When it’s cloudy, you might think it’s the worst time to take portraits. The light is often flat, and contrast is missing, but those clouds are actually providing you with a soft, even light that’s ideal for bringing out natural skin tones. This approach can open up new creative possibilities when you learn how to make the most of that natural light.
Whether you're shooting landscapes, architecture, or vlogs, having the right lens can make all the difference. The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary and Canon RF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM are two strong contenders for those looking to enhance their Canon APS-C mirrorless setup.
Creating a strong image is more than just pointing a camera—it’s a detailed process of planning, capturing, and finally, editing. The editing stage in particular is where you bring out the colors, light, and mood you intended, creating a finished piece that truly reflects the moment and story you envisioned.
If you’ve ever tried removing wires, cables, or other distractions from your photos, you know how tedious it can be. Photoshop’s new AI-powered tool aims to change that. This feature, currently available in the Photoshop beta, lets you erase unwanted elements in a few clicks without the need for complicated selections.
What happens when you combine just about every feature and size into a line of camera bags? You end up with a pretty great bag (and a long review)! In this review, I’ll be taking a look at PGYTECH’s 40L Flex bag from their new OnePro line.
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.
Wondering if you should spend extra on the 35mm f/1.8 S prime lens over the new 35mm f/1.4? This helpful video breaks down their features and performance to see if the upgrade is worth it.
I used to think that creating virtual tours required thousands of dollars on gear and a subscription to expensive hosting platforms. In this video, I'm going to show you how to create one with a pocket-sized camera, a smartphone, and affordable software.
Adobe's recent changes to its terms of use have sparked quite a debate. Understanding how to manage these settings ensures your privacy is protected.
Permanent lighting has come a long way over the last half-decade. Although intended primarily for video use, photographers are increasingly using permanent lighting. Neewer has significantly more than a toehold in the lighting market. But do these panel lights stand up to scrutiny?
There is a lot of bad advice online on how to make money as a photographer. Truth be told, I followed much of it and made a big fat zero. This is not because such advice is wrong, but rather because it is out of touch with what the market is in 2024. In this article, I will shed light on one of the worst ways to make money with your work.
There are some very good reasons why photographers are switching over to Exascend. However, there was a problem that made me delay this article. Here's why.
Expanding a photo in Lightroom without using Photoshop can be a real time-saver. Here's how to do it.
On1 Photo Raw is a comprehensive image processing tool designed for photographers. It includes asset management, image development, and editing, plus a host of AI-driven tools, including noise reduction and deblurring. The latest update improves the performance of these tools.
Is becoming a professional photographer worth it these days, especially in 2024? I asked myself this question in 2023 every other day, as it was one of the most difficult years since I had become a professional photographer over ten years earlier.
I put the Neewer KM18 mini wireless lavalier button microphone kit through its paces to see whether it stood up to rigorous testing. It turned out that simplicity has both restrictions and benefits. Here's what I discovered.
135mm lenses are often near the top of the list of desirable portrait lenses. Two that stand out right now are the Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 FE and the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 LAB FE. Both have a lot to offer at competitive prices, but there are some notable differences between them.
Fujifilm recently held an event in NYC for photographers to gain hands-on time with their two most recent camera releases. Fstoppers was there, and we are pleased to provide you with three downloadable raw image files from each camera.
Have you ever wanted to charge your camera batteries twice as fast? How about charging two of them from 0 to 100% in two and a half hours? Well, you've heard me say it before, but I love trying out new gear and finding absolute treasures to share with you all. Check out my latest find: the llano Fast Dual Camera Battery Charging Kit.
Tilt-shift lenses are a powerful tool for photographers, offering control over perspective and depth of field for creative and technical applications. However, professional tilt-shift lenses are often prohibitively expensive, which makes this lens an intriguing option.
Improving your photography involves understanding the nuances of composition, lighting, subject matter, and timing. These elements work together to create compelling images. Nigel Danson shares insights from his experience of shooting over 250,000 photos and reflects on the journey from his early, less successful attempts to his current expertise.
Landscape photography can be both rewarding and challenging, offering endless opportunities to capture the beauty of nature. Understanding the essentials of gear, planning, shooting, and editing can significantly improve your skills. Let’s dive into these aspects to help you enhance your landscape photography journey.
Sigma has released its first official Canon RF mount lens, the 18-50mm f/2.8. This lens is designed for Canon's APS-C RF mount mirrorless cameras, like the R100, R50, R10, and R7. Is this as big of a deal as it seems?
The Sigma SD Quattro H is a unique mirrorless camera with both strong points and drawbacks. Here's how it performs in real-world usage.
Skylum has completed its trilogy of new Generative AI tools with the addition of Generative Expand. The company has already released GenErase and GenSwap.
