When talking about improvement in photography, we often hear a lot of nonsense answers, such as upgrading equipment, hiring more staff, trying to find a niche, and so on. This isn't bad advice, and I give it as well. The thing is, it is so generic and so common that it has lost its meaning. Here are some real tips on how to become a better photographer.

The Fujifilm INSTAX line of instant film cameras has been a runaway hit for the company, tapping into the nostalgia of instant photography and introducing a new generation to the technology. The INSTAX Square SQ40 is the latest entry in the line, and this excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from this fun and affordable little camera.

When was the last time you fulfilled a print order? When I think of print sales, I envision awkwardly contrived meetings where proofs have been held hostage and finally revealed as leverage, using the client's emotions to maximize profits. I know in-person sales is an effective strategy, and photographers bankroll this method frequently. However, for the majority of photographers who don't want to take that approach, providing an online client photo gallery and a few simple suggestions can help you maximize your profits without the pressure of in-person-sales tactics.

I get a lot of commentary on using expensive photo equipment, most notably lighting. Fair enough, a $400 softbox is not for everyone, and most people find it ridiculous to use a modifier this expensive. However, there are good reasons to use such tools. Here is why.

If you heard a modern digital camera could only reach as high as ISO 1600 or 3200, you might think it was a very limited device. Such is the case with film, though. That does not mean you can't shoot it a night, though; in fact, it can be quite rewarding, especially if you enjoy long exposures. This great video tutorial discusses shooting film at night (particularly long exposures) and how to go about it to come home with the best images possible.

For some people, the thought of spending over $5,000 on a 35mm lens, let alone one without autofocus, is an absolutely absurd proposition. On the other hand, Leica users often swear by the company's optics. Costing over $5,000, the Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH. promises amazing optical performance. Can it live up to that promise? This excellent first look video takes a look at what you can expect.

Most of the time, when you think of landscape photography, you probably think of golden hour, with soft and warm light spilling across the scene. And while that can make for fantastic images, if you restrict yourself to just a few hours a day, you are missing out on quite a few opportunities. This great video tutorial shows you the benefits of landscape photography in the middle of the day.

The Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD is a super telephoto lens available for Fujifilm and Sony APS-C cameras, and it has quite a few tricks up its sleeve. In this review, I detail my experience using this lens for sports and nature photography using Fujifilm cameras.

One of the most fundamental challenges of landscape photography (and many other genres) is taking a three-dimensional scene and translating it to two dimensions in a way that still conveys the depth of the environment. Mastering this will significantly improve your landscape images. This excellent video tutorial will show you the ins and outs of controlling depth and perspective in landscape photos.

There are infinite ways of upgrading gear as a photographer. Moreover, camera companies market their next product as the next best thing in the industry. All this results in a lot of confusion, speculation, and simple ambiguity. If we could, we would all upgrade everything at once, but money is a limited resource that we need to allocate with a high degree of efficiency.

Wildlife and bird photography can be tremendously exciting and rewarding work, but the combination of fast action, faraway subjects, and frequent low light often necessitates the use of extreme cameras and lenses that can quickly put serious stress on your bank account. Thankfully, nowadays, we have a bevy of impressively capable budget options. This excellent video review takes a look at one of the best affordable setups for wildlife and bird camera and lens setups.

In the past decade, we have seen an explosion of highly capable supertelephoto zoom lenses, and the Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS and Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR are two of the most versatile options. How do they compare? This great video review takes a look at both lenses, their various characteristics, and how they match up with each other.

Mirrorless cameras are superior to DSLRs in many ways, offering a wide range of modern features and capabilities that DSLRs do not or even cannot. However, one area where they still lag woefully behind is battery life. While they have certainly improved over first-generation options, battery life can still be a hindrance. If you find yourself sometimes struggling with that, check out this helpful video tutorial that will show you eight different tips for getting a little more life out those batteries.

