Giving away a book for free might seem like a strange decision. After all, writing a book takes months of work—planning, researching, writing, editing, and refining. Then there’s the effort that goes into designing the layout, selecting images, and making sure the final product is something worth reading. So why give it away when I could sell it?
Well, I’ve been asked this question a lot since launching Essential Landscape Photography Skills as a free resource, and the answer is pretty simple: I wanted to give back. Plus, the inspiration I had to make this book in the first place was born out of my articles and videos that I wrote for Fstoppers and published on YouTube.
A Book Born from Experience
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of traveling to some of the most incredible landscapes, capturing many moments. I’ve messed up, gotten things right at different times in my journey, and sharing what I’ve learned along the way has been enjoyable. I’ve always believed that photography is something you learn best by doing—by being out in the field, making mistakes, and figuring out what works. But at the same time, having a bit of a structured approach can be a game-changer.
That’s where this book came in. It started with my Essential Landscape Photography Skills video series, where I broke down the fundamentals of landscape photography into practical, easy-to-follow lessons. The goal was to help photographers of all levels improve their skills without overcomplicating things. The response to that series was incredible, and I realized there was a real need for a resource that brought all of these concepts together in one place—something that photographers could refer back to, no matter where they were on their journey.
That’s how Essential Landscape Photography Skills was born. It’s a book packed with knowledge, tips, and insights, designed to be accessible and useful for anyone who wants to take better landscape photos. It ended up being 62 pages in total, and I feel that each one has something beneficial for someone.
Why Free?
Giving Back to the Photography Community
Photography has given me so much—amazing experiences, a career I love, and a fantastic community of people who share my passion. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from others, whether through workshops, online content, or simply chatting with fellow photographers in the field. Not to mention the many belly laughs, mishaps, phenomenal conditions, and locations we’ve shared. I wanted to do something that contributed to that community in a meaningful way.
By making this book free, I’m hoping to help as many people as possible improve their skills and enjoy photography even more. Whether you’re just starting out or have been shooting for years, I want this book to be something that makes a difference in your journey.
Removing Barriers to Learning
There’s a lot of great educational content out there, but I know that not everyone can afford to invest in courses, workshops, or books. I didn’t want cost to be a barrier for anyone who genuinely wants to learn. By offering this book for free, I can ensure that anyone interested in improving their landscape photography has access to valuable information without worrying about price tags.
Helping Photographers Capture Better Shots
At the end of the day, my goal has always been to help photographers get better shots. I know how frustrating it can be to feel stuck in your photography—to struggle with composition, light, or finding the right locations. This book is designed to break down those challenges and provide practical, actionable solutions.
From understanding the importance of light and weather to mastering composition and scouting locations, every chapter in this book is built to help photographers take their work to the next level. And the best part? It’s filled with real-world examples and stunning images to illustrate the concepts, making it a rich media experience rather than just a textbook-style guide.
What’s Inside the Book?
Essential Landscape Photography Skills is structured to cover the key aspects of landscape photography, ensuring that readers walk away with a solid foundation.
From discovering great photography spots, avoiding overcrowding, and making the most of what’s around you to understanding different types of light and how to use them to create stunning images regardless of the weather—while, of course, having the skills to read weather patterns, predict conditions, and adapt your shooting accordingly.
It’s a mix of tackling exposure, dynamic range, and other common hurdles, learning why waiting for the right moment can make all the difference, and practical ways to frame your shots and create more compelling images with specialized techniques for capturing seascapes and waterfalls.
Finally, does it matter how different times of the year affect the landscapes you shoot? How can you learn from your mistakes and use them to improve?
I really wanted to cover all of this—plus more—and also hope that it might inspire others to get out and shoot. By covering all of these topics in a clear, structured way, this book acts as both a guide for beginners and a refresher for more experienced photographers.
The Support Has Been Overwhelming
Since launching the book, the response has been incredible. The kind messages, emails, and comments I’ve received have made it clear that this book is helping people, and that’s exactly why I wanted to release it for free.
Many of you have shared how it’s given you a new perspective on landscape photography or helped you improve in ways you hadn’t considered before. That kind of feedback means everything to me. It’s also why I’m asking for testimonials—if you’ve read the book and found it useful, I’d love to hear your thoughts so I can share them with others who might benefit from it.
Of course, if you do want to support what I do, you’re always welcome to grab the book for the $4.99 high-five price instead of using the free code.
Finally
So, why did I decide to give this book away for free? Maybe I’ve lost my mind. Maybe I won the lottery (I didn’t). Or maybe, just maybe, I wanted to give something back to the community that has supported me throughout my photography journey.
I hope this book helps you capture better shots, enjoy photography even more, and approach the hobby with a renewed sense of creativity. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, what are you waiting for? It’s free, packed with valuable insights, and ready to help you take your photography to the next level.
And if you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Happy shooting, and thanks for being part of this journey with me.
You can get your own Free copy of Essentials Landscape Photography Skills by joining my newsletter here, and I'll send you the code to download it plus other titles for free.
