Brandon Woelfel, a New York-based portrait photographer and newly appointed Nikon ambassador, became known through constant experimentation with lo-fi props and effects posted daily on social media. His consistent behind-the-scenes posts amassed two million followers on Instagram and a reputation for dreamy, otherworldly images.
Tina Sokolovska is a newly appointed Nikon Ambassador, as well as an American-Ukrainian photographer, creative director, and educator based in New York. Her 2017 breakout image, "On the Wave," was noted by 35photo.pro as one of the Top 100 Best Photographs in the World, and has been reposted on social media more than two million times.
Erin Babnik is known internationally as a part of the nature photography team Photo Cascadia. Her work grew from experiences as an art historian and archaeologist, photographing in museums and at archaeological sites throughout Europe and the Middle East. Here she discusses her must-have gear, the value of museums, and when fixing it in post isn't cheating.
Aaron Anderson has built a career shooting for major corporations like Sony, Fujifilm, and Bosch through collaborations fostered on Instagram. Here's how he did it, and how you might too.
Nikon USA Ambassador Audrey Woulard is known for her distinctive lighting style and natural, expressive portraits. Woulard's commercial clients include Pottery Barn and IAMS, and her work has appeared in People, InStyle, and Better Homes & Gardens.
On the developing the skills that enabled him to work with Sony PlayStation, Monster Energy, Husqvarna, Bosch Global, Fujifilm USA, and why you should always spit out your gum before shooting.
Sam Abell has pursued a career in documentary photography, spending 33 years with National Geographic. He concurrently taught and authored numerous books, including The Life of a Photograph, Seeing Gardens, and The Photographic Life.
Lynsey Weatherspoon is a photojournalist and portraitist whose work has been featured in such publications as The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Time, and ESPN. A Canon Explorer of Light, she is often called on to capture heritage and history as it happens.
Tamara Lackey, Nikon USA Ambassador, book author, PBS show host, and philanthropist, has used photography to establish Beautiful Together refuges for children and animals in need in Ethiopia and North Carolina. Here she weighs in on finding your voice, overcoming creative block, and camera bag essentials (don’t forget the candy).
Creating an emotional connection with your subjects leads to stronger images and more business. Psychologists have a technique that helps you quickly establish that connection.
There is an axiom that photographers don’t need technical training—they need charm school.
Kevin Jairaj has been the Official Photographer for the College Football Playoff National Championship since its inception in 2015 and has become sought after for sports, weddings, and events in London; Trinidad and Tobago; the Bahamas; the USA; and, especially, his home state of Texas. Kevin has covered multiple Super Bowls and the Olympics.
Paris-born Mathieu Bitton, a Leica Ambassador, has photographed some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Quincy Jones, The Rolling Stones, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, and Bruce Springsteen, as well as designing and art directing albums, posters, books, and promotional materials — earning him three Grammys.
Alison Conklin is a Fujifilm creator who has spent more than two decades capturing emotional, candid imagery for weddings, engagements, families, and editorial clients including Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot, and Brides. She tells us what gear is indispensable, what she learned from Linda McCartney, and why instinct tops technical skill.
Dixie Dixon, the international fashion, lifestyle, and advertising photographer, is known for the glamorous images she creates for elite brands such as Disney, Virgin, and People magazine. She answered our Ten Questions, telling us what gear she can’t do without, what inspires her, and why Vaseline is indispensable.
The business value of social media can’t be overstated, but not everyone wants to vamp in videos—the common path to stardom. Luckily, you don’t have to, says Janis McGavin, director of marketing and social media for the Los Angeles Center of Photography. “How do I know this?" she said.
In my first portfolio review, my critic was drawn to the cat photos, “because I know how hard that is,” he said. I didn’t let on that it’s not so hard. I volunteer at a local shelter and have learned a trick or two. And it turns out that best practices for cats also apply to dogs, horses, birds, and, come to think of it, people.
People may be scrambling to find the automated AI holy grail of one-touch, realistic, high-end skin retouching, but you can have my dodge and burn technique when you pry it from my cold, dead Wacom tablet.
Granted, it’s not the right tool for every project, and yes, it takes time, but if you want unimpeachable quality, this dinosaur of techniques is still the way to go.
