Thoughts on the Impact of AI on the Photography Industry

AI has been the talk of the town around the photography industry for a few months now, with opinions ranging from it being a fantastic tool that will significantly reduce and streamline photographers' workflows to it being the death knell of many parts of the industry. This interesting video essay features an experienced commercial photographer offering some more pragmatic and balanced thoughts on how AI will change the industry.

A Versatile and Effective Two-lens Kit for Landscape Photography

The beauty of landscape photography is that there are so many different ways to photograph the same scene. As such, it is nice to have options to cover the full range of scenarios, but that also needs to be balanced by keeping the amount of bulk you are hiking with in check. This excellent video discusses a versatile two-lens kit that will not break the bank or your back.

The Beauty of the Ordinary

There are a lot of iconic locations out there, and it can be wonderful to travel to and photograph them, but there is a lot of beauty in the ordinary and what is around us, and you are missing out if you overlook the places you pass by every day. This great video tutorial discusses the power of the ordinary and why embracing it will make you both a better and more content photographer.

A Review of the Impressive and Affordable 7Artisans 15mm f/4 Lens

7Artisans has become well known for producing some of the most affordable lenses available to photographers. While that sometimes means significant compromises in performance or image quality, their 15mm f/4 lens offers rather impressive results while still coming in at a very low cost. Is it the right lens for you? This excellent video review takes a look at everything you can expect from it.

Shutterfest 2023: Unlocking the F.U.N.damentals of Photography

Shutterfest stands out as my favorite photography conference to attend each year! As I write this, I am wrapping up day three of the affair. I always look forward to the various workshops, lectures, and unique experiences available throughout this fun-filled event like no other.

3 Ways to Fix Uninspiring Portraits

Have you ever set up your lights, gone through the poses, gotten back to your computer, and realized you have taken some perfectly competent but uninspiring photos? If that is a situation you have recently found yourself in, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced portrait photographer sharing three different ways to reinvigorate your images.

The Seven Essential Elements for Improving Your Photos

There are different opinions about what makes good photography. Many suggest it’s a single ingredient; they are wrong. If we want to grow in our art, it’s by combining seven elements that we have any hope of improving.

Compositing Portraits With AI-Generated Images

AI is the most talked about subject on the internet these days, with many fearing its impact (and rightfully so), but for now, we ought to see how we can harness it. In this video, Aaron Nace of PHLEARN combines a portrait with images created on Midjourney, the AI image generation software.
How to Add Glow in Photoshop

Here's a super quick and easy method of adding glow to objects in Photoshop using layers, blending modes, and brushes. This technique can be used to make light sources in your images look more realistic, or add some pop to a portrait. This tutorial would be helpful to anyone looking to start using layer masks and blend modes in Photoshop.
Luminar Neo Delivers a Stealth Update With Some Powerful Features

Current Luminar Neo users are in for a treat the next time they open the app, which has quietly hit version 1.8.0. Some of the updates are evolutionary, and there's the usual gaggle of bug fixes, but there are some really nice updates here that will please Neo users.

A Long-term Review of the Canon EOS R7 Mirrorless Camera

The 7D line of APS-C DSLRs from Canon were some of the most popular the company ever made, bringing many of the features and capabilities from higher-level full frame cameras like the 5D and 1D series to far more affordable cameras. Now in the mirrorless age, the EOS R7 has picked up that torch and brought along a modernization of the body with a range of upgrades. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera after six months of usage and if it holds up to the needs of professional photographers.

How to Take Better Rainy Landscape Photos

When you step outside and are greeted by rainy weather, it can be tempting to turn around and head right back inside. However, if you are willing to brave those mundane conditions, you might be rewarded with worthwhile landscape images. This helpful video tutorial offers five tips to increase your chances of coming home with compelling shots.

Samyang's New 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Lens Is Creating Buzz

We would be hard-pressed to find a photographer who wasn't familiar with mega-brands Tamron and Sigma offering lower-priced lenses to rival the designs put out by the giants: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and more. This week, there has been buzz in the nerdy sublayers of photography sites about a new lens coming out: the Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8. Let's dive into this.

