I used to be terrified to shoot in harsh sunlight. I avoided it like the plague, and as a consequence avoided scheduling sessions in anything other than golden hour or overcast days. I soon found out that a limited availability such as this was a financial burden, and bad for business. That was the deciding ... Read more
Photographers often hear their clients say, “We’re awkward, but we want to be natural, fun & romantic.” This common challenge underscores the importance of mastering posing, a skill that blends technical knowledge with creative communication. The art of posing is more than just positioning subjects; it’s about crafting authentic, emotive stories through images. This guide ... Read more
The deeper you dive into photography, especially when you start taking on clients and making it a business, the more important it becomes to find and use tools that allow you to streamline your workflow. It doesn’t take long before you start spending less time taking photos and more time managing other aspects of getting ... Read more
Fresnel lenses, originally designed for lighthouses, found their way into photography as powerful tools for shaping light. These lenses focus light effectively while remaining lightweight and portable. Whether you’re a portrait photographer or experimenting with creative lighting, understanding how to use Fresnel lenses can add depth and drama to your work. Fresnel Lenses in Photography: ... Read more
When wall space and budget allows, it’s great to go big with large photo prints. Large prints, which can reach up to 96” wide (that’s eight feet!), allow your clients to preserve their special moments on an epic scale, and they also serve as the ultimate showcase for quality photos. For photographers who’ve made print ... Read more
When we think about jumping into photography as a career, we often focus on our hard skills, or the technical aspects of shooting. It’s the part we fall in love with while learning to use our gear and discovering new techniques to capture incredible images. Knowing how to take beautiful photos, however, does not automatically ... Read more
If you head out unprepared to capture portraits under the midday sun, you might find yourself wrestling with harsh shadows and limited creative opportunities. While this time of day has a reputation for providing less than ideal lighting, we can actually use it to our advantage. In this guide, we will walk through practical tips ... Read more
The bottom line: The Ruko U11MINI 4K RC3 delivers usable 4K video, a 3-axis gimbal, and 96 minutes of flight time across three batteries, all under 249g and under $500. It’s not a DJI killer, but it’s a legitimately good first drone for photographers testing aerial content without the regulatory headaches or financial commitment of ... Read more
Staircases can serve photographers not only as functional structures, but also stunning backdrops for photoshoots. A well-executed staircase photoshoot can produce breathtaking images. However, capturing such images requires an eye for detail, the right equipment, and proper preparation. In this article, we’ll provide tips and tricks on how to execute the perfect staircase photoshoot. From ... Read more
You can have an amazing product and still lose a sale because the photo feels off: the color looks wrong, the shadows are distracting, or the image just doesn’t look like something a real store would publish. The frustrating part is that most of those problems aren’t about having a better camera, but about getting ... Read more
A model release form is a legal document between you, the photographer and the person or the person who owns the property you're photographing). It is the written form of their permission allowing you to publish their image on your website, blog, and marketing materials.
Sometimes photographers and filmmakers/videographers will shoot in a public area where people in the background may be captured on camera. It isn't feasible to get every single person who enters that area to sign a photo release form.
Making everyone sign a contract was a lesson I learned the hard way. Every photographer should use contracts. In this article, we review the Portrait Contracts Bundle from The Law Tog to help protect you and your business!
Forgetting a critical battery, filter, gel, or other piece of gear can have significant effects on your shoot. It's easy to forget small but important items. While we would not likely walk out of the door without our camera body, we might forget the all important Pocket Wizard Cable and thus be unable to execute certain off-camera lighting techniques.
