A few weeks ago I shared some insight on using shotgun microphones for documentary style interview productions. This week, I’ve got a companion video that explores techniques for using lavalier mics, the standard go-to mic for most interview scenarios.

The high-key look is quite popular in a variety of applications, as it produces a bright, punchy image that instantly draws the viewer's eye to the subject. You do not always need powerful strobes to achieve it, however. In fact, you can do it with nothing more than natural light from a window and a constant LED source, and this excellent video tutorial will show you how it is done.

As Halloween nears, we are all soon to be bombarded with a litany of images in our social media feeds of our friend’s unwilling pets being forced to don cute/embarrassing outfits picked out by their fawning owners. In fact, it’s highly likely that we have perpetrated this subtle canine fashion abuse ourselves at some point and time in our lives. How can you help it? They’re just so darn cute. But what is far less likely is that any of us will have achieved the rakish heights of the world’s foremost purveyor of canine imagery, William Wegman.

We are now up to episode 10 in our behind-the-scenes adventures with Elia Locardi. After photographing some of the most beautiful locations in Italy, it was time to travel from Europe to the Middle East. For the next part of “Photographing the World,” we wanted to capture images of one of the most modern cities in the world: Dubai. As you will see in this episode, Dubai has some of the most ridiculous yet awesome activities out in the desert.

Noise in images is often seen as something photographers should avoid, but intentionally embracing it can lead to more compelling and expressive photographs. Understanding when and why to let noise into your work can shift how you create.

When it comes to lighting, you likely think about it in terms of how it's shaping your subject or whatever object you're illuminating. Now, it's time to think about not only that, but how the light looks as it moves through the space.

It happens constantly. You put your work out on the Internet or in some other forum, and some overly negative or simply rude person rips it to shreds, leaving you to wonder if you were really that far off the mark. Here's how to deal with the haters.

Composition is one of the trickier parts of any photographer genre, as it is a bit more nebulous and tricky to talk about than something quantifiable like camera settings. It can be particularly tough in landscape photography, where we get no control over the placement of elements in the frame. If composition is something you are struggling with at the moment, check out this great video tutorial that offers some helpful tips and advice sure to put you on the right track.

There was a recent meme that took a jab at photographers from the generation of the pen tool in Photoshop. It personified us as old ladies with walkers being escorted out by a younger generation with their AI tools. In the comments, someone remarked, “Let’s see how these young bucks would survive with the 1999 version of Photoshop.”

You might have missed it, but last night, the earth cracked and shifted a little in the world of the photo community. The “Stand Out! Photographic Forums” launched and details the first of a series of events that promise to offer up some of the most exciting photographic speakers I’ve seen in a long time. Not only that, but the price is ridiculously low to hear them talk. Something special is afoot, read on to get the full scoop.

Normally in portraiture, you get a high level of control over the lighting, but in some scenarios (weddings, for example), you will have to think, light, and shoot on your feet. This excellent video tutorial will show you several ways to shoot nighttime portraits with a variety of different techniques and for a range of different creative looks.

Photography equipment can be pretty daunting at times, especially with such variety and costs attached to it, but out of all of the gear, lighting is perhaps the most confusing area to buy into.

You can spend all the time in the world working on your technique behind the camera and in post-processing, but if you are not feeding your creative mindset in tandem with that technical development, you are going to have trouble creating worthwhile images. This excellent video essay will teach you the importance of finding creative inspiration and its impact on your growth as a photographer.

Macro photography in challenging weather conditions, such as the cold and colorless winter of Stockholm, poses a unique set of obstacles and opportunities for photographers. Identifying the right subjects and adapting techniques to suit the environment is crucial for capturing compelling images, even in the least promising seasons. This fantastic video tutorial will show you how to do that.

If you are new to photography, you might be wondering about fundamental differences between lenses. Many beginners are drawn to fisheye lenses, which offer a different perspective on the world and the ability to get a massive field of view in one frame. So, what is the difference between a fisheye lens and a more standard rectilinear model? This excellent video tutorial will teach you what distinguishes them.

Constructive Criticism is a unicorn in online photography groups; much sought after, but rarely found. Good constructive criticism, or CC as it's often referred to, can be some of the most helpful and growth inducing feedback a photographer can receive but, in the wrong hands, it can be a sword that cuts confidence to ribbons. Here is how to give, and receive, CC in a way that wont destroy your soul.

Rod Evans has found a new use for his 360 camera, and the results are absolutely stunning.

Given the current situation, it is quite possible that it will be a very long time before we see normal weddings with large audiences again, which means workarounds, such as live streaming, need to be found. There is an opportunity for wedding videographers in this, however, as live streaming can be a great service to add to your offerings, and this great video will show you various setups to get you up and running.

Shoot-through umbrellas are some of the cheapest and quickest lighting modifiers to work with, and despite often being cast aside for other modifiers, they can still produce great photos in a range of scenarios. This awesome video will give you four tips for working with shoot-through umbrellas.

Handmade selling is on the rise and with it comes an increasing number of new product photographers. Quality product photography is essential for marketing your goods, but it doesn't need to be expensive or overly technical. In fact, there are some easy things that you can adjust that will help elevate your product photographs to the next level!

Candlelit portraits are cool, especially when shot inside the studio in a planned way. With a little imagination and a simple technique, you can create vivid candlelit portraits.

It is not something we do often, but shooting portraits in the rain can be a great way to give your images a different look that captures the eye. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to light and shoot compelling portraits in the rain.

Along with shutter speed and ISO, aperture is one of the three fundamental exposure parameters and something every photographer should master in order to take deeper technical and creative control of their images. If you are new to photography and ready to learn, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you everything you need to know about aperture, including how it works and how to use it to create better photos.

If you're not familiar with Crash Course (and judging by the number of subscribers and viewers they have on YouTube, most of you are), it is an educational YouTube channel started by Hank and John Green. Mixing well thought-out topics and storylines with strong insights and entertainment, and combining it all into easily digestible episodes, the Green brothers have successfully presented and taught myriad subjects ranging from Biology to U.S. History and seemingly everything in between. Their latest venture is Crash Course Film.

Feeling like your photography is scattered and unfocused can be frustrating. It’s easy to end up with a collection of images that don’t quite connect. The solution? Shooting with intent.

Cooperative of Photography has brought us this slick little video that gives us a taste of the evolution of camera technology from the past 200 years condensed down into a sub-two minute demonstration. Austrian photographer Leo Rosas executes this project with a single model and 11 portraits, each representing a significant milestone in the development of photographic capture tools starting with the pinhole camera obscura, all the way to the modern cell phone.

When it comes to sports portraits and action photography, employing a bit of artificial light can make a huge difference by giving you the ability to shape the look of the frame and add a lot of drama to the image. If you are ready to get started working with artificial light in your sports action portraiture, check out this excellent video tutorial that will give you a range of helpful tips and advice sure to put you on the right track.

The Hitfilm crew, Kirstie Tostevin, Josh Davies, and Simon Jones take over Film Riot to bring you a kick-butt tutorial on how to create an Iron Man heads-up display effect with their free HitFilm 4 Express software.​ This eight-minute video takes us all the way from pre-production to post-production.

Minimalist photography challenges you to see landscapes differently, stripping away complexity to highlight the simplest, most essential aspects of a scene. It's a style that demands thoughtful observation and a willingness to slow down to uncover quieter, more intimate perspectives.

Building a successful career in photography requires more than just technical skills and artistic vision. It demands resilience, adaptability, and a keen understanding of both the creative and business aspects of the industry. For young photographers, especially those in their 20s and 30s, navigating this path can be particularly challenging.