Running a successful photo business is an entirely different prospect than simply being good with a camera, and if that is something you hope to do, it is crucial to understand what goes into it. This excellent video tutorial features an experienced commercial photographer discussing the most important currency you have as a professional.
The recurring mantra is that gear is nothing more than a tool, and it is true that even the most expensive camera and lens will not do a thing without a competent creative operating them. However, that does not mean a piece of gear cannot be fun to use or even inspire you. This excellent video essay features an experienced photographer who has used a huge range of equipment discussing how gear can inspire you and how that should factor into your purchasing decisions.
Becoming a good photographer is a complicated thing that requires a wide range of factors to come together, and rarely is the journey a straight line. If you find yourself on this journey, check out this fantastic video essay that features an experienced photographer that discusses the truth about growing as a photographer.
The group shots at a wedding are some of the most important, but they can also present some of the most difficult challenges for the photographer. If that is something you struggle with, check out this excellent video tutorial that features an experienced wedding photographer sharing a wealth of practical advice on how to get the best shots.
When most people think of landscape photography, they think of images shot during golden hour, with warm, diffuse arcs of light bathing the land. And while those times can certainly make for fantastic photos, they do not mean you should avoid all others times of day. Even the notoriously harsh midday sun can make for compelling landscape images, and this excellent video tutorial will show you what you need to know to get the most from it.
A 35mm lens with a wide maximum aperture is one of the most useful and versatile options a photographer can have in their bag, but such lenses can often be quite expensive, sometimes running north of $2,000. At $129, you probably do not expect much out of the dirt-cheap Pergear 35mm f/1.4 lens, but you might be surprised at the results it can produce. This excellent video review takes a look at the performance and image quality you can expect from this affordable lens.
The traditional advice for photographers is to pick a niche and focus in on it, as this will allow you to distinguish yourself and rise above the many other competing photographers. And while that is excellent advice, there is merit to pursuing a multitude of genres as a photographer. This great video essay makes a case for being a jack of all trades photographer.
Tamron has established themselves as one of the most innovative lens manufacturers in the photo industry, creating a library of lenses that use smart compromises to offer competitive performance and image quality and performance at prices far more affordable than those of most first-party options. The new 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VC VXD G2 continues that tradition, making it a potential workhorse of choice for many users, and this great video review takes a look at everything you can expect from the lens in usage.
The Samyang AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 offers a hugely versatile range of focal lengths in tandem with particularly wide maximum apertures, all at an impressively affordable price, making it attractive for wedding, events, sports, and portrait photographers. How does it perform in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in usage.
Fujifilm recently announced a range of exciting new equipment, including the GF 55mm f/1.7R WR, which offers medium format shooters a remarkably wide maximum aperture paired with a versatile and relatively neutral focal length, making it attractive for a range of applications from portraiture to events. How does it perform in real-world usage? This great first look video takes a look at the performance and image quality you will be able to expect.
Landscape photography can take a tremendous commitment of time and effort, and even then, you are not guaranteed to come home with the shot you had hoped for. And so, when that happens, it can be easy to become discouraged and eventually find yourself in a creative rut. What can you do when that happens? This excellent video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer sharing his thoughts.
The Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 STM is a truly small lens, which makes it a fantastic option for any creative who want an affordable lens suitable for multi-hour walks or long trips. Can it pack decent image quality and performance into that tiny footprint? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from it in real-world usage.
The nice thing about topics like camera settings and lighting is that they are easily quantifiable, which makes learning them easier in some cases. Posing can be a bit trickier and is often one of the last things portrait photographers really master. If you are growing as a portrait photographer and want some useful advice to add to your bag of tools, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced creative sharing three common posing mistakes and how to fix them.
As much as we view photos on screens nowadays, there really is no replacement for seeing and holding a physical representation of your work. However, printing your photos is a rather delicate process, and mistakes that cause ruined prints can be rather costly. To ensure you get things right the first time, check out this helpful video tutorial that features an experienced landscape photographer discussing five common photo-printing mistakes and what you can do to fix them.
Photography is a very popular business to get into, but a very difficult one in which to make a stable, successful living. Why is that? What does it take to be a successful professional? This insightful video essay features a seasoned pro discussing what it takes to find success in 2023.
The Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S lens offers the promise of being the ultimate portrait lens for Z mount shooters by offering a combination of an extremely wide maximum aperture, top-level image quality, and smooth and buttery bokeh. Can it actually provide those in practice? This excellent video review takes a look at what you can expect from the lens in real-world usage.
Being stuck in a creative rut can be one of the most frustrating things a photographer can experience, and paradoxically, trying to force your way through it can often only make it worse. This fantastic video essay features a photographer sharing his experience with a creative lull, what worked, what did not, and the most important lessons he took away from the experience.
Recent versions of Lightroom come with an improved and far more powerful masking panel that allows you to make precise and powerful adjustments with ease. While the purpose of some of these masks is clear, the intersection function is a bit trickier to use. It is well worth learning, though, as it will add even more power to your editing tools. This helpful video tutorial will show you what it is and how to use it.
We are absolutely inundated with gear news and discussion every single day from all corners of the internet, and while gear can certainly be a lot of fun, it is important to remember that it is the means, not the end. This important video will show you that you can create fantastic images even with a camera that is 15 years old.
A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens is the option of choice for countless photographers, as it can handle a huge variety of situations and needs and produce quality images with a high degree of reliability. That being said, such lenses are often quite expensive, easily topping $2,000. If you do not need that wide aperture, a 70-200mm f/4 can be an excellent alternative. The new Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 Macro G OSS II is one such alternative, and it also brings with it 0.5x macro capabilities, making it an intriguing option. This great video review takes a look at what you can expect from it.