Canon has unveiled two new products aimed at enhancing the creative capabilities of photographers and everyday users alike: the RF 28-70mm f/2.8 IS STM lens and the SELPHY QX20 compact photo printer. Both are designed to offer versatility and ease of use for a range of photography and printing needs.
If you’ve been on YouTube at all in the past couple of weeks, the algorithm has more than likely served you up multiple videos of powerful influencers announcing that they are “quitting” the platform. While each person has their own reasons, I think there are a few common threads that we can all learn from.
I am becoming a fan of Neewer gear. Since they changed direction and started producing equipment for themselves, the designs have vastly improved, and the quality of the products has rocketed. Here are two new lights from their stable that are exceptionally good. Their competitors should look out.
Embracing inclement weather, such as rain, can help add interest to your landscape photographs. Rain can add richness to colors, atmospheric mist, or even dark, moody clouds for grand scenes. But how do you protect your camera gear in these conditions? Here are five tips to help keep your camera safe.
You may not have been aware that film director Stanley Kubrick was also a professional photographer, having shot assignments for magazines before he ever made any of his award-winning movies. So what did his photographer’s eye bring to his movies, and what can we learn from his creative process?
The use of chip-on-board (COB) LEDs has made it possible to produce small but strong light sources. Almost every light company offers one or more such lights. SmallRig has the RC 60B COB LED video light. It’s small, lightweight, and easy to carry with you. I took a closer look at this light.
Mastering Lightroom's sliders is crucial for photographers aiming to elevate their image editing skills to produce the best results, and it starts with understanding the nuanced differences between sliders like Clarity, Texture, and Dehaze. This helpful video tutorial will show you everything you need to know.
Editing in Adobe Camera Raw has become more powerful with the addition of new AI-driven tools, but these features also introduce complexities that can trip you up. To get the most out of your workflow, you need to understand how these tools interact and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Have you ever bought a piece of gear that promised to revolutionize your work or be the exact tool you needed just to find that it was a total dud? We all have those pieces sitting at the bottom of our gear closet that irk us every time they come in view. Alternately, we also all have pieces that have become our indispensable go-to’s that we can’t image shooting without. I asked five photographers to share their best and worst purchases. These juicy gear confessions are sure to land some pieces on your blacklist and others in your B&H cart.
There is a lot of power required for video recordings, often more than a normal camera battery can deliver for an extended period of time. An external battery can be the answer to that problem. I have reviewed the excellent SmallRig VB99 Pro Mini V-Mount battery.
Photographing in low light is one of the most challenging tasks you can encounter. This is a scenario where your setup truly matters. Not only should you know what to do with your camera, but also keep in mind which camera to bring for low-light photography. In this article, I will go over the essential gear for such work.
You’ve poured your blood, sweat, and tears into your art. Now, it’s time to make sure it is preserved.
In certain scenarios, such as photographing action outdoors, it’s all too easy to find yourself needing to work at shutter speeds that exceed the flash sync speed of your camera. This is where high speed sync comes into its own, expanding your creative possibilities beyond the limitations of conventional flash.
Lightroom Classic can get cluttered quickly if you’re managing a large catalog of folders and collections. Finding the ones you access frequently can become frustrating, especially if your organization style is all over the place. There are a few quick tricks you can use to make your go-to folders and collections stand out, saving you time and hassle.
Taking photos in a small town can feel limiting if you’re used to seeing iconic cityscapes on social media. But with a few techniques, you can get dynamic, visually striking images right in your local area.
Every so often, I find a new piece of software I was unaware of but that gets me excited when I discover and use it. Recently, I stumbled upon PanoVolo, a new Windows/Mac app for creating panoramas with a minimum of fuss that still provides very high-quality output.
Is swapping a camera system a valid and worthwhile move? I did it for very good reasons, and it's something you might consider if you analyze what you use and why you bought it.
A friend sent me an advertisement for AI-generated headshots recently, and I was surprised by how good the images looked. It got me thinking about the future of headshot photography.
Yongnuo was once known for making extremely affordable speedlights, and while they still do that, they have also moved into making lenses in recent years. One such example is the YN 50mm f/1.8 DA DSM PRO for Fujifilm X Series cameras, which offers very impressive performance at a reasonable price, making it a great option for portrait and wedding photographers. This excellent video review takes a look at the lens and the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from the lens in practice.
Experimenting with different focal lengths can take your work in unexpected directions. If you’re used to a 35mm lens, switching to a wider angle might feel like a dramatic shift, but that’s where the creativity happens.
It's easier than ever to get started with video, thanks to the great video capabilities of most cameras (and even phones!), but having the right accessories can make a huge difference. Here are some essential accessories every videographer should consider adding to their kit.
As a professional photographer, you must face all sorts of obstacles. But the highest hurdles tend to be those you put in your own way.