Why You're Being Ghosted by Potential Clients

How many times have you had a promising conversation started with a potential client, only for them to simply stop responding to you, never completing a booking? It is a very frustrating but also very common experience. This helpful video tutorial shares some useful advice and techniques to decrease that ghosting rate and land more clients.

A Review of the Affordable Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera

At $679, the Canon EOS R50 offers an affordable entry point into Canon's mirrorless system, though it still brings along an array of enticing features. This excellent video review takes a look at the camera and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

A Start-to-Finish Edit in Lightroom of a Beautiful Shot in Bali

If you want to improve your post-production skills, there are few better ways than to watch experienced photographers editing their raw images. In this video, Mark Denney edits a stunning landscape in Bali, walking you through each step.
A Look at How to Break Out of a Creative Rut

Whether you are a new hobbyist or a seasoned professional, creative ruts are something that happens to all of us, and trying to get out of them can be a frustrating exercise that only makes them worse. If you find yourself mired in a creative rut, check out this helpful video that features a photographer sharing what helped him break free and get back to work.

Why the 50mm Focal Length Is Overrated

I know, I know. I'm likely guilty of photography blasphemy here. The 50mm focal length, often referred to as the "nifty fifty," has long been one of the most commonly used in photography, noted for its versatility and often, its affordability relative to other focal lengths. Despite all that, I am here to argue that the 50mm focal length is overrated and not as useful as it is often touted to be.
How to Improve Your Sports Action Photography

When it comes to sports portraits and action photography, employing a bit of artificial light can make a huge difference by giving you the ability to shape the look of the frame and add a lot of drama to the image. If you are ready to get started working with artificial light in your sports action portraiture, check out this excellent video tutorial that will give you a range of helpful tips and advice sure to put you on the right track.

The Magic of a Forgotten Sensor

Camera sensors have evolved at a breakneck pace since the advent of the digital era, but many photographers lament the loss of a sensor from the early days of the technology, often calling its color rendition "magic." Is it nostalgia, or is there really something different in the way it produces images? This awesome video takes a look.

Creating a Michael Bay-Level Rig in the Back Garden

It seems that every year we see crazier and crazier setups, usually reserved for high-end cinema productions, made available to the average person. In this video, you can see an absurdly cool orbital shot made in a back garden.
Why You Shouldn't Overlook This Fantastic $400 Full Frame Camera

Top-level full frame cameras can easily run north of $3,000 and much higher, and while they are, without a doubt, tremendously capable machines, you may not need all that power. This fantastic video takes a look at a full frame camera that costs only $400 and can still compete with modern options in many ways.

A Review of the New Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The new Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary lens offers one of the most popular focal lengths in tandem with a modestly wide maximum aperture, all in a very travel-friendly package, making it an appealing lens for quite a few photographers. Can it deliver good performance and image quality to back up those appealing characteristics? This great video review takes a look at what you can expect.

Who Makes the Best APS-C Camera: Canon or Fujifilm?

The Canon EOS R7 and Fujifilm X-T5 are two of the most advanced APS-C cameras on the market, sporting high-resolution sensors in tandem with fast burst rates, advanced autofocus systems, and a wide range of other useful features. Which one is right for your needs? This excellent video comparison takes an in-depth look at both cameras to help you decide.

Should You Buy the Godox AD200 Pocket Flash? We Review

The Godox AD200 has been around for a few years now, and in 2019, Godox released the "Pro" version of the AD200. Is this small, lightweight, powerful flash the right choice for you in 2023? Why do so many photographers think so highly of this pocket flash?

The Best Budget Sony E Mount Lenses for Wedding Photographers

It used to be that wedding photographers had to carry expensive top-level optics in order to ensure they could reliably deliver professional shots. However, in recent years, third-party and mid-tier lenses have made remarkable steps forward, and it is now possible to save both your back and your bank account by purchasing more modest options and still be able to deliver excellent images. This excellent video discusses some of the best options out there for Sony users.

