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.

wedding details leading lines

7 Must-Have Shots When Shooting Wedding Reception Details

Michelle Ford

If you only had 15 minutes to shoot the reception room for detail shots and a lot of pressure on your hands, make sure you get the necessary 'safe' shots first. Watch the video and see what's on our 7 must have reception detail shot list.

Andre Audet Photography FEATURED

Tips for Photographing Your Own Children

André Audet

I thought I would share some of the most common tips that I give to my students when they ask me for advice on photographing their own children. By the way, these tips apply to all types of cameras, so no need for a fancy expensive camera to apply these guiding principles!

WPPI 2020 pye jirsa

6 Techniques to Create Great Images Anywhere

Pye

We're going to show you 6 techniques for creating better images, regardless of the camera you're using or the scene in which you're working.

creative portraits

Five Creative Portraits in a Crappy Parking Lot

Pye

Forced to shoot in a crappy location? Try out these 5 creative portrait photo ideas!

leading lines photography

One Simple Trick to Better Compositions in Your Photography

Pye

Here is one simple thing to do before pressing your shutter to help you create more compelling photography.

Before and After exposing to the left

What is “Exposing to the Left” and Should You Do It?

Pye

You'll be amazed at how much time you can save if you combine this exposure tip with those we shared in Part One, and it works regardless of the camera you use. Check out Part Two (of Two) in our exposure series.

Annie Leibovitz portrait for MasterClass

5 Key Concepts From Annie Leibovitz’s MasterClass on the Art of the Photo

Sean Lewis

In her MasterClass, photography icon Annie Leibovitz shares her unique insight into the art of photography. Here are 5 key concepts from the class that photographers can (and should) apply directly to their own photographic journey.

magmod flash tutorial

How to Remove Light Stands via Compositing in Less than 2 Minutes

Pye

I'm going to show you a simple Photoshop compositing technique that you can use to remove light stands from your images in less than two minutes.

polson pier toronto engagement photography location

Best Engagement Photography Locations in Toronto, ON, Canada

Raph Nogal

Our Best Engagement Photography Location Series continues, this time in Toronto, Canada! Photographer Raph Nogal shares a list of some of the coolest spots to photograph engagement sessions in and around Toronto (or anywhere, for that matter).

DIY Reflector | 3 Ways to Make Your Own Reflector

Kishore Sawh

It's a long holiday weekend which means the beach, BBQ, and DIY projects! If you're going out to Home Depot to pick up a few tools to fix something around the house, make sure you add bead foam to your shopping list.

Best Engagement Photography Locations In Raleigh, North Carolina

Dave Shay

I haven’t always called Raleigh home, but after working in over 20 states and countless cities, it’s become my favorite ...

Real Estate Photography Lighting Guide

Matthew Saville

In this tutorial, we’ll teach you how to work quickly and effectively with flash to get beautiful real estate photos...