It was popular in the ’80s and ’90s for fashion and macro photography, as well as in forensic photography. The ring flash can be used to fill in shadows and reduce lighting density in animal portraits. It produces high contrast and a halo-like glow around the subject.
They’re not perfect, but speedlights (AKA off-camera flash units) can be extremely useful when you’re shooting products.
I’m Karl Taylor, founder of Visual Education, and thrilled to be asked to be the first person to test and provide an in-depth exploration of this game-changing update, made possible by Hasselblad’s firmware version 3.1.0.
Whether you’re a keen enthusiast or aspiring pro, you’ve probably shot a few landscape images in your time. Chances are you’ve also made one or two simple mistakes that you’ve regretted later. These 8 tips will help you avoid these common difficulties and improve your landscape photography.
Understanding the exposure triangle is crucial to your improvement as a photographer. Mastering it will help you to achieve the correct exposure for all your images.
Understanding colour theory can help you create compelling and eye-catching compositions that stand out and grab the viewer’s attention.
Defeating Diffraction: Steps to Preserve Image Quality in Your Photography!
WIRED recently asked Karl for his thoughts on the importance of lighting in photography and filmmaking.
From cars to motorcycles, lighting considerations, angles, polarisation, space requirements, assistants and more, I’m going to share my top 10 tips for automotive photography to help you get the best results.
Understanding shutter speed is crucial for getting the best possible results out of your camera in manual mode. Here’s how it works.
A histogram is an essential tool for any photographer who wants to create well-exposed and balanced images. But what are they, and how do they work?
Learn how to achieve professional lipstick photography using just one light. Discover techniques to handle shiny surfaces, control backgrounds, and create impressive lighting effects.
The Light Cone enables anyone to snap professional looking product photos. No skills or expensive kit needed. Perfect for eCommerce or catalog businesses.
There’s an almost endless list of camera lenses to choose from when it comes to DSLR and mirrorless cameras, so trying to determine what lens is the best for your photography can get a little overwhelming. To help you make an informed decision, I’ve put together a list of recommended lenses for different types of photography to help you decide what’s best for you.
What is an NFT? What does the sudden popularity of this new technology mean for photography and photographers? Let’s find out.
As it’s becoming easier and easier to be a ‘photographer’, it’s getting harder and harder to make your work stand out. To help you overcome this challenge, I’ve answered some of the most common questions relating to photography portfolios and shared some useful tips to help you decide what to include and what not to include so that you can create an online portfolio that you can be proud of.
Understanding ISO, and learning when and how to adjust it, will help you to improve the quality and clarity of your images.
Explore the key aspects of portrait photography, including valuable insights and practical tips.
Learn professional portrait techniques for transforming emotions through Lighting Mastery
How does this low-cost modifier stack up against more expensive alternatives?
Many people are familiar with standard modifiers such as softboxes or grids, but I often get a lot of questions about the specialist studio lighting equipment I use in my studio and what lights I use to create certain emotions and effects.
The commercial photography market is set to grow substantially over the next decade. What does that mean for you?
When it comes to using studio flash, one of the things that often causes confusion is flash duration. Flash duration refers to the length of time of the burst of light that comes out of a studio flash. Quite simply, it is the duration for which a studio flash or speedlite emits light for a single burst. This can vary across brands and also types of studio lights, but is always shown as one of two measurements: t0.5 or t0.1.
To get good results our of your DSLR or mirrorless camera, you need to understand exposure modes.
Candid photography is all about capturing authentic moments without posing or staging.
Ever wondered why your portraits look distorted with a wide-angle lens? Discover the secrets of focal lengths and how they affect your shots.
Find out why Karl loves this modifier so much.
When you’re deciding which digital camera to buy, you have a choice to make: full-frame or crop sensor? But what’s the difference? Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
If you’re a photographer, makeup artists can play a crucial role, helping you to bring your ideas to life and achieve your creative visions. But you may also find collaborating with makeup artists a daunting or challenging prospect. Let’s take a look at some useful tips to help you get it right.
If you’re looking to create eye-catching images of mascara or elegant photos of perfumes, keep reading for my top tips for photographing cosmetics and makeup product photography.
