V-flats are traditionally not portable by any means. For those that have a little DIY in them, I made my own portable v-flats that I can take with me anywhere I need. Here’s how to make them.
We all know how a histogram has to be read, or at least we should know. It is a handy tool to check if the exposure of the image is correct, or as correct as possible. If the image is not exposed correctly we can read the luminance histogram on our camera LCD screen and know exactly how much the exposure needs to be corrected. Well, perhaps not exactly, but enough to prevent us from guessing.
Every coin has two sides, and today, we're going to take a look at the natural light side of the lighting conversation. Here are seven different reasons why I think that natural lighting for portraits is pretty damn rad when compared with using flash.
Making the jump from amateur to professional photographer can be both an exciting and scary thing, and it’s important to know how to do everything correctly. Make sure you do all these things before you open for business.
Are you looking to get into product photography but find yourself holding back because you don't have a studio or multiple lights? You probably don't need as much as you think you need; you can create some amazing work with just one light.
If you're new to strobes, buying a couple of speedlights and modifiers can be a cheap but effective way to learn the ins and outs of artificial lighting. This awesome video will show you how to create classic studio portraits using just speedlights.
It is an often debated topic; what are the essential lenses for landscape photography? One photographer attempts to answer this burning question in this great video.
Sometimes all you want to do is shoot some beauty work with some natural light, but it doesn't mean the weather will always cooperate with you. Mother nature has a way of doing whatever she wants on any particular day. Super, right? Here's how I simulated window light in the studio.
Are you an aspiring boudoir photographer or someone who has begun offering boudoir, but still has a little to learn in order to perfect the genre? This simple, helpful video will show you some practical mistakes that many beginning and even seasoned boudoir photographers often make and how to avoid them.
The wide-angle lens is often the main lens of the landscape photographer, but it can be hard to use.
Car photography is a sharp learning curve, with the incline coming primarily in post-production. A tutorial like this can save you incredible amounts of time learning techniques.
It’s no secret that Instagram has been working on its algorithm for quite some time. Gone are the days of tricking the algorithm to get more visibility. Now, more than ever, Instagram values excellent content. Here are a few practices to avoid when posting on the popular social platform.
The Northern Lights are a spectacle like no other. Photographing them is a dance between you, your camera, and lady aurora.
No, it's not by adding black bars or shooting in slow motion. There's much more to the skill of making your videos look like the movies.
When you're working on composites, there are many variables that you need to attend to to make the final result convincing, matching colors being one of the most important. It turns out that Photoshop has a built-in tool to help you do this automatically.
We've all been there, in a situation where you're working with either a client or a model who does not have any posing experience whatsoever, and it's up to you to make sure the shoot runs successfully.
Have you ever tried to photograph the Milky Way, but your photographs appear blurry, too dark, or too noisy? Well, watch this video by Mike Perea to improve your Milky Way photography.
At some point in our career, we all have to deal with a nightmare client. Here are a few tips to help spot them and then avoid them.
Many photographers love spending time in the outdoors, photographing the natural world. But not everyone can sustain their passion into a full-time job. Watch this video to learn how one landscape photographer makes money with his craft.
Weather conditions aren’t always perfect when shooting landscape photography; let's be honest they are usually not ideal. One way to turn poor weather into something special is by using a 10-stop neutral density filter which allows you to take very long exposures during the day resulting in some unique images.
There are several things you have to get right to create a sharp photograph, and the lack of even one of them can ruin what might have otherwise been a great shot. This helpful video will give you seven tips to help you take sharper images.
If you're scared of damaging your camera's sensor by cleaning it yourself, this short video will show you exactly how to do it and remove any fears you might have.
Light can easily make or break a photograph. While there is truly no such thing as bad light, there is a good and bad way to use light.
With the post-processing power of Photoshop, there are some incredibly creative ways to process digital photographs to create incredibly beautiful results. In this realm of the powerful program by Adobe, exposure blending is not necessarily a new technique these days, but there are always different ways to use the techniques to create visually pleasing and even surreal imagery and this processing tutorial plays with the concept of time and exposure blending.
Detroit-based fashion and lifestyle photographer Jessica Kobeissi typically shoots exclusively with natural light, but in her latest video she partnered with Los Angeles-based photographer and former "Lizzie McGuire" cast member Jake Thomas to show off three different studio lighting setups.
A few weeks ago in a boudoir forum I came across a subject on what was the most time-consuming portion of most photographers' flow. The majority of the comments referred to culling and editing. So if you are looking to speed up your own workflow with minimal editing this video is for you.
