Fstoppers Original Articles
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.
The Worst Advice You've Been Given as a Photographer
As a follow up to my article on the best advice in respect of turning pro, I thought it would be fun to dig into the worst advice we've ever received as photographers. As Oscar Wilde wrote, "one might consider always passing on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself." So, what's some of the worst photography advice you've ever received?
What Not To Do When Putting Together Your Photography Portfolio
Trying to decide what to include in a photography portfolio can be a daunting challenge. Here are just a few things that should definitely not be included.
Different Key Light Modifiers and How I Use Them for Portraits
Big softbox, little softbox, umbrella, or beauty dish? When choosing a key light modifier for your portraits, it can be daunting to decide which one is the best for the job. I've been working as a portrait photographer for 19 years, so in this article, I'll take you through the modifiers I grab most often for shoots and explain what each one does and the best scenarios to use them.
Foreground Photography: Adding Context and Storytelling to Your Images
Foreground elements in photography do more than just fill space. When used with intent, they can introduce context, enhance storytelling, provide frames that guide the viewer's attention, create balance, and elevate the visual appeal of the images. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, understanding how to effectively use foregrounds can enhance your photography. In this guide to foreground photography, we'll explain the effect of foregrounds and provide you with tips and inspiration for using them effectively in your portrait photography.
The Coffee Shop Sessions With Kai Eason
Saturday mornings, for most people, are about errands or relaxation. But for photographer Kai Eason, Saturday mornings are spent at local coffee shops, photographing a film photography portrait series known as "The Coffee Shop Sessions."
Going Back to a DSLR for Sports Photography for a Day
In 2019, I wrote about how I would never quit full-frame DSLRs. Back then, I complained about mirrorless cameras for wonky bodies and mediocre autofocus. Today, I’m eating crow.
3 Practical Lessons Photographing Death Valley Helped Me Remember
On my most recent photography trip, I was reminded of some key landscape and travel photography lessons. In this article, I want to dive into how you can apply these to your next photography trip.
Canon's Smart Move With Sigma and Tamron Shakes Up the APS-C Lens Market
The recent introduction of new lenses for Canon's RF-S mount by third-party manufacturers Sigma and Tamron is a significant development for the industry. These lenses, all designed for APS-C format cameras, are a significant development that reveals Canon's strategic approach to its mirrorless camera lineup.
Important Photography Lessons We Can Learn From 'Tish'
There is an incredible documentary about one of my photographic heroes, Tish Murtha. Tish was a documentary photographer who grew up in the abject poverty of England’s Northeast. There are important lessons we can all learn from her work.
Decluttering Your Photography Kit: A Spring Clean for Your Gear and Career
A spring clean is a great way to evaluate your photography practice. Decluttering your photography gear can help you focus on what goals lie ahead. This article gives you top tips on what to keep and what to clear out.
Why You Should Buy This Camera Instead
The Fuji X100VI has been riding shotgun on the hype train since its announcement. And while it's a good camera, this camera is better.
The Key To Becoming a Better Photographer Is Simpler Than You Think
What is a surefire way to become a better photographer? Especially if you’ve learned all the technical aspects of your field of photography, what more can you do to be better?
You've Been Lied To: Gear Matters!
You can find many articles online that state "Gear doesn't Matter." Some point out that constraints created by the limitations of your equipment force you to become more creative and present an opportunity for growth. And that's true. But the statement "Gear doesn't Matter" is not true.
How To Decide if a New Camera Is Right for You
With so many strong options in the market and so much noise surrounding each release, how do you know which camera system is right for you?
Why I’m Never Taking a Tripod on Vacation Again
I’m never taking a tripod on vacation again. Last year I took a lightweight compact travel tripod to Japan but never used it once. This was because shooting long exposures on the OM System OM-1 was a breeze. The camera boasts incredible 7 stops of image stabilization, increasing to 8 stops with compatible lenses.
How To Print Your Photography at Home: The Basics
If it’s not on paper, it’s not a real photograph. You must’ve heard this sentence at least once in your photographic journey. For many, it rings true. The best way to appreciate our captures is to hold them on a physical paper. But how to best print at home? Which printer to get? How to use it?
Hit Refresh in Your Photography and Step out of Your Comfort Zone: You'll Thank Yourself for Doing It
It’s a cliché but true nonetheless—old habits die hard. Following the same routine day in and day out because it’s what we know and are comfortable with can lead us into a rut of our own making. In a creative process like photography, repetition and routine can easily become a recipe for bland.
