Starting a freelance career might be one of the most stressful things a human can do to themselves. I am exaggerating, but you get my point. Naturally, your first instinct might be to start chasing every client possible and get as many jobs as possible. Here is why you should stop doing this and focus on something else.

Do you sometimes look at your images and think there's something missing? Something you can't quite put your finger on, but instinctively know? Very often your images are flat and lack depth. Here's exactly how to fix that issue and add real pop and life to your photos.

Apple's introduction of the M1 series of chips was a major paradigm shift for the company, bringing with them some of the efficient performance ever seen, allowing for powerful laptops that still managed to last all day. That, combined with other features, like a large and vibrant display, make the 16" MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip the seeming frontrunner for creatives on the go. Can it keep that title in practice? This excellent video review discusses one creative's thoughts after a year with the laptop.

It is the dream of many amateur photographers to be hired for celebrity photo shoots and high-status advertising gigs. What could be more exciting than photographing a famous singer in a large photo studio with stylists, digital techs, and assistants at your beck and call? Imagine how great it would be to see your photographs published on a magazine or album cover. Best of all, commercial jobs can pay well over $10,000 for a single day of work. Surely this is better than just photographing ordinary folk, right? Maybe not.

A well-made camera that can make great pictures and only costs $10 sounds too good to be true, right? Here's why you need to add a point and shoot to your camera bag.

Many of us are mired in the cold and snow of winter, but that does not mean our creative juices should stop flowing. In fact, winter offers a vast range of unique photo opportunities, some requiring long trips and some only needing you to step outside your back door. Macro snowflake photography falls into the latter category, and this excellent video tutorial features an experienced photographer giving five tips to help you come away with the best possible images.

Compositing in Photoshop comes in many forms, from product and portrait enhancement to fantasy-style images. Every digital artist will have their own workflow, as there are many different ways to get the final results.

Traditionally, decent image quality from a supertelephoto focal length costs a pretty penny, which is what makes the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM, which costs less than $1,000, a particularly intriguing lens for many creatives. Can it offer performance and image quality that punch above that budget price, though? This excellent video review takes an in-depth look at what you can expect from the lens.

Did you know that there are various ways to import images into Lightroom? Here, we look at the most effective method, which will save you time and ensure you don't even have to open the import dialog box.

Tamron has updated their ever-popular 28-75mm lens with a new second-generation version that packs a punch for Sony E mount users. Read on to see how it performed in the field when challenged by a variety of subjects and lighting conditions.

Photographing female models can be an exciting and creative process, but it's essential to approach it with professionalism and sensitivity. Here are some tips based on my own experience to help you get the best results during a photo shoot with a new model.

Photoshop is a tremendously complex and intricate program, and as such, there are many different ways to accomplish any specific task. This means that it is worth taking the time to learn some of the best and most efficient ways of doing things, as it will save you a lot of time and effort over the long run. This helpful video tutorial will show you five ways to make your work in Photoshop better and quicker.

You are a fabulous photographer. I love your work and find it inspiring. When was the last time you said that to someone? Evidence proves that the more you praise others, the better your own work will be.

With the release of cameras like the EOS R7, Canon has shown they are dedicated to building their APS-C mirrorless platform alongside their well-established full frame line. If you are shooting with such a camera and looking for a kit lens for shooting a variety of scenarios, check out this fantastic video review that compares two good options.

If you're hoping to improve your videos this year, there is a wealth of information to tap into. In this video, Vuhlandes goes through some easy filmmaking tips that can make all the difference.

The Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR is hailed to be one of the sharpest Fuji lenses for its size and very reasonable price, so how does it fair on the Fuji X-T5 with its 40mp sensor? It's one on a list of lenses that Fujifilm recommends you use to get the best out of the sensor, and if that in fact is the case it certainly does it well.

One of the calling cards of the Fujifilm X Series is professional features and image quality in significantly smaller packages, and the XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR continues that by giving photographers a useful wide angle focal length that fits in the palm of the hand. This great video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

Few cameras are as unique as the Leica M Monochrom, which, as its name implies, only shoots in black and white. While that might sound like a gimmick, it can provide a notable difference in image rendition in addition to the shooting experience. This interesting video takes a look at the original Leica M Monochromea decade after its release and discusses why it might be worth a look today.

Capture One has a great reputation for image quality but comes with a premium price tag. Does it live up to its reputation, and is that extra cost worth it compared to other programs? I tested it side by side with Adobe Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom continues to advance in its capabilities, making it a more versatile editing platform than ever before. If you have not checked out all the new features yet, take a look at this fantastic video tutorial that will take you through some of the most useful new tools, where to find them, and how to use them for quicker and more powerful edits.

Food photography, like every other genre, has certain pitfalls that can adversely affect your ability to make a good income from it. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced food photographer discussing three common pricing mistakes and how to fix or avoid them.

I’ve always had a set of “work” cameras and “fun” cameras, the former being big, heavy professional tools and the latter being the kind I’d bring on family trips and for street photography.

Fujifilm's new X-T5 mirrorless camera brings the beloved X-T series to the next level, offering a range of new features and advanced capabilities paired with a new 40.2-megapixel sensor, making it the most versatile option yet. 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.

In the last few years, Viltrox has earned a reputation for manufacturing lenses at some of the lowest prices out there that somehow still compete with more expensive options. Their latest offering, the AF 75mm f/1.2 XF, offers Fujifilm X Series users a nice combination of an ultra-wide aperture and a portrait focal length at a very reasonable price. This great video review takes a look at the new lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

At first sight, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II doesn’t seem to be much different compared to its predecessor. But looks are deceiving. Perhaps it’s the best mirrorless camera for a reasonable price you can buy at this moment. Canon Netherlands gave me this camera for a review.

