DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

It doesn't matter if you're planning an indoor or outdoor shoot, will be working with a professional model or your children, we have to tutorials that cover all aspects of portrait photography so you'll be ready to click the shutter button as soon as your subject arrives. 

 

1. Urban Portrait Shoot Photography Tips

 

City streets are an abundance of jewelled lights from traffic, shops, and festive bulbs. Their colour and a good bit of sky detail make city locations perfect for urban winter shoots. Dramatic clouds or the subtle gradation of twilight hues make good backgrounds for winter lights but as the light fades and your background turns black, you can turn your attention to the Bokeh effect to really make your urban work shine.

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2. Tips On Using Fill-In Flash For Portraits

 

Fill-in flash can give images that extra bit of 'pop' they need when working both inside and out. Adding a little flash can flatter your model's skin, remove deep shadows that can appear in places on the face such as under the nose and it will give your model catchlights in their eyes which is a big bonus. It's also useful on overcast days as it can breathe life into dull portraits. You can also use a 'pop' of flash to highlight foreground interest in landscape shots.

 

3. Natural Light Portrait Tips For Beginners

 

Get back to basics and make the most of natural light by capturing portraits without flash or studio lights. Cloudy days are perfect for portraits as the light's diffused, use a reflector, clean your windows and make sure the eyes are sharp. 

 

4. Winter Portrait Photography Tips

 

Living in the UK, most of the best clothing in our wardrobes is probably winter stuff so why not encourage people to get out and about with their favourite coats, hats and scarves and have fun shooting some outdoor winter portraits.

 

5. Photographing Low Light Portraits

 

Working with just one light, or indeed natural light at dusk, is a great way to create moody portraits that can be full of character. It's a perfect technique for shooting subjects who are a little older as low light can really exaggerate lines and wrinkles but don't let this put you off photographing low light portraits of younger members of your family. 

 

6. Creative Children Portraits On A Budget

 

Just because you don't have an expensive lighting set-up or a studio doesn't mean you can't shoot interesting portraits of your children. To help you out, we've put together a list of quick tips made up of low-cost techniques.

 

7. Fun Portrait Photography Tips

 

Have a little fun on your next photoshoot and capture some expressions that'll put a smile on your face. Taking fun portrait photos doesn't have to be difficult - with a few simple tips, you can create something that breaks the mould.

 

8. Shoot Better Environmental Portraits With These Tips

 

Environmental portrait photography has nothing to do with global warming or looking after the planet. It is all about photographing your subject in their natural environment. This can be anywhere from where they work, where they live, or anywhere where they like to spend their time. It is all about portraying something of the character of your subject through where they are in the photo.

 

9. How To Create Catchlights In Your Portrait Shots

 

A catchlight is simply a light's highlight reflected off the surface of your subject's eyes. They subtly breathe light into portraits by adding a little more depth to the eyes and are something that painters were using in portraits long before photography was a popular pastime.

 

10. Improve Your Close-Up Portraits With Our 6 Tips

 

Our faces may be made up of the same components but the expressions, shapes, lines, tones and marks that decorate them all tell a unique story that's waiting to be photographed.

 

11. Portrait Photography Tips For Shoots Outside

 

Outdoor portraits add levels of interest to a shot you can't always get from an indoor shoot and it's also the perfect excuse to wrap up in layers (on cold days) and strike a pose. To kick-start your outdoor photoshoot, we've put a few easy to understand but rather essential outdoor portrait tips together for you to peruse.

 

12. Indoor Portraits With Window Light

 

Daylight is free and it is wonderful for portrait work as not only is it flattering and photogenic but it's really easy to work with so it's a good place for beginners to start. You don't need a fancy studio, either, as you can pick a location outdoors or simply set-up next to a window in your own home.  

 

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Instead of focusing on a building as a whole, you can pick out detail such as clock faces, windows, gargoyles and other interesting aspects. However, doing so can be a bit tricky as unless you have an incredibly tall set of ladders, a lot can be out of reach but there are quite a few ways you can get around this. 

