Photography News

Stay up-to-date with the latest news within the photography industry. Here we feature new photography gear announcements, creative conferences, and other interesting headlines related to the world of photography and filmmaking.

500px and Format Team Up in Toronto for Online Photographer Portfolios

While everyone is busy arguing down here in the States, two companies based in Toronto, Canada have joined forces in a collaboration to bring Format's very strong looking online portfolio feature set to 500px's active community of over 9 million photographers. 500px is a very popular photo sharing site that was launched in October 2009 and has stood out both in terms of user interface presentation and the overall quality of work showcased. Format boast a very slick and easy to use platform with impressively high user recommendation rate of 95%.

Instagram Shuts Down Prominent Bot Service

Score one for authentic interaction. Today, Instagress, a prominent Instagram bot service, shut their doors after being "requested" to do so by Instagram.

How to Tell If You Are Affected by the Instagram Shadow Ban

The topic of Instagram shadow banning users has been a hot topic for the last couple weeks. Some people think it’s a real thing while others don't. The problem is that there was no way to actually prove its existence or to even see if you were affected — until now.

Light L16 Camera Gets a Refresh Even Before It Ships

The Light L16, the camera you’ve been hearing about for the last couple years with 16 lenses and sensors packed into a phone-sized package, has gotten a bit of a facelift ahead of its launch.

Elinchrom Announces the ELB 1200 Pricing and New Deep Umbrellas

A few weeks ago Elinchrom announced their new adventure light, the ELB 1200. However, they didn’t release any pricing at the time, but they are now official. The Swiss flash manufacturer also recently added a few versatile light shapers to their already comprehensive range of products.

Sony Just Announced the a9 and It Looks Amazing

Sony just announced its most impressive camera to date, the a9. If you've been thinking about making the switch from Canon or Nikon to Sony, this camera may make that decision easier.

Instagram Takes on Pinterest with the Addition of Collections

Most of us use Instagram to display our work. It has a great social aspect to it where people can follow your growth and see what you provide as a style. It's where clients go to see if you have what they want with regards to their brand image or way of portraying themselves. It plays an important role in a photographer's working life. As a social platform, they have copied from Snapchat with their stories and now they've copied Pinterest too. Although I don't like copying, let's see what it will offer.

The End of Flash Cross-Branding Issues: Elinchrom Opens Its Skyport Protocol to Third Parties

In recent years, the radio flash transmitter market has grown extensively. Every camera brand and strobe manufacturer has come up with its own system, but as if that wasn’t enough, some brands specialize in designing their own as well. Today, Elinchrom is opening its Skyport protocol to third parties with the hope of creating a new industry standard and solving the cross-branding issues photographers are facing nowadays.

Nikon's New D7500 Shares Much of D500's DNA

Probably the worst-kept secret on the Internet in the last few days, the Nikon D7500, was officially announced on Wednesday. There’s a lot of D500 DNA in the D7500, which is not a bad thing, since that’s Nikon’s flagship DX body, and this model sits right below in the midrange of the lineup.

President Trump's Controversial Modeling Agency Set to Close

The fashion modeling agency founded by President Trump, Trump Models, is closing its doors after 18 years of business in the glamorous industry. The President had already resigned control of the day-to-day running of the parent company The Trump Organization which is now handled by his sons, Donald Junior and Eric Trump.

Have Your Photos Rated by AI

You can have your images judged by AI. Just don't blame me if you don't score as high as you thought you would. These developments are supposed to help people decide what images work best for the message you are trying to convey, so it's good to know it's there and to try it out. It's in the beta phase now, and the website is similar to that of EyeEm, the stock image library built in Berlin, where the images are analyzed and tagged automatically depending what is featured in the photograph.

2017 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced

The 2017 Pulitzer Prize Winners were announced today at Columbia University in New York, N.Y. Pulitzer Prize Administrator Mike Pride made the announcement, and the following are a few of the many standouts.

Father and Son Project 'Small Steps Are Giant Leaps' Photo Series

Almost every photographer has created some sort of personal project in their time. In fact, many photographers’ work is comprised entirely of personal projects. Rarely though do I see projects that are truly personal. I mean that in the sense of their projects having a real emotional connection to the photographer that easily shows through in their images. Small Steps Are Giant Leaps, a father/son project started by photographer Aaron Sheldon and his son Harrison, is one of those projects.

Save Big with This Deal on a New Sony a7RII for Only $2200

The Sony a7RII has been out for over a year now but it is still an incredibly competitive camera with it's solid dynamic range, high ISO, and solid video performance. Fstoppers spotted a deal on brand new cameras for only $2,200. Take note that this is an import camera deal. This means it's possible you may run into issues that you wouldn't have purchasing through a standard distributor. That said, Fstoppers has purchased many of it's cameras through gray market purchases without issue. In addition, this eBay seller seems to have a very high rating which makes us more comfortable recommending the purchase. Check out the deal HERE.

