2019 has just begun, and it is time to wrap up and look back at 2018. Like last year, I have found my favorite photos, and what they have in common are strong compositions.
If you're relatively new to the world of stock photography and trying to figure out the best way to make money, then I might just have the answer for you. With creativity, you can produce work that fills a need and earns income. In this article, I aim to provide some methods that will help give you an edge.
Got a new camera for Christmas but you're not Lindsey Adler yet? Here are some great tips to send you on your way to mastering your new gear.
One of the most popular pieces of gear most photographer assume a studio should have is a reflector of some sort, and a v-flat is greatly preferred. Some photographers who look for a DIY option but can't seem to find a source for the large foam boards usually give up and proceed without them. Here's another method you can use to create your own v-flats.
How many times have you snapped a beautiful scene, only to be disappointed when your images don’t adequately represent the reality? Though the camera’s images sometimes fall short, have no fear, because bracketing is here.
Lightroom can sometimes seem deceptively simple in comparison to its more nuanced cousin, Photoshop, but there are a lot of powerful capabilities lurking beneath the surface of the application. This great video will show you six different ways to color tone an image using Lightroom.
The HSL sliders are a powerful way to change the mood and tone of your images quite quickly in Lightroom. This awesome video tutorial will introduce you both to the theory behind them and how to use them to create images that better match your creative vision.
Boudoir shoots are inherently more quiet and less flamboyant by their very nature, but that doesn't mean that they have to be any less creative and unique than any other style of shoot. One of the ways that I have found to change things up with my boudoir work is to set up the shoots in random Airbnb properties instead of in studios.
Photographer Ole Martin Halvorsen recently did a photoshoot that was was part of a larger social media and advertorial campaign for H&M Norway, in collaboration with Spray for their magazine Portia.
When you're first starting with artificial lighting, it can be easy to overcomplicate things by thinking you need lots of lights performing all sorts of specific functions to achieve great shots. This excellent video will show you how to create interesting portraits using a very basic setup.
It doesn't matter what kind of photography you do; if you shoot people, then knowing a few key posing ideas can really help to take your images to the next level.
What is the key to growth as a photographer? Is it buying the best gear you can possibly afford? Nope. Or is it strategically curating your Instagram feed? Probably not.
Did you know that Photoshop has a tool for repairing motion blur? Here is a great technique that can salvage a blurry photo and turn it into a sharp image.
Out of the over 1 billion Instagram users on the platform in 2018, it's important to stand out. Check out my top 10 favorite female portrait photographers on Instagram and go give them a follow! Be ready to be blown away!
It doesn't matter what kind of photography you do, there will be times when your pictures would benefit from a sky replacement. Just make sure you avoid this blindingly obvious mistake whenever you do them in Photoshop.
Gear cannot make you a better photographer. This statement is said over and over and I actually really believe it. But despite believing this statement to be true, I also believe that switching to mirrorless has made me a better photographer.
There are hundreds of tutorials on how to select the background of an image and mask it out, but you probably didn’t know that Photoshop has a dedicated tool for erasing a photo’s background. Here is why you should add this tool to your collection of editing techniques.
I get many viewer questions, but this is one of the most asked. What if the model wants the photographer to pay for the shoot? Before anyone raises concern, this is a photo shoot to build the model's portfolio, not for an ad campaign.
Are you stuck in an artistic routine or struggling to become comfortable photographing people in the street? Try this simple project that'll get you out there, shooting and gaining confidence!
Storage has become increasingly inexpensive which means there are a lot of options out there to back up your photos. One of those options is reliable, unlimited, and even free if you already have Amazon Prime.
Recently, I realized that the best way to get more Instagram followers (and therefore really be a professional photographer) was to start making all of my photographs orange and teal. I downloaded some Lightroom presets and set to work.
High-speed sync is a super useful technological advancement in flash technology that makes life a lot easier for photographers using strobes, but that doesn't mean you should always use it. This helpful video will show you some situations where high-speed sync has an advantage and others where standard flash should be your choice.
Last year Adobe added the ability to apply a range mask to the adjustment brush tools in Lightroom, but photographers have mostly forgotten about this powerful option. Here is why you should be using range masks more frequently when editing your photos.
For photographers, taking pictures comes naturally. Marketing, creating content, and blogging, however, may not flow as easily. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing when creating content for your blog.