Brew up a fresh cup of coffee because Gordon Laing has an epic new video showing everything one needs to know to take some excellent long exposure photos.
What should you be doing today to ensure your photography studio is still viable decades into the future? Reflecting on 10 years in the business, Photographer Phillip Blume of Blume Photography offers advice on how to sustain a photography studio that will be productive for decades to come.
Tired with your same ol' process of color grading in Photoshop? Try out different color combinations in quick succession using these handy tips from PiXimperfect.
You've had your camera, your passion growing with every click of the shutter, and now you're thinking that this thing that you love could be a money maker. You say to yourself, "I'm going to become a full time photographer!" But first, what are some of the steps to go full time?
Ever wonder how to create silky smooth long exposure images? Well, watch this video by Greg Benz to find out how.
As photographers and retouchers, we tend to rely only on a few of the numerous tools and techniques available in Photoshop. So why clutter our workspace with tools that are useless when everything could fit on a single panel? It’s precisely why the Retouching Toolkit by Conny Wallstrom exists.
Understanding how to light scenes at night is one of the most valuable lessons to learn as a photographer. Open up a world of creative possibilities with these great examples.
When is the last time that you went on a camping adventure? If it involved photography and both a sunset in the evening and a sunrise in the early morning, did you prefer one more than the other?
Long exposures are something almost every photographer tries at some point, and they can be a fun way to create images that the naked eye would never be able to see. This great video will discuss some motivations for shooting long exposure images and how to do it.
Lens distortion and color fringing are two significant problems produced by lenses that you have likely encountered. Here is an excellent tutorial about how to properly use the lens correction panel in Lightroom to fix these issues.
I have been doing photography for about 10 years. In that time I have moved from hobbiest film shooter to professional commercial photographer. This is what helped me make the leap.
Client galleries have become the de facto way of distributing photos post-shoot, whether you are a seasoned pro delivering to a corporate client or helping out at a friend's wedding. Can you do this on a shoestring and is there an efficient workflow?
If you think of a task like changing the color of an object, you probably automatically default to using Photoshop to accomplish it. It turns out that with a little ingenuity, however, Lightroom can handle it quite easily, as this great tutorial will show you how to do.
Some Lightroom panels and sliders can make drastic shifts in the look of your images, while others provide more subtle nudges that can give your photo that final touch. This great tutorial will take you through the ins and outs of the Details panel in Lightroom.
Do you find that your cityscape photos lack punch? Check out this tutorial for an easy way to add some pop to your images.
If you're often frustrated by how little detail can be seen in your Instagram posts, this technique and free Photoshop template are for you.
Editing large batches of photos requires an efficient workflow, with headshots being no different. This great video will show you how to quickly and effectively edit a large set of headshots.
One of my favorite features in Lightroom for local adjustments is the Auto Mask feature, which can save a ton of time when used in the right situations. This great trick will show you how to get way more mileage out of it to save even more time in your edits.
Your work is greater than a Graham cracker sized cell phone screen and you know it. When it comes time to select which paper you print on, you've got a lot of options. Let's take a closer look at a few things to consider when making your choice and examine one example up close.
Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO are the three most fundamental properties of photography, and understanding them inside and out when you first start shooting should be a high priority. This helpful video will tell you everything you need to know about the third property, ISO.
When I was starting in photography, I kept hearing peers and educators talking about their photographic style. I was totally lost. I had no idea what my style was, because as desperate as I was to define it, I hadn't yet discovered it. Discovered is the wrong word. My style wasn't yet.
The way you structure and display your rates to potential clients could be negatively affecting your earning potential and losing you work. Use these tried and trusted psychological "tricks" to help you get hired and earn more money.
Natural light photography is sought-after in lifestyle, fashion, lingerie, and many other photography genres. Anita Sadowska takes us through how she uses natural light in her small apartment and what decisions you need to make when you plan on using natural light.
A few months ago I wrote about the higher end luxury finds for your boudoir wardrobe closet. In those instances where a client has either brought unflattering pieces or that she is relying on your to help guide her in looks, having these backups are perfect to get more looks for bigger sales. While having a closet can be helpful, it also does not have to break the bank if you are just starting out or like to change things up constantly.
![How to Use Natural Light [NSFW]](https://cdn.fstoppers.com/styles/med-16-9/s3/lead/2018/05/get-natural-light-right.jpg)
