Recent Education Articles

Adapting to Change: One Photographer's Journey

Exploring the interplay between creativity, personal expression, and the multifaceted career of a professional photographer, this fantastic video dives deep into the artistic journey of Crystal Schneider. Schneider's experience as a full-time photographer since 2009, along with her transition from a bustling city life in Amsterdam to the tranquility of the French countryside, presents a compelling narrative about adapting to change and finding creativity amidst challenges.

Couple Photography: Balancing Ambient Light and Flash

Capturing authentic moments with couples can be challenging, especially when you’re managing lighting, posing, and making them feel at ease. A few simple adjustments to your technique can help you create beautiful, natural images that resonate.

How to Use Smoke for Cinematic Portraits

Handheld smoke machines have changed the way you can create dramatic, cinematic portraits. They give you the ability to add depth, texture, and atmosphere to your images with ease. It’s a powerful tool to elevate the storytelling in your portraits.

How Winter Storms Transform Yosemite's Most Famous Views

Winter storms create unique opportunities for dramatic landscape shots that most never get to capture. The combination of rain, fog, and shifting weather patterns transforms familiar vistas into ethereal scenes, offering fresh perspectives on even the most photographed locations.

The Three Overlooked Skills Wedding Photographers Need

Being a wedding photographer isn’t just about mastering camera settings or posing techniques. The job demands serious physical and mental endurance, and if you’re not prepared, it can take a heavy toll. Long hours, high-pressure moments, and back-to-back weekends can leave you drained, impacting both your work and well-being.

The Filmmaking Genius Behind Gladiator's Opening Battle

The opening battle of Gladiator remains a memorable moment in modern cinema. Its combination of layered storytelling, technical precision, and visceral energy still holds its own more than two decades after the film’s release.

Exploring the Real Impact of Camera Upgrades on Your Photography Business

Understanding the economics of camera upgrades and their impact on a photographer's business model is critical, especially in the professional realm. This helpful video essay addresses this topic head-on, shedding light on a common misconception among photographers about the relationship between new equipment and client charges.

Why Titanic Still Captivates Audiences Over 25 Years Later

James Cameron’s "Titanic" had a production journey nearly as epic as the historical event it portrayed. With a staggering budget of $200 million—equivalent to the original ship’s cost after inflation—the film was a huge risk. Hollywood was skeptical, anticipating Titanic to be a financial disaster. Yet, Cameron’s commitment to recreating the real-life tragedy down to the smallest detail changed everything, turning what could have been a box office iceberg into one of cinema’s most successful ventures.

Essential Tips for Stress-Free Wedding Photography

Dealing with your headspace during a wedding day can be a challenge. You need to think about poses, timelines, and shots, all while managing the couple and their expectations. It’s a lot to juggle, especially when you're starting out. Here are four tips to help you manage your headspace and stay focused during a wedding.

The Art of Real-Time: How Visual Effects Revolutionize Sports Broadcasting

If you have watched sports long enough, you know that the quality and novelty of the broadcasts has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, with an explosion of live visual effects. This fun video pulls back the curtain and takes a look at just what goes into all of that.

Advice for Landing Your First Paid Photoshoot

There are few things in your journey as a budding photography as exciting as landing your first paid shoot, but how to actually go about making that happen is anything but clear. If you are ready to start getting paid for your work but struggling to find a client, check out this helpful video tutorial that offers some actionable advice on how to land your first photoshoot.

How One Light Can Create Three Dramatic Photo Styles

Lighting is the backbone of photography. It determines mood, color, and texture in your images. Without the right lighting, even the best model and location won’t translate into the shot you envision. Learning to control and experiment with light is one of the most impactful ways to elevate your work.

Improvised Cinematic B-Roll With Available Lighting

Cinematic footage is a great way to showcase a product and add a level of professionalism to your video work. However, it can be daunting to know where to start, and the options can get expensive. If you want simple and effective ways to up your video b-Roll game without breaking the bank, look no further than this accessible tutorial.

Why Thinking of Your Photography Business Competitively Can Hurt You

The professional photography space is crowded, and if you are trying to carve out your spot in it, it can feel like a very competitive pursuit. And while it is true that establishing and maintaining your business can be a very competitive thing, it can actually be detrimental to think of it that way. This excellent video details why that is and what a better approach might be.

How to Light a Fashion and Hair Competition Portrait

Lighting can make or break a portrait, and sometimes, you will be asked by a client to tailor your lighting design to accentuate specific characteristics or features of your subject. In this great video tutorial, you will see a photographer team up with a world-class barber to create images for a hairstyling competition and learn how a combination of lighting and editing came together to create the final images.

How Clothing Choices Impact Your Portraits

The way your subject dresses changes how an image feels and where the viewer’s eye goes. Bright colors, bold patterns, and high-contrast elements all compete for attention, sometimes pulling focus away from where you want it. Understanding how to control this effect can give you more control over your compositions.

It's Ok to Put the Camera Down Sometimes

We may not like to admit it in the day-to-day, but when major life events bring things into perspective, we see that as much as we may love photography, it is not the most important thing. And it is important to remember that sometimes, it is ok to put the camera down to practice self-care, be with family, and focus on the more important things.

Essential Maintenance Tips for /keeping Your Printer Happy

Maintaining your printer is crucial for ensuring optimal performance and longevity. Neglecting regular upkeep can lead to issues like dust buildup, ink clogs, and paper jams, ultimately affecting print quality and potentially shortening the lifespan of your printer.

Wedding Photography Trends Shaping the Year Ahead

Wedding photography trends are evolving fast, shaping how you might approach your work in the coming season. Understanding these changes can significantly impact your success and client satisfaction.

The Power of Targeted Color Adjustments

Color manipulation can make or break your image editing process. The ability to target specific colors in particular areas of your image provides creative control that basic sliders simply can't match.

How to Get Clients for Your Real Estate Photography Business

Building a real estate photography business takes more than just snapping great photos. It’s about finding and keeping the right clients, and that requires a strategic approach. Rushing to connect with as many real estate agents as possible, or blasting out spammy emails, isn’t going to help you grow sustainably.

10 Adobe Audition Tips to Boost Your Audio Editing Skills

Audio editing can be a challenge, but mastering Adobe Audition can save you time and make your projects shine. Whether you’re cleaning up a podcast or working on a wedding video, having the right techniques in your toolbox can make all the difference.

Is Turning Your Passion for Photography into a Career the Right Move?

Many of us dream of transforming our hobbies into full-time careers, especially when it comes to something as fulfilling as photography. But making the leap can fundamentally change your relationship with your craft, and it’s worth considering whether the tradeoffs align with your goals.

How to Handle a Tricky Night Sky Replacement

In the last few years, we have seen tremendous steps forward in the realm of automated sky replacement, and a task that used to be rather tedious and time-consuming is often a one-click operation. It is not always perfect, though, and trickier situations can sometimes throw off even the best software. This helpful video tutorial will show you a clever workaround for dealing with a difficult night sky replacement that will save you a lot of time over manual editing.