Jaron Schneider

Editor-in-Chief

Jaron Schneider is an award-winning commercial filmmaker, an internationally published consumer technology journalist, and long-time digital imaging expert across the fields of both video production and traditional photography. He is also the host of the PetaPixel Podcast. 

The former A/V Editor of Digital Trends, Features Editor of Imaging Resource, and Editor in Chief of Resource Magazine, Schneider's production work – which includes clients such as Verizon, Redwood Credit Union, Grammy-Award-winning band Train, Food Network's Guy Fieri, UC San Diego Scripps Institute, the San Francisco WETA ferry system, and luxury Swiss watchmakers Cartier and Maurice Lacroix – has been featured across multiple networks, including CNN, ABC Network News, Gizmodo, Huffington Post, Business Insider, The Daily Mail, Telegraph UK, and Jalopnik.

Articles by Jaron Schneider

How to Use Props to Add Depth to Your Food Photography

Props are a vital part of most food photography. They can help you add interest and story to your scene, but they can also help you add depth. To that end, here are a few tips to help you use props to add depth to your images.

Sony Firmware Update Fixes Alpha 1 IBIS and EVF Issues

In May, PetaPixel reported an in-body image stabilization (IBIS) bug in the Sony Alpha 1 camera. It, combined with issues with the electronic viewfinder (EVF) had left a large number of users upset. Today, Sony released new firmware that fixes both issues to the delight of the community.

How To Snap Spectacular Fourth of July Fireworks This Summer

After a year indoors, this year’s Fourth of July fireworks are sure to be one of the highlights of summer. As most photographers know, the bright flash from fireworks against the dark night sky can make it tricky for both novice and experienced photographers to get a crystal-clear image of the spectacle.

No, The Canon EOS R3 Won’t Be Announced This Week

A recent rumor stating that the highly-anticipated Canon EOS R3 will be announced tonight -- or at least more information on the camera will be released -- has spread through multiple media outlets. But don't get your hopes up, the actual launch is still months away.

Error Causes Mass of Light Show Drones to Tumble Out of the Sky

Drones have been used as an accompaniment to fireworks or as wholesale replacements for several years and most have started and concluded without issue. But during a show in Shanghai on June 14, something went terribly awry and caused a mass of drones to unexpectedly tumble out of the sky.

Photographer Combines Protest and Social Media to Spur Social Action

Photographer Dinda Avena wants to inspire those who have experienced and survived violence, feel unsafe in public, who are suffering due to sexual identity, for those whose land is being seized, and for all marginalized communities to not let their voices fade away.

Why the FAA’s Mandatory TRUST Drone Test Won’t Provide Any Safety

As reported recently here on Petapixel, the FAA has rolled out a new testing program for recreational UAV (a.k.a., drone) users, created to “provide education and testing for recreational flyers on important safety and regulatory information.” As with many government-mandated programs, it provides neither education nor safety.

How it Was Shot: Truffula Aspens, Colorado in 2003

In 2003 my wife Ruth and I were photographing in Colorado and were returning to our campground after a rather uneventful day. Ruth was driving, as always, and I was still looking for a photograph, as always.

A Detailed Tutorial on How to Pose Couples During Photo Sessions

I am a professional wedding, portrait, and fashion photographer and have been photographing couples for nearly three decades and I have been teaching photography for over two years. My goal with this video is to provide simple but very effective posing tips when photographing a couple.

Leica Unveils the Limited Edition M10-R Black Paint

Leica has announced the M10-R Black Paint edition in what the Leica Store Miami is calling a "limited run." The camera is functionally identical to a standard M-10R, but the colorway is a first for any M10-generation camera, standard or otherwise.

What It’s Like to Photograph a Global Launch Campaign for Tamron

Most people don’t actually know what it means when I say I’m a “travel photographer,” it is usually met with a confused look and followed up by some variation of the question, "do you mean you travel for free?” or “who even pays you to travel?”

20 Essential Photography Tips For Beginner Photographers

Starting out in photography can be really confusing. There is so much stuff to learn, so many things to do, and so many resources to read, not to mention the insane amount of people screaming opinions at you all the time. It’s hard to fight through all the noise.

Peak Design Launches the ‘Three in One’ Field Pouch V2

Peak Design has updated its Field Pouch that it says is three bags in one: an organizer for a larger bag, a small walk-around essentials satchel, and a belt-mountable waist carry bag. The weatherproof nylon canvas shell on the outside keeps the interior -- wrapped in soft felt -- safe.

Examining Social Media’s Impact on Landscape and Nature Photography

As a landscape and nature photographer with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, I often enjoy trying to blend the two disciplines to better understand the human experience as it relates to photography. One subject that particularly intrigues me is the impact of social media on photography and photographers.

How to Best Photograph Food with a Straight-On Perspective

The straight-on angle is great for food photography because it gives your subject a sense of grandeur and can make it jump out of the picture. This angle is well suited to foods that are tall or layered as from this angle you can get a better idea of its scale or better reveal those layers.

Planning, Scouting, and Revisiting: The Hard Labor of Seeing

I am a self-taught photographer. I don’t believe you can teach someone photography unless they have the heart for it and they are willing to do the work required. As Brett Weston famously said: “Beyond the rudiments, it is up to the artist to create art, not the camera."

Canon Rebuffs Rumors That Its R3 Sensor is Made by Sony

Since Canon's initial development announcement for the EOS R3, rumors have swirled that the company -- despite its statement otherwise -- was not the manufacturer of the backside illuminated sensor at its core. A report published on June 17 stated factually that the R3 sensor is made by Sony, and Canon has responded.

When is Photography No Longer Photography?

With the increasing power of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence available on both phones and PCs, we have reached a point where it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between photography and composites.

LargeSense LS911 Hands-On: The First Digital Large Format Camera

The LargeSense LS911 is definitely a camera that is not for everyone. It is well-suited to individuals who want to thoroughly explore large format photography or who already have experience working with large format camera systems. Either way, the venture depends on having a large budget.