Improving your portraits doesn’t always mean investing in expensive gear. Sometimes, a simple tool like a reflector can make a world of difference. Reflectors are versatile, cost-effective, and easy to use.

When it comes to improving your photography, working on targeted projects can be transformative. They help you focus, push your creative boundaries, and refine your personal style.

Light control is one of the most important aspects of photography. Whether you’re lighting a subject or creating mood through shadows, tools like grids can shape how your final image looks. But not all grids are the same, and subtle differences can affect the results in ways you might not expect.

CYME announces that Peakto Search, the Mac-only plugin for Lightroom Classic and Capture One, is back with two new features designed to make creators’ lives easier: Instant Speech Search and Custom Metadata Display.

Wide angle lenses used to be necessarily bigger and more expensive in the past. Yet, this affordable and compact option from Viltrox just makes sense.

Making digital photos look like film is something many people are interested in, but achieving authentic results can be tricky. One area that often gets overlooked is the appearance of grain. Getting it right can significantly enhance your images by mimicking the subtle imperfections that define film.

Old cameras hold more than just film; they carry stories, memories, and connections. This video uses one such camera to explore not only the results of shooting film after decades but also a deeply personal journey. It reminds you how photography, whether old or new, has the power to connect us to the past in unexpected ways.

Whether dealing with snow-covered scenes or foggy mornings, knowing how to make the most of unpredictable conditions can help you create better images and enjoy the process more.

The Mere Exposure Effect is a principle first proposed back in the 1960s. It’s an important consideration for any photographer who wants to produce either popular images or push the boundaries and appeal to a smaller, more discerning audience. Your stylistic choice will impact the broadness of your photos’ appeal.

Star trackers can transform your astrophotography by enabling longer exposures without star trails, allowing you to capture more detail in the night sky. Understanding their intricacies, however, is essential, as they can be finicky and require practice to master. Whether you’re interested in photographing the Milky Way, nebulae, or galaxies, mastering a star tracker will open up new creative possibilities for your work.

Staying motivated in photography can be challenging, especially when you hit a creative slump. Without a clear sense of direction or purpose, it’s easy to feel adrift, and that lack of vision can make even picking up your camera feel like a chore. Vision isn’t about gear or technical skills—it’s about having something to strive for, a destination to guide your creative energy.

Wide angle prime lenses are favorites for their versatility, whether for street photography, environmental portraits, or everyday snapshots. The TTArtisan AF 23mm f/1.8 lens offers a budget-friendly entry into this category, raising questions about how it holds up in terms of build quality, autofocus, and image performance.

Having a versatile lens that adapts to multiple shooting scenarios can make your work simpler and more enjoyable. Whether you're capturing street scenes, portraits, or lifestyle shots, a lens that balances functionality with image quality is invaluable.

We’re no Michelangelo, and I mean, we're photographers, not sculptors. Photographers have a tough job with our medium; we work with a 2D medium. Creating depth in our images can be challenging, but we can create depth with these five tips.

Black-and-white photography has a way of emphasizing the relationship between light and shadow in ways color photography often cannot. Transforming an ordinary photo into a striking black-and-white image requires a blend of technical precision and creative decision-making. This video demonstrates how to use Lightroom Classic to create stunning black-and-white edits, walking you through the process step by step.

The debate over “straight out of camera” photos often stirs strong opinions, but how much control do you really have before the shutter clicks? This video explains why the phrase might not mean what you think and digs into the reality of digital image processing.

No two photographers see the same scene the same way. This video captures the creative process of three photographers with different styles, each interpreting the same model and locations through their own distinct lens.

Waterfall photography is often described as one of the most mesmerizing forms of landscape photography. The challenge of capturing the motion of flowing water, along with the contrast of the surrounding still landscape, can create some stunning visual effects. The use of specific camera settings, lenses, and filters plays a huge role in the final result.

Getting stuck in the cycle of overconsumption can hold back your creativity. Watching endless tutorials or reading gear reviews might feel productive, but it can leave you overwhelmed and unable to take meaningful action. For anyone struggling with this, finding the balance between learning and doing is key to moving forward.

The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS lens stands out due to its apodization (APD) element, which creates exceptionally smooth bokeh. Here's how it performs in practice.

If you're navigating your creative journey, staying inspired and finding success can feel overwhelming. In this video, a seasoned freelance photographer shares valuable lessons from his decade-long career.

Lighting can transform even the most boring locations into compelling, visually engaging scenes. You don’t need an elaborate setup or a perfectly styled space to create interesting photos. The secret lies in how you use light to add depth, atmosphere, and dimension to your shots.

Sigma has continued to enhance its reputation for crafting high-quality, affordable optics, and its new RF-mount lenses—the 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary—are no exception. Designed with APS-C sensors in mind, these lenses aim to provide a balance of portability, performance, and cost-efficiency, making them highly appealing to enthusiasts and professionals alike. Here’s a closer look at what makes these lenses stand out, their practical performance, and their specific pros and cons.

