There are unfortunately times when technology just lets us down. It’s not always because it inevitably breaks either: sometimes it is simply because every piece of gear has its strengths and weaknesses, and flash triggers are no exception.
As a photographer on set, it's your job to get the most out of your models—to make them feel comfortable, and help them help you achieve your vision. In this great video, photographer Clinton Lubbe of dphog explains how to do this when your model is young, inexperienced, or both.
Now that I have used Lightroom for many years, processing photos from two different camera systems (Canon EOS and Fujifilm X-series), I have realized that the most important setting in the Develop module is Profile in the Camera Calibration panel.
Headshot photographer Peter Hurley has previously shared popular portrait tips for achieving slimmer figures, sharper jawlines, and photogenic eyes. His latest quick tip is all about adjusting height in portraits.
Here's a new 11-minute video in which Ted Forbes of The Art of Photography discusses how all the greatest and most successful photographers he has met through the years have shared one "secret" in common: "extreme determination."
Here's a very simple answer to a common question you've probably either asked, or been asked, about Lightroom adjustments: Why does Lightroom let you move adjustment brush edits? How is that even useful?
Making mistakes is a powerful learning tool, but that statement only holds true if you realize what you're doing is a mistake. To that end, here are 5 of the most common Photoshop mistakes photographers make.
Here are a few reasons why having a story to tell is far better than not.
It's so easy to get caught up in the minutia of photography. Sure, megapixels, microcontrast, MTF charts, and the like are all important, but only after you understand how to work with the most important piece of the photographic puzzle: light.
A week and a bit ago I was in Falmouth, on stage, in front of maybe a bit less than 100 or so students. It was Tuesday, around 2pm. I felt oddly calm and eager. They looked expectedly unenthusiastic.
Sensor dust is a pain, but it's also easy to take care of in most images. This quick tutorial from our friends at Sleeklens covers what is probably the most-used method for clearing sensor dust spots in Adobe Lightroom.
Everybody knows tilt-shift lenses can be used to get a "miniature" effect, but many photographers are oblivious to their other, more traditional applications, and even fewer understand exactly how these lenses work. The folks at LensPro ToGo are here to clear things up.
If you're a wildlife photographer, always aiming for more reach without sacrificing sharpness or shutter speed, this is a question you've probably asked yourself: Is it better to use a full-frame camera with a teleconverter, or switch to a crop sensor camera instead? Photographer Steve Perry has your answer.
Dear Photographer,
This is one of my favourite subjects I love teaching in my workshops, as most people feel awkward about approaching people on the streets to photograph them.
Let's start the week on a creative note. Our friends at COOPH have released a fun new video packed full of tips and ideas that will help you break out of that creative rut and flex your instant photography muscle.
Many photographers hate weddings. In fact, it’s a bit of a stereotype that photographers do some other kind of photography as their passion, but take weddings “to pay the bills”.
One of the most difficult things in photography is to stay motivated and inspired. I know that I've personally hit “photographer’s block” many times in my career.
It's an age-old question: how are you supposed to get hired as a photographer when clients are only looking for photographers who already have experience? World-renowned photographer and entrepreneur Chase Jarvis has an answer for you.
We've all heard or read those tips for getting the most out of your smartphone's limited battery life, but what about us photographers? How do you make sure you're squeezing every last shot out of your DSLR or mirrorless camera? This video will tell you.
Here's a quick DIY build for cash-strapped studio photographers who are sick of gaffer's tape-ing their reflectors to light stands. YouTuber Joe Edelman will show you how to build not one, but two DIY studio reflector holders for 10 bucks total.
I hold a private pilot certificate, as well as a remote pilot certificate; I am also a photographer. I just wanted to share with you some advice from a budding pilot who comes from the much larger world of flying that is general aviation.
I’ve got a love/hate relationship with lifestyle photography. Lifestyle photography for me photos that feel like candid moments where a person is looking at you and not your camera. Each photograph feels like the viewer is with them living in the moment with whomever is in the photograph, and I love that.
I've been shooting Canon for the last 15 years and have finally made the decision to move on. The reasons are not really the focus of this article but rather my process for getting into a new system and making that process a creative one.
Here's a simple composition tip that promises to help add depth and impact to your images. Instead of thinking of light and lines separately, try to combine the two by having your strongest light source and your leading lines work together.
I just got back from Batanes as part of a large group of bloggers and other media people who were there to try out the photography features of the Asus Zenfone 3 line of mobile phones, courtesy of Asus Philippines. I was there mainly as a resource person on shooting the Milky Way, but I was intrigued about the possibility of pulling off Milky Way shots using a mobile phone.