Understanding colour temperature and white balance is essential for improving your photography.
From equipment and composition to lighting and storytelling, these landscape photography tips will help you up your game.
The humble silver reflective umbrella is often dismissed as a budget, no-frills modifier that’s less effective than a beauty dish.
Which modifier best suits your photography needs? How can you compare them quickly and easily without spending a fortune? Simple: use our Lighting Comparison Visualiser tool.
If you want to advance your career as a makeup artist, learning to collaborate successfully with photographers is essential.
Photoshop recently added their Super Resolution feature to Adobe Camera Raw, which allows you to enlarge images by a factor of four. Having tried to enlarge images myself previously, I decided to test this new feature to see the results first-hand.
Understanding focal length is crucial if you want to create compelling and captivating photographs.
Take a closer look at macro photography, exploring essential tips and techniques.
Here’s a host of lighting hacks that will help you achieve professional-quality results on an amateur’s budget.
How do the new iFootage Anglerfish LED lights stack up against their broncolor and Aputure rivals?
Setting up your own photography studio is an exciting step, but there’s often a lot of questions and considerations. How big does the space have to be? What colours should the walls be? What equipment do you need and where do you keep said equipment? You’ll find the answers to all of the most common questions here, along with some of the best advice and tips from our members to help you successfully set up your first home studio.
Understanding depth of field, and learning how to adjust it, is an important step for any photographer keen to improve their images.
Learn to express your creativity and emotions through images that are both visually appealing and thought-provoking.
Find out how the beauty dish works, how to use it, what it costs, and more.
How does the BenQ SW321C monitor stack up against the legendary EIZO CG318? Here’s my honest, no-holds-barred review.
If you’re interested in becoming an architectural or interiors photographer, or you want to take your architectural photography business to the next level, read on.
Understanding the difference between manual and auto focus, and the different focus modes available, will help you make sure you always get the shot you want.
Explore the essential tips and techniques for mastering natural light photography.
Let’s take a closer look at the deep umbrella, how it works, how it stacks up against other popular modifiers, and whether or not it gives you as much value for money as it appears to.
Macro probe lenses help you capture amazing close-ups. How does the new AstrHori model stack up?
I photographed these vivid paint splash images for the launch campaign of the Hasselblad H6D, using bright orange paint to match the distinctive orange shutter button on the camera. People always want to know how I did it.
All budding photographers must learn the rule of thirds. But what is it? And why is it so effective?
Meet Ethan Davis, guest instructor for our 3D CGI classes.
Uncover the secrets of professional studio photography with our guide on replicating the captivating lighting effects of the Satellite Staro modifier. Learn how to emulate its filmic aesthetic using alternative tools and unleash your creativity in every shot. Explore techniques, comparisons, and budget-friendly solutions to elevate your photography game.
Ready to learn about studio lighting? In this video, I introduce you to bare bulbs, standard reflectors, and other essential lighting modifiers and accessories for studio photography.
Let’s take a closer look at boudoir photography – exactly what it is (and is not), and how to get it right.
Framing is a useful composition technique in photography that can enhance the effect of your images. But what is it and how does it work?
I decided to throw everything I had – including all of my splash photography skills, plus dozens of china teapots and cups – at my own artistic interpretation of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Free Studio Lighting Tutorial exploring honeycomb grids – a versatile yet often misunderstood photography lighting accessory.
The octabox 150 is renowned as one of the most popular workhorses for photographers – and for good reason. Many good reasons, in fact!
I’ve taken plenty of photos in my time, but very few have inspired as much excitement and curiosity as this one. So how did I do it?
Want to create compelling images? Try this useful compositional technique.
Get to know Blender, the free software of choice for photographers ready to try CGI.
Shine a spotlight on the Snoot lighting modifier. A modest yet mighty tool in the world of studio photography. Be warned, this modifier can rapidly inflict pain. Learn Why!
Karl takes a look at the pros and cons of this simple, inexpensive modifier.
Here they are: the best of the best, the cream of the crop – our most popular photography classes. Have you watched them all yet?
