Sometimes, improving your studio portraits isn’t about adding more lights—it’s about making better use of the ones you already have. This highly useful tutorial covers five essential lighting patterns in portraiture and compares the setups. In this in-depth yet quick guide, Pye Jirsa delivers clear and practical demonstrations designed to produce bold, impactful results without overcomplicating your workflow.
Professional photo editing does not have to take a lot of time. If you have proper source material, all it takes is a few minutes and the right combination of tools to add that little extra that makes your photos shine.
If you’re someone who enjoys the tactile, deliberate experience of shooting film, the Rollei 35 AF could be an interesting option.
Whether you have been using Adobe Lightroom for years or are brand new to it, there are always little efficiency tricks or subtle features you can use to make your editing more efficient. As a long-time Lightroom user, I even found a few of these tricks new to me!
The right lens can change the way your images look and feel. This comparison between the Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.4 S and the NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S breaks down what makes each option stand out for your shooting style.
The Nikon Z50 II offers an affordable entry into Nikon’s mirrorless Z-mount ecosystem with improvements over its predecessor. But with some notable limitations, how does it stack up against the competition?
Photography can be tricky, especially when your images don't turn out as expected. Common problems like poor exposure, blurry details, or excessive noise can be frustrating. The good news is that many of these issues can be fixed with a straightforward approach.
Sometimes, the daily grind can strip away the joy and creativity that drew you to photography in the first place. Reflecting on the highs and lows of 2024, this great video shares insights from a transformative year of travel and shooting, offering lessons that can inspire you to reconnect with your craft.
Editing your images is about more than just making them look good; it’s about using tools effectively to achieve the results you envision. Understanding how the basic adjustment panel and the tone curve in Lightroom work together can significantly improve the dynamic range, contrast, and tone of your images.
Imagine visiting a photo exhibit and finding out the police removed some of the artworks. That’s exactly what happened in Fort Worth, Texas. Four photographs by famed photographer Sally Mann were seized by police from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth amid allegations that they might constitute child pornography.
If you’ve been on the lookout for a low-cost portrait lens for your Sony or Nikon camera, the TTArtisan AF 75mm f/2 could be worth your attention. With its f/2 aperture, it offers a combination of smooth background blur and sharp image quality, perfect for portraits.
Not every idea is golden, and not all camera systems are destined to become legends. Digital photography has always grown by leaps and stumbles.
In the age of selfies and having a camera in your pocket, it seems more and more young people have an endless camera roll of photos that will hardly, if ever, be looked at again. But is there a better way?
Sigma is known for making high-quality lenses, and they’ve just added another world’s first to their lineup: the Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 DG DN Art lens. This new full frame lens not only delivers a constant f/1.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range, but it also delivers incredible sharpness and clarity throughout, similar to a high-quality prime lens. This versatile zoom is perfect for a variety of shooting scenarios.
Whether you’re working with portraits or textured scenes, sharpening helps guide the viewer’s eye to key elements. Here's how to do it like a pro using Photoshop.
This camera backpack from Nomatic has been talked about by many photographers for its unique aesthetic. But is there more to this camera bag than that?
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.
In the current world of virtual meetings and online content, having a "good enough" webcam is no longer good enough.
Tripods are an invaluable tool for travel and landscape photography, and there are countless models to choose from. I’ve tested many over the years but found that a specific size and style just fit me best. This review will look at my last year using the Leofoto LS-284CEX and LH-36 head.
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.
Pushing through self-doubt and finding purpose in photography can be a challenge. When you're out capturing moments, it’s easy to wonder what it’s all for. Yet, reminding yourself of why you love photography can reignite your passion and keep you inspired.
Choosing between Canon’s EF and RF lenses can be confusing, especially if you’re transitioning to a mirrorless system. If you’re already using EF lenses with an adapter, you might wonder if upgrading to RF lenses is worth it.
Stepping away from my usual practice and workflow, I recently had the opportunity to test out the new Lomo’Instant Wide Glass camera. Is this truly the best instant camera on earth?
If you're looking for a review like nothing you've ever seen before, then grab some popcorn, sit back, and get ready to experience life in the future.
Does sensor speed matter? Each time a new camera is released, incremental upgrades often leave many of us wondering about their actual significance.
Water reflections can transform a basic landscape photo into something captivating, but they don't always look their best straight out of the camera. With a little fine-tuning in Lightroom, you can make those reflections more vibrant and balanced. It's a quick and easy technique that can instantly elevate the look of your landscape photography.
