I Wish I Knew This Before Going Full Frame

Full frame cameras are often considered the tool of choice for professional photographers. You rarely find such cameras in articles aimed at beginners. For many photographers, transitioning to a full frame camera is the next logical step in their journey. In this article, we will explore some crucial factors to consider before making the leap to full frame.

How Technical Obsession Can Ruin Your Creativity

A lot of photographers spend much of their time obsessing over the technical quality of their images, and while that certainly matters, there is such a thing as taking it too far, which is something many of us are guilty of. Worrying too much about technical quality can often cause too little focus on creative development and exploration, which can be quite detrimental to one's growth and maturation as a photographer. This excellent video essay features a seasoned photographer discussing the issue and how to fix it.

Important Truths About Being a Professional Photographer

Being a professional photographer is an extremely challenging career, and it is important to have a realistic idea of what it entails and how best to get there before you make the dive. If you are considering going into professional work, check out this excellent video essay that features an experienced commercial photographer sharing some hard-earned insights into the industry and life as a professional.

4 Productive Mindsets When Traveling for Photography

For a lot of photographers, the act of traveling is a double-edged sword. We travel to be able to see the world and draw as much inspiration as we can from everything we see and experience. At the same time, the act of traveling often requires pushing out of our comfort zones and leaving behind a lot of the things that allow us to operate with fewer worries and limitations.

How Good Is the New Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena Lens?

The latest lens getting all the attention is the Nikon NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena, which promises superlative image quality and creamy bokeh. Nonetheless, the portrait lens landscape is perhaps the most competitive of all, and it takes a major achievement to stand at the top. Can the 135mm f/1.8 deliver? This excellent video takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from the lens in practice.

The Importance of Repetition and Perseverance in Landscape Photography

Landscape photography can be a real trudge sometimes, both literally and metaphorically, with tremendous amounts of effort exerted for just the chance at the photo you are looking for. And with that can often come frustration and a lack of motivation. Nonetheless, the best landscape photographers often have a few traits in common: they repeat shots and they persevere through challenges. This excellent video essay discusses how those qualities can serve you.

Review of the Amazing Sony's FE 2.8/16-35 GM II Lens

Sony has introduced the second iteration of its popular FE 16-35mm G-master lens. While improvements have been made, the most striking change lies in its reduced size and weight. Sony kindly provided me with this lens for an honest and unbiased review.

Is This Ridiculously Affordable Lens Any Good?

In the past few years, we have seen a real influx of highly affordable lenses that still offer serviceable to even good results, but even by those standards, the new TTArtisan 500mm f/6.3 is really, really cheap. Can it offer good performance and image quality despite that very low price? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it in usage.

A Compact and Effective Portrait Lighting Setup

When you are working in a studio, you can have just about whatever lighting you want at your disposal, no matter how complex and cumbersome the setup. However, when you move to on-location shoots, simplicity and portability are the name of the game. This awesome video tutorial will show you an easy, compact, and effective lighting setup for on-location portraits.

How Good Is This Affordable Ultra-Wide Prime Lens?

Viltrox has continued to establish themselves as one of the leading companies in the industry when it comes to competitively priced lenses that still offer the sort of performance and image quality that pros and advanced hobbyists require. The AF 16mm f/1.8 FE promises to continue that tradition while also offering a range of innovative features in tandem with an ultra-wide focal length and very wide aperture, making it an appealing lens to a wide range of creatives. This great video review takes a look at the how it holds up in practice.

Photography Opinions That We Should Burn

I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the photography community is an opinionated bunch, and to make matters worse, there are a lot of people outside of the community who are opinionated about it too! So, let's take the edge off by sharing the worst photography opinions and why they should be condemned to history.

The Softest Light You Can Get: An Easy Guide

There are numerous applications for soft light, from portraiture to product photography, from macro to fashion. Soft light stands as one of the cornerstones of photographic expertise.

The Power of Supertelephoto Zoom Lenses

When you think of supertelephoto zoom lenses, you probably think of genres like sports and wildlife photography. No doubt, they are highly useful for such applications, but their value extends far beyond those applications. This great video essay discusses some of the many great ways you can use a supertelephoto zoom in your own work.

We Review The Sigma 23mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary Lens for Fujifilm

The 23mm f/1.4 Contemporary lens is the latest offering in Sigma’s lineup of fast, compact, prime lenses for Fujifilm X Mount cameras. With a 35mm equivalent focal length, the 23mm is sure to be popular for street photography, portraits, landscapes, and more.

