Larger light sources create soft shadows. If you're wanting the softest light possible, move your subject into 'open shade' with a clear view of the sky. B...

When I teach beginner workshops, I always ask, "Who shoots in JPEG and who shoots in RAW?" The most common answer is JPEG. The biggest reason why is that J...

Many prosumer cameras include a pop-up flash. These flashes shouldn't be used. The problem with pop-up flashes is that they are close to the lens. Because...

Yes. It does. Okay, that's the shortest blog post I've ever written. Thanks for reading... Just kidding. I have some more to say. What is Drop-Off? Drop-...

I created an infographic last week about how to avoid splotchy sunlight. It was something that I had occasionally seen photographers doing. However, I went...

Everyone who has taken pictures has suffered from his or her pictures being inexplicably yellow. The answer is simple: jaundice. Just kidding. It's that ...

In any portrait, you should be wary of what is the 'first point of contact.' I'm talking about what body part is closest to the camera. I'm talking about t...

I'm often asked, why do people lose their ability to look natural when they are getting their picture taken? Why do we suddenly become unable to stand or si...

It's true. Flash can look artificial. I've even heard photographers say that they can always tell difference between natural light and flash. Well...the t...

If you want to create a portrait with highlights and shadows, you've got to get AWAY from the light source. Highlights and shadows are a good thing in portr...

Light height is incredibly important. In this post, I want to talk about light being too low. The problem is when the light source is lower than eye level....

We all want awesome selfies. We usually don't want to make ourselves look wider or flatter - except during the holidays. Aside from unflattering angle (see ...

I've been asked why there is water on the top of the homepage: There is a simple reason. I like the idea that water will fit into whatever situation it's in...

Whoever is the photographer for movie posters doesn't get enough credit. The portraits are perfectly effective at communicating the movie character's person...

When you ask, 'what makes a light soft,' you're really asking 'what makes soft shadows?' In other words, when we talk about soft light, we're actually refer...

Photographers' options for getting photography training are limited. Let's review each and I'll share my opinion: Art school or college: Expensive and long...