Adobe Sensei Changes your Selfies to Professional Looking Shots

There isn't a lot of information about this Adobe App and whether this technology will be added to the desktop software yet, just that it's called Sensei and they have this video to show its potential. It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make your selfie or basic smartphone photo look like it was taken by someone who knew what they were doing.

Canon to Announce 85mm f/1.4L IS Lens

Sigma wowed us with the release of the 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, which is undoubtedly a strike across the bow of the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM. Not to be outdone, however, Canon is gearing up to release a new 85mm f/1.4L lens of their own with image stabilization.

Consumer Drones Go Underwater With the Gladius

I love my Phantom 4 Pro. Part of the fun is the intrigue of exploring perspectives I haven't seen before. That's why this underwater drone looks particularly interesting.

Fantastic Deal on the Rokinon 14mm F2.8 for Sony E-Mount - Save $350

If you've been looking for a wide angle lens for your Sony a7R II, or any other Sony E mount lens, this is your chance to get a pretty incredible deal. The Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Auto Focus Lens fits on to Sony E-mount cameras and is currently available at $350 off for only $499, on Amazon only. We're not sure how long this deal will last but the best price for this lens everywhere else we've looked on the internet is $150 more for $649.

From now on to Partner and Monetize YouTube Videos you will Need 10,000 Views

When you think of video online, YouTube is surely on top of the list. If anything is happening virally, you'll be able to find it on YouTube, or it's embedded in your favorite site with their red and white play button to start watching. In the past, any contributors were able to receive money from videos since YouTube introduced their partner program five years ago. This opened their advertising platform to anyone and everyone to get some money when ads played before and during the video they uploaded. This changed today.

Adobe Has Developed Color Transfer Technology

Adobe's software bundle is something almost every artist or creative professional in the visual art industries uses. We can't really go without it, and on a personal note, it's like a marriage. Photoshop has done some amazing development with their software, and now, they've teamed up with Cornell University to develop new imaging technology that makes it possible to transfer a photo style from one image to the next, and still make the image look realistic.

Top Fashion Agency Jed Root Closes Doors

Top artist management agency Jed Root Inc. is closing its doors, leaving scores of artists and agents around the world struggling to secure unpaid fees and salaries. Jed Root Inc. was an internationally acclaimed fashion agency which represented a broad spectrum of creative professionals including photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, illustrators, and set designers on top-level international fashion campaigns and editorials.

Picktorial 3 Makes Raw Editing Fast and Easy With a Minimalist Workflow

While most photographers and retouchers use Capture One and Lightroom, the raw processing software market is actually much larger than just two options. One incredibly appealing alternative to the big names is Picktorial. Its third version is being released today, and it comes with quite a few exciting features and is available at a very reasonable price. I’d almost be tempted to say that it’s to Lightroom what Affinity Photo is to Photoshop.

Driving A Lot for Work? Track your Miles with Mile IQ

I never thought I would be in my car so much for work until I started doing photography as a job. As a real estate photographer in New Jersey, I am driving up to 300 miles a day from house to house and back home, shooting photos, videos, and aerials. Within the past six months, I have put just over 10,000 miles on my car and before that, I put 32,000 miles on a car that I was leasing for a year and a half. I was always told to track my miles so I could use that as a tax write off but I would never be sure exactly how far I traveled and I also thought that would be the most annoying thing ever...

Free Access to Eight Online Workshops From World-Class Cinematographers

Learning and improving our craft should be as important as producing content. Online educational resources have made training and workshops accessible to everyone worldwide. One fantastic example is this year’s CineSummit. If you are into cinematography, want to get into it, or even if you are just curious to learn more about content production, then this is for you!

The Deadline to Enter Junebug Best of the Best Engagement Photos 2017 Is Now!

There are tons of photography competitions out there, but not all are equal. In the wedding industry, I’ve found that the Junebug competitions always showcase some of the most inspiring, creative, and beautiful work out there. While the wedding season is about to start, the engagement one is coming to an end for many photographers. So it’s time to start picking your best shots and see if you have what it takes to have your work in the best of the best engagement selection of 2017!

The Panasonic GH5 Is In Stock And Shipping Today

The video camera we have all been waiting for is finally here and surprisingly it isn't backordered... yet. You can order a GH5 from BH today and have it by the weekend.

The Canon 77D is Available and Shipping

When Canon announced it's new 77D, there was a little confusion as to where it fit into canon's line up. The specs make the 77D somewhat of a hybrid between the 70D and the 80D. For a more detailed description of the differences in the models, check out our previous post explaining what each model has to offer. At it's price point of $899, the 77D might be just what you're looking for and is now available to the public.