Let’s explore the art of symmetry in photography, its significance, and how it can elevate your images to new heights.
Is product photography doomed? Will 3D CGI wipe it off the face of the earth? Never one to shy away from a heated debate, Karl tackles the question all photographers should be asking.
Recently I did a live show where I photographed a pair of earphones. The main purpose of the show was to demonstrate how to photograph earphones based on our fourth photography brief assignment, but there was another lesson I wanted members to take from the shoot: that it’s not about the brand or type of lights you use, but more about your knowledge and understanding of light.
Discover the secrets behind creating a stunning perfume bottle photo. Learn how to determine the perfect cutout shape and achieve the right lighting to make the bottle glow.
What does the AI revolution mean for photographers? Time-saving tools and big questions…
Juxtaposition. It sounds clever – and complicated. But what is it? And how can you use juxtaposition to make memorable photographs?
Discover how to achieve balance in your photography compositions, and why it is such an effective technique.
Check out these four Visual Education subscribers. They’re trying CGI for the first time – and achieving some pretty incredible results!
I’ve tested, rented and owned a lot of different modifiers over the course of my career, but what would be my choice of modifier for beauty, fashion and portrait work if I only had £50 or £100 to spend? Recently I tested a large number of modifiers for a new tool we’re creating, including an independent brand modifier that cost less than £50 ($70). Surprisingly, this modifier gave great results that were comparable to the Octabox 150 and it’s even easier to transport!
Unlock the secrets to stunning product photography with expert tips from Karl Taylor at VisualEducation.com. Discover how to enhance your skills with insights on studying products, mastering gradient lighting, shooting tethered, achieving pure white backgrounds, and creating captivating liquid glows. Elevate your photography game and impress your clients with professional-quality shots.
We put the 27-inch, 4K, self-calibrating EIZO CG2700X monitor through its paces. The results were impressive.
If you’ve ever struggled to position a light correctly, or found your shots ruined by glaring reflections, you need to get to grip with angles – especially if you want to specialize in portrait or product photography.
Patterns are all around us, from the windows on a skyscraper to the trees in a forest. In photography, we can use patterns to create compelling images that capture the viewer’s attention and imagination.
Do you consider photography and filmmaking to be unrelated? Are you a photographer who regards the rise of video as a threat to your livelihood? If so, it may be time for a change in perspective.
Not having enough lights can make product photography challenging, to say the least, but the good news is that there are a few ways you can overcome this problem. I recently shot an antique-style image of a saddle where I showed two other ways you can light creatively even if you only have a couple of lights.
Welcome to our Photography vs CGI quiz! Are you a keen observer? This quiz is designed for photographers and 3D CGI enthusiasts eager to test their image perception skills.
Let’s take a closer look at this versatile modifier – one of Karl’s favourites.
Want to shoot bottles like a pro?
Explore texture in photography and get some tips for using it to enhance your images.
Like all pro photographers, I’m obsessed with light. But I also love to harness the power of darkness and shadow – especially when I want to create dramatic portraits.
Many professional photographers – including Karl Taylor here at Visual Education – shoot with medium format cameras. Why? Because they offer the biggest commercially available sensors.
How can you tell if your pictures are any good? The difficulty in finding the answer to this is that you’re often reliant on other people’s feedback, so I found the best way is to work it out for yourself using three very specific criteria and benchmark comparisons.
If you’re getting started with photography and experimenting with manual mode, you’re probably wondering: what is aperture?
The best photographers make skilful use of light and shadow to create interesting, compelling and evocative images.
If you have an understanding of photographic fundamentals such as shutter speed, aperture and how to expose an image, you’ve already got most of what you need to start shooting long exposures. This technique can also be used for much more than just landscape or night photography though, so if you’d like to learn how to master long exposure and take more creative images, keep reading.
Parabolic reflectors are one of my favourite modifiers, but due to the price of them many photographers often try to find more economic solutions compared to some of the top brands. But how do the more budget options actually perform compared to the top brands? I did a direct comparison between two different brands of parabolic modifiers and also tried a hack to try and make a cheap parabolic softbox modifier work more effectively.
