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.

Three Wedding Photography Tips I Wish I Knew Sooner

I've spent years picking up odd tips, completing online courses, researching techniques, and now, I'm confident in sharing some of that knowledge with the world. Of course, I'm still learning and will continue to pick up tips for the rest of my career. For now, though, I'll share some I wish I had known sooner.  

How to Add Pets to Engagement and Couples Portraits

Pets are one of the most important presences in the lives of a lot of couples, and it is only natural that they might want to include them in engagement or couples portraits. Of course, adding a rambunctious dog or the like to the mix can make your job substantially more difficult. So, how do you satisfy the desires of your clients without pulling out your hair?

One of the Most Useful and Overlooked Camera Features

Modern cameras are impressively capable machines, full of a range of advanced features and capabilities. One of the most useful features has been around for much longer than mirrorless cameras, though; in fact, it goes back to the film era.

Is It Time To Quit the Photography You Do?

Photography seems like a noble enough activity, but is it really the thing we should be spending all our time, money, and energy on? Here's how to work out if photography is what you should be doing with your life. 

10 Ways to Explore Photography as a Beginner

The beauty of photography is that there are so many genres, techniques, styles, and philosophies that there is room for just about everyone to find a niche that suits them. If you are new to photography and wondering how to find your place in it all, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you 10 different ways you can explore your creativity with a camera. 

5 Great Available Lighting Portrait Scenarios

While every portrait photographer should learn how to work with artificial light, available light is still a fantastic tool for a lot of applications and can be the better choice in a range of situations. Available light can be more versatile than you might suspect, and this excellent video tutorial five different scenarios that make for fantastic portraits.  

How to Handle a Bad Day in Photography

Like it or not, it is going to happen. Even the best photographers in the world have bad days when the creative juices are not flowing, when the shots are not coming together. They do not just pack it in when that happens, though. You can always salvage a tough day if you have the right attitude and the right approach to your work.

Myth Busted: High Megapixel Cameras Do Not Produce More Noise in Low Light

There's been a long-held belief that higher-megapixel cameras produce more noise in low-light situations. Here, different models of Fuji, Canon, and Sony cameras are compared side-by-side to prove that high-megapixel cameras do not produce more noise than lower-megapixel models when lighting conditions are poor.

A Simple Technique to Make Your Photos Pop

When it comes to landscape photography, we talk a lot about how to make photos "pop," but there is a fine line between a photo that pops and one that is gaudy. This great video tutorial will show you a simple and straightforward technique for adding a bit of pop to a landscape photo in a tasteful but effective manner.  

Network Storage Is the Only Safe Way to Store Your Pictures

Okay, so I know a lot of readers may disagree with me on this and have different opinions. My writing here isn't intended to cause any offense, but more to offer an opinion and start a discussion on the matter. My evidence here is based on having worked in the IT industry for over 30 years and working in the photographic industry with creatives.

Everything You Need to Know to Edit Landscape Photos in Lightroom

Creating a compelling landscape photo takes good technique, knowledge of weather and light, planning, and, often, a lot of time and effort. And after all that, it takes strong understanding of post-processing and good taste to produce a finished product.

The Crucial Balance That Makes a Great Photo

We spend a lot of time working on various techniques, thinking about composition, etc., but when you boil it down to its essence, what is it that makes a great photo? Every photo has two important qualities that help it stick in the viewer's memory. This insightful video discusses what they are and shares some examples of how they work together to make compelling images. 

How to Set Up a Canon Camera for Wildlife Photography

The latest generation of Canon mirrorless cameras brings with it a nice array of features for wildlife photography, including fast continuous burst rates and advanced autofocus features. With such advanced systems, it is worth taking the time to customize the camera to your exact needs to ensure you have the best chances of getting those fleeting shots.

How to Compose Landscape Photos Using a Wide Angle Lens

The wide angle lens is the tool of choice for a lot of landscape photography, but such focal lengths can also be particularly tricky to work with. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer showing you how to create more effective compositions using a wide angle lens.  

Not Sure How to Add Depth and Wow to Flat, Boring Photos? Here’s How

Do you sometimes look at your images and think there's something missing? Something you can't quite put your finger on, but instinctively know? Very often your images are flat and lack depth. Here's exactly how to fix that issue and add real pop and life to your photos. 

5 Helpful Tips to Improve Your Snowflake Macro Photography

Many of us are mired in the cold and snow of winter, but that does not mean our creative juices should stop flowing. In fact, winter offers a vast range of unique photo opportunities, some requiring long trips and some only needing you to step outside your back door.

The Best Way to Import Images Into Lightroom

Did you know that there are various ways to import images into Lightroom? Here, we look at the most effective method, which will save you time and ensure you don't even have to open the import dialog box. 

Tips on Photographing New Female Models

Photographing female models can be an exciting and creative process, but it's essential to approach it with professionalism and sensitivity. Here are some tips based on my own experience to help you get the best results during a photo shoot with a new model. 

5 Tips to Improve Your Photoshop Skills

Photoshop is a tremendously complex and intricate program, and as such, there are many different ways to accomplish any specific task. This means that it is worth taking the time to learn some of the best and most efficient ways of doing things, as it will save you a lot of time and effort over the long run.

How to Take Full Advantage of Lightroom's Newest Tools

Lightroom continues to advance in its capabilities, making it a more versatile editing platform than ever before. If you have not checked out all the new features yet, take a look at this fantastic video tutorial that will take you through some of the most useful new tools, where to find them, and how to use them for quicker and more powerful edits.  

