Recent Education Articles

DVD Captions: What Modern Tech Forgot

Did you know that DVDs store captions in two fundamentally different ways? This isn't just trivia; understanding this matters if you're relying on older media for accessibility.

How to Handle Copyright Theft (Step by Step)

You're scrolling through Instagram when you see it: your photograph, posted by someone else, with no credit, no permission, and often with their own watermark slapped on top. Your stomach drops. That image took hours to capture and edit, and now someone is using it to promote their business, build their social media following, or sell their products—all without paying you a cent.

Why Friends and Family Discounts Backfire

Your sister needs engagement photos. Your college roommate is getting married. Your neighbor wants family portraits. They all know you're a photographer, and they all expect the "friends and family discount." It feels natural to help the people you care about, especially when you have a skill they need. So you cut your rates in half, or maybe shoot for free, thinking you're being generous and strengthening relationships.

Advanced Lightroom Techniques for Perfecting Contrast

Contrast can make or break your images, and knowing how to control it precisely is essential. Getting beyond the basic slider in Lightroom opens up powerful editing options that enhance your creative control.

Inside the '90s Magic Eye Phenomenon and How It Was Created

Magic Eye stereograms swept through the 1990s as a cultural phenomenon, capturing imaginations with their ability to transform a flat image into a mesmerizing 3D scene. For many, they became an intriguing challenge that separated those who could instantly discern the hidden depth from those left squinting at a frustrating blur (aka me).

Seeing Landscapes Differently With a 100-400mm Lens

When it comes to landscape photography, choosing the right lens isn't just a detail—it shapes your entire creative process. Many photographers default to wide angle lenses, but exploring telephoto options can completely redefine your images.

Unlock the Hidden Potential of Your Camera’s Timer

Understanding camera drive modes is critical if you want crisp, professional-looking images. Knowing how and when to utilize these settings can significantly improve the clarity and composition of your photographs.

Photography Myths That Actually Hurt Your Photos

Photography myths can clutter your approach and limit your creativity. Knowing which advice to discard can drastically improve your results and reduce unnecessary frustrations.

How to Choose the Right Camera Mode Every Time

Understanding your camera's exposure modes goes beyond basic settings; it's about taking control of your creative outcomes. Using the right mode in the right situation can significantly influence the quality of your photos and your growth as a photographer.

Photoshop or Lightroom? Choosing the Right App for Color Edits

If you've ever felt confused deciding whether to use Photoshop or Lightroom for color adjustments, you're not alone. Adobe’s latest updates have added to this confusion by offering overlapping color editing features in both apps.

Master Accurate Selections With Photoshop’s Latest Update

Photoshop's latest update introduces cloud-based processing for the Select Subject tool, aiming to dramatically improve the accuracy of selections. If you frequently cut subjects from images, particularly complex ones, this feature significantly simplifies your workflow.

Hidden Sony Camera Settings Worth Mastering

Every Sony Alpha camera has powerful features tucked away in its menus. Knowing about them can drastically change your results and prevent potential mishaps during important shoots.

Spend More Time Behind the Camera, Less on Admin Tasks

If you feel like administrative tasks take more time than actually taking photos, it’s probably because your workflow needs a revamp. A clear, efficient workflow is key to making your photography business sustainable and enjoyable.

Backlighting vs. Shade: Mastering Outdoor Portrait Light

Choosing between shade and backlighting for outdoor portraits can dramatically affect how your subject appears. Knowing when to use each can elevate the quality and style of your photography significantly.

Three Types of Cameras Every Photographer Should Own

Every photographer faces the decision about what cameras to own, but it's not just about brands like Canon, Sony, or Nikon. It’s about understanding the role each camera plays in your photography, matching gear with purpose to truly improve how and why you shoot.

How to Add Realistic Drama to Landscape Photos

Lightroom Classic offers powerful tools, but many users overlook the potential of luminance and color masks for enhancing landscapes, especially skies. Knowing how to skillfully apply these masks can significantly improve your photos, adding depth and drama.

The Overlooked Skill That Can Strengthen Your Photography

Share a photo in an online community, and you’ll likely receive all kinds of feedback. Some will offer praise; others will point out flaws. But there’s one skill many photographers overlook—one that could hold the key to making your work stronger.

9 Lightroom Tools You're Probably Ignoring

Lightroom contains powerful tools hidden just below the surface. Knowing these can significantly improve your workflow, giving you more control over your images.

Why Smart Filmmakers Cheat (and You Should Too)

Cheating in filmmaking isn’t about cutting corners—it's about creatively solving problems by bending reality to sell a convincing illusion. Understanding how to use these subtle techniques can dramatically improve your skills and make your videos look professional without expensive gear or elaborate setups.

Create Cinematic Portraits Without Leaving the Studio

When you're looking to capture a sense of place or a cinematic feel, shooting on location isn’t always practical or affordable. Using a digital projector might be your solution to creating vivid, believable scenes without leaving your studio.

How Photoshop’s Enhanced Frame Tool Can Boost Your Online Sales

Adobe Photoshop’s frame tool recently got a substantial upgrade that makes it more versatile and useful, especially if you're creating unique visuals or presenting images for sale. This tool often goes unnoticed, yet it opens up new creative options and practical applications.

Upgrade Your Photo Editing With Lightroom’s New Masking Tools

If you're still editing your photos in Lightroom Classic the same way you always have, the addition of AI-powered masking could significantly change your approach. Adobe's updates have transformed what used to be complex adjustments into simple and powerful masking tools that provide better results faster.

Unlocking Photoshop's Hidden Power With PSD Templates

PSD templates streamline your workflow by packaging complex Photoshop effects into reusable files. Learning how to create your own means custom tools that exactly match your style and specific needs.

Lighting Basics for Exceptional Photos

Understanding how light behaves is essential to taking control of your photos. Lighting not only elevates your technical skill but directly shapes how your viewers feel about your images.

Only Photograph the Things You Love

I have wondered what it is that makes one photograph effective and another just a big yawn. Why is it that one photographer can make a photograph of an object and everyone's jaw drops to the floor, and another can make almost exactly the same photograph and no one is impressed—except the photographer’s mother, knowing being impressed is part of a mother's job description?

Common Editing Mistakes That Hold Your Photos Back

Editing can make or break your images, and mastering the details separates polished work from amateur results. Knowing what pitfalls to avoid can significantly improve your photos and streamline your workflow.

Understanding Color Undertones for Better Photo Editing

Editing photos can be a challenge. With so many sliders and options to choose from, sometimes it makes sense to understand some fundamentals to build upon. Understanding the effect of undertones on the colors in an image can help bring sense to what might seem unpredictable.

Single-Light Portraits: Professional Results on a Budget

Creating a clean, white background for portraits can be tricky, especially if you’re limited to just one light. Getting this right without relying on heavy editing can improve your skill set and streamline your workflow.

5 Must-Visit Photography Spots in Morocco

If you love photographing vast landscapes, ancient cities, and magnificent architecture, you'll enjoy a visit to Morocco. In this article, I show you five of the best photo spots in the country.