There’s a lot you can do with just two studio lights — trust me, I’ve shot everything from bottle product photography to fashion photography using just two lights. I’ve put together two different examples of two-light setups for portrait photography, product photography, and fashion photography and I’m also going to explain how you could use similar setups to these for your own photography.
If you’re looking to practice your product photography, bottles are something you can easily get your hands on if you want to try something new or refine your skills. These reflective subjects can be a challenge to photograph, with their glass surface and reflections, but there are a few key do’s and don’ts that will help you understand how to get professional results
Along with a variety of lenses, spare batteries and lens cleaning cloths, most photographers will also have a selection of filters in their camera bag. But what do lens filters do? What lens filters are essential? And what is the difference between circular and linear polarisers? I answer all of these questions and also address when and why you might need filters and how they can help you get more creative with your photography.
Capturing movement photography can be a time consuming and frustrating process, and freezing that perfect moment often requires split second timing. So how do we capture those decisive moments accurately and precisely? I’m going to share my top tips for photographing motion and explore what wireless flash triggers we can use to get the perfect timing for our shots.
You’ve probably heard about the rule of thirds or golden spiral, but they aren’t necessarily the most effective photography composition rules. I’m going to talk about what I consider to be the MOST important compositional rule in photography and share my top compositional tips.
LED lighting has come a long way in recent years and grown in popularity, so why do most professional photographers, including myself, still prefer studio flash (strobe) lighting? To help you understand the two kinds of lighting systems and, more importantly, which is better I’m going to explain the differences between them, the pros and cons of each, and where each is best applied.
If you truly want to enter the magnified world of macro photography, you’ve probably been told you need a dedicated macro lens. But these specialist lenses can cost a fair bit, and if macro photography is something you do just for the enjoyment, you probably don’t want to be paying hundreds of dollars for a lens you’ll only use occasionally. The good news is that there is a cheaper alternative: extension tubes.
If you’re looking to improve your food photography, you’ve probably seen the same old advice repeated in every article out there. So rather than re-explaining what you should be doing, I’m going to explain what not to do if you want to get more professional results. To help you take better food photographs, I’ve summarised the key points to keep in mind when photographing food so that you can avoid these common problems.
Learn how to create breathtaking photos without relying on extensive post-production. Explore the power of problem-solving techniques and discover the secrets behind professional in-camera photography.
Black backgrounds can look very effective in photography, and they’re a popular choice for everything from portrait photography to products. Although a plain black background may look easy to achieve, there are actually quite a few things to consider if you want to get the best results, so I’ve put together a guide to help you, including tips for what background to use, what lighting is best, and where to position your subject.
Photography can be an expensive hobby, and the last thing you want is to waste your money on something that’s little more than a marketing gimmick. One of the greatest marketing gimmicks with see at the moment is parabolic softboxes, and in a recent Youtube video I did a side-by-side comparison with a popular portrait lighting modifier — a large octabox — to test the results for myself. Read on to discover…
I’ve been doing professional product photography for around 20 years now, and as an educator I’m familiar with many of the most common mistakes photographers make when photographing products. I’m going to share my top product photography tips to help you avoid these common mistakes and achieve high-end professional results.
Bonfire night, the Fourth of July, New Year’s Eve — there’s always a few nights a year when we have a chance to photograph these impressive pyrotechnic displays. But photographing fireworks can be somewhat tricky. What shutter speed do you use? Where, and how, do you focus in the dark? And what equipment do you need? I answer all of this below, as well as share my top tips to help you learn how to photograph fireworks like a pro.
Shooting professional product photography using speedlites isn’t necessarily the easiest way to go about it but it can be done, as I showed in a recent Youtube video where I photographed a clear glass bottle using just three speedlites.
What many don’t realise is that the benefit of hiring a photographer’s assistant can far outweigh the costs. If you’re serious about improving your work and growing your photography business, hiring an assistant is one of the smartest investments you can make, and I’m going to explain why.