Exploring your local area for landscape photography can be a surprisingly effective way to sharpen your skills and experiment with new techniques. While traveling to new, exotic locations often feels more rewarding, the familiarity of your home patch offers unique opportunities to grow and refine your approach.

Long-exposure photography isn’t just for tripods and perfect lighting conditions. With the right technique, you can create surreal, motion-filled images handheld, even on a rainy day. This can turn an otherwise uninspiring scene into something captivating.

Today, I’d like to take you along on a little thought experiment. If I were to get into a magical de-aging machine and be placed in a position to restart my career all over again in 2025, which camera might I choose to take me into battle?

Self-doubt can creep into any creative process, but in photography, it has a way of growing unchecked. That inner critic can leave you questioning your abilities, even if you’ve won awards or spent decades honing your craft. It’s not a lack of skill that fuels this doubt—it’s often how you compare yourself to others and how you view your own work.

The decision to turn photography from a passion into a profession is a leap many dream about but few take. It’s a deeply personal journey, shaped by ambition, risk, and the challenges of balancing creative freedom with financial stability. For outdoor photography, in particular, the realities can be even more complex.

Mistakes are part of growth in any craft, including photography. For landscape photography, where conditions and circumstances can change in an instant, even experienced professionals find themselves relearning old lessons. These missteps aren’t just frustrating—they’re also opportunities to adjust your approach, improve, and refine your process.

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools you can use to shape your images. Yet, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding it. Understanding these nuances can make or break how your shots come together.

The Orton effect brings a dreamy appearance to an image. This effect, named after photographer Michael Orton, is nearly always added in post-processing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to add this effect in-camera? This can be accomplished with a double exposure.

Ultra-wide zoom lenses are a staple for capturing expansive landscapes, tight interiors, and immersive vlogging footage. Canon’s RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM offers an affordable, lightweight, and versatile option for creators who want high performance without breaking the bank.

Editing your images is about more than just making them look good; it’s about using tools effectively to achieve the results you envision. Understanding how the basic adjustment panel and the tone curve in Lightroom work together can significantly improve the dynamic range, contrast, and tone of your images.

Hold on to your pocketbooks, photographers and creatives! HoneyBook’s latest price hike has everyone scrambling to recalculate their budgets. Starting February 4, the cost of HoneyBook’s Starter plan is set to increase by a whopping 89%!

Straightening your photos and adjusting their composition can make a huge difference in the final look of your images. With Photoshop’s tools, you can fix crooked horizons, add missing details, and even enhance composition with precision and ease.

Understanding what elevates a good image into a truly great one isn’t just about having the right tools. It’s about refining your approach to light, composition, and the story behind every frame. By breaking down these concepts, you can start to see meaningful improvements in your work.

When you think about improving your photography, you might picture buying new gear or chasing perfect light. But some of the biggest improvements come from small adjustments to technique and mindset. Addressing these common challenges can not only improve your photos but also make the process more enjoyable.

Photography isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s a long-term process that requires consistency and a mindset focused on growth. Whether you’re shooting in the streets, capturing travel memories, or experimenting with landscapes, adopting the right habits can make all the difference.

OM System is teasing new gear that will be released soon.

Are you curious about your landscape photography? Or are you just looking for scenic views, composing a picture, and moving on? Being curious about your landscape photography can help you better understand the subject you are photographing and the world around it. Be curious.

Planning is critical on wedding days, and having a clear timeline isn’t just for planners. Writing your own timeline ensures you know exactly when and where you need to be to capture key moments. It also helps the couple stay informed and makes the entire day run more smoothly, leaving you free to focus on creating memorable photos.

There’s a lot of debate about whether high-end gear leads to better photographs. While modern cameras offer convenience and reliability, it’s worth questioning if they actually improve your artistic output or just make the process easier.

Real estate and architectural photography might seem similar, but they serve distinct purposes and cater to different markets. Understanding these differences can help you better tailor your approach and work effectively with clients.

Why would you need one? I wondered that a year ago, and now I’m obsessed with mist/diffusion filters. It happened when I started taking filmmaking seriously. I use very sharp modern lenses for my filming and photography and wasn’t happy with the crisp, sterile results I was getting. I wanted a more natural, organic feel. I’ve tested many kinds of mist/diffusion filters, and now I’ve finally found one I really love.

Well, here's something I did not expect in a mobile photo editing app, but it's a nice surprise. Skylum, which also makes the popular Luminar Neo editor, has added full raw support, an editing history feature, seamless iCloud synchronization, and an improved user interface to its iOS app that runs on iPhones and the Apple iPad.

Finding the extraordinary in simple scenes is a skill every photographer should develop. A minimalist approach not only creates striking images but also pushes you to think creatively about composition, light, and negative space.

The constant chase for the next photo, location, or achievement can lead to burnout. Balancing your passion with a slower, more reflective approach not only improves your work but also makes the process far more fulfilling.

The opening battle of Gladiator remains a memorable moment in modern cinema. Its combination of layered storytelling, technical precision, and visceral energy still holds its own more than two decades after the film’s release.