We constantly talk about how soft light is flattering and how to find or craft it for our images. However, if we spend our careers shooting in nothing but soft light, we will miss out on countless photographic opportunities. There is no reason to be afraid of harsh, midday sun. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to embrace that hard light and create dynamic and compelling photos.
Even if you’re standing in the middle of a great-looking landscape, it can be difficult to make an inspiring photo. Many people feel the need to capture as much as possible in one single frame, but that’s not the solution. Keep these three things in mind, and your landscape photo will improve a lot.
Standing desks have become somewhat ubiquitous over the last few years and hold a number of benefits for photographers and content creators. Having used them in the past with mixed results, I was pleasantly surprised by the standing desk from FlexiSpot in terms of quality, form, and function.
Photographers are constantly inundated from every direction by a variety of messages: the need to constantly buy new and better gear, the kind of trends you need to follow to land clients, the latest social media platforms, and much more. Some of these can be quite detrimental. This insightful video discusses one such message and why you need to beware of it before it costs you.
Filmora, a leading video editing software, took a distinctive approach to connect with the creators' community attending VidCon 2023 in Anaheim, CA. At this event, Filmora sponsored a creator session featuring popular YouTubers creators NichLmao and Jensen Tung where they delved into the exciting possibilities of AI in video creation, empowering creators to enhance their creativity and productivity.
Like a lot of creatives, finding that perfect desk setup is sort of like searching for the holy grail. But after a lot of searching, I think I found mine.
Lightroom is a very intricate and multilayered program, and while its default layout is perfectly fine for most uses, it can make your workflow both easier and more efficient if you take the time to customize your workspace a bit. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced Lightroom pro showing you how to do just that.
Long exposures are useful to convey a sense of motion in photos, whether that's bodies of water that seemingly look like glass or car taillights whooshing by in a street scene. The iPhone allows you to create scenes like this easily. It's just a bit hidden.
Whether you are a wedding, newborn, or boudoir photographer, delivering the final product to your clients is a true pleasure. The look on their faces when they see your beautiful work makes the job so much more satisfying. But how can we elevate the client experience even further?
Pop quiz, hotshot. What is the best investment you can make in your photography today?
The gimbal and drone giant DJI has just announced their next-generation mid-level drone set to replace the Air 2. The new DJI Air 3 brings many new and interesting features, and we managed to play with one for a few days before the announcement. So, what does it bring? Is it any good?
Finding a new landscape photography location or even planning an entire trip can be quite exciting, but there is a lot to consider before you arrive to ensure you can get the best possible images. Before you head out to your next spot, check out this helpful video tutorial that features two experienced landscape photographers discussing five useful tips for working in new locations.
Canon came out swinging when they entered the full frame mirrorless market, with one of their most impressive lenses being the RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM, the first full frame autofocus zoom lens with an f/2 aperture. This has led many to hope that other f/2 zoom lenses might eventually be offered, and their wishes might come true.
I have the best part of a decade of professional photography under my belt, with some very hard years and some good years during that time. I have learned a lot about the craft, the industry, and most of all, about running a small business. The majority of the lessons that had the most significant impact on my career were not around techniques, post-production, or even equipment; they were about running a business.
There are many ways to sell prints online. In the last article of this series, we already looked at one of them that was free and easy to set up. But it might not be the right way to sell prints professionally. If branding and customer relations are important to you, a customized online store might be a better solution. In this article, I share how to set one up.
We all work quite hard to develop a range of post-processing techniques to help us realize our creative visions and to satisfy the needs of clients, but one thing that even experienced photographers struggle with is knowing when to stop retouching. If you find yourself unsure of how far to take your post-processing, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced portrait and beauty photographer discussing philosophies of retouching and how to know you are doing just the right amount.
I've been hearing about Patreon for a while, and I'm officially curious. Join me on my experiment to see if Patreon is actually a viable income source for photographers.
We have entered a time as photographers where we are seeing monumental changes in the industry. There are more tools than ever before to streamline our workflows, push the bounds of creativity, and increase our visibility as creatives.
There are some who believe creativity is a gift given to only a handful of people. Those of us who regularly engage in the practice of making art understand that we all have the ability to create something that has never existed before. It is common for us to struggle in our search for inspiration, and self-doubt can be a powerful enemy. A new organization may be of assistance to those who chose to engage in this struggle.
Reflections can be some of the trickiest things to deal with as a photographer, particularly when you are working with rounded objects that can reflect light from almost any angle. Nonetheless, learning how to read and control reflections is one of the best exercises to improve your lighting technique, no matter what you shoot. This fantastic video tutorial features an experienced studio photographer showing you how to manage reflections in your images.
We put a lot of time and effort into ensuring our workspaces are technically capable of tackling the often high demands we place on them for our photo and video work. Nonetetheless, the visual design of our workspaces can have a major impact on both our efficiency and our enjoyment of the work. This neat video highlights five minimal but highly functional workspaces to inspire your own design.
The exposure triangle is practically gospel that just about every new photographer needs to master, but there is more to it than simply varying shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to create a balanced exposure. This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing how to properly approach the exposure triangle to ensure you can make photos that are both technically and creatively satisfying.