In the past few years, Sigma has mostly focused on standard focal lengths between about 20mm and 135mm, but that does not mean they do not have their eyes on more extreme options. In fact, three new patents have emerged for lenses with long focal lengths ranging from 400mm to 700mm.

When starting out with off-camera flash, especially in portraiture, we don't always have access to a lot of high-tech or expensive strobes and modifiers. Here's a simple setup that will help you create stunning low-key rim lit images with very little equipment required.

Painting is an art form. So are music, prose, and dance. No one argues otherwise. But photography, since its very inception, has had to justify itself as a legitimate art form.

What do you think it takes to become a pro landscape photographer? You might come up with a whole range of possible options, but according to this pro, you might be thinking about it all wrong. See what he says it takes.

24mm prime lenses with wide maximum apertures are popular for a variety of applications, as they offer a versatile wide focal length that is not so wide that significant issues with distortion or composition start to creep in, making them a favorite for everything from events coverage to nightscapes. For Sony users, there is the Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8 ZA, and this excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.

To improve as a photographer, sometimes, it pays to stop worrying about what others are doing, and, instead, focus on what you do best.

Digital cameras have been around for just a moment compared to the long history of film photography, and that means within those many decades are some truly interesting and unique cameras. One of the weirdest and most beloved among those is the Rollei 35, and this great video takes a look at five reasons why it was such a fun and interesting camera.

Photographers who are new to working with artificial light often think that strobes always look distinctly different from natural light. And while it is true that you can shoot creative, highly stylized images that would not be possible with just sunlight, you can use strobes to emulate natural light to make subtle, natural looks. This excellent video tutorial will show you three off-camera flash lighting techniques that will allow you to create effective and compelling portraits.

If part of your business is capturing headshots, then this is for you. Even if you're thinking of adding it to your portfolio, it's worth checking these essential tips and tricks as, if you're a commercial photographer, you can up your customer's average spend by offering this essential service.

Now in its fifth generation, the Sony a7R series has earned a reputation for offering a wide range of impressive features paired with the highest-resolution sensor available in a full frame camera, making it the workhorse of choice for a lot of photographers and filmmakers. Is it the best hybrid camera on the market right now? This excellent video review takes a look.

We're now into 2023, and the Internet still feels a little like the Wild West when it comes to content sharing. There's so many places to share your work with the world. With lots of criticism of popular content sharing platforms, where should you be posting in 2023?

Nikon has announced the development of two exciting new lenses, the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S and NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8.

High-end retouching is normally done in Photoshop, so can similar edits be achieved in Lightroom without ever leaving the software? The following tutorial is based upon the tips and techniques provided in lesson 19 of Mastering Adobe Lightroom by Pye Jirsa and is only part of the 49 lessons available in the tutorial.

With the January sales looming and every company likely offering discounts on new and existing cameras and kit, is it worth considering a new camera body? Is it worth upgrading from your existing equipment to a newer model or even switching from DSLR to mirrorless?

Architectural photography can be described as one of the more technical kinds of photography. Photo compositions generally need to have a more structured aesthetic. Vertical lines need to be straight, and the best way to ensure this is by using a tilt-shift lens. The question is: which lens is best for architectural photography?

As part of Sigma’s Contemporary lens line, the 56mm f/1.4 DC DN is designed to offer exceptional image quality and performance all in a small, convenient package. With a 35mm equivalent of 84mm, this lens is great for portraiture, street photography, pet photography, travel work, and any low-light shooting situations.

Panasonic's LUMIX cameras have been a quiet but profound success in photography. Now, the company has announced the sequel to the beloved mirrorless and it has one improvement that caused quite the stir.

Photography is a lifelong commitment. There is always something new to learn, an interesting subject to photograph, and a skill to improve. How do you avoid stagnating? This great video discusses the topic and how one photographer keeps himself motivated to continually evolve and grow as a creative.

It's very easy to find information online about new cameras, news, rumors, reviews, and which camera you should be using right now. But there's far less information to be found about older cameras. Like many photographers, I find it interesting to look at the origins of photography and how far the science and technology in cameras has come in a relatively short period of time.

When Canon got serious about mirrorless camera and lenses, they put all their attention into developing full frame options. Of course, many users prefer APS-C cameras for their lower prices, smaller form factor, and extra reach. It looks like those users will be happy in 2023, with more APS-C cameras and lenses on the way.

Impostor Syndrome can be an insidious thing: you work hard at your craft and develop a strong creative voice, and yet, despite all that effort and experience, you feel as if you do not know what you are doing and your work is not worthwhile. Why do so many photographers experience Impostor Syndrome, and what can they do about it? This excellent video features an experienced creative discussing his experience with the issue and how he tackles it.

A new year brings thoughts of new beginnings and new opportunities. Resolutions are common this time of year. You undoubtedly have plans to join a gym this year, but why not also make a goal of working on a new photo project? There are several projects you might consider undertaking in 2023, ranging from those that require you to create something original each day to those that will be successful with a less frequent contribution on your part.

Around 2010, I upgraded computers and was very disappointed that I’d lost my CD of Photoshop. I was even more disappointed when I went to the store and remembered how expensive it was. Begrudgingly, I did re-purchase Photoshop.

Many photographers do not want to spend top dollar for high-level bodies, but still need and appreciate advanced features like fast burst rates and powerful autofocus. For Canon shooters, two options that fit that bill are the EOS R6 Mark II and EOS R7. Which is right for you, though? This interesting video discusses the two in the context of a demanding genre, bird photography.

Here are some tips and tricks that help make a wedding photography business successful.