beware

How I Learned a Lesson About Having Multiple Backups as a Photographer

We’ve all heard the horror stories of wedding photographers having their cameras stolen only to lose all of their couples’ photos, the photographer whose car was broken into after leaving their camera gear inside, only to lose important photos in the case, etc. You never think it’s going to happen until it happens to you.

How to Avoid Being Scammed as a Photographer

Unfortunately, if you use the internet for work, you probably already know that new scams and scammers pop up every day. Recently, I’ve seen the rise in popularity of a new scam targeting photographers. I don’t want to see anyone, especially other photographers, being scammed out of their hard-earned money.

How to Find Hidden Cameras

Hidden or inconspicuous cameras are fairly common in businesses with security concerns. Those black balls you see in ceiling corners or hanging from stems near checkout are undoubtedly watching and recording shoppers to make sure merchandise is being paid for.

Nikon’s New Lens Tech is a Danger to Medical Devices

Nikon's new $14,000 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens for mirrorless cameras has been getting terrific reviews, but there is another more unusual reason the lens stands out in Nikon's lineup: Nikon warns that you should not use it if you have a pacemaker or any other kind of medical device.

Dangerous Places in San Francisco for Photographers and Cameras

As you know, there has sadly been a raft of camera thefts in San Francisco of late, putting a spotlight on places you might want to think twice about hauling expensive camera gear with you the next time you visit.

Fly a Drone in LA Within 34 Miles of the Super Bowl, Get Fined $30,000

With Super Bowl LVI set to kick off in Los Angeles, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reminding drone owners that a huge part of the LA area will be a "no drone zone" during the NFL championship game. Fly a drone within 34 miles of the stadium and you could be slapped with a $30,000 fine and more.

The Godox AD100 Flash is Unusable for Pro Photography

People always have a love/hate relationship with Godox. For many, they are a cheap entry point to off-camera flash, offering massive bang for the buck. Others see them as cheap imitations of more expensive brands.

Selling Photos with the I LOVE NY Logo Could Get You Sued

If you've ever been on the streets of New York City, you've likely seen the iconic I Love New York slogan and logo that has been around since 1977. But if you're a photographer who sells photos, here's something you need to know: that logo is trademarked by New York, and the state is quite serious about protecting it.

Critical Vulnerability Affects Bluetooth-Enabled Cameras

A newly discovered vulnerability in the 4.x Bluetooth wireless standard has been shown to affect cameras that implement full remote control functionality. Demonstrated as viable in proof-of-concept laboratory testing, researchers believe that the exploit has the potential to either physically damage cameras or render them inoperable.

Photo Shoot Fraud: Don’t Get Taken by a Scam Like This

I'm photographer Jay P. Morgan from The Slanted Lens. In this video and article, I'll share with you an actual photoshoot fraud case and what to look for so that you don’t get taken by a fraudulent scam like it.

Beware the ‘Silhouette Challenge’: Creeps Are Removing the Red Filter

The Silhouette Challenge (#silhouettechallenge) is a trend that has been going viral on TikTok as of late that involves dancing provocatively as a silhouette while the details of your body are mostly obscured by a red filter. But beware: creeps are using software and editing techniques to remove that red filter, meaning your trendy video may reveal much more than you intended it to and leave you exposed.

Adobe Lightroom v6 is Falling Apart

Lightroom version 6.0, officially Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC 2015, was the last major release of Lightroom that was available with a perpetual license (i.e. a one-time purchase). Unfortunately, some users who don't wish to make the jump to paying a subscription through the Creative Cloud are finding that "perpetual" isn't as all-encompassing as they thought.

This is What Can Happen if You Buy a Bad Power Bank

Want to see how dangerous a poor-quality power bank can be? Here's a terrifying security camera video that captured a power bank exploding in a man's arms and sending flames shooting up to the roof as he rode a bus in the Guangdong of China.

Covering Your MacBook Camera Can Crack Your Screen, Apple Warns

If you're super conscious about protecting your privacy, one thing you can do is cover up the camera on your laptop when it's not being used -- there are even commercial covers you can buy for this purpose. But beware: Apple is now warning that using a camera cover could permanently damage your MacBook display.

Amazon Let a Fraudster Keep My Sony a7R IV and Refunded Him $2,900

I am an amateur photographer, and I’ve sold cameras non-professionally on Amazon for over eight years as I’ve upgraded. That trend comes to an end with my most recent transaction. In December, I sold a mint-in-box Sony a7R 4, and the buyer used a combination of social engineering and ambiguity to not only end up with the camera, but also the money he paid me.

Wacom Tablets Quietly Track Every App You Open

Wacom tablets are popular among photographers who prefer using a pen to a mouse when retouching photos, and Wacom even bundles Photoshop and Lightroom with some of its models to sweeten the package. But if you use a Wacom tablet for your editing work, there's something you should know: your tablet may be quietly tracking all the apps you open on your computer without you knowing it.

Photographers, Beware THIS Type of Instagram Photo Rights Grab

Photographers, beware: if you're ever contacted by a big brand on Instagram or any other social network with a request to "share your photo," make sure you read the fine print of any terms you're shown. If you don't, you could easily be agreeing to give away unlimited usage of your work.

Beware: New 3D Airport Scanners Will Wipe Unprocessed Camera Film

Airports around the United States are getting futuristic new CT scanners that give the TSA an instant 3D view of carry-on luggage contents, but the new scanners are a development film photographers should be wary of -- they can reportedly wipe out your unprocessed film with a single scan.

This is How Advance-Fee Scams Trick Photographers

There is a persistent scam going around that is so pervasive that you might think everyone has heard about it and is immune to it. Yet, I often enough see this come up as a question in a Facebook group when a photographer is unsure if an inquiry is a scam. Most often they are. This is how these advance-fee scams work and how photographers are scammed.

My Nightmare with USPS Insurance in Shipping a Camera Lens

Photography is amazing, but it does require gear. I recently moved from Canon to Sony, so I had to offload a camera body, lenses, flashes, and triggers. I purchased out-of-pocket insurance on all of my gear packages just to have some peace-of-mind.

An Insider’s Look at a Photo Workshop Disaster

I wrote an article in 2017 about bad photography workshops, and I made a promise to the community that I would never speak at, attend, or help promote a workshop again unless it was one I believed in wholeheartedly. I promised to do my due diligence when accepting speaking engagements and I promised that the events I did agree to speak at would be of the highest standards.

Adobe Warns That Using Older CC Apps Could Get You Sued

Adobe announced last week that older versions before the latest two major releases of its subscription apps would no longer be available for download through Creative Cloud. But that's not all: Adobe is also warning customers that using older "unauthorized" versions could get you sued.

Photographers, Beware Mindset and Success Coaches

It’s an ongoing joke with my friends and I that I am really not a fan on the current marketing messaging that the “universe has my back” and that the success of my business is down to my “mindset”.

This $2,200 Sony Camera Got Fried by a Tattoo Removal Laser

You probably know that the lasers in concerts and even on self-driving cars can damage your camera's sensor in a direct hit, but did you know that light reflected off skin during laser tattoo removal can also destroy your sensor? Watch this 37-second video to see for yourself.