Behind the Scenes

The final image rarely tells the whole story. Behind the scenes content pulls back the curtain on how photographers actually work — the lighting diagrams, the location logistics, the decisions made in the moment, and the problems solved on the fly. This section features shoot breakdowns, workflow reveals, and candid looks at what it really takes to produce professional photography.

How 50 Cameras Turn an NBA Playoff Game Into Live TV

Broadcasting an NBA game takes more gear than you'd probably guess, and the skill required to operate it is even more surprising. The broadcast setup for a single playoff game involves dozens of cameras, miles of cable, and a live production that makes Hollywood look slow.

Behind the Scenes Shooting Both Photo and Video for E-Commerce Fashion

You all see the classic e-commerce shots on any fashion designer's website, but seldom do you get to see the full behind-the-scenes of what it takes to make them. Recently, I did an e-com photo and video shoot for a brand that I work with. Here is the process, how I lit it, how I shot it, as well as the overall behind-the-scenes look at what goes into a relatively simple shoot like this.

Behind the Scenes: How I Photographed Panoramas in Joshua Tree

Take a peek behind the scenes at how I created several enormous, detailed night panoramas in Joshua Tree National Park. The surreal landscapes are perfect for this sort of work. Below, I'll walk through the process, gear, and a few discoveries that make panoramas better.

Ten Questions With Audrey Woulard on Photographing Billionaires and Success Through Simplicity

Nikon USA Ambassador Audrey Woulard is known for her distinctive lighting style and natural, expressive portraits. Woulard's commercial clients include Pottery Barn and IAMS, and her work has appeared in People, InStyle, and Better Homes & Gardens. Here she holds forth on the best advice she's ever gotten, the importance of steady hands, and how simplicity led to success.

Behind the Scenes With the New Laowa 15-35mm Periscope Probe Lens

Laowa's new probe zoom lenses are finally here, and they might be some of the strangest lenses ever made. For the last two months, I've been shooting with the most unusual of the bunch—the 15-35mm T12 Periscope Lens—and the shots it produces are unlike anything I've ever captured before. Let's dive in and see what makes this lens so unique.

Top Ten Questions With Sam Abell

Sam Abell has pursued a career in documentary photography, spending 33 years with National Geographic. He concurrently taught and authored numerous books, including The Life of a Photograph, Seeing Gardens, and The Photographic Life. In 2024, Sam received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Photo Society and was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame. Here, he explains why he shoots in an automatic mode, sticks with shorter lenses, and why Dorothea Lange is his North Star.

Top 10 Questions With Tamara Lackey: Finding Your Voice and Shooting With Purpose

Tamara Lackey, Nikon USA Ambassador, book author, PBS show host, and philanthropist, has used photography to establish Beautiful Together refuges for children and animals in need in Ethiopia and North Carolina. Here she weighs in on finding your voice, overcoming creative block, and camera bag essentials (don’t forget the candy).

5 Workflow Mistakes That Kill the Creative Flow and How to Avoid Them

We all know the feeling when a shoot is going perfectly, your model is nailing the poses, and then something goes wrong. Maybe a light fails, a cable gets unplugged, or your tether connection drops mid-shoot. Suddenly, the creative flow evaporates, and you’re scrambling to regroup.

4 Podcasts Photographers Should Be Binge-Listening to Right Now

Here are five podcasts you should be listening to right now. Hit play, grab your coffee, and get inspired. When I am walking or driving, I’ve got five that I always snare in my podcast catcher. You’ll love them no matter what kind of photography you do.

What It Actually Takes To Make a Super Bowl Ad

Commercial filmmaking offers unique opportunities to sharpen your skills and potentially get your work in front of a massive audience. Many talented filmmakers wonder what it takes to actually succeed—not just to produce impressive work, but to also navigate the business side and effectively put themselves on the map.

Patience and Deliberateness in Death Valley

Death Valley is a vast expanse of landscape with varying terrains throughout the park. As a visitor, it is easy to find yourself rushing from place to place to take it all in and capture it in images. Is that the best way to photograph it? Or is being slow, patient, and deliberate a better approach?

Three Serious Lessons for Artists From a Film About Laughter

The best part about creating personal projects is the opportunity to grow in a pressure-free environment. I just finished shooting such a project with a couple of friends, and the lessons I learned at “play” turned out to be the kind I’ll be sure to use in my work.

Exploring a Feature Rich Environment for Landscape Photography

Some natural environments are filled with interesting and unique compositions for landscape photographers. It can be like being a kid on a playground. How do you make sense of it all and distill the scenes down to images for your portfolio?