One of the quickest and most powerful ways to achieve a signature look in Lightroom is by taking advantage of the HSL sliders. This excellent tutorial will introduce you to the HSL sliders, what they do, and how to use them to create better images.
It’s odd that there is a slider in Photoshop that is continuously in the forefront of the work we are doing, but it is almost never used. This video explains how to use the overlooked fill slider to adjust the effects of various blend modes.
When it comes to sending an important email, timing can be quite literally the difference between success and failure. Take the following things into consideration before you next hit the send button.
Lightroom is an intricate program full of layers of features that go deep beyond the surface interface. As such, there are a lot of hidden tips and tricks that can make your work both easier and better. This helpful video will show you five such tricks.
Shooting natural light can be great, but the beauty of flash is the control you have over the power and shape of the light. Sometimes though, a combination of the two is best, and this excellent tutorial will show you exactly how to effectively mix them for a dramatic portrait.
When you're working in either Lightroom or Photoshop, there are often many paths to the same destination, but some are more efficient and straightforward than others. This great video will show you everything you need to know about using curves.
One of the most common issues that can destroy an otherwise good photo is a color cast. This short video demonstrates an easy way to salvage your image and remove any color cast, tint, or stain from an image.
Before you take on that new client, apply for an internship, or consider assisting that photographer, make sure you have done the following first.
Are you still uncertain of what the purpose of a Smart Object is in Photoshop? Here is an excellent explanation of one of Photoshop’s most powerful tools.
Unfortunately, creativity is something that can be fleeting: you're on a hot streak, producing quality work, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, the spark vanishes. This great video talks about why that happens and what we can do to get the creative juices flowing again.
Efficient project management (in fact, life management), is about getting things done or GTD. So, how on earth does the indent help you?
There’s a lot to learn about photography, and while online tutorials and YouTube videos are great, sometimes you just need a good book to get the creative juices flowing.
Waterfalls are by far one of the most popular subjects for landscape photographers and for good reason: they show off both the power and beauty of nature all at once. This great video will show you an easy way to create a unique waterfall shot using Photoshop.
Having a good routine leading up to an important shoot can be the difference between success and failure. Make sure you do these 12 things well before you pick the camera up and press the shutter button.
Sunrise and sunset are often beautiful times for photography and we go out of our way to make shoots happen at those times. Once we get there, however, how is it that we best make use of that light?
In this six-minute video, YouTuber workphlo breaks down a simple DIY diffuser that works especially well when going for a "glossy" look in your product photos. This technique applies to close-ups of reflective products.
Lumenzia is probably the most used luminosity masking tool by photographers. It has been improving since its launch, and with the latest version, it is faster and offers lots of new features.
Newcomers to photography may have heard that 50mm or 85mm lenses are the right choice for portraiture. But did you know even as wide as 35mm can be used in the right situations? Take a look at how these three focal lengths compare and when to use them in this helpful video.
Real estate and architectural photographers are familiar with the challenges of shooting an indoor location during broad daylight. The sunshine pours in through windows, and, without a truckload of studio lights to brighten the space, it's impossible to capture everything your eye sees in a single image. That's where this intro to HDR comes in handy.
After a lengthy and involved negotiation for a large commercial project came to an unfortunate conclusion, I wanted to share some of the lessons I learned that may help you in your future business.
In this video, photographer Saurav Sinha shares how to capture stunning Milky Way images. Astrophotography can be a lot of fun, but it comes with its own set of challenges, which is reasonable considering your subject is literally out of this world.
Ever wondered how to create your very own LUTs using only Photoshop? Look no further, Unmesh Dinda at PiXimperfect just released the perfect short and easy to follow tutorial for you.
There's a lot more to compositing than just getting a perfect cutout. Here are some golden tips by Unmesh Dinda of Piximperfect on how to get a seamless blend.
We've talked about this before on Fstoppers, but there still seems to be some debate about lens compression. Let's dive a little deeper into perspective distortion.
A photographer's online portfolio is paramount in this day and age, but you already know that. However, we are at a juncture in which the caliber of a photographer's website can be the difference between being hired and being overlooked. Here are five essential tips for ensuring your website gives you the best possible chance of being hired.
Is your pricing holding you back from your goals? In the second part of this series on wedding photography pricing, we will explain how to create packages that compliment your goals and how to add value to your photography.
