Welcome to the next—and 6th—episode of our 8-part video tutorial series about long exposure photography and how different filters can produce dramatic results. As a reminder, each time we drop a new video, you have the chance to win some awesome prizes. Follow the instructions included in this post to enter this week's contest.

Being a photographer can be a challenging but rewarding career, but it is not without risks one should be aware of before they choose to enter it. This fantastic video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing some important truths about being a professional that every creative should be aware of.

Using a very shallow depth of field is highly popular for portrait photography, but when you combine that with flash, you can run into a tricky situation when you bump into your flash sync speed. There are two ways around this: high speed sync and ND filters. Which is right for your work? This excellent video tutorial will explain the differences as well as the pros and cons of each.

Cranes are quickly becoming a staple in the bags of many videographers and for good reason. It has a smaller footprint, lower cost of entry, and has a relatively low learning curve than most gimbals on the market. Even though most users can pick up and go without ever opening the manual. There are still fundamental crane movements that you need to learn to take a good scene and make it a great scene.

Almost all of us have caught GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) at some point. We can often get caught up with buying new lights and modifiers, new lenses, and it can all become rather daunting, so recently as a challenge to myself I shot an entire portfolio building session with a single light, a single modifier, and a single lens.

Shutter priority mode helps you capture sharp, clear images instead of blurry ones by letting you prioritize shutter speed over other settings.

Have you ever seen those bold modern ads that just force you to stop and look? One got me this week. I was driving, and a billboard had a colossal burger, most likely shot with the 16-35mm lens, and a bold, canary yellow background with that primary McDonalds red. "I need that burger! Wait... I'm a gluten-free vegan!" I tipped my hat to the photographer and kept driving.

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of participating in a creative photo weekend and showing a very green photographer some basics of lighting. While she was a darling and seemed to grasp every concept I explained, there were still quite a few misunderstandings that I had to clear up. In this article, I will explain the basic properties of light every photographer must know.

No doubt, it is crucial to get your subjects' eyes in focus in any portrait, but that can be a bit difficult, particularly since a lot of photographers love to shoot at very wide apertures. If that is something you struggle with, this great video will give you five helpful tips for getting sharper eyes in your portraits.

So, you've bought the camera and lights, you've watched hours of tutorials and done lots of shoots with friends to get your technique up to speed, and you've printed up business cards. Now, it's time to get the clients you want. Check out this quick video that'll set you on the right path.

I knew very little about choosing a filter when I first started out. This short video contains some great advice and offers some examples of when to use filters and why to use them.

Black-and-white photography has a way of emphasizing the relationship between light and shadow in ways color photography often cannot. Transforming an ordinary photo into a striking black-and-white image requires a blend of technical precision and creative decision-making. This video demonstrates how to use Lightroom Classic to create stunning black-and-white edits, walking you through the process step by step.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes, a few of those words need to be cut. Cropping isn’t just about trimming an image—it’s about sharpening the story you want to tell.

Brands big and small, new and established, are heavily investing in Instagram influencers to market their products. This has opened up a relatively new market for the working videographer, and here are my top seven tips to the production of Instagram-friendly video ads.

So you’ve just bought a drone for Christmas, flew it for the first time only to realize that getting those beautiful aerial sequences to look cinematic wasn’t that easy. Don’t worry; it’s actually not so complicated. There are just a couple of things to know and combine to bring your clips to the next level. Be sure to watch this tutorial if you want to make the most out of your next time flying your drone.

Shooting a panorama is quite simple in concept, but there are a few tips to follow that should give more consistent results. Whether you have never shot a panorama before or you're well versed, there may be something in here for you.

If you’ve ever considered using more than one camera system, you’re not alone. Recent polls show that nearly half of camera users have multiple systems, and many have even more. While it might seem like overkill at first, there are good reasons why people invest in different brands and models.

Artificial lighting can be a bit tough for a lot of photographers to master, but once you understand the fundamental behavior of light and some of its basic properties, you will be well on your way to creating better images. If you are new to artificial lighting, this fantastic video details six fundamental lighting facts every photographer should know.

As photographers, we often find ourselves searching for inspiration to fuel our creativity and improve our craft. This pursuit of inspiration can be both exciting and challenging, regardless of where we are in our photographic journey. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional, finding ways to stay motivated and passionate about photography is crucial for long-term growth and enjoyment.

A lot of the time, you have complete control over a portrait, including where you take it and thus, the background that complements your subject(s). But in other situations (wedding photography, for example), you do not get much of a choice and may be stuck with a boring, distracting, or simply unpleasing background. If that is the case, this helpful video tutorial will give you five tips for still making professional portraits.

Mastering photography requires not just technical skills, but also a keen eye for opportunities and the right mindset. One key piece of advice can significantly impact your approach to photography, the famous: "f/8 and be there." This concept emphasizes the importance of being present and ready to capture moments, regardless of perfect conditions.

Lighting and taking the shot is only half of what it takes to produce a great beauty portrait. The retouching also has to be spot on for the photo to be successful. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to retouch a beauty portrait from start to finish using Photoshop.

Every photo you’ve ever taken is just a record of one thing: light. It’s the invisible brush that paints every image, and if you don’t understand it, you’re not really photographing.

Whether you shoot portraits, still life, fashion, beauty, or even video, there will be a time when you’ll need to shoot overhead for some reason. Don’t ask me why, I’m just sure that one day you will. So while I can’t help you with when and why, I can share the latest video from Peter McKinnon explaining how. Watch this tutorial to learn all about setting up a secure, compact, and efficient overhead setup.

The photography world is veritably inundated with learning options, and it can be nigh impossible to wade through them all to find what's worthwhile. So, when Skillshare offered me the chance review their platform, I jumped at the opportunity. Here's what I found.

Removing people from your landscape photos can transform a good shot into a great one. But doing it manually is tedious and time-consuming. You need a faster, more efficient way to clean up your images without sacrificing quality.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, everyone has moon fever. There has never been a better time to grab your camera and head outside to take a shot of our moon, and this excellent video will show you everything you need to know to do just that.

Composites are one of the best ways to give your image a whole new look and feel. It can take something from the ordinary to the extraordinary. Understanding how to create these images to stack in a realistic way is all about understanding how to blend your subject seamlessly.

It seems hard light is trending these days. From elaborate food spreads in Bon Appetit to fashion shoots for Burberry, hard light is in. If you've ever wondered how to create this look, this quick and simple tutorial will lay it out for you. I'll share a few concepts, and you can watch the video for a demonstration.

With more clients seeking unique, standout images, digital backdrops could give you a creative edge and make your work more efficient.