Photography can be a rewarding and creative pursuit, but even the most passionate enthusiasts face moments of doubt or disinterest. Addressing this common challenge, one photographer shares personal insights on how to navigate these periods and rediscover excitement in your creative process. His strategies range from shifting perspectives to embracing new tools and projects.
White balance plays a critical role in shaping how your photos look and feel. Getting it right can mean the difference between a shot that feels natural and one that seems off. But white balance isn’t just about technical accuracy; it’s also a powerful tool for creative expression.
When a company releases an upgrade to a popular camera model, the question isn’t just about the new features—it’s about whether it’s worth upgrading. The Canon EOS R5 was already a standout in the mirrorless camera market, but now the EOS R5 Mark II is here, promising to raise the bar even higher.
The Leica Q3 43 introduces a 43mm lens designed to balance street photography, portraits, and general versatility. It’s a fresh take for those who found the previous Q series’ 28mm lens either too wide or too limiting, and it's paired with a powerful camera behind it.
With the introduction of iPhone 15 and USB-C connectivity, it’s now possible to record video footage directly onto an external SSD. To support this, DigiEra introduced a compact, lightweight SSD that is MagSafe compatible. DigiEra provided me with a black 1TB version for review.
With Fuji's X Series sensors now reaching 40 megapixels, having a kit lens that can handle the increased demand for sharpness and detail is crucial. The XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 R LM WR makes that promise, but can it deliver?
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.
Cameras today boast an impressive range of megapixels, with some models offering 60 megapixels. But do you really need that many megapixels? For most people, a 24-megapixel camera might be more than enough. Let's break down the different scenarios to help you figure out which camera fits your needs, potentially saving you money.
Editing is a love-hate relationship for many. For some, it’s the best part of photography. For others, it feels like a chore. It’s essential to find a way to make the process enjoyable and efficient, while also maintaining consistency in the look and feel of your images.
If you are reading articles on Fstoppers, it’s a sure sign that you want to improve your photography. You have the potential to become fabulous, and there are proven steps you can take to help you on that journey.
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.
The importance of the positioning of the key light in portrait photography cannot be overstated, with its placement being crucial to defining the subject's features and the overall mood of the photograph. For portrait photographers, mastering key light placement is foundational, affecting everything from the sharpness of shadows to the subtleties of facial contours.
In the past few months, I have been converted to a CFExpress Type A user following some great experiences with the Exascend CFExpress cards, and this week I wanted to try out another affordable card from Pergear to see how it compares. Join me in this article as I put this card to the test.
Woodland photography can be uniquely challenging because natural forests are chaotic by nature. Trees may tilt in various directions, branches and leaves create visual clutter, and composing a balanced shot is tricky. For those aiming to create cleaner, more harmonious forest scenes, certain editing techniques can make a real difference.
I hadn’t considered the possibility of using an external monitor with my camera, but when Neewer gave me the chance to try their touchscreen field monitor, I wondered whether it would meet a particular need of mine. Now that I have tried it, it is something I am adding to my kit bag. Here’s why.
The 85mm f/1.4 lens is perhaps the most classic and highly sought-after model, offering an excellent portrait focal length in tandem with a wide maximum aperture for especially soft backgrounds. However, such lenses are often rather expensive, easily topping $2,000. So, at less than $500, the Meike 85mm f/1.4 AF is an especially intriguing option. This excellent video review takes a look at the sort of performance and image quality you can expect from it in practice.
Investing in camera lenses can be a tough decision, especially when balancing quality and cost. If you're considering Canon RF lenses, you might wonder if they're worth their high price of entry.
When you’re shooting fast-paced wildlife or demanding sports, the right camera can make all the difference. Canon’s new EOS R1 aims to be that difference, equipped to handle action photography, where timing, speed, and image quality are key.
While many have tips for keeping travel expenses low regionally, what happens when you start flying to landscape photography destinations? Things that work with regional travel don’t scale when limited on what you can bring. I have several tips for keeping travel costs low when flying to your destination.
Understanding terms like ISO, aperture, and shutter speed helps you take control of your shots instead of relying on automatic settings. This knowledge can make a huge difference in the quality of your photos, no matter what you shoot.
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.
Low- and high-angle shots play a critical role in shaping how characters and scenes are perceived in films. Understanding the nuances of these angles can improve your own work behind the camera.
Knowing how to adjust colors during photo editing can greatly improve your images. In this video, Albert Dros gives nine awesome tips on how to do it.