A Common Pricing Mistake New Photographers Make

Being competent with your camera and having creative vision is, of course, essential to finding success as a professional, but it also takes a fair amount of business savvy as well. One of the things newer photographers struggle with the most is pricing. This great video tutorial features an experienced pro discussing a common mistake and what you can do to avoid it and increase your chances of success.

BTS of a Stunning Music Video in a Modest Location

An incredible location for our shoots is all we want, but with enough creativity and experience, you can transform even a humble place into something special. In this video, YCImaging shows how he shot a cinematic music video without any obscure or expensive locations.
A Review of the New Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary Lens

The new Sigma 17mm f/4 DG DN Contemporary lens promises nice image quality and a wide focal length in a very light and portable package. Can it deliver on that promise? This great video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in practice.

Hands-On With the New Sigma 23mm f/1.4

Sigma has announced a slew of new lenses that are attracting favorable reviews so far. One of which is the 24mm f/1.4 and this photographer has spent some time hands-on with it for this video.
How to Take Unique Landscape Photos in Popular Places

Popular landscape locations are like that for a reason: they are often quite breathtaking and can be a real joy to experience. Nonetheless, the challenge is creating unique imagery that stands out from the thousands of other photos of the location. How can you do that? This great video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing the dilemma and how you might approach it.

Speed Up Your Culling and Editing With Aftershoot PRO and EDITS

Over 20 years of digital photography produced 80,000 images. Culling is a time-consuming, tedious process that I’ve neglected. Consequently, my hard drives and cloud storage are bloated. Can Aftershoot PRO help me lighten the load?

Amazing Black and White Fine Art Photo Editing

I've long been fascinated by the work of Joel Tjintjelaar and Julia Anna Gospodarou. Those two are among the pioneers of a popular editing style for black and white architecture photos that is very graphical and introduces strong contrasts and lighting that feel surreal. In this fantastic video by Ben Harvey, you learn how such images are created.

Putting the New Canon R6 Mark II Through Its Paces

We shoot with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II mirrorless camera at a real wedding and a live concert and test the camera that changes the rules when it comes to shooting in low light and at high speed.

A Review of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera

The Canon EOS R5 burst onto the scene and instantly showed the industry that the company was extremely serious about contending in the professional mirrorless market. The EOS R6 came with the EOS R5 and brought with it most of the same features as the EOS R5, save for the high-resolution sensor and 8K raw video, and did so at a much lower price. The EOS R6 Mark II builds on that foundation and brings a wide variety of improvements and new features. This great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the camera.

The Importance of Knowing and Photographing Your Local Landscapes

When you look at landscape photography online, you will probably notice that, for the most part, it is of extraordinary locations that are difficult and pricey to reach, at best. And beyond that, you have further issues to contend with, such as distinguishing your images among the thousands of others created at the spot. This great video tutorial discusses why you should be embracing your local area and how to go about doing it.

How to Color Grade Images in Lightroom

Color grading is a subtle art, and yet, it is one of the most powerful ways to give your image a professional look, convey a certain mood, and establish a recognizable personal style. If you are new to the technique and looking for some advice on how to do it in a professional manner, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you a wide range of useful tips and techniques for color grading images in Lightroom.

Is This $8,000 Bokeh Machine Worth the Price Tag?

Portrait photographers will often drop significant amounts of money on top-level lenses, but even by those standards, the Nikon NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct is particularly expensive. At $8,000, can its performance and image quality justify that stratospheric cost? This great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens.

Make Your Own Film Presets With This Simple Tutorial

The nostalgia of film and the decades gone is fascinating so no wonder film presets and looks are popular to buy for your editing software. They’re pretty easy to make yourself if you put a little bit of time into understanding what elements in editing make the film look different from digital. Follow my tutorial to make your own vintage film presets for Capture One, Lightroom or PhotoShop.

How to Edit Skies in Landscape Photos in Lightroom

The way you edit the sky can have a tremendous impact on not just the quality of a landscape images, but the mood it conveys to the viewer. Lightroom offers a lot of power and versatility for editing skies, and this fantastic video tutorial will show you how to take advantage of those capabilities to create better and more precise edits.