Recent Education Articles

How to Create Realistic Shadows in Photoshop

Are you having a hard time making your composites look believable? Learning to create shadows in Photoshop is one of the critical elements in creating realistic composites.

One of the Most Common Mistakes Photographers Make With Artificial Lighting

When it comes to artificial lighting, while technical skills are critical, even more important is learning to light scenes in service of the narrative rather than conspicuous lighting for its own sake. This great video demonstrates that concept and offers five useful steps to put you on the path to success.

Are You Making Time for Photography?

Whether you are an amateur or a professional (surprisingly), it can be difficult to actually find time to just photograph things for yourself. If that is something you struggle with, this great video will help you get on the right track to get more time behind the camera.

Five Answers to Five Questions About Improving as a Landscape Photographer

How do you improve as a landscape photographer? That question is very hard to answer. I am not talking about settings, composition, or light. I am talking about “landscape photographer” in the broad sense. There is much more to being a landscape photographer than great photos.

How To Turn Skin Pale and Hair Gray in Photoshop

In this video tutorial watch as I show you how to turn skin pale and hair gray in Photoshop. I have used these two techniques on many images now, and this way is far more adaptable than simply using a desaturate filter.

A Beginner's Guide to Core Photoshop Concepts

When you first start using Photoshop, understanding the basics of its interface can set the foundation for everything you’ll do. Photoshop's layout consists of two main views: the Home Screen and the Workspace. Each plays a crucial role in organizing your projects and tools efficiently.

An Unpretentious Guide to Cyanotype Printing

Cyanotype printing is one of the oldest known photographic techniques. Now, printing cyanotypes is easier and more accessible than ever. Let me show you how to make your own cyanotype prints the easy way.

Helpful Tips for Improving Your Online Photoshoots

With the current situation surrounding the pandemic, most of us cannot conduct photoshoots in person, leaving us to resort to creative ways to keep making photos. Many photographers have turned to online photoshoots via platforms like FaceTime and Skype. If that is something you are interested in, this great video will give you lots of helpful tips for improving your shoots.

New Retouching Academy Beauty Retouching Contest

The Retouching Academy has announced a new contest, open to beginner and experienced enthusiast skill levels. Download the contest image file and submit your best retouch by May 15, 2018 for a chance to win some great prizes from Wacom, Capture One, and Retouching Academy.

Learn All About Adjustment Layers in Photoshop

If you are new to Photoshop, you might be feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the functionality and wondering what you should focus on learning first. Adjustment layers are one of the most fundamental and flexible tools you will find in the program, and they are tremendously useful for almost any photographer. This helpful video will help you become proficient with them.

Why Consistency Is Crucial to Being a Successful Photographer

One thing I am always thinking about is consistency. This goes for every aspect of shooting. Does this fit my style? Do these photos flow together? Am I editing these photos exactly the same every time? Consistency is an important part of photography you might not be considering.

Common Flash Photography Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Flash photography can be tricky when you're just starting out, and it’s easy to make a few common mistakes without even realizing it. If you're new to using a flash, there are a few things you need to get right from the beginning to improve your results.

How to Use Photoshop to Remove Lens Flare From an Image

A lot of us like a bit of lens flare in our photos as a stylistic choice, but once it reaches J.J. Abrams levels, it can be a bit distracting. This helpful tutorial will show you how to remove it from a photo, particularly when it lands on your subject's face.

How to Fix This Issue With Photoshop's Generative Fill Feature

Photoshop's new Generative Fill feature has taken the industry by storm in the last week, with its remarkable capabilities capturing the attention of many for its potential to invigorate creative tasks and streamline workflows. It is not perfect, though, and it has one issue that you should be aware of should you plan to use it for professional work. This helpful video tutorial will show you the issue and a quick and effective workflow to ensure you get high-quality results.

Lightroom to Photoshop on iPad: A Simple Roundtrip Workflow

With Lightroom and Photoshop available on the iPad, you can easily switch between the two apps for a seamless mobile workflow. If you haven’t explored how to roundtrip your edits between Lightroom and Photoshop on your tablet, this video offers a clear guide.

Do You Prefer a Deep Parabolic Umbrella or Beauty Dish for Headshots?

Beauty dishes are a traditional choice for a lot of portraiture work, but parabolic reflectors have seen an uptick in popularity in the last few years. Which is better for your work? This awesome video overview takes a quite in-depth look at a variety of different modifiers and the sort of results you can expect from them to help you decide which is right for your style and work.

5 Things I Would Tell My Younger Photographer Self

While so many resources about both the technical and logistical sides of photography can be found in books and video tutorials, there are things that only time can teach. Here are some of the things I’d love to whisper to my younger self that might be of help to others as well.

Printing Muted or Subtle Colors On a Matte Paper That Really Stands Apart

As we've been discovering over the past few months, there are many options and choices when it's time to print your artwork. Today's paper is a rock star when it comes to unique yet subtle texture and really works wonders with your muted color palettes, so let's check it out.

Is Telling People To 'Zoom With Your Feet' Bad Advice?

As a photography and video educator, I’ve advised people to “zoom with their feet” more times than I can count. On its surface, it makes sense. But photographer Matt Granger gives us a few reasons why that’s not necessarily the best advice in his latest YouTube video.

What to Look for When Picking a Frame for a Video Interview

In a previous article, I shared some tips on scouting locations for a documentary video shoot where interviews would be captured. The next step is to decide on a frame that complements your talent, topic, and tone. In this video, we discuss background elements we see in potential frames, any why one “look” might work better than another.

Watch What Happens When a Photographer and Model Switch Roles

As photographers, we might spend our entire lives behind the camera without ever experiencing what it is really like to be the one in front of it. This fun and interesting video follows a photographer and model as they switch roles to see just how difficult life is on opposite sides of the camera.

Convincing Your Loved Ones That Photography Is a Real Job

For many going into a photography career, the untraditional nature of the job can lead loved ones to be concerned or even disapproving of the choice. This great video examines that dilemma, telling the creator's personal story and offering ideas on how you can deal with that issue.

Using Photography to Discover Your True Self

Photography is often seen as a way to capture moments or document the world around us. But it can also be a powerful tool for self-exploration. Your images aren't just about what you see—they’re about who you are and how you see yourself in the world.

This Everything-You-Need-to-Know Tutorial Shows How to Make Spirograph Light Paintings

It didn't take long for artists to realize they could literally paint with light once photography came around... but light painting was certainly popularized by Picasso. While you might find some painting specific subjects by hand, others have found endless variation in more geometric creations. Spirographs, even if you don't know them by name, are everywhere (but are mostly used as designs on wedding invitations). While people have been light painting them into their images for quite some time now, the process isn't always clear. Thankfully, Jason D. Page gives some great tips on how to set up a spirograph shot through his Light Painting Photography Vimeo channel.

Generate a Sense of Speed With Path Blur in Photoshop CC

If you've ever wanted to inject a sense of speed into your automotive photos but haven't quite nailed the camera settings, then don't worry, because you can edit in some dynamic motion blur to your images with these simple techniques with Photoshop CC.

How to Create Beauty Lighting With Speedlights

When it comes to studio lighting, you might think that you need powerful monolights or pack and head systems, but you can accomplish quite a bit with speedlights. This great video tutorial will show you how to do just that using affordable and easy-to-use speedlights.