Tips

A split image shows a silhouetted person by a tree at sunset, a bearded man in a dark jacket, and a man standing in a sunlit, leafy area. Bold text reads: “FILM GRAIN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.”.

How to Emulate Film Grain in Your Digital Photos

Every few years, I write an updated version of the Film Grain Emulation guide. I do this because my passion drives me to learn more, and my understanding of film grain changes significantly.

Split image: On the left, tortoiseshell sunglasses with blue lenses on a dark background; on the right, three metallic necklaces with unique geometric pendants on a green background.

How to Photograph Challenging Products Like Eyewear and Jewelry

In e-commerce, photography isn’t just a picture—it’s the customer’s only connection to the product. A shopper can’t hold the glasses, feel the texture of the frame, or judge the true glossiness of the metal. When the image doesn’t reflect reality, the result is disappointment, higher return rates, and ultimately, a loss of trust in the brand.

A tree stands by a rustic wooden fence in a grassy field at sunset, with the sun near the horizon and a cloud-capped volcano in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

I Got My Camera Drone Confiscated in Nicaragua. Lesson Learned.

As I passed through the airport security in Managua, Nicaragua, on December 30th, 2024, my heart sank -- the LowePro camera bag had been flagged and was being taken aside for checks. The handler found what he was looking for: my DJI Mavic Pro Drone.

A GoPro action camera with a vibrant, translucent rainbow gradient overlay, showing its front display screen with a landscape image and the GoPro logo beneath.

Getting the Most Out of Your GoPro: Here Are a Few Tips and Tricks

Over the past few product generations of the GoPro line, we’ve seen a ton of advancement in the feature set offered by everyone’s favorite action camera. Not only can it go anywhere and do pretty much anything you ask it to, newer models can even record in 10-bit log formats, in resolutions higher than 4K, in an 8:7 aspect ratio for ultimate flexibility in post.

11 Pro Tips to Instantly Elevate Your Golden Hour Photography

The long days of summer offer a unique advantage for photographers: an abundance of golden hour light. This seasonal extension of the coveted 'magic hours' provides more time for photographers to work with the soft, beautiful light that can transform a scene. Adobe Lightroom and Sony Ambassador Colby Brown shares with PetaPixel his process of mastering this unique light, providing practical techniques for both in-camera capture and post-processing.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a black outfit stands confidently outdoors in an urban setting, holding her sunglasses with one hand.

Color Grading in Portrait Photography: From Finding Inspiration to Final Results

Color grading is a crucial creative adjustment that enhances storytelling and evokes emotions. In portrait photography, it plays a significant role in establishing the mood of the subject. This article explores how to craft color grading in portrait photography, from sourcing inspiration to achieving the final result.

Colorful fireworks burst over a harbor at night, illuminating boats on the water and buildings along the shore. The sky is filled with pink and purple lights reflecting on the calm surface below.

How to Capture Fantastic Fireworks Photos With Your Smartphone

While many photographers will venture out to their local Fourth of July fireworks shows armed with a dedicated camera kit, what if you only have your smartphone on hand? It's still possible to get great shots as Google Senior Product Manager Alex King and Pixel Camera Senior Product Manager Michael Specht explain.

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5 Advanced Lightroom Techniques To Change How You See and Edit Photos

If you’ve ever watched one of my tutorials, you know I’m obsessed with finding ways to edit faster in Lightroom. I want to avoid having to jump to Photoshop just for minor tweaks or small retouching tasks, so I keep looking for ways to apply the same techniques inside Lightroom.

A sea turtle swims near a coral reef underwater with sunlight streaming down; beside it, a mother bear and her two cubs stand by the edge of a forested riverbank.

8 Pro Tips to Elevate Your Nature Photography Instantly

Adobe Lightroom Ambassador Melissa Findley is a photographer with a deep interest in travel, adventure, landscape, and lifestyle photography. Her passion for visual storytelling has taken her across the globe, leading to significant projects with major brands and non-profit organizations. The acclaimed Australian-born photographer shares her invaluable insights with PetaPixel, offering tips to elevate the nature photography skills of enthusiasts at every level.

A person stands on a hill at sunset, facing the horizon. The image has text that says, "Unlock Hidden Lightroom Features" and "with modded lightroom presets." The sky is a gradient of warm colors.

You’re Probably Not Using Lightroom Presets to Their Full Potential

As a photographer, if there is one thing I despise when editing my photos, it is jumping between multiple editing apps with one single photo and ending up with duplicate files where my settings are burned in and can’t be tweaked down the line.

Left: Cluster of pink and white amaryllis flowers with green leaves. Right: Close-up of a bright yellow flower stamen with orange filaments.

Grow Your Love of Flower Photography

Photographing flowers is easy and very rewarding. You can create beautiful images with any equipment, most any day or evening, indoors and out. Spring is nirvana for flower photography but I find good opportunities all year.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair stands side profile inside a large black rectangular frame hanging on a white wall. She wears a black off-shoulder top, creating an illusion of being framed.

Creating a Personal Photography Project: From Concept to Execution

Taking on a personal project is the next level. It makes you treat photography as an art form. Like in any art, you first start with one-offs, singles, or short stories, and only then approach writing a novel. And this is how I invite you to treat your personal project, as writing a novel, as opposed to snapping unconnected stories here and there.

A whimsical collage featuring: a stack of pancakes with miniature people, two tiny figures walking through snow with pine branches overhead, and a miniature pair seated on a ledge overlooking a large sunset.

6 Ways to Expand Your Creativity According to a Pro Photographer

Over the last decade, photographer Erin Sullivan has built an impressive travel photography portfolio by embracing creativity in both traditional and unconventional ways. Erin Outdoors, as she is more widely known, has inspired countless photographers and travelers alike to explore their artistic potential by learning how to expand their creativity.

A bride and groom walk down the aisle outdoors while guests cheer. They're surrounded by palm trees, with an arch adorned with flowers in the background. Guests are seated on white folding chairs, and the setting is grassy and tropical.

Tips for Photographing a Wedding Ceremony

The wedding ceremony is arguably the most important part of a wedding day. Seeing as it’s the part of the day you don’t get a do-over on, for a photographer it can be stressful to nail great shots of the key moments. That’s why today I’m sharing some wedding photography ceremony tips from over a decade of experience shooting ceremonies.

A couple embraces under a starry night sky, with ski lift chairs suspended overhead. The horizon shows a snow-capped mountain and a forest, creating a romantic and serene atmosphere.

What to Do When it Gets Dark: Night Wedding Photography Tips

There you are, going along shooting all the pretty wedding day details and events. Sunset is epic and romantic and you capture some incredible portraits between your two lovebirds and then you start to panic, wondering what to do when it gets dark. I’m here to help with these night wedding photography tips.