The Secret Power You Can Use to Elevate Your Photos
There are two powerful areas we can use to take our photos to the next level. Yet, they are rarely written about in photography articles.
Pick Up Your Cameras: Photography Is Good for Your Health
Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding avenues for relaxation, exercise, and enjoyment is crucial for maintaining mental and physical well-being. Photography is a practice that can be more than just a hobby or a profession but also a therapeutic tool. This article discusses how photography can add value, peace, and well-being into your life.
The Biggest Tool Photographers Aren’t Using in Their Creative Work
Have you been taking the same images with slight variations over the last few years? Have you seen new technologies shake up the photography world, yet largely kept your distance from them? Today, the esteemed Kristina Sherk from Shark Pixel shares with us one such tool that can revamp the work you've been putting out. Following her tutorial written for us below, I decided to try it out myself. I encourage you to break out of your comfort zone, give it a try, and share your photos with us in the comments.
What Makes These Prints the Best in the World? Behind the Scenes at WhiteWall
Named the world’s best photo lab, WhiteWall is in constant pursuit of excellence in the physical reproduction of photographs. How do they do it, what motivates them, and is there really a difference? I took a trip to WhiteWall’s factory in Germany to find out.
Why Should You Consider Getting a Camera With AI Subject Detection?
How much of a difference does AI-based subject detection make to your photography? The technology should increase our hit rate, but how much of a difference does it make?
The Best Way To Edit Night Photos
In this article, I share five photo editing techniques in Photoshop you can use to create better night photos.
What's The Best Advice for Turning Pro as a Photographer?
We've all needed help on the path to becoming photographers. Did some great advice help get you there? Advice may help you out of a bind or may help you to understand something you can't quite get the hang of. Of course, advice may also lead you down the wrong road. So, once you receive advice, you have to determine the value of the guidance. Is it good or bad advice? I asked a few photography colleagues to share the best advice they've received on turning pro. I'd love to hear about good advice you've been given, or good advice you'd like to share on turning pro.
Prism Lens FX Filter Face-off: Lucid Dream FX Versus Moody FX Filters
I’ve been seeing Prism Lens FX filters everywhere and have been curious about what they're actually like to shoot with. There are so many interesting filters available that it’s hard to know which ones are worth the investment. So, here’s a comparison of the Lucid Dream FX Filter and the Moody FX Filter.
Bringing Your Photography to Life with Stop Motion Animation
Stop motion animation is a great technique for creating attention-grabbing content to promote a brand or your own photography, or even just for fun. In this article, I am going to show you how to shoot and assemble a series of still images to create an eye-catching stop motion animation.
Why Travel Photography Offers More Than Just Pretty Pictures
Sometimes, the benefit of photography goes well beyond the pretty pictures.
Learning From Mistakes: How They Shaped My Photography Journey
Throughout my photography journey, I've encountered various mistakes that have served as valuable learning experiences, ultimately shaping my understanding and approach to the craft. In this article, I'll share some of these mistakes, how you can avoid them, and how they've contributed to my growth as a photographer.
Reala Ace: How Does the X100VI’s New Film Simulation Compare?
One of the things I was most excited about when I saw the launch of the Fujifilm X100VI was the new color film simulation Reala Ace. I was keen to find out how this new film sim compares to other favorites on X Series cameras.
You Are Missing Out by Ignoring an Important Approach to Photography
If you want to elevate it to a higher level, then there is an essential approach to your photography that you should embrace. Known for thousands of years, but nonetheless elusive, here's an approach to photography you can adopt, used by masters in all fields.
Where To Invest Your Money as a Photographer
In today’s article, I’ll share a few thoughts on what has and has not proven to be worth the investment for me as a photographer.
5 Unconventional Tips to Improve Your Editing and Managing Post-Processing Workload
In today's fast-paced world of photography, managing the post-processing workload efficiently is almost a non-negotiable skill, especially when we are all guilty of shooting too much, only to suffer when dealing with large quantities of images. In this article, we will discuss several unconventional tips that I have learned throughout my career, including back-to-back assignments and trips, to address the challenges of editing fatigue and compromised post-processing.
Why Switching From a Sony Mirrorless Camera to a Leica Camera Made Sense for Me
Switching gears in the world of photography can often feel like a leap of faith. The high cost of doing so doesn’t help either. Therefore, the decision to switch from one camera system to another is not taken lightly.
