Recent BTS Articles
Make a Monster Splash With High-Speed Flash Photography
Go behind the scenes with photographer Thierry Kuba to observe how he lights, shoots, and edits this high-speed flash project with water splashes. Learn the techniques he uses, listen to discussion of his mistakes, and take in all of his tips and tricks along the way.
Using a Nikon Z30 for Landscape Photography
Everyone likes to talk about gear, moving to a full frame camera, getting the newest camera, more megapixels, and so on. It is easy to think that you can’t take good pictures without the right gear. In this video, we see someone move from using their Nikon Z7 to using their Nikon Z30 more often.
Hiking With One Lens for Landscape Photography
Landscape photographers often find themselves hiking longer distances or on routes with significant elevation changes. Decisions about what camera gear to carry can influence the hike's success, both in reaching the destination and photography results. Is there a one lens solution for these hikes?
Making the Most of 8 Megapixels: Portrait Shoot With the Olympus E-500
What matters more, gear or creativity? For this camera challenge, I set out to do a portrait shoot with an 8-megapixel camera that is almost 20 years old. Yes, I am talking about the Olympus E-500.
Is Less Camera Gear Better for Your Landscape Photography?
Do you ever feel like you carry too much camera gear when out practicing landscape photography? A camera bag, a camera body, a trio of lenses, batteries, filters, a tripod, maybe a drone or action cam: it all adds up. This video looks at taking a minimal approach and some of the advantages that it brings.
100 Megapixel Medium Format Showdown: Which Is Better?
If you've ever yearned after a medium format camera, you might wonder what the difference between them is, particularly when they're both 100 megapixels. Well, here's a showdown.
A Colorful DIY Photoshoot Backdrop Under $25
Sometimes, the simplest ideas can create some really cool images. Here’s how I created a fun and colorful DIY photoshoot backdrop for less than $25.
Crazy Cosmic Photoshoot Using Metallic Spandex
Portrait Shoot With the Diana Instant Square Camera
I was challenged to photograph a portrait shoot on another random camera, but this one was really not what I was expecting. How do you take artistic portraits using an instant camera?
How to Light a Painterly Style Portrait
The Photo That Took Us To Abbey Road Studios
We had an idea for a shoot and acted on it. We had no idea that this photo would take me all the way to the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Cyanotype Printing: Is It Photography, and How Do You Do It?
Explore the Art of the Cyanotype. In this article, we examine the step-by-step process of cyanotype printing and its place within the realm of photography. You can decide for yourself if you agree whether this is a photographic medium or not.
How to Take Beautiful Senior Portraits
First Time Astrophotography for Complete Beginners
Working With What You Have
Film Photography Challenge: Canon A-1 and Ilford HP5
With digital photography more accessible than ever, is film worth it? I picked up my film camera and shot my first roll of black and white film in over 10 years.
Is the Insta360 GO 3 the Smallest Vlogging Camera in the World?
Natural Light Waterfall Portraits in Bali With the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L Lens
If you are looking for beautiful, natural light portraiture and how to pose models effectively, this is a fabulous video set in an amazing waterfall location with a professional model. Join Irene Rudnyk here behind the scenes on this adventure and watch the magic unfold.
Overcoming Creative Challenges in Fine Art Nude Photography
Things don't always go as planned during photoshoots. Here are five questions to ask yourself when trying to overcome a creative challenge.
How to Photograph Landscapes Outside the Golden Hour
Bright and sunny skies, or bluebird skies, as some call them, are the bane of landscape photographers. Or are they? We’ve all been taught to seek out the “good” light of golden hour or dramatic skies. This video talks about how to walk away with great images even on those sunny, cloudless days.
Mimicking the Look of a High-End Campaign With No Budget
Natural Light Beach Portraits in Bali With the Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L Lens
If you are looking for beautiful, natural light portraiture and how to pose models effectively, this is a fabulous video set in an amazing location with a professional model. Join Irene Rudnyk behind the scenes on this adventure and watch the magic unfold.
Abstract Photography Tips to Improve Your Compositions
Do you find yourself overwhelmed and stuck when composing a landscape photography scene? Having some tips on what to look for can help if you are stuck. This video looks at the world of abstract photography as a way to find scenes and compositions.
