It's the Light Stupid (Part One)
Every photo you’ve ever taken is just a record of one thing: light. It’s the invisible brush that paints every image, and if you don’t understand it, you’re not really photographing.
Every photo you’ve ever taken is just a record of one thing: light. It’s the invisible brush that paints every image, and if you don’t understand it, you’re not really photographing.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping photo editing, and Lightroom's latest update brings that power directly to your workflow. Understanding how to leverage these new tools is crucial if you want precise edits without spending hours at the computer.
One of the most critical elements shaping your images is the quality of light. Understanding this directly impacts how your photography feels, setting apart casual snaps from intentional artistry.
Improving in photography is less about mastering complicated camera settings and more about understanding a few practical strategies. Being intentional about timing, composition, and simplicity can dramatically enhance your results without making editing tedious.
Photoshop's latest update completely revamps the Hue and Saturation adjustment layer, and it's about time. The new feature simplifies color editing significantly, offering intuitive swatches that target specific colors in your image.
If the idea of relying on Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms to attract photography clients stresses you out, there is some good news. You can actually build a successful photography business without needing to spend endless hours posting and engaging online.
Effective portrait lighting isn't about sticking to strict rules or imitating standard setups. Knowing when and why to adjust your lighting approach directly influences your results, making your portraits feel genuine and expressive.
You're probably convinced your gear is holding your photography back, but what if the real issue is simpler—and far more essential? The problem might be that you're missing three fundamental skills, ones rarely discussed but vital to capturing great images.
Organizing and renaming your photos effectively saves you significant time and frustration. Lightroom isn't just about photo editing—it can transform the way you manage your images, helping you locate and name your files quickly, even if you never touch the editing features.
There’s an unspoken rule in the creative industry: follow up, but don’t expect a reply. What used to be a rare frustration has now become the norm—emails left unanswered, proposals ignored, relationships that once felt solid suddenly vanishing into the ether. The rise of ghosting, a term originally coined for dating culture, has now taken hold in the business world, and creatives are feeling the brunt of it.<--break->
Understanding shutter speed is essential if you want to control movement in your photography. It directly affects how sharp or blurred moving subjects appear in your images.
Long exposure photography is one of the most effective ways to convey movement in a still image. Whether it’s the soft blur of flowing water, the streaking motion of clouds, or the hypnotic trails of city lights, long exposure transforms scenes into something beyond what the human eye can perceive.
Anyone who has dedicated themselves to photography long enough has felt the harsh undercurrents that run beneath the romantic facade: the self-doubt, the exhaustion, the unrelenting demands of an audience always hungry for more. We’re told to love what we do, but the unspoken caveat is that genuine commitment to photography—as with any passion—demands sacrifice, endurance, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Taking your camera for a casual walk without any specific plans can shift how you see everyday surroundings. Many photographers underestimate the value of unstructured, spontaneous sessions, but it’s these low-pressure outings that often yield surprising insights and fresh perspectives.
Photoshop continues to evolve, introducing tools designed to simplify your editing workflow and enhance the quality of your images. Here's a look at five of the best.
Pricing is a major sticking point for wedding photographers. It can easily turn into an obsession, overshadowing what genuinely matters in your photography business.
You're set to capture something amazing with your camera, but where should you begin? Without a clear process, it's easy to rush, overlook details, or end up with photos that miss the mark. Let’s outline a simple, repeatable approach to help you slow down, capture more, and make each shot count.
Improving your photography isn't just about mastering the technical aspects; it involves insights gathered from real experiences. Understanding the subtle lessons beyond the basics can dramatically shape your photographic journey.
Many photographers debate the necessity of high-resolution cameras, especially when most images today are viewed on small screens. Yet, high megapixel counts offer practical advantages beyond mere sharpness or image quality.
The most valuable skill you can learn in photography might not be what you expect. It’s about taking the ordinary things you see every day and making them stand out visually, transforming the mundane into something striking.
Efficient editing in Lightroom or Camera Raw can significantly elevate the quality of your landscape photos without overwhelming you with complexity. Learning focused techniques helps you produce professional-level results consistently.
The export process in Lightroom Classic helps you efficiently share your images exactly as you envisioned them. However, without the right export approach, even your best edits might not translate well across different platforms or devices.
Facing financial instability as a photographer can carry significant stigma. There's a misconception that picking up a day job implies failure or inadequacy, but it's a conversation worth having.
Real estate photography demands precision because mistakes here don't just affect your immediate project—they shape the entire trajectory of your business. Missteps early on can derail your efforts to build trust and establish a strong professional foundation.
Editing photos effectively on the go has become a necessity, and Lightroom Mobile makes that process both practical and powerful. With professional editing capabilities packed into your phone or tablet, you're no longer confined to your desktop when refining your images.
Dodging and burning can dramatically shape how an image looks, guiding the viewer's eye exactly where you want it. Understanding this skill will elevate your editing, making your subjects pop without relying on overly complex edits.
Preparing for your first wedding is exciting yet daunting. Getting it right can set the foundation for your career and build your confidence.
Adobe Lightroom is a very powerful editing tool for your landscape photos. It is also an easy way to ruin your photos during the editing process if you don’t understand the sliders. This video talks through five sliders in Adobe Lightroom that will destroy your images.
In his latest video, Greg Benz shares some surprising raw editing results. The seemingly same setting can have drastically different effects, depending on how you apply it in Camera Raw or Lightroom.