Photography Education

Whether you just picked up your first camera or you've been shooting for years and hit a plateau, there's always more to learn. This section is where Fstoppers publishes educational content aimed at genuinely improving your photography — not just gear tips, but the foundational understanding of light, composition, and visual thinking that makes the difference between a competent photographer and a compelling one.

Improve Your Lighting Skills by Learning to Photograph a Cylinder

Jay P. Morgan of The Slanted Lens continues his video tutorial series of photographing simple three dimensional objects with this short tutorial on lighting a cylinder. The video demonstrates how to specifically alter the amount of light falling on the curved surface and flat face of the cylinder to achieve the desired effect.  

Luxury Studio Finds for Under $20

Unless you have a stash of cash just waiting for that moment you start filling your studio with furniture, most likely you have been at the bottom of the budget. Pinteresting your way through DIYs on old furniture, Craigslist, or even flea market finds will be how the majority start their collection of studio furniture.

$2,000 Give Away? 2 Days Left to Enter!

Pratik Naik is no stranger to many in the photography industry. Having worked with some of the great talents in the game right now, such as Joey L., Lara Jade, Scott Hugh Mitchell, and Bella Kotak, Pratik is a master retoucher. What you might not know about Pratik is that he is a giving and generous soul, intent on making your holidays a little brighter. 

Why Cinema Lenses Are Measured With T-Stops And What's the Difference With An F-Stop?

Cinema glass has always been way more expensive than still camera lenses. Combined with the cinema camera sensors these high end lenses provide an image that's far superior to DSLRs capable of recording video. But yet, there are decent films created with DSLRs with still camera lenses. I'm not going to compare the glass quality here.

How to Get Exact Color in Product Photography with a Color Chart

It's happened to me and it has most likely happened to you: you order a shirt and can't wait for it to arrive. Then it does and it's a completely different hue than what was pictured in the online store or catalog. Odds are the photographer may not have used a color chart during his or her shoot.

So You Got a New Camera for the Holidays, Now What?

Every year, without fail, I’ll get a handful of emails and Facebook messages from friends and family asking me how to use the new camera they got for Christmas. While I’m always happy to help, I have to assume there are other people out there that may not have a photographer friend to reach out to. So with that, here is a quick list of things you should do with that new camera.

Do You Need a 4K Video Camera At All?

The megapixel war is almost over for still digital cameras. But we see another battle started, the same one for digital video cameras. All camera manufacturers are now marketing their 4K, 6K, and 8K devices, including phones. 2K starts to look quite old school, but is it? 

Holiday Sale on Fstoppers Original Tutorials

Fstoppers is happy to announce one final sale for 2016. Enjoy the holidays and dive into some fantastic photography education by getting $50-$100 off our original tutorials. If you've received some extra gift money for photography or want to share valuable knowledge with a loved one, act from now until New Years day to save on Fstoppers products.

Tips for Photographing In Snow

It's different in cold weather. Your clothes are different, your car tires are different, working with subjects is different. You should also handle your gear differently. 

Save Up to 50% Off SLR Lounge Tutorials During the Holidays

SLR Lounge is well known for their excellent photography tutorials. This Holiday season they're offering deals up to 50% off on their products. Whether you're looking for a better wedding photography workflow, want to learn a few new lighting tricks, or simply want to make yourself a better photographer, this is a great opportunity to grow in the field.

Changes We Wish Adobe Would Make to Creative Cloud

Adobe is known as being the creator of Photoshop. Then, they went and bought Macromedia in 2005 which changed the game a lot for the creative industry. Since then, apps were bundled, we’ve moved to a subscription model with  Creative Cloud, and all the apps now work together intuitively. I have a great respect for the company that makes the software I use every day.

5 Tricks to Keep Your MacBook From Overheating

Apple MacBook Pro is without a doubt the laptop of choice for most photographers on the go. However, I've heard of many encountering heat issues when working on it for a prolonged period of time. After recently experiencing this problem myself and having my computer shutting down on its own, I started looking for a solution. It turns out that it's not complicated to control the heat.

