You're probably convinced your gear is holding your photography back, but what if the real issue is simpler—and far more essential? The problem might be that you're missing three fundamental skills, ones rarely discussed but vital to capturing great images.

One of the beautiful things about mastering artificial lighting is that you open a huge range of creative options to yourself through the use and arrangement of modifiers. However, there are numerous modifiers available to photographers, and it can be tricky knowing which ones are right for your work. This fantastic video compares over 25 lighting modifiers to show you the way they will render your subjects and help you choose the ones you prefer.

Luck certainly plays a role in photography, but only if you're prepared for when it comes along.

A lot of us like to keep up with the latest gear, and there is certainly nothing inherently wrong with that; after all, cameras are rather nifty gadgets. But it is important to not confuse enthusiasm for gear with gear being a shortcut to improving as a photographer. This great video essay discusses the topic and offers some good motivation for enjoying what you have.

Spend any amount of time on the internet studying photography, and you are sure to hear about a wide variety of rules photographers should follow and mistakes they make. But what constitutes a mistake is not always ironclad, and it is worth considering that before you lose your individuality as an artist.

If you’ve ever tried photographing a newborn, you can appreciate how important it is to have a sleepy baby for your session. Some well-known tricks to encourage a baby to fall asleep include keeping the room very warm, playing white noise, and making sure the baby has a full belly. Newborns operate on a schedule of their own, and sometimes no matter what you do, they are wide awake and not overly happy with being placed in any sort of prop you have on hand. Thankfully there are a few things that you can do to salvage a session with an unhappy newborn.

Taking landscape photos is a wonderful way of spending time. Enjoying the view and the play of light and shadow is inspiring. If you can capture that moment in the best possible way, it becomes even more fun. But watch out where you place the light in the frame.

Taking your photography seriously is essential if you want to turn it into a fulfilling career. For many, photography starts as a hobby, but with dedication and the right approach, it can evolve into a professional pursuit. This helpful video tutorial offers a lot of useful advice for your journey.

A few weeks ago we released "Photographing the World 3," the newest installment of Elia Locardi's PTW series. As with with many of our tutorials, we have also produced a behind-the-scenes series that shows exactly how we filmed and produced this landscape tutorial. You can watch all of the PTW 3 behind the scenes here, but in this week's episode Elia covers the importance of scouting, Lee discovers a way to make his sandwiches even tastier, and I test out one of Tamron's newest lenses for time-lapse.

The new generative AI remove tool in Lightroom is exciting but can be unpredictable. It’s important to know how to use it effectively under different situations.

Landscape photography is a tricky genre that takes the confluence of multiple skills to get right, but there are some overarching philosophies that can guide you to consistently better images. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing three helpful tips sure to improve your photos.

Traditionally, studio photographers tend to shoot with narrower apertures, though there are certainly situations in which it might be a better choice to shoot at a wider aperture. This informative video examines when different apertures are optimal in studio as well as some of the issues associated with using artificial lights at wider apertures.

If you are new to photography, it can seem a bit counterintuitive that you would use a flash when shooting in direct sunlight, but it can vastly improve your portraits. This excellent video tutorial will show you why you should use a flash in such a situation and how it will improve your photos.

Wine bottles can be a real challenge to light and photograph, particularly with their curves and reflective glass. Nonetheless, you can learn quite a lot from the process. If you would like a fun weekend project, check out this great video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know to create a professional wine bottle product image.

When it comes to creating compelling, professional-level portraits, it can be easy to think that you need a complex, multi-light setup in order to get worthwhile results. And while two or three lights can certainly give you more versatility, you can absolutely create compelling results with just one light. This excellent video tutorial will show you two effective and straightforward one-light setups for portraits.

Even to the non-photographer, the look of light through a window is quite recognizable, and as such, it is an excellent way to give your portraits an elegant and timeless look. Of course, we do not always have the ability to just use a window with natural sunlight streaming through, and as such, knowing how to create it in studio is a useful skill. Thankfully, it is not that difficult, nor does it require a lot of equipment. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to do it with just a single speedlight.

Over the past few years there has been a lot of negativity thrown at attending school for photography. While there is some sound wisdom and reasoning behind these arguments, I would have to say that I am extremely proud to have gone to Columbia in Chicago, and I think most of my friends that have done so would agree (those at other art schools as well). Now, I must admit that I didn’t even graduate, or spend four years there, but my photo school experience has been invaluable to my career. I don't believe a degree will make any difference in the photo world, and it all comes down to who you know, your character, and your portfolio.

Travelling to exotic locales? Searching for rare megafauna in spectacularly remote landscapes? Here are some tips from experts on how to get the best photographs while respecting your subjects and their environment. Spoiler, it's not all about your camera.

Since the mid-2010s, there have been more photographs taken each year than existed in the history of photography. The democratization of photography and the removal of barriers to entry means there are also more professional photographers than ever before in history. Given this steep competitive curve, how is it possible to stand out?

Many people that want to get into filmmaking believe you need to attend film school to have a successful career. Many also believe that by purchasing a Red Epic Camera you will instantly become a filmmaker. Neither are true. After watching Casey Neistat's Guide to Filmmaking video, you learn that gear doesn't matter. Neistat does own expensive gear, such as the Canon 70D and the Canon 5D Mark III, however, he became a successful filmmaker and youtuber with dirt cheap equipment.

One you have started to get the hang of the basics of how light works and you feel comfortable with portraits setups using a single strobe, the next step is to move up to two-light setups, of course. This awesome video will show you how such a photo was lit, shot, and edited.

Understanding the nuanced interplay between contrast, texture, and clarity is pivotal for properly enhancing image details and directing viewer attention. Each tool manipulates image contrast in distinct ways. This helpful video tutorial will walk you through the differences.

Landscape photography often comes with challenges that aren’t always apparent until you’re in the field, and knowing how to handle them can make all the difference in your shots.

Seascape photography presents an expansive realm of creative possibilities, where the ever-changing nature of the ocean becomes a source of inspiration. From tranquil sunsets to tempestuous storms, the diversity of seascapes offers photographers a wide range of subject matter and moods to explore. In this article, we delve into the various types of seascape photography and discuss the unique benefits and techniques associated with each.

Finding the perfect photo shoot location can make all the difference. Whether you're working outdoors or transforming your own space, the right setting can elevate your images significantly.

Learning how to see hidden flaws in your photos can transform your editing process. Here's a great trick.

Teleconverters and speed boosters are two common accessories that can make your lenses more versatile and even save you from having to buy a second lens. This excellent video will show you how they work as well as their pros and cons.

"Which camera should I buy?" This is one of the most common questions I hear. Whether the question comes from an aspiring indie filmmaker, a television production student, or a parent wanting to capture some memories of their children, the answer is never that simple. It’s the equivalent of someone asking what kind of car they should buy. Do you want to carry your kids to soccer practice? Drift around tight corners in a parking garage? Save on fuel costs? The point is that this question leads to more questions. Here are a few things to ask when you’re deciding on a new camera.

A problem that many photographers face is being unhappy with their photos. This ends up running shoots and makes matters even worse. Some never fully experience the joy of creating that photography can bring.

Are you a photographer or videographer who loves to write? Fstoppers.com is looking to hire several creative professionals to write for us. If you enjoy reading Fstoppers, and think you may have something to offer, we want to hear from you!