Recent Opinion Articles

Are You Collaborating Correctly?

It can be frustrating when, as a new photographer, you want to work with models. You put your little ad up on Facebook and… nothing. What do you do?

Would You Pay To Watch Select Vimeo Content?

Vimeo recently rolled out a Tip Jar feature for it’s content creators, where you can tip a donation to the artist. Coming up next for Vimeo is a Pay-To-View service, where audiences will actually have to pay to watch the video. It’s controlled solely by the creators, but will Vimeo take a cut of the money, like they do with the tip jar?

Don’t Let Poor Weather Stop You

We have all been there as landscape photographers: the alarm goes off, we hear rain or wind blowing against our windows, we glance at the clock, and go back to bed. But by doing so, you may miss out on unique photography opportunities! Don’t let poor weather keep you inside.

Building My Dream Camera

It’s that time again when my brain starts to ponder the endless question: What would be my idea of a perfect camera?

The One Pivotal Trait That Can Help Determine Your Success

Let's be honest, surviving the dumpster fire of 2020 is a serious badge of honor. Regardless of where you are or what you had to do, you're here. A large part of that is due to a combination of passion and perseverance. There's a word for that.

How To Overcome Creative Blocks

Having a creative block is one of the most frustrating experiences that can happen to anyone who has to (or wants to) create. There are ways of getting past it — lots of ways, in fact — and here is how one YouTuber does it.

It's Ok to Take a Break During This Time

The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the photography industry and world as a whole, and we are still in the midst of it and will be dealing with its effects for years to come. If you are feeling stressed by all of it, it is important to remember that it is alright to take a break right now and to focus on taking care of yourself.

Women, Brands and Closing the Gender Gap - Getty Images' Lean In Collection

"For the last four years this has been true: the top three search terms that clients are using on Getty Images are woman, family and business in that order." - Pamela Grossman, Director of Visual Trends at Getty Images. This is very powerful information for strategic business marketing, but it means even more on a societal level. Pamela and Jessica Bennett, Contributing Editor for Lean In, recently discussed how visual media has often portrayed women at this year's Cannes Lions Festival.

Will AI Help You Become More Creative?

We all want to improve our photography and create amazing images, right? We want to become more creative. Should we use technology to help us? Can it help us? I have some thoughts.

The Joy of Creating Art: Non-Technical Edition

Today, hopefully, you’ll allow me a brief break from discussing tech and technique to revel in a bit of the pure joy that is the process of photography.

Why a 365 Challenge Might Be Hurting Your Photography Instead of Helping It

I have considered doing a 365 photography challenge in the past but have refrained from putting myself under that much meaningless pressure. The idea of taking a photo every day for a year sounds like it could help build consistency, but in reality, it often leads to uninspired shooting, creative burnout, and a portfolio full of forgettable images. Instead of improving your craft, you end up taking photos just for the sake of it—grabbing a quick shot of coffee, a random leaf, or whatever happens to be nearby—just to keep up with the challenge.

Navigating the New Frontier: AI's Impact on Photographic Creativity

The integration of artificial intelligence in photography has sparked a complex debate within the creative community, touching on issues of authorship, creativity, and the essence of the photographic process. This insightful video dives into this contentious subject, unpacking the nuances of AI's role in photography and its impact on the traditional practices and perceptions within the field.

Photographic Virtues Series: Teamwork

In this series, I attempt to identify the key professional virtues I have found to be the most important in building my own career, as well as identifying traits of other successful photographers that are most key to their success. Today’s virtue: teamwork.

Natural Talent Is a Made-Up Excuse to Not Move Forward

Natural talent is something often attributed left and right to people. Talent is quite mysterious; no one can put their finger on what it is. If it’s there, you can make it, but if it’s not, you cant. But is it all a made-up excuse? It might be.

Thoughts on How AI Will Impact the Professional Photography Industry

AI has caused a ton of excitement and controversy in the last year, and the photo industry has not been immune to it. This has led to many creatives wondering how the role of the professional photographer will evolve under the shadow of AI. This insightful video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his thoughts on the topic.

What is a Selfie and Who Invented It?

Producer, director, writer, editor, actor, and researcher, Sarah Burton has to wear many hats while working for BuzzFeed Video, but can she answer the question, "Who Invented the Selfie?" Spoiler alert, she can't but as the adage goes, it's the journey not the destination. Watch as Burton humorously struggles to discover who took the first selfie, and struggles even further when the very definition of selfie comes into question.

The Five Best and Worst Things About Being a Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography can be a lucrative genre, but it can also be extremely challenging and taxing, and it certainly is not for everyone. If you are newer to photography and wondering if it is the genre for you, check out this great video essay that features an experienced wedding photographer and friend of Fstoppers discussing the five best and worst aspects of the profession.

How to Overcome Winter Burnout

If you find yourself struggling during the colder, darker seasons, you're far from alone. In this video, Aidin Robbins goes through how he combats winter burnout and how you can, too.

What Is The Artist's Responsibility In Times Of Struggle?

As my hometown of Los Angeles continues to combat historic fires, my thoughts have once again been drawn to the age-old question posed by artists throughout time: What is the role of artists in times of strife?