Learn How to Restore Vintage Photographs

Old and damaged photographs are easy to come by. Most have been stored in boxes in the back of a closet left to dust and wither without a second thought. That is until said person goes to tidy up one day and finds an invaluable treasure trove long forgotten. Bringing old photos back to life takes patience and effort in Photoshop but the results are rewarding.

Why a Telephoto Lens Should Be in Every Pet Photographer's Bag

Many photographers who are beginning to dabble in pet photography ask about the best lens to use when photographing pets. While there is no right or wrong answer, as a dog photographer who primarily specializes in outdoor sessions, I use a telephoto lens for the majority of photos I take.

Group Composites: How to Get the Shot

Annie Leibovitz is well known for her group shots that have a high fashion aesthetic. The posing, lighting, and color toning are signatures to her images. While most photographers may not be shooting for Vanity Fair, learning how to create the staging and composites for family sessions can give you the leg up on wowing your clients.   

Three Amazing Moments in the Emotion of Cinema That Filmmakers and Photographers Can Learn From

I've been in love with the movies since I was a kid. I believe we, both as filmmakers and photographers, can learn so much about storytelling, composition, and minute visual details that can elevate our art to another level. This analysis of three emotionally moving scenes is highly instructive and offers great lessons that makers of both still and moving images can benefit from. 

How to Adjust Specific Colors in Photoshop

Changing a single particular color is easily done in Capture One, but it can prove to be a little bit more complicated in Photoshop. None of the tools found in Adobe's image editing software target colors such as orange, violet, azure, or other tertiary colors. However, there is a very simple trick to make it happen.

Create an Eerie Nighttime Photo in the Middle of Day

Sometimes you just want to shoot midday with a speedlite, in the middle of the forest, on a balmy 80-plus degree day in Florida. OK, those last few statements are purely hypothetical, but as a traveling photographer, I work with what I’ve got. 

Body and Soul: The Client Centered Photographer

Boudoir photography at its core is more about the experience the client feels than the reward of the album or other products. When the client steps foot in the door, they have already committed to a life changing event that he or she will be relying on the professional to create for them.

How to Change Your Background Color in 30 Seconds

While I’ll always try my best to get the shot right in camera, there're occasions, like when I photographed this beauty editorial, when that’s not always feasible. In this short tutorial, I'll show you how to change your background in a few short steps. 

Five Easy Ways to Make Anyone Comfortable in Front of Your Lens

I am a firm believer that the very first minutes of interaction between two people is a breaking point for their collaboration. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, you have an obligation to create a trustworthy bond, even if both of you are meant to know each other for only a couple of hours. This is especially crucial for portrait photography.

Using Adobe’s Kuler Tool to Color Tone Images

Something I get asked often is how to add color tones to your images. Often the easiest option is to use filters either in Lightroom or with a plugin software such as Google Nik. However, as you delve deeper into the world of color grading you will eventually become curious how to create your own effects. 

Three Reasons to Go Ultra Wide When Photographing Dogs Outdoors

One of the most important compositional decisions to make when photographing pets is choosing a focal length. Due to perspective and lens distortion, ultra wide angles (generally considered to be less than 24mm on a full frame camera) can yield unflattering results when photographing humans.

How to Choose Where to Spend Your Money on Photography Education

One of the biggest industries in photography is that of photography education. Photography is a very difficult craft to learn without help, and as a result, almost every aspiring photographer must invest in some sort of education source at some point.

SLR Lounge is Offering 30% Off Every Tutorial

SLR Lounge creates some incredible educational photography content. For the next few days, they're offering a big discount on every product in their store. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, every single product in the SLR Lounge store is 30% off.

Fstoppers Reviews the Elinchrom 17" Softlite Reflector and Grid Set

I am a photographer who started shooting with daylight only, and I moved to discover new possibilities of lighting only after mastering daylight and craving more tools to create the desired images in my head. I don't believe the idea that you have to have all the possible equipment to be a good photographer or that the equipment makes you the photographer.

Peter Hurley’s Latest Photo Tip Tells Tall and Short Couples to Spread 'Em

Peter Hurley, father of the squinch, has a great new tip for people on both sides of the camera. This quick video demonstrates a way for tall people to still look good while being photographed next to someone more height challenged. The days of hunching are over; All hail the spread. 