Prepare to dive headfirst into the world of waterfall photography! In this article, we'll uncover the five secrets that will make your waterfall shots as majestic as possible. So, grab your camera, put on your raincoat, and let's embark on this adventure.

A wedding day is a marathon for photographers. Finding the time to grab a quick bite and refuel can feel impossible, but this is the perfect time to do it.

If you are looking for beautiful, natural light portraiture and how to pose models effectively, this is a fabulous video set in an amazing waterfall location with a professional model. Join Irene Rudnyk here behind the scenes on this adventure and watch the magic unfold.

In a world full of a little bit of crazy one thing remains constant – our unwavering love for our furry companions. Dogs hold a special place in our hearts, becoming cherished members of our families. They warm our hearts from being mischievous mutts to regal pedigrees, our four-legged friends bring joy, companionship, and a whole lot of slobbery kisses.

Canon makes some awfully impressive lenses, but those options (particularly the full frame ones) are often quite expensive. That is what makes the RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, which sits at $299, a refreshing prospect. Can this affordable and portable option keep up with the demands of modern sensors? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect.

The Fujifilm X Series of mirrorless cameras has become quite popular and respected, upending the traditional paradigms of the sensor size, body design, and shooting experience that constitute a professional camera. The X-S20 is the latest entry in the line, and it offers an excellent balance of features and price, which should make it worth a look for many creatives. This great video review takes a look at the new camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.

Landscape photography can be a rather "in your face" genre at times, where grand, sweeping scenes immediately capture the viewer's eye and draw them into the image. And while those make for fantastic images, there is a lot of subtle beauty in the genre as well. This insightful video tutorial discusses the art of the subtle in the genre and offers some nice tips for photographing wildflowers.

The Pixel Fold is the first foldable phone engineered by Google. I had a chance to preview this feature-packed productivity tool that is actually both a phone, and a tablet in one. In this review, I will discuss the Pixel Fold from a photographer’s perspective, its myriad of camera features, and its use as a productivity tool for creative professionals.

Ah, the allure of the sea! The crashing waves, the salty air, and the breathtaking beauty of the coastline. If you're a beginner photographer looking to embark on a seascape photography journey, you're in for a treat. Seascapes offer a wealth of stunning photographic opportunities, but getting started can seem a bit daunting. Fear not! In this article, we'll explore the five essentials for beginners to kick-start their seascape photography adventure and capture mesmerizing images that will transport viewers to the shores.

In the past few years, Lightroom has taken some powerful steps forward, making it a versatile and capable editing tool that can accomplish many tasks that used to require a trip to Photoshop. One of the greatest new additions is the ability to use curves in masks. This great video tutorial will show you how to use curves inside the program's masking panel to quickly and easily create powerful and precise edits.

Thorsten Schönrade upgraded his Portkey’s LEYE EVF to overcome lens issues he was facing, and the results are pretty great.

As a photographer, how many times have you wished you had a portable power source in remote locations? Whether for outdoor lighting or simply to power some tools, this 1,200 W power station might just be what you were wishing for.

Photoshop's new Generative Fill tool has generated a lot of buzz for its ability to transform images and manufacture ideas with just the click of a button. One genre it has a lot of potential in is portrait photography, and this great video tutorial will show you some of those applications.

Part of the challenge of landscape and city photography is that you can't control the physical placement of anything but yourself, which makes creating compelling compositions a particularly challenging skill. If you find yourself struggling with your compositions, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you seven tips sure to put you on the right track to better photos.

Composition is the backbone of photography, the artistic element that allows photographers to convey their vision and create captivating images. It is the arrangement of elements within the frame and the deliberate placement of subjects, lines, shapes, colors, and textures that bring harmony and balance to a photograph. In this article, let's delve into the importance of composition in photography and how it serves as a powerful tool for visual storytelling to help your own photography level up.

