advertisingphotography

A motorcycle mechanic photographed for a lifestyle photoshoot by Blair Bunting. The portraits were photographed on location at universities and shops across the US over a period of a month.

Using Manual Focus on a Commercial Photo Shoot: Try It At Your Own Risk

There’s something about the passion that exists between a mechanic and a motorcycle. Their hands and tools are their paintbrushes, and their grease-stained nails are their paint. I was fortunate to witness them create their art and document it all while creating my own.

Abstract Food Photos

Creatively Simple Abstract Photos Made with Food

When asked to present food in a natural yet humorous manner, photographer Dwight Eschliman and his team brought the concept to life through a series of well-lit, colorful, and styled photos for the supermarket chain Lidl.

What is Split Color Lighting, and How Do You Use It?

After I published a story on sunglasses for photographers, I got a ton of emails asking how I lit the series. So, while on the road for a recent photo shoot, I took some time at my AirBNB and wrote out how I approach what is called "split color lighting."

Canon 1D photo of a train

Revisiting the Canon 1D, 20 Years Later

It was my first year in college. I was going out every day to teach myself photography, Harry Potter had just come out in theaters, and Canon entered the digital photography world with its very first fully backed flagship, the Canon EOS 1D.

This Photographer Built a Checklist to Help You Not Get Sued

If you've ever worked in commercial photography, you know how complicated relationships with brands, agencies, and sub-contractors can be. In this 11.5-minute video, photographer Chris Hau details how he almost got sued as a result of those relationships and what he has learned since.

Commercial Photographer Explains Why You Shouldn’t Use a Light Meter

Commercial photographer and educator Karl Taylor is a working pro with an impressive portfolio to his name and major brands on his CV. So it came as a surprise when he declared recently that he hasn't used a light meter in 15 years... and explained why you shouldn't be using one either.

The ‘Why’ of an Advertising Photo

I did my first advertising assignment in the year 2000. I still remember how excited I was when I, a few months later, walked out of a bookstore on Chestnut Street in San Francisco with several magazines with my pictures in them.

iPhone 11 Pro: My Return to Apple

Before I going into this one, let me first share a little recap about my background with Apple. A number of years back, I was in love with the iPhone 4S. I felt it was a phone made for photographers and supported it wholeheartedly, going so far as doing speeches at Apple stores about how their products catered to my workflow.

These Creative Photos Use Optical Illusions to Promote Pet Adoption

Photographer Amol Jadhav and art director/retoucher Pranav Bhide recently created something awesome for World For All Animal Care And Adoptions in Mumbai. Using creative lighting and framing, they created a set of optical illusion portraits that each contain two images in one.

Dream Assignment: Capturing Wonder in 10 Countries on 5 Continents

A few days ago I met up with two younger photographers at a coffee shop in San Francisco.

I have always seen myself as a young, up and coming photographer, but after two decades in photography I guess I’m now among the established, “older guys”.

BTS: Making Epic Advertising Composites with Erik Almas

Purists might not take to all of photographer Erik Almas' work, and in particular the work featured here, but if you can get over the fact that these are composites that necessarily need some help in the computer to come to life, Almas' advertising photography will blow your mind.

Tutorial: How to Get the Perfect Photo of a Steaming Cup of Coffee

Coffee is a wonderful thing. Early in the morning, there are few things that can put you at ease like a steaming cup of hot coffee warming your hands and firing up your brain. But have you ever wondered how those coffee advertisements manage to get the perfect shot of a coffee cup, steam and all?

Well, in the tutorial above, commercial photographer Robert Grant of LearnMyShot shows you how to compose and capture the perfect picture of a steaming cup o' joe that will have you craving your morning caffeine fix.