Improve Your Photography by Learning to Light a Simple Cube

As a continuation of his “Laws of Light” video series, Jay P. Morgan of The Slanted Lens describes a variety of ways to light a simple white cube on a white background. This video demonstrates how changing the placement of a single light can effectively emphasize the three-dimensional aspect of the cube and create separation between the cube and the background. 

5 Photography Books From My Shelf

Books. Half of my tiny office is filled with books. I love them. I believe in them. I'm surrounded by them! The experience of flipping through a book for me beats anything an electronic device can offer. Unlike a blog post, books are the result of a huge effort on the part of many people. One must be dedicated to the process of creating one, and this usually makes them worth the time and money.

Photographers: The Guardians of History?

Have you ever considered the responsibilities we bear as photographers? Without wishing to get too dramatic, in many ways, we photographers are the guardians of history.

Photography Education Site Creatr Looks to Add Something New To The Mix

Recently the group behind Papercut Magazine announced that their photo critique website Reveu.me has been transformed and re-launched as a subscription based photography education platform. Backed by a host of highly respected educators Creatr promises to add new voice to an already tightly packed space.

When Is It Time For Photographers To Get Bossy?

Often, when a client requests a shoot from a photographer, be it for a product or portrait shoot, you will exchange a few words about what is needed exactly. But even after they have agreed over the price and the direction of the shoot, the photographer may still be at risk of having a disagreement with the client or even his team on the shooting day.

Photography 101 Tutorial by Fstoppers Is Now Available in the Store

Fstoppers is bringing it back to the basics with our latest project, Photography 101: How to Use Your Digital Camera and Edit Photos in Photoshop. If you're just getting started in your photography career or simply want to learn how to take better pictures, this tutorial will teach you the fundamentals that bridge the gap into any genre of photography.

Ready to Challenge Yourself? Check Out 'Art of Photography' Photo Assignments

As photographers, every so often, we will hit the dreaded brick wall of creativity. The tank goes empty, and we feel about as imaginative as a sack of rocks. There are few things more frustrating than being in the middle of an assignment and feeling that wave of doom come over you, taking away what little inspiration you had left as it recedes.

Fstoppers Essential Guide to Filming Band Sessions

Live music session recordings have always been a pillar of the YouTube community, as much as movie trailers and sneezing cats. But over the last few years, thanks to the VEVO dscvr & Sofar Sounds movements, they have seen a great surge in popularity.

Tips and Tricks for Photographing Groups of Dogs

Dogs are among of the most difficult subjects to photograph. They are unpredictable, easily distracted, and move quickly. The challenges that accompany photographing our canine counterparts are multiplied when working with more than one dog at once. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help get the perfect shot of a group of dogs. 

How to Get Perfect Colors from Your Raw Files Straight Out of the Camera with Capture One

Color management is probably amongst the hardest things there is to understand and learn when it comes to retouching and photography. So many elements are to be taken into account to create the perfect final print that it can be extremely complicated and time-consuming. Part of that process is to have a raw converter software able to match your vision and your needs.

Caffenol Processing for Micro-Niche Photography

Jaana and Lorenzö of the studio Cahute have put a spin on the digital age of instant viewing by taking a step back into the past with a classic process of portraits on paper. They created a market for themselves that is so micro-niched they have yet to find another studio specializing solely in this process. 

3 Easy Ways to Control Depth of Field

Most photographers who are just starting off have a difficult time discerning what depth of field is and an even more difficult time trying to envision it. In this short tutorial, I'll show how to envision depth of field, and three easy way to manipulate it.

 

Film Flashback: Reviewing the Fujifilm GF670

One of the best things about shooting film is that there are so many cameras to choose from! Of course, your wallet may disagree with me. The number of formats, combined with the different brands, form factors, lenses, and options make shooting with film almost impossible to get bored with.

Phlearn Presents Simple Tips for Editing Children's Photos

Last week, we covered my all-time favorite tip for creating expressive children’s portraits outdoors this fall. As a follow-up, in this short video, Photoshop master Aaron Nace from Phlearn takes us through simple techniques for editing photos of children in Photoshop.