3 Pricing Mistakes Food Photographers Make

Food photography, like every other genre, has certain pitfalls that can adversely affect your ability to make a good income from it. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced food photographer discussing three common pricing mistakes and how to fix or avoid them.  

3 Subtle and Natural Off-Camera Flash Portrait Techniques

Photographers who are new to working with artificial light often think that strobes always look distinctly different from natural light. And while it is true that you can shoot creative, highly stylized images that would not be possible with just sunlight, you can use strobes to emulate natural light to make subtle, natural looks.

10 Indispensable Tips for Getting a Killer Headshot

If part of your business is capturing headshots, then this is for you. Even if you're thinking of adding it to your portfolio, it's worth checking these essential tips and tricks as, if you're a commercial photographer, you can up your customer's average spend by offering this essential service. 

How to Retouch a Portrait in Lightroom Without Photoshop

High-end retouching is normally done in Photoshop, so can similar edits be achieved in Lightroom without ever leaving the software? The following tutorial is based upon the tips and techniques provided in lesson 19 of Mastering Adobe Lightroom by Pye Jirsa and is only part of the 49 lessons available in the tutorial. 

How to Make Your Photography Thrive

Photography is a lifelong commitment. There is always something new to learn, an interesting subject to photograph, and a skill to improve. How do you avoid stagnating? This great video discusses the topic and how one photographer keeps himself motivated to continually evolve and grow as a creative.  

Dealing With Imposter Syndrome as a Photographer

Impostor Syndrome can be an insidious thing: you work hard at your craft and develop a strong creative voice, and yet, despite all that effort and experience, you feel as if you do not know what you are doing and your work is not worthwhile. Why do so many photographers experience Impostor Syndrome, and what can they do about it?

5 Things I Would Tell My Younger Photographer Self

While so many resources about both the technical and logistical sides of photography can be found in books and video tutorials, there are things that only time can teach. Here are some of the things I’d love to whisper to my younger self that might be of help to others as well. 

The Power of Smart Collections in Lightroom

Lightroom has a wide variety of tools for organizing and finding your images, and one of the most useful features is Smart Collections. If you have not yet taken advantage of Smart Collections, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you what they are and how to take advantage of them for organizing your photos.  

10 Useful Editing Techniques in Lightroom

Many people think of Lightroom as a place for cataloging their photos and doing some light edits and Photoshop as the destination for serious post-processing, but in recent iterations, Lightroom has come a long way in its capabilities. You can now do quite a lot in the application, and this excellent video tutorial will show you 10 such techniques to take your edits furthers.  

5 Helpful Tips for Better Wildlife Photos

Wildlife photography is a challenging but rewarding genre that requires a lot of solid technique and specialized knowledge in order to create compelling images. If you are new to the genre and looking to improve, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you five helpful tips sure to put you on the right track to better wildlife shots.  

Important Lessons About Being a Professional Photographer

Becoming a professional photographer takes a lot more than simply being good with a camera and having creative vision. In fact, a lot of talented photographers languish as professionals because they are not prepared for the demands that come along with tying your income to your images.

3 Creative and Effective One-light Portrait Photography Setups

When it comes to portrait photography, you might think that you need complex multi-light setups in order to create professional images, and while these certainly have their place, you might be surprised by how much you can accomplish with just a single light. This excellent video tutorial will show you three creative and effective one-light setups for portrait photography.  

Why Mistakes Are Such an Important Part of the Photography Process

When you are new to photography, it can feel like professionals know exactly what they want and how to achieve it, but that is how social media can be quite misleading. The truth is that professionals make mistakes all the time; in fact, they embrace them.

5 Lessons Learned From a Decade of Street Photography

Street photography is a challenging genre that requires confidence, solid technique, and fast instincts. If you are new to street work and looking to improve, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced street photographer discussing five important lessons he has learned after a decade of work.  

Proof That Almost Anywhere Can Be a Photo Studio

Of course, it would all be great if every portrait photographer could afford their own studio, but that simply is not feasible for most of us. That being said, you would be surprised how little space you need to make creative, compelling, and professional portraits. This excellent video tutorial will show you how to light and shoot portraits in a small hallway. 

5 Helpful Tips for Better Black and White Portraits

A black and white portrait can be one of the most powerful ways to represent a person, but it takes more than just desaturating a color image to make an effective final photo. If you would like to learn how to do that, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will give you five tips sure to help you create better black and white portraits.  

Are You Saying Yes Enough as a Photographer?

Photographers are constantly asked to work for less than they are worth or even for free, and that can often put us on the defensive, ready to reject any offer that will not bring us meaningful income. That can sometimes stop us from saying yes when it would actually be the best thing for us.

How to Retouch a Portrait in Capture One and Photoshop

When it comes to high-end portrait retouching, Capture One is the choice of many photographers, renowned for its handling of raw files. If you would like to learn how to process a portrait using both Capture One and Photoshop, check out this fantastic video tutorial that will show you how to edit an image for the best results.  

Creating a Compelling Landscape Photo by Combining Multiple Images

When it comes to landscape photography, the most common type of compositing we engage in is exposure bracketing for increased dynamic range. Of course, you can also use compositing techniques for artistic purposes as well. This excellent video tutorial will show you how an experienced landscape photographer used the power of compositing to create a single compelling image.  

5 Common Editing Mistakes Made by New Photographers

Learning all the technique that goes into using a camera to create a compelling, well-composed photo is an undertaking all itself, but then comes the post-processing that is required to create a polished, complete image. Just like using your camera, there are some common mistakes new photographers make when editing their images.