Creating a plain white background for a product shot or e-commerce shoot sounds simple, and when you know how it is! Whether you’re shooting packshot photography for an e-commerce website or are looking to refine your technique for commercial photography projects, I’m going to explain the important considerations and necessary equipment…
Metering refers to the process where the camera evaluates the amount of reflected light in a scene and calculates what it thinks to be the correct exposure. Different camera makes and models have different metering modes, so I’ve explained the most common ones, how they work and when to use them.
Product photography is one of the most lucrative genres of photography, but it often requires a good selection of equipment and a thorough understanding of light. By the end of this article you’ll know exactly what you need to get started as a successful product photographer, what equipment you’ll need, what critical skills will come in handy, and much more.
When you apply the knowledge of light, you can achieve professional photography results with little to no equipment. In this article I explain how I managed to create a close replica of a previous wine bottle studio shot using nothing more than natural light from a window, some diffusion material, a reflector, and two iPhones.
When it comes to image quality, there is a big misconception that if you want better quality, you need more megapixels. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) it isn’t that straightforward. To better understand image quality, considering the number of megapixels alone isn’t enough. You also need to look at the size and type of sensor, understand how images are formed, how light is focused onto the sensor, the impact of lens choice and quality, and consider the pixel size to get the full picture.
I’ve been a photography educator for more than 12 years now, so I’ve seen pretty much everything when it comes to common mistakes relating to first-time studio lighting users. From relying on a light meter to shying away from understanding the physics of light, here are nine mistakes you should try to avoid when using studio flash or strobe lighting.
In this guide to studio lighting you’ll learn the difference between continuous light and flash; different power systems like monobloc lights or power packs; flash power and how to adjust it; how flashes are triggered; and much more.
Car photography is notoriously difficult and often requires some high-level professional equipment. I’ve photographed plenty of motorbikes before, but car photos require much more space and specialist equipment. Because space isn’t an issue in my studio, I’ve been wanting to fit a proper floating panel for car photography for a couple of years now…
Having been in business for nearly 30 years, I’ve learnt is that business is not complicated — running a successful photography business comes down to a few key points that if understood, make working through tough times a lot simpler. I outline my top eight tips for running a photography business here.
For many professional photographers, working to a brief is nothing new. But for those just starting their professional journey, the concept of working to a brief might seem a little overwhelming and intimidating. What is a brief? What should you expect when receiving a brief? How do you plan and do you need to pre-shoot and test? All of these are important considerations…
Environmental portraits are a great way for photographers to make money as they’re often in high demand by many businesses. While that may sound appealing, environmental portraits are not without their challenges. I’ve also put together this guide to outline some of the most common challenges you may face and explain how you can plan for a successful shoot next time you’re commissioned to shoot these artistic portraits.
Low cost monthly subscriptions offer the perfect opportunity to learn new skills, update or create a website or organise your work, without putting too much strain on your finances. Here’s a list of useful software for photographers you may find useful, including photo editing software, website hosts, marketing tools, general admin and others.
I hear a lot of negativity from photographers claiming not to have enough equipment to get good results. This is particularly relevant to product photography, but it is not necessarily true. With the right knowledge, you can get top-end, professional-quality results using just one light. Yes, you might be able to get even better results with two, three, or even four lights, but what you have to understand, and what I repeatedly find myself having to explain, is that it’s not about what equipment you have, but rather how you use that equipment.
When it comes to photography, knowing what you should be doing is great, but knowing what to avoid can be incredibly useful too. To help you quickly improve your photography, I’ve summarised the key points to keep in mind when shooting portraits and explained how to avoid the most common problems.
Abstract images of fruit; colourful collections of books; styled sets of stationery… If you’re looking to get creative with your photography and make the ordinary seem extraordinary, then still life photography is probably for you. One of the best things about still life photography is that you can get creative and test your photography skills using almost anything you have laying around the studio or your house. You also don’t need very much equipment. And if that’s not enough to persuade you, still life images can also be a great way to make money.
In any photography studio — amateur and professional alike — you’ll probably find at least one or two umbrellas. These lightweight and affordable modifiers can be used to achieve a number of different results, which is part of the reason they’re so widely used.
Since we first launched our live talk shows, we’ve had numerous guests join us in the studio. Each of them have been incredibly generous with their knowledge, so we’ve collated some of the best advice from these pros.
