Whether photography is just a hobby, taking pictures with your cell phone or you’re a professional with a high-tech camera, the most important concept for all photographers is how to effectively compose a nature/landscape image. You are probably familiar with the “rule of thirds,” as well as using “S shapes” and “lateral lines” to guide a viewer’s eyes through an image, while simultaneously creating a dramatic visual experience.…

What to do and what not to do when posing for a Portrait. These Do’s and Don’ts are not in any select order, but they all are important and, of course, all come with examples. Sometimes, there are exceptions to a recommendation and if so, I will point those out during this blog. Much of the success of a photoshoot depends on the skill of posing.…

A fellow photographer and I recently debated the relative merits of two types of cropping. (1) cropping an image during a shoot by zooming in with your lens and (2) cropping during the postproduction process. As we know, using your camera’s zoom changes your focal length and gives you a closer look at an image resulting in a creative perspective of the image before you press the shutter button. However…

Did you ever listen to photographers talk about what they believe is most important, such as “What type of camera do you use?” and “Have you used a mirrorless camera body yet?” “What lenses do you have and which one do you like the most?” or “How many photo trips have you been on?” While these are all good questions, rarely do you hear…

On a cold morning in September, I started out from Escalante, Utah to Lower Calf Creek Falls. I was dressed appropriately for the trip with several layers of clothing and of course, my camera bag and trusty tripod and not one but two bottles of water. The drive along Highway 12 was only 15 miles and by the time I approached the Calf Creek Campground the sky was filled with the slightest hint of dawn…

If this is a new model’s first photoshoot, it is best to reduce any anxiety by touching base with the model before the photoshoot to talk about the type of photoshoot and what the model is expected to bring with her to the photoshoot. Have the model practice various poses in a full-length mirror before the studio shoot…

On a cool October morning in 2021, I set out from my basecamp at predawn for a 45 minutes drive to Oxbow Bend, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The temperature was near freezing and the path down to the Snake River was treacherous in the dark. As soon as I arrived at the bank of the river…