Shooting With a Broken Lens: Genius or Giant Mistake?
I was challenged to photograph an entire portrait shoot using a broken lens. Can a consumer-grade camera and a half-broken, old lens from eBay create anything interesting?
5 Photographers Shoot the Same Models at the Same Location
Behind the Scenes of Bird Photography in Scotland
A Journey Into Kodak's Film Factory: Part 3
This is the last of three videos that dive deep into how Kodak makes film for your cameras. In this third video, we get a peek into how the large, wide rolls of light-sensitive film that were made in the previous stages are now cut into narrower strips and packaged for us to use!
Incredible Bird Photographer Shares Her Secret Tips
$50 Versus $5,000 Camera in a Car Shootout
Tips for Better Landscape Photos in New Locations
Do you struggle with your landscape photography when at a new location? It can be challenging when you are photographing a new area. You don’t have a go-to composition, you don’t know when the light is best, and so on. This video walks through how one photographer approaches a new location.
3 Biggest Changes Currently Happening in the Photo Industry and How We Can Adjust
Today, let’s discuss some of the biggest changes currently happening in the market and how those changes will affect our lives and our businesses as professional photographers.
Minimalist Photography in the Middle of a Desert
Behind the Scenes of a Natural Light Portrait Shoot in Costa Rica
2 Photographers Go Head-to-Head Shooting With Only Hard Reflectors
BTS of a Stunning Music Video in a Modest Location
The Value of Teamwork in Creative Endeavors
A few brief words on why it sometimes pays to have more hands in the kitchen when cooking up a creative project.
50mm Versus 85mm: Side-by-Side Lens Comparison for Portraits
How I Ended Up Using 11 Nikon Z9 Cameras to Film a TV Pilot
Today, we will eschew all the glitz, glamour, and pixel-peeping and get down to brass tacks on why I chose to use a specific camera for a specific use case.
Three Non-technical Concepts That Are Essential to Photographers
In last week’s article, I discussed three mistakes to avoid when building a career as a photographer or filmmaker. Today, let’s look into three broader concepts that you might want to lean into.
10 Simple Portrait Lighting Setups for You to Try
There are myriad ways you can light your subject in portraiture, and whether you're jaded by your go-to setup, or overwhelmed as to where to start, this video can help you add some more styles to your arsenal.
How to Overcome Winter Burnout
If you find yourself struggling during the colder, darker seasons, you're far from alone. In this video, Aidin Robbins goes through how he combats winter burnout and how you can, too.
Easy and Creative Tips for Filming Yourself
Whether you don't have anyone to help you on a shoot, or you're filming a vlog, sometimes you need to be on the other side of the camera. Here are some tips on how to make that footage the best it can be.
See How an Advanced Modern Lens Is Made
Modern camera lenses are small marvels, absolutely packed with technology and intricate, precise machinery. Rarely do we get a chance to look inside them, however. This neat video takes you inside one of Fujifilm's manufacturing plants to see how they put together one of their newest and most advanced lenses, the XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR.
Testing the Sigma 65mm f/2 for Portraits
If you're a portrait photographer, you'll know the feeling of getting a new lens and going on your first portrait shoots with it. That feeling was strong for me over a decade ago and it's just as strong now!
Steal This Dramatic One-Light Studio Lighting Setup for Food Photography
I am going to walk you through how these dramatic food shots were created using only one flash and simple light shapers to imitate light coming through a window frame.
Behind the Scenes of a Landscape Shoot at Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji is one of the most iconic locations on the planet and it is often photographed. However, shooting it at sunrise, in the fog, and with a drone are three slightly rarer occurrences, and all feature in this video!
Why the Laowa 12mm f/2.8 ZERO-D Is Terrible for Portraits
Certain tools, including lenses, are often intended to be used in specific ways. However, by working in an unintended manner, you can create something unique and unexpected.
Autumn Portraits in Tokyo With the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN
There are few better feelings than a great lens, a great model, and a great location. In this video, go behind the scenes with Mitch Lally as he roams an autumnal Tokyo taking portraits with a much sought-after Sigma prime.
Creative Thinking With the Extreme Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro Lens
The past few years, Venus Optics has been making great strides in affordable, niche lenses. In this video, photographer Markus Hofstätter shares his experience with the Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro lens.