Here are 13 essential things to know about why your photos are not sharp and what you can do about it. Included are some that are often overlooked.
At just $1299, the Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 looks like a remarkable deal if it can offer the performance and image quality to match those impressively versatile specifications. So, how does it hold up in practice? This fantastic video review takes a look at what you can expect.
When it comes to landscape photography, certain destinations immediately come to mind – the dramatic landscapes of Iceland, the majestic mountains of the Canadian Rockies, or the iconic landmarks of the American Southwest. However, there is one country that often gets overlooked as a photography hotspot: Ireland.
At just $479, the EOS R100 is remarkably affordable, making it an intriguing entry point into Canon’s mirrorless ecosystem or a convenient and portable backup for current users. At such a low price, can it satisfy the needs of modern photographers and filmmakers? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Outdoor portrait shoots can be a fantastic way to photograph couples in an organic environment that allows them to convey natural poses and emotion. However, nature does not always cooperate. Adding a smidgen of artificial light can be just what you need to really complete a photo. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to do just that.
There used to be a significant separation between prime and zoom lenses in several ways, and as such, it was easy to know which was appropriate for different situations. However, more modern zoom lenses have blurred the line, and they can arguably match prime lenses in some situations. One such lens is the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM. Is it all good, or are there drawbacks to having such a lens? The excellent video discusses the issue.
The brand name Exascend is synonymous with high-quality products. So, will their award-winning Explorer SSD, designed for challenging environments, live up to its name? When the going gets tough, will the tough get going?
If you are anything like me, you have probably found yourself staring at your open camera backpack, paralyzed by the decision of what gear to take and what to leave behind. Perhaps the solution is not to fill that backpack, but rather, to get a smaller bag. This fantastic video essay discusses the many benefits of carrying a smaller bag and why it can be such a freeing experience.
LED light panels, once used predominantly by videographers, have now become an indispensable tool for photographers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring enthusiast, finding the perfect lighting setup can make all the difference in capturing high-quality images.
In last week’s article, I chose to talk about the joys of going small with lighting gear. In today’s article, we’ll go big, very big, with the Aputure LS 1200d Pro LED Light Kit.
If you have been playing around with the new Generative Fill function in Photoshop Beta, you most likely have come across this error message saying: "The Generated Images were removed because they violate user guidelines." In this quick video by PiXImperfect, he has found an easy workaround.
Fujifilm's X Series of cameras and lenses have become increasingly versatile and feature-laden in the past year, with one of their most capable lenses being the XF 18-120mm f/4 R LM PZ WR, which covers the most popular focal lengths and includes a power zoom mechanisms for filmmaking applications. How does it hold up in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens.
Composition is perhaps one of the trickiest aspects of photography, particularly since it is less easily codified than something like what camera settings to use for a certain scenario. One of the most effective but underutilized techniques for creating a compelling composition is framing. This helpful video tutorial will show you what framing is, how it works, and some great examples you can use it in your own images.
Photography is an art that allows us to capture moments, freeze time, and express our creativity. One fascinating subject that many photographers are drawn to is small waterfalls. These cascading wonders provide an incredible opportunity to capture the beauty of nature. While wide angle lenses are often popular for landscape photography, telephoto lenses have their own unique advantages. In this post, let's explore how using a telephoto lens can significantly enhance your photography skills when capturing small waterfalls. Specifically, we will discuss the benefits of long exposures at half a second, and explore the focal length range from 70 to 200mm.
We are absolutely inundated by imagery from every angle, every day, and as such, it can be easy to fall into the trap of shooting the most common trends. And it is a real shame when that happens, because it keeps you from developing your own creative voice and from enjoying photography as much as possible. This fantastic video essay is an important reminder that shooting for yourself is what matters most at the end of the day.
It doesn't matter how good your composition is if you have this one glaring error. Take a look to see what it is, if you're guilty of doing it, and how to fix it.
As photographers, we are constantly in pursuit of the perfect shot. Sometimes, the conditions don't align as expected, and the location we had in mind for a stunning sunset turns out to be better suited for a breathtaking sunrise. In such situations, it's important to embrace the opportunity and capture the beauty of the moment.
Lindsay Adler is well known for creating dynamic and vibrant portraits that capture viewers' eyes and imaginations. If you would like to see how she does it from start to finish, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will guide you through a red-inspired portrait shoot, including set design, lighting, gear, and editing.
We had an idea for a shoot and acted on it. We had no idea that this photo would take me all the way to the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Landscape photographers often default to the wide angle lens when approaching grand scenes in the early part of their photography path. This video looks at simplifying these scenes with a telephoto lens to highlight the smaller details of a landscape.
Logitech International has acquired Loupedeck, a Helsinki-based creator of custom consoles and software designed to elevate the creative process for streamers, creators, and gamers.
When it comes to photoshoot locations, few things can top a cave. This was a wild photoshoot adventure.
Over the last couple of years, the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) market was booming, and I couldn't scroll through the Twitterverse without seeing the many posts saying "GM", sharing their images and links to buy them as NFTs. After a huge crash in 2022, the NFT crew has finally started disappearing from my timelines, and good riddance to them.