Special Offer on Select Custom Flash Drives, Packaging, and Bundles on PhotoFlashDrive.com

About a year ago, I shared a few tips to refine your wedding images delivery to your client with you. One of them was about using a branded flash drive with a box, making it look like a gift or a precious jewel. The only issue is, it can be costly to stock on those to keep up with the deliveries. However, until April 2nd PhotoFlashDrive.com is running a special offer and discounting many of their products.

Free Capture One Color Workflow Webinar With Pratik Naik

After releasing a tutorial video together, Phase One and Pratik Naik are teaming up again but for a 60-minute webinar this time. It’s your chance to see and learn all the color tricks the beauty and fashion retoucher uses to get incredible results with any image using Capture One Pro.

A New Approach to Flying DJI Drones: Litchi App

As one of the most popular autonomously flying apps on the market, Litchi is taking the complexity out of flying drones. Drone enthusiasts now can easily set waypoints and POI’s in Google Earth, before even leaving home. By using state of the art technology, Litchi is attempting to corner the market, by replicating features which were once only available through more expensive apps and providing them in a simpler and more affordable format.

Alien Skin Exposure X2 Adds Advanced Layering Tools

Alien Skin Exposure has long been known as a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom. But since Exposure X was released, it’s trying to compete with the big names in the raw processing department. The software has grown into a standalone app and isn’t just a plugin anymore. Today, Alien Skin is announcing an update for Exposure X2, making it more powerful than ever.

Fighting Gear Fungus? Meet Your New Best Friend

I've spent some time in the tropics, and I've seen the effects that the climate can have on things. Shoes that don't dry for weeks start growing things you've never heard of. Fungi spores creep into the tiniest cracks and crevices of things you didn't even know had cracks or crevices. Things take a beating down there. So if you're living near the equator, or in another place with high humidity and some invasive nature, this new storage solution might become your new best friend.

Target Forgoes Photoshop in New Swimwear Campaign

Swimwear is often the target of criticism for promoting unrealistic expectations regarding body image. Target's new swimwear campaign seeks to reset such expectations by going Photoshop-free.

Artlist Releases Full Version of Website - Music for Commercial Licensing

Last year I told you all about a new commercial music site that was just starting up in beta version. As with all beta sites, there were a few things that customers wanted changed. Artlist.io listened, and has completely rebuilt the site from our requests to release the full version. Check out all of the great new features this subscription based music website has to offer!

Ten Firmware Updates for the Fujifilm X-T2 and X-Pro2

Fujifilm will soon release a firmware update for their flagship cameras, the X-T2 and the X-Pro2. The first update is due end of March, and the second one will be released end of May. The update, as stated by them, is reflective of user requests that they have received. What I found interesting, and a first brands that I know of to do so, is the possibility of adding voice notes while paging through your images.

Rebate Deals on Canon and Fuji Camera Bodies

B&H is offering a few big rebates on popular cameras and it's worth taking a peek. Valid today, Sunday, March 26th, save up to $500 on major camera bodies from Canon and Fuji. Check out all the deals below to see if there's a chance to save on the camera you've been waiting to buy.

With the Panasonic GH5 Imminent, Atomos Announce the Ninja Inferno as the Ultimate Companion

With reports that Panasonic have already begun to ship the hotly anticipated GH5, it seems Atomos have perfectly timed the announcement of their latest external monitor-recorder, the Ninja Inferno, due to ship March 31st. With 4:2:2 10-bit recording in 4k 60p and HD 120p, is this the ultimate companion for videographers awaiting their GH5 pre-order to arrive?

Canon to Provide C-Log Upgrade for 5D Mark IV

We've been hearing rumors that Canon will be releasing a firmware update for the Canon 5D Mark IV that will make it possible to capture in C-Log, Canon's own log file format, and that they will be making it available during NAB in Las Vegas next month. Whether the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II will get the same update is still unclear, but reliable sources have made it known that the 5D Mark IV is definitely getting updated.

Will GoPro Give up on Targeting the Average Consumer?

A decade ago, GoPro was the highest selling action camera brand in the world; however, the company’s attempts to expand into the mainstream have resulted in their inability to compete with the enormous popularity of the smartphone.

Instagram Wants to Help You Book Your Next Appointment

Instagram has been quickly moving its platform to be more than the sharing photos with friends app it started out as. With the news that Instagram has increased its monthly advertisers to one million and plans to increase testing of their Instagram shopping features its obvious where the new direction is heading. Instagram tells Bloomberg that in the next couple months they plan to add an option to book appointments by visiting a company's profile. One of the examples given is being able to click a button and scheduling a haircut through a Salon's profile.

PDN's 'The Look' Contest Is Now Open

Are you a fashion or beauty photographer looking to get your work out into the world? Well PDN (Photo District News) is at it again with their annual fashion and beauty contest. The Look is a contest, open to anyone, that aims to showcase the most talented fashion and beauty images from around the world. Entries are now open and running until June 8th, 2017.