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1. What's In Your Kit Bag?

To get close to detail that's high-up on buildings, you're going to need a zoom lens that has a slightly longer reach. If you're a compact user you'll still be able to capture frame-filling shots if your camera features a longer zoom (20x or above would be good). Having a camera with a vari-angle LCD screen can make it easier to frame your shot when working with a tripod at its maximum height or when you're working hand-held with your arms up above you but it's not an essential feature. 
 

2. Look For Detail 

Most pictures you see of churches, cathedrals and other tall structures show the whole, impressive structure but by cropping in tightly you can highlight the fantastic repetitive detail, make an interesting pattern and shoot detail you don't always notice in the wider shots.

Once you begin to search you'll be surprised at the amount of detail you'll be able to fill your frame with. Of course, there's gargoyles, clocks, windows, spires, sundials and weather vanes, but a little closer to the ground you'll find stone carvings present and sometimes intricate detailed wood carvings on the exterior walls around doorways and above windows.

Filling the frame with repeating patterns such as brickwork or tiles on a roof can create interesting abstract shots. Just fill your frame, watch your shutter speeds if you're working hand-held and make sure you're focusing accurately as blur really doesn't work in this type of shot.

 

3. Roof Access? 

If you can get on the roof or balcony, as well as gaining you a great viewpoint of the city you can often find interesting statues/gargoyles projecting out from the walls. As they don't move they're an easy target and most are so beautifully sculptured that several varied photographs can be taken. However, as not all buildings give you access to their roof, you'll probably end up shooting from the ground where you'll need to use the long reach of your telephoto or zoom lens to bring the detail to you.

 

 

 

4. Magnification 

The problem you have with using lenses with a longer reach is that they magnify objects, which is of course what you want, but this does mean that even the tiniest of movements can create a large amount of blur in your photograph so make sure you have a tripod and stick to quicker shutter speeds when possible. Using a lens which features Vibration Reduction (VR) will further minimise shake. If you're shooting detail such as weather vanes where the sky will be your background fit a polarizer to darken a blue sky and give more contrast to the shot.

 

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Local parks are one of the best places to find a wide variety of photographic subjects. Plus, you'll be enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise at the same time so what's not to like?
 

1. Gear Choices 

If you're just going for a quick walk around the park pocketing a compact will be fine but for those who will be taking their camera and interchangeable lenses along, pack your telephoto lens for shots of dog walkers, animals and long shots of the park with your town in the background. For close up work with flowers and leaves pocket your macro lens.

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2. Grey Days Are Good Days

An overcast day, when the light is gently diffused, is the perfect time to capture flowers and foliage. They look even better after a light rain shower as the vibrant greens will jump right out of your frame. If you spot a squirrel while looking through the trees and bushes keep your distance and use a telephoto lens to fill the frame with the cute animal. For those of you who have streams, ponds or even lakes in the park you're visiting why not have a go at duck/swan photography. In most locations, the ducks are used to people so getting close to them shouldn't be a problem. 

If it's a fine day there should be plenty of people for you to snap a few candids of as they pass by. Try shooting from the hip or if someone such as a park warden tidying up really catches your eye, remember to ask them if they mind you taking their photo before you snap away.
 

3. Guide The Eye

Paths and lines of flowerbeds can be used to guide the eye through the image while repetitive patterns such as lines of trees, street lighting and fencing can add symmetrical interest to your shots.
 

4. Go Down To The Woods

If your park has wooded areas you could have a go at capturing beams of light bursting through the trees but this usually means you'll need an early start and shooting on a misty morning is a must.  
 

5. Statues, Water Features & Architecture 

Don't forget that statues, monuments and water features make great photographic subjects and most parks will have one if not all of these on display somewhere. Try looking for glimpses of buildings in your town through the leaves on the trees or gaps in the hedges. The contrast of green or even the golden colours of Autumn later on in the year against the glass and concrete of the town can work extremely well. Then, when you leave the park, find a hill to climb and photograph the patchwork of greens that break up the grey lines of the town.
 

