Simple Secrets to Beautiful Natural Light Portraits

Natural light portrait photography demands a nuanced understanding of how light interacts with the environment. By learning to read and work with available light, you can transform challenging conditions into opportunities for creating captivating portraits that stand out from the crowd.

Turning Daydreams Into Real Progress

Setting ambitious goals in photography requires more than just dreaming - it demands consistent, deliberate action to transform those aspirations into reality. Whether you're looking to start a wedding photography business or launch a creative project, understanding how to effectively bridge the gap between vision and execution can make all the difference in your success.

Five Practical Ways to Overcome Creative Blocks

Feeling stuck in your photography journey can be frustrating, especially when it's easy to think new gear will solve your problems. Instead of relying on temporary fixes, it’s a good time to rethink your approach and rediscover your creative spark.

Winter
Critique the Community

Winter

Your Best Winter Photographs

Welcome to the first Critique the Community Contest of 2025! Since it is deep winter in the Northern Hemisphere, we decided to make this month's theme "Winter." You can submit any image you've taken that captures cold, winter, or freezing elements.

This contest has ended.
Take Better Photos by Doing Less Work

Having infinite resources for many of the locations we frequent for landscape photography is what makes it so accessible to anyone and everyone. The downside is that we tend to plan out everywhere we go, every shot we want to take, and thus we never really get a chance to develop our vision as photographers.

Five Truths Every Beginner Photographer Should Know (That I Learned the Hard Way)

Isn't it great to have a crystal ball to tell us our future and what's around the next corner? Unfortunately, there is no such thing, and we must live life, make mistakes, and move on. I wish I had one, especially when I started my photography journey. Here are five things I had to learn the hard way.

5 Cameras You Wish You Got for Christmas

For the past few months, you have been dropping subtle hints to your family about the camera you would love to own, and you have also been dreaming about your first shoots with your much-desired new camera. Christmas morning arrives, and the excitement of opening that box under the tree is palpable. It finally arrives in your hands; you tear open the wrapping paper and open the box, only to discover some socks and a knitted sweater inside. All is not lost...

The Reward of Being an Artist in Residence

I have had the opportunity of working as an Artist in Residence for the National Park Service four times. The last residency was for Buffalo National River in Arkansas. In the spring of 2020, I got a call from one of the managers for the National Forest Service in Wyoming, wanting to know if I would be interested in coming to Wyoming to do a residency there in Bighorn National Forest, which I was glad to do. So, in early September 2020, I loaded up my gear into my Bronco and headed to Wyoming!

Canon EOS R1 vs. Sony a1 II: The Ultimate Autofocus Battle

When it comes to autofocus, today’s flagship cameras are pushing the boundaries of technology. The Canon EOS R1 and Sony a1 II represent the cutting edge of what’s possible, offering advanced tracking systems powered by AI processors. But how do these systems hold up in real-world scenarios?

Mastering Composition for Landscape Photography

Even with the best gear, a stunning location, and perfect light, your photos can still fall flat. The key lies in composition. It’s a skill that evolves over time and one you’ll always have room to improve.

Subtle Lighting Tweaks That Make a Big Difference

Balancing ambient and artificial light is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. Understanding how to control light gives you more flexibility and precision in your work.

You Don’t Need Talent to Become Great

Hard work can often outpace natural talent in photography. The learning curve may seem steep, but dedication to developing skills and creativity can open doors that talent alone won’t.

Lessons from Revisiting Iconic Locations

Photographing a place with a rich history or unique features forces you to approach it with fresh eyes. The struggle to avoid clichés and create something original is what makes these moments so rewarding.

Is the WANDRD PRVKE Worth It? A Deep Dive Into Its Design and Usability

There are plenty of camera bag options on the market today. Brands have introduced several styles and options in endless colors and features for every type of photographer. WANDRD is no different, but it offers some unique styles compared to its competitors. The PRVKE 31L is one of those bags. But how does it compare to other bags on the market?

Is Interest in Landscape Photography Declining?

As social media platforms shift more and more toward video content and become fragmented, is interest in landscape photography declining? Using tools such as Google Trends analysis, one can see what people are searching for on the Internet and on YouTube. Is interest really declining?

Playing It Safe Will Ruin Your Creative Career

Are you holding back in your creative career out of fear of failure? Take an unfiltered look at the importance of taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, and embracing uncertainty as a pathway to growth.

Navigating Growth and Self-Doubt in Street Photography

Street photography can be one of the most challenging genres to master. The unpredictability, combined with the constant pursuit of improvement, creates a dynamic environment where growth feels both exhilarating and exhausting. As your skills develop, your ability to critique your own work sharpens, often revealing gaps between your vision and execution.

Building Better Photography Habits for the New Year

Reflecting on your work and setting intentions for the future can transform the way you approach photography. With a new year comes an opportunity to refine habits, focus your energy, and work toward meaningful progress in your craft.