This is what 20,000 miles of hard travel by thumb, foot, van, and train does to a camera.
Photographer and CreativeLive founder Chase Jarvis dropped a serious truth bomb in this short clip from one of his classes. And the bomb is this: you will never turn a $500 client into a $5,000 client... the best thing you can do is move on and find a new, $5,000 client.
Questions on the subject of lens choice are as limitless as lens choice itself. Show me 10 photographers and I’ll show you at least 11 divergent opinions on which lens is right for a particular type of photograph.
At the time of my takeover of the Visit Faroe Islands account, my own account was around 5k followers. To briefly run and manage a page that has surpassed 100k was a great learning experience. Here are a few things I learned along the way that might help others.
Selective color, bad HDR, over-sharpening, we've all seen (and if we're honest, probably made) these Photoshop mistakes... but are you sure you're still not committing some Photoshop faux pas? In this video, Nate Dodson of TutVid covers 10 common novice mistakes you should avoid.
Here's a 2-minute video in which cinematographer Matthew Rosen explains how he pulled focus at high speed for detergent ad.
“Take only photos, leave nothing but footprints.” We've probably all heard the saying, but what does it mean? Basically 'take only photos, leave nothing but footprints' means to make as little impact on an environment as possible.
Are you in need of a new camera bag, but you're on a budget and still want something durable? An army surplus store may be your answer.
Small pictures can make a big difference in a mobile-driven world.
Quite often other photographers tell me “I don’t have time for another social network and I don’t need Instagram.” Yet they spend hours posting on Facebook, 500px and Flickr where almost zero potential clients will see their work.
A long time ago I was a young art student, being told about the “Rule Of Thirds.” I was told it’s one of the most important fundamentals of art and photography, as it helps you get the right composition in your images.
DIY photography tricks... need we say more? Whether you're stuck in a creative rut or just want to break out of your photography comfort zone a bit, this video is the perfect way to start the week.
If you have an old film camera or point and shoot lying around collecting dust, why not put it to some practical use? This quick video will show you how to use the camera's flash to light product shots and portraits on the cheap.
When you sharpen a photograph, what you're doing is adding contrast to the edges in an image, but unfortunately, that often leads to black and white edging in some areas. In this short, useful Photoshop tutorial, Jimmy McIntyre will show you how to avoid this and sharpen your photos cleanly in Photoshop.
If the tripod thread on the bottom of your camera or favorite accessory breaks, don't go throwing the whole thing away or sending it off for an expensive repair. All you need is about $25 and some DIY know-how to fix it yourself.
Hyperfocal distance—commonly defined as "the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp"—is critical for landscape photographers who want their whole frame in focus. Here's a trick for nailing hyperfocal distance without resorting to charts or smartphone apps.
If you've been itching to step up your film photography game—be it trying 35mm for the first time, stepping up to 120 medium format, or even trying out large format film—this old video that's circulating the Interwebz again today is a great place to start.
There are tons of portfolio builders out there for you to choose from, from popular options like Photoshelter and SmugMug to lesser-known options like Cargo Collective and Dunked. So how do you choose the best one?
Family photography can be incredibly rewarding, although is not without its potential pitfalls. Some children love having their photos taken and will perform for the camera. Others would rather be anywhere else than standing in a posed group shot with mum and dad.
'Levitation' photos are a fun, and not overly complicated style of photography. But if you really want to create believable levitation shots, there are some tips and tricks that will really help. Enter photographer Christopher James (@christopher.james).
For many advanced photographers, the rule of thirds is seen as something of a beginner's trope or amateur construct, but learning how, why, and when to break it can be a challenge. This short episode of Brain Flick helps deconstruct that question and explain why and when "bad" compositions work.
Longtime Adobe Lightroom team member Benjamin Warde shares a very useful little tip in this 60 second episode of Lightroom Coffee Break. If you've ever run across a difficult-to-clone spot in Lightroom, Warde shows you how to use a setting that will definitely help.
As we mentioned this morning, composition is one of the most critical aspects of photography. But another, equally important piece is understanding the basic laws of light and how to use them when capturing a photograph.
Every great photograph consists of three key elements. First and foremost composition, then lighting and, of course, the moment. Look at any great image and you’ll notice these elements.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to night photography is incorporating good foreground elements, but learning a few simple tricks will instantly elevate your game.
While Photoshop does have the "Dodge" and "Burn" tools, using them destructively on your original image is definitely not the best way to edit your photos. Check out this tutorial to discover two dodge and burn techniques that are more effective, cleaner, and smarter.