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The German image editing provider Neurapix has expanded its AI technology with a fundamental enhancement: effective immediately, the AI edits even more like a human by taking the context of the entire Lightroom collection being processed into account. The result: even more consistently edited photos.

The goal of many photographers is a cohesive look that runs throughout an entire shoot. Until now, however, editing AIs have analyzed each image individually and applied the desired style to each one separately. Neurapix's new approach also considers the other images within the project, ensuring, for example, even more consistent white balance and more uniform exposure across the entire set.

For users, almost nothing changes in terms of operation: in the Neurapix editing dialog, they can simply check the box labeled "Optimize Consistency" to activate the new AI. The feature is included in the "Neurapix Unlimited" plan. In the “Pay-per-Picture” model, as with all optional features, a maximum surcharge of 1 cent per image applies.

 

"The Best Editing Results Currently Possible"

 

"We asked ourselves: Why doesn't AI work like a human? After all, a human would look at the entire shoot and compare the images with one another," says Nils Sauder, co-founder and CEO of Neurapix. "Accordingly, we developed a completely new AI approach in order to deliver the best editing results currently possible to our customers."

The new feature becomes available automatically after updating the Neurapix plugin. The update is offered via a pop-up the next time Lightroom Classic is launched, or it can be installed manually via the Plug-in Manager.

 

About: Neurapix is a German AI start-up based in Goettingen that was founded in 2021. The company has developed an artificial intelligence that is able to learn a photographer's image editing style and apply it within Adobe Lightroom Classic. This allows photographers to have large numbers of photos edited in their own style, resulting in significant time savings of around 90%. For more information, please visit the Neurapix website.

      

Canon has received eight accolades at the 2026 iF Design Awards, marking thirty-two years of consecutive recognition for the company's industrial design. This year's awards were granted to a range of products within Canon's portfolio, including mirrorless cameras, digital cinema equipment, and industrial printing solutions. These honors reflect the brand's ongoing participation in global design standards and its ability to deliver products across multiple technology sectors.

 

From Canon:

Canon announces that eight Canon Group product designs were recognised by iF International Forum Design GmbH at the iF Design Award 2026. This year marks the 32nd consecutive year in which Canon designs have won iF Design Awards. Canon Medical Systems Corporation's Aquilion Rise CT scanner was selected for an iF Gold Award, the highest distinction.

iF Design Award 2026 Gold winning product

 

  Product name Full-body CT scanner Aquilion Rise (Canon Medical Corporation)

 

iF Design Award 2026 winning products

 

  Product name Mirrorless camera EOS R50 V Compact digital camera PowerShot V1 3D lens RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL Digital cinema camera EOS C400 Digital cinema camera EOS C50 Industrial inkjet label press LabelStream LS2000 Large-format hybrid printe
Colorado XL-series
(Canon Production Printing Netherlands B.V.)

 

iF Design Award 2026 Gold winning product 

 

Aquilion Rise, full-body CT scanner

 

iF Design Award 2026 winning products

 

RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL, 3D lens

 

PowerShot V1, compact digital camera
 

EOS R50 V, mirrorless camera (shown with RF-S14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ lens attached)

 

EOS C400, digital cinema camera (shown with CN-R85mm T1.3 L F lens attached)

 

EOS C50, digital cinema camera (shown with RF85mm F1.4 L VCM lens attached)

 

Colorado XL-series, large-format hybrid printer

 

LabelStream LS2000, industrial inkjet label press

 

About the iF Design Award

Established in 1953, the iF Design Award is one of the most prestigious design awards in the world. It recognizes outstanding industrial designs worldwide. This year, international design experts judged over 10,000 entries from 68 countries and regions across nine disciplines: product, packaging, branding & communication, service design, architecture, interior design, concept, user experience, and user interface.

For more information, please visit the Canon UK website.