Modern cameras are remarkably capable machines, and you can now find a good option for just about every budget range. With an increasing emphasis on the ability to do both photo and video work, hybrid cameras have become increasingly important. The Sony a7 IV is one of the most well regarded options out there, and this great video review takes a look at if it really offers the best combination of image quality, performance, and cost in a crowded and competitive space.

The nice thing about learning aspects of photography like proper camera settings or even composition is that these things are strongly codified, but when it comes to developing a personal style, it can be a bit harder to know how to proceed and if you are on the right track. This great video tutorial discusses the idea of a photographic style and some of the mistakes people make en route to developing theirs.

Rock pools are captivating microcosms of marine life nestled along the coastline, holding a world of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. But have you ever wondered how you can capture the vibrant colors and intricate details of these submerged wonders? Let’s delve into the enigmatic power of a polarizer and explore how it reveals the secrets of rock pools along the water's edge, where the code to capturing the beauty of these miniature aquatic ecosystems is cracked.

The Leica Q3 is here, and it brings with it some of the company's most powerful features paired with the company's highly respected optics, all in a compact and quite portable body. How does it hold up in real-world usage? This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the camera.

I'm sure some of you have seen the magnificent photos and videos of a polar bear sleeping in a bed of fireweed by Martin Gregus Jr. When I first saw it, I thought it wasn't real - it was just too perfect. But as this video documentary shows, it is, and taking those photos involved a significant amount of time, preparation, and effort.

If you’ve been a wedding photographer for any amount of time, you know that you are going to spend a lot of time in loud wedding receptions, and this is my public service announcement to please protect your freaking ears. All wedding photographers and filmmakers need ear protection as part of their kit for the long hours we spend in front of bands and DJ speakers at volume levels unsafe for our hearing, and so, I rounded up a few options for you to consider below.

It sounds too good to be true, but the TTArtisans AF 32mm f/2.8 lens offers full frame coverage, autofocus, and the promise of good image quality for $148. Can it actually deliver good performance and image quality at such a low price? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect.

The future of photography. Are we photographers in danger of being replaced, or is this just another fad due to pass us by? Who owns the digital rights? How much of a photograph that's generated by AI still belongs to the original artist, or does it belong to no one?

We all want to take better photos. There are countless ways of learning how to do that. Attending courses and workshops, watching YouTube videos, and reading books and articles such as this are traditional approaches. But there is one unexpected way too: embracing bad photography.

The new Nikon Z8 mirrorless camera has generated the most buzz of any camera in a while, as it brings with it most of the features and capabilities of the powerful Z9 in a more portable and affordable package. Just how impressive is the Z8? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it.

One of the trickiest and most frustrating aspects of landscape photography is that you do not get any control over the conditions, and when the weather refuses to cooperate and you get boring skies, it can be challenging to create worthwhile photos. Challenging does not mean impossible, though. If you know how to work with it, a dull sky can still give you great images. This helpful video tutorial will show you how to do just that.

Cinematographer Markus Mentzer offers advice for shooting on a fast-paced set, like Netflix’s “I Think You Should Leave.”

Attention, all pet-loving shutterbugs! If you're a studio portrait photographer with a passion for pup photography, then you've come to the right place. We're about to let you in on a little secret that will have those furry friends wagging their tails with joy during your next pet portrait session. That secret? It's all about the right tools. So, grab your camera and let's dive into the world of pet-tastic props!

The new Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR lens offers an extremely versatile focal length at a very reasonable price, making it an attractive option for wide range of applications, particularly sports and wildlife photography. Is it right for you? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you will be able to expect from it in practice.

In a recently emerging search for the perfect vertical shooting tool, many brands have offered tools for better efficiency and stability. Nisi’s take on the rotating camera bracket might have some unique features to offer.

Understanding lighting is crucial to becoming a successful portrait photographer, and few do it as well as Lindsay Adler. In this helpful video tutorial, Adler breaks down one of her most useful lighting setups and shows you how you can recreate it and customize it to your exact needs.