Key Branding and Marketing Strategies for Photographers: Part 2
In Part 1 of this article, we discussed the competitive landscape that photographers face in today's digital age, where the easily accessible smartphones can challenge even the most skilled professionals to distinguish their work. Now, it's time to take those principles and build up an even stronger branding and marketing strategy.
How AI-Generated Imagery May Become a Time Saver for Small Entrepreneurs
Today, it is common for a small company of 1-3 employees to design, create, and market a product without outsourcing any part of the process. Hiring someone from outside to market or sell the product is not an option for a small organization that must be conscious of how every penny is spent.
Don’t Waste Your Time Posting on Social Media, Do This Instead
A few months ago, I wrote an article about how to get your website to the top of Google. I talked about the importance of search engine optimization, content strategies, keyword research, and search intent. If you put your SEO foundation in place following that article, you are ready to create content that will rank on Google.
Gatekeeping in Landscape Photography: Good or Bad?
Whether to share locations in landscape photography is a frequent topic of discussion in landscape photographer communities. People get frustrated when they ask where a photo was taken and the photographer won’t tell them. Are they gatekeeping, or are they trying to protect the natural landscape?
A Superior Way You Can Compare Camera Lenses
When manufacturers give specifications of lenses, there is a lot of detail that is meaningless to many consumers of their products. When we writers review them, we tend to give the same information. Here’s a method I think would be much more helpful to most photographers.
Fstoppers Photographer of the Month (March 2024): Sandeep Mathur
The Fstoppers community is brimming with creative vision and talent. Every day, we comb through your work, looking for images to feature as the Photo of the Day or simply to admire your creativity and technical prowess. In 2023, we're featuring a new photographer every month, whose portfolio represents both stellar photographic achievement and a high level of involvement within the Fstoppers community.
I Tried Landscape Photography, Became Bored, and Came to an Important Realization
If you've followed my writing, you'll know that I rarely pick up my camera if I don't have a contract attached to the action. Call it the joys and perils of being a commercial photographer. You get paid to do what you love, yet your love morphs into a duty and can lose its allure. This is why I surprised myself on my recent work trip to California.
My Tribute to Alyn Wallace
The photography world was stunned on March 29 as we heard the news that Alyn Wallace, a popular and incredible astrophotographer, has sadly passed away. In this article, I want to pay tribute to Alyn.
Key Branding and Marketing Strategies for Photographers: Part 1
We live in a time where over a trillion photos are taken yearly, the photography landscape has never been more competitive. For us photographers, this means that simply capturing quality images isn't enough; effective marketing in today’s rapidly evolving digital age is the only real key to success.
WPPI Is Bigger and Better Than Ever!
WPPI is one of the biggest photography conferences in the world. But after COVID, the show struggled to make a comeback. Thankfully, WPPI is now as good as it ever was, and getting better each year.
Why Your Photography May Be Harmful and What You Can Do About It.
Many of us don’t consider the harm we do with our photos. Our actions might be innocent, but there's a dark side to most genres that we don't ever consider.
This Is One Of The Most Powerful Gifts Being An Artist Can Provide
Being an artist means more than just creating the perfect image.
Is Access to Key Photographic Locations a Growing Concern?
Access to key photographic locations is increasingly becoming a concern among photographers worldwide. As iconic landscapes attract more visitors each year, issues surrounding access, preservation, and management arise. This article delves into the factors contributing to the potential loss of access to these sites and explores perspectives from both landowners and photographers.
Innovations in Video Technology: A Preview of NAB Show 2024 in Las Vegas
The NAB Show is back and is set for April 13-17 in Las Vegas. This year, learn about the creator economy, innovation in media, engage in workshops, and network with industry leaders.
Last Chance To Enter Our Wedding Photography Critique
Each month this year, Fstoppers is running a genre specific Critique the Community contest with some amazing prizes. The theme for March is "Weddings," and we are giving away $3,000 in prizes to 3 lucky winners. Oh, and one of the most successful wedding photographers I know, Pye Jirsa, will be guest judging the images. Here are the details!
A Beginner Photographer's Guide to the Magical World of Specialized Photography Lenses
Unlock the full potential of your photography journey with specialized lenses designed to elevate your creativity and skills. From capturing the minute details of a dewdrop to bending the rules of perspective, this guide introduces you to the world beyond standard lenses.