Inside a Professional Hotel Photography Shoot

Advertising photography isn’t just about taking nice pictures. Every shot needs to sell an experience, blending technical skill with storytelling. That’s why planning and execution are crucial.

DIY Theatrical Portraits: Using a Spotlight

I've been seeing spotlights used in shoots everywhere, so I wanted to jump on the trend and put my own twist on a spotlight shoot. Here’s how my creative partner, David, and I created a theatrical portrait session using a spotlight.

Tips for Creating Beautiful Family Portraits on Location

There are few more important images to a person than those of their family and yet it's not that common a shoot. If you do find yourself in a position to conduct one, however, watch this behind-the-scenes video of a successful one for some useful tips.

Is It Time To Pivot in Your Creative Career?

Whether you are still trying to find your footing or decades deep into a creative career, sooner or later a basic question comes for us all: Should you continue down the same path, or is it time to take a turn?

Lighting Tequniques You Didn't Know for Bold Male Portraits

Male or otherwise, dramatic portraits are my absolute favorite style to capture, and in this video, Karl Taylor takes you behind the scenes of a shoot and shares some great tips on how you get the most out of your next portrait session.

A Photography Career in 36 Steps

Today, I’ll try to break down the multitude of stages that every photographer is likely to go through over the course of their career.

Shooting Medium Format Portraits With the Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4

When you think portraits, you likely don't think of using a wide-angle zoom lens, nor a lens as slow as f/4, but you should. In this video, go behind-the-scenes of a portrait shoot with exactly that lens and see just how strong the results can be.

Slow Shutter Speed for Street Photography

Have you ever seen street photography with a slow shutter speed? It isn't for the impatient or inexperienced, but if you want to get really creative, this is how you do it.

Behind-the-Scenes of Incredible Landscape Photography in Norway

Sometimes, to get really inspired for photography, you can just watch someone else doing it. Now, if you're a landscape photographer, I think that's doubly true. But, beware, that usually comes with some wanderlust which can be expensive. You have been warned.

A Week in the Life of a Full-Time YouTuber

Becoming a full-time YouTuber — or really any content creator — is the dream of many. Although I've never had any aspirations to do it per sé, I can't deny I find myself envious at times. So, could you really do it?

How to Shoot While Tethered to Your iPhone or iPad

Shooting tethered can be useful for so many things, from having a better screen to view an image on, to being able to record what your camera sees for real behind-the-scenes footage. In this video, Jiggie Alejandrino shows you how he does it and how valuable it can be.

Photographing Woodlands Without Fog: Can It Be Done?

Woodland photography is hard enough for landscape photographers, but what about when there isn’t any fog? Fog is the cheat code for this type of photography, but do you just need to head home when there isn’t any fog? We find out in this video.

The Ugly Truth About Landscape Photography

In today’s world of social media and YouTube, it is easy to think every time a photographer goes out, they come back home with portfolio-ready images. If you begin to believe this, it can impact your own landscape photography. This video looks at the real truth behind landscape photography.

New iPhone App for Amazing Time-lapses in 4K

Have you ever taken a time-lapse with your phone and been... underwhelmed? They can look choppy, gritty, and far from the professional-quality videos you can produce using a DSLR or mirrorless camera. Well, a solution may, quite literally, be in hand.

The Power of Subtle Lighting in Portraiture

When it comes to lighting in portraiture, there are many ways to skin a cat, but sometimes, the best way is not to go any direction all-out, but rather to blend different approaches. In this video, see the merits of subtle lighting.

5 Tips for Street Photography Composition

Street photography is one of the most revered genres of the craft, with a rich history and some of the most famous images ever taken. But, it's not an easy genre to master, so here are five tips for composing the frame.

Persistence Makes Great Landscape Photographers

Some people think great landscape photographers are just lucky, always at the right place at the right time. The reality is great landscape photographers are persistent. Making portfolio-worthy images often entails repeat visits to areas to find the ideal composition paired with stunning conditions.

Tips for Photographing Dramatic Seascapes

Photographing a seascape with crashing waves along the shore and the movement of the water can be a challenge for a landscape photographer. This video provides several tips on capturing dramatic images from the seashore with an ultrawide lens.

The Best Source Of Advice For Your Photography Career

In a world overwhelmed with photography advice on YouTube, Instagram, or even articles like this one, it can be hard to know whose guidance to trust when building your career. However, chances are, you may be overlooking the most valuable source of input that will always guide you in the right direction.