Phase One. This camera offers some of the highest resolutions with the largest sensor currently on the market; however, film cameras still greater potential in this area.

A Review of the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Sony E

The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens was the first in the Art series and has been a valuable tool for a wide range of photographers. How does the Sony version fare? This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and what sort of results you can expect in normal usage.

Photo Walkthrough: White and Orange

Shooting in hard natural light can be extremely difficult, especially when you're photographing bright, white clothing. Join me in breaking down how I got the shot, and pick up some tips for shooting a similar image!

The Vital Ingredient Necessary for Your Success in Photography

The more time that passes in which I am a professional photographer, the more I distill the various components that have a hand in success in this industry, revealing which are vital and which are posturing as important. Here is a component that I would consider one of the most important, if not the most important.

A Lot of Street Photography Is Just Bad and Exploitative

Street photography is a particularly tough genre to achieve success in: it takes a combination of a quick eye, good instincts, and a dose of bravery, and even then, a little luck certainly helps. Personally, I think that even with that taken into account, a lot of street photography is simply bad photography and exploitative of the subjects.

Sony Camera Settings for Bird Photography

Sony cameras can be customized extensively to suit each individual user’s needs. In this video, I share my own menu settings and custom buttons for bird photography as well as the reasons behind them.

What Can Camera Manufacturers Do to Attract Smartphone Users?

The advent of the smartphone camera completely eliminated the point and shoot market save for a few niche exceptions, thereby eliminating a large potential customer base for many manufacturers. What can those manufacturers do to attract smartphone shooters toward dedicated devices?

Can You Be a Wedding Photographer as an Introvert?

Wedding photography takes the ability to interact with and direct numerous people over the span of sometimes 12-16 hours, and it can be an exhausting experience even for the most extroverted of those among us. Many creatives tend to be introverted, however, which may leave you wondering: if you are an introvert, should you avoid becoming a wedding photographer? This great video discusses the topic.

What I Learned Shooting the Neowise Comet

I strive to capture moments in time with my photography, and one thing I like is once in a lifetime or very rare moments. The Neowise comet (aka C/2020 F3 NEOWISE) is one of those moments that won't happen again for about another 6,800 years.

What I Won’t Travel Without: Fstoppers Reviews Caldigit’s Tuff Nano

Between 45 MP raw files and 4K video, it’s tougher than ever to ensure that the content you produce on a trip can actually make it home. Add Apple’s absurd pricing for a soldered-in SSD, and you can probably spend as much on storage for a trip as a business class plane ticket. Caldigit is a name you might not be familiar with, but it might offer the perfect solution.