Fstoppers Originals

Exclusive articles and expert opinions written by Fstoppers’ talented team of creative professionals. Here we cover everything from the latest photographic techniques to advice on running a successful photography business, to first hand accounts of working in the photography industry.

SEO for Photographers Who Hate SEO (But Hate Being Invisible More): Part 2

By now, you’ve started making peace with the idea that your gorgeous photography isn’t enough on its own. You’ve added a clear intro to your homepage. You’ve started naming your images like an adult. You’ve even braved the back end of your site to fiddle with some alt text. That’s huge—give yourself a high five. Now let’s crank it up a notch. 

Pixel Perfect or Problematic? The Best AI Noise Reduction Software

Pushing your camera's ISO is often a necessary evil in photography. Whether capturing the ambiance of a dimly lit wedding reception, the sprawl of the Milky Way, or the split-second action of wildlife, higher ISOs let you get the shot. The trade-off, however, is digital noise—that grainy, color-speckled texture that can obscure fine details and degrade the overall quality of your images.

Why the Best Photos Are Often the Ones You Didn’t Plan For

We’ve all been there: You plan the "perfect shoot." You check the weather (a million times). You pack your gear with the precision of a surgeon preparing for an operation. And then... the universe shrugs and says, "Ah, you know what, not today." 

Why Every Photographer Needs a Solo Trip Right Now

Have you ever felt your photography takes a backseat when you're with others? I booked a solo overseas trip to reconnect with my photographic passion without the constraint of expectations or fitting in with the needs of others. This article might be the push you need to go on your own solo journey of discovery. 

What Is Wrong With Group Trips?

Retouch4Me Just Got a Whole Lot Better

A few years ago, I first heard about the retouching software Retouch4Me when one of our readers asked me to review it for the Fstoppers Youtube Channel. I immediately fell in love with the software and added it to my workflow. This year, they have added some features we have all been waiting for, so let's look at what is new with this powerful skin retouching software. 

10 Lesser-Known Things Every New Photographer Needs to Learn

Your entry into photography might feel like a massive ocean of techniques, gear choices, and social media comparisons. Most people talk about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, and basic post-processing. Those topics matter, but they don’t reveal the quieter corners of the craft. 

The Truth About Perfect Light in Landscape Photography: Overcoming the Myth

Landscape photography often carries a widespread myth—the belief that bad light equals bad photos. Many photographers, especially those starting out, follow the conventional wisdom that only certain times of day, particularly golden hour, produce the best images. This belief has been perpetuated by social media, tutorials, and even some photography experts.

Portrait Magic Revealed

When it comes to creative portraits, sometimes the simplest things can make or break your vision. Likewise, there are times when small details in a scene can give your portraits that little something special. 

The Birth of the Digital Camera: From Film to Filmless Revolution

Photography has always been about capturing light to preserve moments. For over a century, that meant exposing a roll of film and then disappearing into a darkroom or waiting for a lab to develop the images. It’s easy to forget how different this process was before digital cameras came along. In the 1970s, the idea of instantly seeing a photo on a screen felt like science fiction.

Highlights From Adobe MAX in London

Adobe MAX is a gathering of photographers, filmmakers, and designers who want to see the latest innovations the company is working on and learn from other creatives who have mastered using the company’s software to fulfill their creative vision.

Did Fujifilm Steal My Idea for Their New Camera?

Five years ago, I humorously "leaked": a rumor that Canon was about to release the RiP, a camera with a vertical sensor designed for Instagram influencers. Sadly, the RiP never came to market, but the concept may have inspired Fujifilm’s intriguing new camera. 

Blow Up on Social Media (And Never Appear on Camera)

The business value of social media can’t be overstated, but not everyone wants to vamp in videos—the common path to stardom. Luckily, you don’t have to, says Janis McGavin, director of marketing and social media for the Los Angeles Center of Photography. “How do I know this?" she said.

Depth of Interest: What Makes a Landscape Photograph Stick

Give your eyes a destination and a route to get there. Our job as artists is to find a place we want to direct the viewer’s eye to, find a way to direct them there, and then to show them what it is we want them to see. Everything else is just visual clutter. 

The Neighborhood and the Photographer

You don’t need a passport. You don’t need a model. And you sure as hell don’t need permission. What you do need is your camera and a little curiosity. 

Any camera will do. Really.