How to Fix Skin Tones in Photoshop

Correcting challenging skin tones can be one of the most frustrating parts of photo editing. Here's how to get reliable results every time.

Why Some Photos Never Make the Cut

Unseen photo shoots can offer a rare glimpse into the challenges and unpredictability of creating compelling images, shedding light on the realities of managing expectations, conditions, and results.

Creative Uses of White Balance for Better Photos

White balance is a tool for shaping the mood and tone of your image. Whether it’s the chill of a winter morning or the warmth of a glowing sunset, white balance offers control over how your viewers feel when they look at your work.

What Defines an Advanced Photographer?

It’s not just about owning better gear—it’s about developing technical expertise, refining your style, and mastering the intangible qualities that set advanced photographers apart.

What This Photographer Is Taking Forward to 2025 and Leaving Behind in 2024

The turn of the new year is the perfect time for reflection and renewal. For photographers, this moment can be used to evaluate the practices that either propel creativity or hold it back. As we step into 2025, I’m taking stock of the ways I work, create, and connect, making conscious decisions about what to carry forward and what to leave behind. Here’s my roadmap for growth and fulfillment in photography for the coming year.

Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (December 2024): Chris Van Riel

The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2024, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.

How the 'Wrong' Lens Led to Incredible Photos

Sometimes the best results come from unexpected challenges. A seemingly wrong gear choice at a wedding shoot turned into a lesson in creativity, pushing boundaries and proving the value of adapting to your circumstances.

Is Your Photography of Something, or About Something?

I’ve noticed that dramatic photos, full of bright colors from a sunset or a scenic view, get the most likes on social media. People aren’t liking the photographer’s skillful technique; they’re liking what they’re seeing—the colors, the location, etc. Of course, many of these photos are taken by photographers solely because of the colors or the view, with no other reason.

Landscape and street photography, in particular, saturate social media feeds, and most of the photos are simply nice views, vibrant colors, or dramatic, high-contrast lighting. Then there are those who...

Lightroom and Photoshop Tips You’ll Use Every Day

Editing your photos is just as important as capturing them. By mastering a few key tools in Lightroom and Photoshop, you can fix imperfections, enhance details, and transform an image into something extraordinary.

Basic Photography Terms: A Beginner’s Guide

Understanding terms like ISO, aperture, and shutter speed helps you take control of your shots instead of relying on automatic settings. This knowledge can make a huge difference in the quality of your photos, no matter what you shoot.

Lessons from a Year of Camera Gear Testing

Choosing the right camera for your work can be challenging, especially with so many options promising to revolutionize your photography. Testing different systems can provide valuable insights, but it can also lead to wasted time and money.

10 Adobe Audition Tips to Boost Your Audio Editing Skills

Audio editing can be a challenge, but mastering Adobe Audition can save you time and make your projects shine. Whether you’re cleaning up a podcast or working on a wedding video, having the right techniques in your toolbox can make all the difference.

5 Things Camera Manufacturers Can and Should Do

In years of covering product announcements and trends for Fstoppers, I’ve observed a camera industry caught between reverence for its storied past and the gravitational pull of an ever-shifting technological landscape. The last decade has introduced mirrorless revolutions, ever-higher resolutions, astonishing autofocus gains, and previously unthinkable low-light capabilities. Yet it’s clear that technical specs alone no longer guarantee relevance.

A Beginner's Quick Start Guide to Taking Better Photos Today

Getting started with a new camera can feel overwhelming when faced with countless menu options and settings. Your first steps with a new camera will shape your entire experience, making it crucial to understand the essential settings that actually matter for taking great photos.

Why Less Camera Gear Makes You More Creative

The weight of camera gear on your shoulders is more than just a physical burden - it can fundamentally alter how you approach and create images. Carrying less equipment might seem limiting at first, but it can push you to see beyond the obvious shots and discover fresh creative opportunities.

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II: A Speed and Autofocus Powerhouse

The Canon EOS R5 Mark II aims to refine an already impressive camera with a host of practical upgrades. Building on the success of the original R5, the Mark II brings enhancements designed to appeal to those who need speed, precision, and advanced features while maintaining exceptional image quality.

Advanced Skin Tone Editing Made Simple with Adobe Camera Raw

Getting natural-looking skin tones in portraits remains one of the most challenging aspects of photo editing. While traditional methods like curves adjustments have long been the go-to solution, Adobe Camera Raw offers a more intuitive and precise approach to perfecting skin tones.

How to Set Profitable Rates for Real Estate Photography

Pricing your real estate photography can feel like a balancing act, but getting it right is essential for running a sustainable business. Misconceptions around pricing are common, and they can lead to undercharging and burnout. The reality is, if you’re not charging enough, you’re likely leaving money on the table while overextending yourself in the process.

Master Precise Adjustments with Photoshop’s Latest Feature

As a Creative Cloud subscriber, you gain access to the beta version of Photoshop, where you can test cutting-edge tools before they’re added to the main release. One of these tools is a powerful update to people masking, offering more flexibility directly in Photoshop.