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Alex Cooke
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Articles written by Alex Cooke

Learn How This Two-Light Portrait Was Shot and Edited

One you have started to get the hang of the basics of how light works and you feel comfortable with portraits setups using a single strobe, the next step is to move up to two-light setups, of course. This awesome video will show you how such a photo was lit, shot, and edited.

Learn How This Awesome Photo Was Shot

In pursuit of showing off the beautiful set design, this gorgeous photo ended up using a total of six lights, as well as a haze machine. Go behind the scenes with this awesome video to see how this complex and intricate setup all came together to produce the final result.

Practicing Patience and Focusing on the Image

When it costs nothing extra to mash down on the shutter button of a digital camera, it can be easy to fall into the trap of shooting anything and everything, sometimes at the expense of really honing our eyes and finding truly special compositions. This great video follows a photographer as he deliberately and methodically finds an image that was worth waiting for.

Three Things I Appreciate About Sony Cameras

Sony cameras have captured the imaginations of many photographers and videographers in the last few years, with their rich feature sets and vast capabilities providing lots of excitement and increasing the company's market share at a rapid pace. Here are the three things I most appreciate about Sony cameras.

Five Signs You're Becoming a Better Photographer

Photography can be a slow process, with lots to learn and improve upon and many mistakes made along the way. As such, it can be hard to tell if and how you're improving. Here are five signs that you are becoming a better photographer.

Three Things I Appreciate About Canon Cameras

Canon cameras tend to get a lot of flak for seemingly being behind the times technologically speaking, though they remain the top brand in the world. Nonetheless, it's not all bad with them. Here are three things that I think Canon cameras do very well.

Create Happier Clients by Learning to Manage Expectations

Being a financially successful photographer is just as much about business sense as it is about photographic skill. One of the best ways to ensure pleasant outcomes with your clients is to learn how to manage their expectations before you even click the shutter.

Why Does This Leica Lens Cost So Much?

Weighing in at a little over 8 oz, the Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 is quite the small lens. It doesn't have a remarkably wide maximum aperture either, and yet, it costs over $2,000. What makes this lens so expensive?

Do You Risk Your Gear to Get the Shot?

Photography is a hobby/profession that can take a serious toll on your wallet. The cost of a lot of precision, technologically advanced equipment can lead you to be very protective of your gear (and rightfully so). Is it worth risking it to get the shot?

The Best and Worst Photography Products I've Purchased

The photography world is chock full of products meant to make photographers think they will instantly improve their work and take dazzling shots. Some are obviously better than others. Here are the best and worst pieces of photography gear I've purchased.

What Camera Feature Is Most Important to You?

Modern cameras are mightily advanced technological instruments, full of a bevy of features and capabilities, some more important than others. This is the feature that's most important to me.

What Piece of Gear Will You Never Sell?

Photographers can be both nostalgic and habitual, finding a piece of gear they really love and sticking with it for a long time. Most of us have some piece of gear we love and won't ever part with. This one is mine.

One of the Most Common Mistakes Beginner Photographers Make

When you're new to photography, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by all of the various technical parameters and artistic guidelines you have to keep in mind simultaneously. Well, I'm here to add another one to the list, but I promise that it will improve your shots drastically.

Three Ways to Make Skin Look Smoother in Videos

The nice thing about still photography is that you can easily retouch a photo and fix any skin blemishes before you present it to the world. But it's not as easy with video, and it's important to take care to render your subject's skin in a flattering fashion before you even begin recording. This helpful video will show you three ways to improve the smoothness of your subjects' skin on camera.

Get a Great Discount on The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens Today Only

Longer telephoto lenses can be very pricey, especially if you're only looking to use one occasionally or simply don't have the money to drop five figures on top of the line glass. Luckily, third party companies have been producing excellent long zoom lenses for the last few years at much more affordable prices. Today only, you can get an even better deal on the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens in Nikon F or Canon EF mounts.

When Is It Time to Put the Camera Away?

We are all photographers because, well, we like taking pictures. But just because we like taking photos doesn't always mean we should be taking them. When is it time to put the camera away?

Five Helpful Tips for Better Portrait Photography

Portrait photography takes both technical competence and the ability to work with people, making it a challenging but rewarding genre. This great video will give you five helpful tips to improve your portraits.