With over 20 years experience as a professional photographer myself, it’s safe to say I know a thing or two about what it takes to make it as a pro. To help you make a success of your own journey, I’ve broken down the seven key things you need to do to help increase your chances of success.
E-commerce is a booming industry, and with it, e-commerce photography. Done correctly, e-commerce photography can be a quick and easy way to make money, but there’s a few tricks to getting it right. Whether you’re shooting fashion or products, I’ve outlined a few important guidelines that will help you produce the best possible results simply and easily.
Levitating burgers, suspended salads and exploding tea — the craze of flying food images is taking over the food photography market. But how are these exciting images created? As with most studio shoots, these images can be divided into four distinct stages: pre-visualisation, preparation, lighting and shooting. Each of these stages is crucial if you’re to get the best result possible.
LIVE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Motorbike Photo Shoot
Recorded live on 19th December 2019
Now available on replay
In this live show Karl will undertake the exciting task of photographing a motorbike live in the studio.
Determining what to charge for your photography can, at first, seem quite confusing. But once you understand how to work it all out, you’ll come to see it’s actually quite logical. If like me, you’d like to spend more time shooting and less time doing the maths, here’s a useful tool to help you keep track of the hours that need to be billed each week. Knowing this will really help you stay on track and adapt as your business grows.
If you’ve ever tried to convert an image to black and white, chances are you’ve ended up with a flat, dull photo with none of the original contrast. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially for photographers who are new to Photoshop. To help you create stunning black and white images, I explain the key things to understand when shooting for black and white and also share my preferred method of converting images to black and white
After spending hours planning and styling your shot, getting the lighting just right and adding the final touches in post production, the next step is to upload your images to your online portfolio or social media. Part of this process is resizing your images for web. Here I answer the most common questions when it comes to resizing images and break down the simple steps for resizing images in Photoshop (as well other popular photo editing softwares).
Arguably some of the most valuable tools in Photoshop, burning and dodging refers to darkening or lightening areas of an image. This technique can be used to enhance your imagery by creating three dimensionality and guide the viewer’s eye. Here I look at the different ways to burn and dodge in Photoshop and when to use which. You can also watch how to apply the different methods in our Burning & Dodging Photoshop class.
These are my top 10 studio photography accessories that I keep around the studio (plus a bonus one at the end), and many of them are more basic than you might expect!
Photography backgrounds are a key part of any image — they can make or break your photo. Choosing the best backdrop material is crucial, but knowing which one to use can be tricky. To help you make the most of your image, I’ve outlined some key points to think about when selecting a background and included two DIY photography backgrounds that you can easily make.
Food photography can be challenging, but in its simplest form it couldn’t be easier — you don’t need extraordinary culinary skills, fancy lighting equipment or masses of props. You can get some great results photographing in your own kitchen using store bought products and only natural light.
Whether you’re a new photographer just starting out or have a few years of experience to your name, chances are you’ll have found yourself asking similar questions. I answer the 10 most commonly asked photography questions here.
As someone who’s done it for over 20 years, trust me when I say running a successful photography business requires more than just talent. It requires hard work, dedication and business savvy. Knowing how much to charge for photography is just one of the hurdles you’ll have to overcome if you want to make it, but it can be challenging (especially for photographers just starting out) so I’ve outlined some important points to help guide you.
Learn how to identify and overcome common challenges associated with product photography as I discuss how to plan commercial product shoots, execute photography briefs, and what to charge for commercial photography shoots.
Splash photography is exciting, fast-paced, messy and creative — what’s not to love? If you’ve never tried splash photography before or if you’re looking for a few useful tips or new ideas, then this is the place to be. I explain the equipment, lighting, important photographic concepts and also share a few creative ideas for you to try.
The moon is a beautiful and fascinating subject to photograph, but determining the right exposure and the best composition can be a challenge. To help you get even better photos, I’ve outlined four simple tips in this blog post. I explain what to consider when it comes to when and where to photograph the moon, what equipment you’ll need, how to compose your shots and share some go-to settings to help get your started.