The Best iPhone 15 Pro Max Filmmaking Accessories

The Apple iPhone 15 has been released and its camera is turning a lot of heads, not least because of some new software functionality. In fact, when it comes to videography, it is a serious piece of kit. So, here are some great filmmaking accessories.
A Review of the Viltrox AF 28mm f/1.8 Lens

Viltrox has been a company on the rise in recent years, establishing a reputation for lenses whose performance and image quality often far exceed what one would expect for their affordable prices. The AF 28mm f/1.8 lens offers a popular alternative focal length in tandem with a wide maximum aperture, again at a competitive price, and this excellent video review takes a look at if it will be another hit for the company.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Finally, The Best Beginner Drone?

It is another day, and we have another drone release from DJI. This time, it is the DJI Mini 4 Pro, and this could possibly be the best beginner drone available to you. In this video from Kai W, he runs the new drone through its paces.

3 Pieces of Camera Gear That Surprised Me

I have owned, reviewed, or tested an inordinate amount of camera gear over the years — cameras, lenses, bags, lighting — and as a result, I'm not easily surprised. That isn't to say I'm never surprised, however, and here are a few times I was.
Here Is How I Light My Images as a Pro Photographer

I love light; it is the foundational component of my photography. I started off with light setups from the internet; however, I soon realized they don’t work for what I was aiming to get. This led me to come up with my own way of lighting photographs. Here is how I do it and how you can learn it.

Important Photo Editing Fundamentals for New Photographers

Creating a successful image is almost always a two-step process: shooting and editing. As you grow comfortable with your camera, you should also work on developing your post-processing skills. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing some of the fundamentals of editing photos and offering some helpful advice sure to put you on the right track.

How to Photograph Wildflowers in Windy Conditions

Wildflowers can make fantastic subjects or complements to the subject of a landscape image, but when they start thrashing about in a stiff breeze, it can be tricky to still get optimal image quality. If you keep finding your plans foiled by the wind, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features a seasoned landscape photographer sharing some helpful tips for photographing wildflowers in such conditions.

Five Annoying Moments in Photography!

We have all been there! Out and about on a photo shoot, trying to photograph a beautiful landscape or during a portrait session, and then something happens, which annoys you to your core. Join me in this article as I discuss some of the frustrations I have experienced.

How to Create Light and Airy Photos Using Lightroom

The light and airy look is a highly popular style with clients, as it evokes a sense of love and lightness. The mistake photographers commonly make with this style, however, is assuming it means just overexposing a portrait. The real trick to the look is a careful editing approach, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you every step you need to take to create it using Lightroom.

Can AI Make Art?

AI is getting a ton of attention right now. Some of that is excitement, with photographers interested in the ways it can make their workflows more efficient and expand their creative range. Others are worried about the impact it will have on the industry and how it could potentially render some photographers irrelevant. Can AI actually create art, though? This interesting video essay discusses the topic.

What Are the Worst Red Flags When Hiring a Photographer?

Whether you're hiring a photographer for your wedding, getting a headshot, or even hiring a second shooter as a photographer yourself, it can be daunting. So, what are the worst red flags you ought to be wary of when hiring a photographer?

11 Ways I Maintain Focus and Productivity as a Professional Photographer

Concentration and focus are among the most crucial skills to master as a freelancer and photographer. Being productive in your workspace is the key to gaining an edge over others when it comes to the basics. In this article, I have collected 11 of my best hacks for maintaining daily productivity.

Which of These Retro Cameras Is Right for You?

Retro cameras have become highly popular in the last few years, with many championing their tactile mechanical designs that encourage the user to be a more active part of the photographic process rather than someone operating a machine. Two leading options are the highly popular Fujifilm X100V and the new Nikon Zf. Which is right for you? This excellent video comparison takes a look at both cameras to help you choose the option for you.

Why I Love a Wood Box for Prints

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 final step of delivering those printed images.

Really? Is Expensive Gear Actually Even Worth It?

With the market inundated with countless products, it can be overwhelming to choose the right price point for the gear you need. Does the price tag truly reflect the quality and performance of the equipment? Let's dive into this question.

