Photography Basics

The Photography basics category of our site will give you a foundation for your photography education.  While many of these are considered beginner or 101 tips and tutorials, they are essential to your understanding of photography.

How to Take Direct Sunlight Portraits

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

20+ Posing Cues for Couples from Professional Photographers

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
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The Best Online Album Proofing Options for Photographers

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

How to Use Fresnel Lenses in Photography

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

Tips for Going Big with Large Photo Prints

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
couple poses for photographer

4 Effective Communication Skills Photographers Need to Succeed

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

Midday Photography Lighting Tips for Better Portraits

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

Ruko U11MINI 4K RC3 Review: A Sub-250g Drone That Actually Makes Sense for Beginners

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
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Staircase Photoshoot Tips for Beautiful Images

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
Why Everyone Knows You’re Not a Professional Product Photographer And How To Change

How to Do Product Photography for Small Business: Photography Tips to Follow

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
6 how to capture vibrant colors in photography

4 Ways to Incorporate More Color Into Your Photography

Shivani Reddy

Want to learn how to capture vibrant colors in photography? Here are 4 ways!

valentines day photography feature pexels criativithy

Valentine’s Day Photoshoot Ideas, Tips and Examples

Tanya Goodall Smith

5 quick, affordable and easy photo valentines you can make with your kids. No complicated backdrops or expensive craft supplies needed.

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How to Use Photography Surface Boards

Sean Lewis

As photographers, we rely on several different pieces of gear to practice our trade. Some, like zoom lenses or 5-in-1 ...

Daniel Horvath Creative Self Portrait Ideas SLR Lounge

Self Portrait Ideas To Do At Home

David Crewe

In this video Daniel Horvath quickly shows 10 (+1) Creative Ideas for Selfies at home while using just normal everyday items.

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35mm vs 50mm When Buying Your First Prime Lens

Sean Lewis

Have you outgrown your kit lens? Now that you're ready to buy a prime lens, should you go for a 35mm or a 50mm?

How Much Resolution Do You Really Need?

Bing Putney

How high megapixel cameras compare to human eyesight.

portrait lighting garage

4 Simple Steps for Dramatic Portrait Lighting Anywhere

Pye

What if I said that you can take great portraits anywhere, even in an ordinary garage? It’s all about understanding ...

Demystifying Tilt-Shift Lenses | How They Work

Holly Roa

Tilt-shift lenses have long been a favorite tool among architectural and landscape photographers for their ability to control perspective. They ...

How To Use Your DSLR Mirrorless Cameras As A Webcam SLR Lounge 2000x1125

How To Use Your DSLR As A Webcam – Updated

David Crewe

To help bridge the gap between your computer's webcam and your professional cameras, several companies have released software & hardware to help take advantage of the cameras you already own making it incredibly easy to level up your web-conferencing presentation!

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How to Use the Zone System for Film Photography

Braedon Flynn

Some argue that the zone system is an antiquated system. Sure you could just meter your darkest shadow and expose for that....but what if you want areas of your photos to be black, vs just gray?

iphone slow motion

How to Slow Mo a Video on iPhone for Better Results

Pye

Slow motion video is a cinematography technique that, when used in the right scenarios, can add interest, beauty, or impact ...

Telephoto vs Wide Angle Lens Choice Considerations—SLR Lounge—2000x1125

Telephoto vs. Wide-Angle | Lens Choice Considerations

Dawn Gilfillan

Are you confused by photography talk about telephoto and wide-angle lenses? In this post, we'll let you know all the facts about telephoto vs. wide-angle lenses.