The Ethics of Landscape Photography

Landscape photography may not involve photographing animals or people, but that does not mean it does not come with its own set of ethics that creatives should consider each time they head out with their cameras. This fantastic video essay features an experienced landscape photographer sharing some of the most common ethical considerations creatives should be aware of and some examples of how violating them can have detrimental effects on the surrounding environment.

Are You Properly Organizing Your Images?

Even after just a few years of photography, your Lightroom catalog will likely have ballooned to several thousand images, and as such, it is crucial to put thought, time, and effort into how your images are organized so that you can work with them as needed. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced photographer sharing his system and offering a wealth of useful advice for keeping your Lightroom catalog neat and tidy.

A Photographer's Review of the New iPhone 15

Apple's new iPhone 15 is here, and the latest model provides some serious upgrades for photographers and filmmakers, making it worth a look for many creatives. What can you expect from these upgrades and new features in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the phone in practice.

Two Effective Portrait Lighting Setups

Good lighting makes all the difference in a portrait, and knowing the different styles appropriate for different applications will make you a more versatile and capable creative. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced portrait photographer sharing two different lighting setups — a beauty setup and a more dramatic option — and sharing a lot of helpful advice on how to optimize both approaches to produce the best possible results.

10 Tips for Editing Portrait Photos

Lighting, posing, and shooting a portrait is challenging enough, but rarely is the job finished the moment you press the shutter. Almost all portrait images will require some degree of editing to produce a final product. If you would like to improve your portrait shots, check out this fantastic video tutorial that shares 10 great tips on how to improve your editing.

Here Comes Another Canon Lens

Canon has been extremely aggressive in their approach to RF mount lenses, producing a variety of boundary-pushing and capable lenses. However, it seems they plan on introducing a lens that was not on our bingo card for 2024.

Sony Kando 2023: Bigger and Better Than Ever

I have been to a good number of photo-related events, both as a journalist and as an educator. And while the really good events usually strive to maintain, Sony Kando simply gets better and better. But what does that mean? Who attends? What is it like, and why is it important? Essentially, what exactly is Sony Kando, and why does it matter?

How Kodak Could Have Ruled the Photography World

It is hard to believe nowadays, but a few decades ago, Kodak was so dominant in the photography industry that the company's name was synonymous with the image itself — the "Kodak moment." So, why is the company a shell of its former self today? This neat video takes a look at some of the major milestones in the company's history and why, despite being at the forefront of the industry at one point, they are almost totally irrelevant today.

A Review of the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Nikon Z Mirrorless Cameras

The Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD has been one of the hottest lenses of the last few years, with many creatives clamoring for a tool that can tackle the work of several other lenses in one package, offering unmatched levels of convenience and versatility. How does it hold up in the real world? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

How Are You Doing After COVID?

Thankfully, the worst of COVID seems to be behind us, but its effects are still being felt far and wide in many different ways. If you have had the misfortune to suffer from long-term effects from COVID, it is important to know that you are not alone. This excellent video essay features a landscape photographer discussing his experience with the issue and how he has been coping with it.

A Review of the Sony a7C II Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7C II mirrorless camera offers a lot of capabilities in a very small body, making it an attractive option for anyone who wants a lot of versatility in a portable package. How does the second generation compare to the first? This great video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice?

Here's Why Your Photos Aren't Sharp Enough

Of the many things that go into making a good photo, sharpness is one of the most fundamental and impactful. There are many factors, both with the camera and post-processing, that affect sharpness in an image. If you would like to improve your shots, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you many of the most common reasons for photos lacking sharpness and how to fix those issues.

An Advanced Two-Light Setup for Wedding Photography

When it comes to wedding photography, time is almost never a luxury, and as such, the photographer generally has to keep the lighting setups relatively simple to keep things moving. Nonetheless, if you are feeling confident in your abilities and ready to step it up to the next level, a two-light off-camera setup can give you a lot more creative flexibility. This awesome video tutorial features an experienced wedding photographer sharing her two-light setup for photographing receptions.

Photography When Life Gets in the Way

Photography can be an unforgiving thing. When you are dependent on the light, the time of day, the weather, and more, life getting in the way even in the slightest can derail your plans. What do you do? This great video follows a photographer as he heads out to shoot with his young son in tow and discusses that tricky balance.

The Full Frame Cult Is Getting Tiring

I wish we’d all just move on. The format that used to be a compromise between image quality and price in the film days is nowadays being taken as the sole possibility for a serious photographer, and if you are not part of the gang, you apparently deserve to be ridiculed.