Photo by Daniel Bell.      Why this style of photography works is because, generally, people feel more relaxed out of a studio environment which will produce better photos. Throw a bit of fun into the mix and you'll soon have a collection of images that are unique and interesting.  [HOOK]position_1[/HOOK]  1. Gear Advice 

For environmental portraits, a 14-24mm lens can work well but a go-to lens popular with many photographers is a 70-200mm, which can produce great perspective at the right focal length. When working with families, particularly when shooting a little more candidly, natural light works well but do pack essential lighting accessories such as a reflector. If you find you're out during the middle part of the day, particularly on a sunny day, find shade you can shoot in to produce a more even exposure. 
 

2. Conversation Is Key 

Even if you know the people you are photographing it's still important to talk to them during the shoot as direction and encouragement will always be welcomed. Suggest poses and always get your 'money shots' in the bag early so you can have more fun and also shoot more candidly later on. Good shots to ensure you capture are images of the group as well as shots with tighter framing of individuals or one or two family members together.

Direction doesn't have to come via your voice either. You could kick a ball into a particularly good patch of light or ask children to play with toys in a certain part of the landscape you're working in. Remember that children do have a short attention span so make the posing part of the shoot as quick as possible then leave them to play, capturing candids with your camera as they do. 
 

3. Colours, Backgrounds & Clothing 

Backgrounds that contrast with what your subject is wearing can create vibrant images and don't get too hung up on having everyone in matching shades as a mix of colours adds interest and if they pick their own outfits, they'll be more comfortable. 

 

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Lambs are not only cute, but they're also a sign Spring is well-and-truely on its way so they make us doubly happy. Cuteness and happiness aside, they're great subjects for outdoor photos as not only do they make people go 'ahh' they're also pretty active so you can capture some great action shots as well as images that are a little calmer. 

To set you up for your lamb-themed photography shoot, we've got 5 essential tips to share with you. 

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1. Don't Trespass

Shooting from a roadside, lay bay or on a public path that has right of way through a field is fine but don't venture on to someone's land without asking permission first.

2. When To Photograph Them?

In some places, lambs are starting to appear in fields now and if the farmer started lambing early, some start in December, they should be starting to become more active which will give you the chance to capture more interesting shots.

Dull days might not be your favourite time to head out into the countryside, however, days like this can give the best sort of light which makes grass appear saturated and you'll be able to see plenty of detail in the lamb's coat.

 

3. Wrap Up Warm

Even though we do get sunny days, it's still rather cool out there and when you're standing around for lambs to move a little closer to you, you'll soon start to feel the cold if you're not dressed correctly. Sheep are generally very wary of people so once they've done a runner, it can take them quite some time to build up the confidence to come and graze near you again.

 

 

4. Find One Subject

If possible, zoom in and focus on just one lamb. Not only will this give you the 'ahh' factor but it'll also give your shot more impact. Your shot must be sharp and exposed well and if you can, use a wide aperture to throw the background out of focus so nothing distracts the eye away from the lamb.

Getting down to the lamb's level can give a more interesting viewpoint, however, you need to pay more attention to the background – posts growing out of heads is never a good look and other items can just be distracting.

If you're subject's slightly older, they'll have more energy and will be braver so are more likely to be jumping around. Adding a small amount of blur to your action shots with slower shutter speeds can work well but don't go too slow as you still need to be able to see what your subject is.

 

5. Group Shots

Singling out one lamb can be tricky in a field full of sheep so if you struggle, go for the group shot instead. Look for interesting patterns and formations the sheep create and if get a small cluster of sheep together, wait until they're all looking your way and snap the shot.
 

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  Macro and close-up photography allows us to see the world from a different viewpoint and sometimes, shots can be almost magical with what they unveil. Plus, with so many subjects waiting to be captured, you really can put your macro photography skills to the test and, you don't have to venture much further than your own garden either.    To get you started, here are our 10 top tips on capturing images with close-up/macro lenses.  [HOOK]position_1[/HOOK]  1. Make Sure Your Subject Is Perfect

 

When you're working at such close focusing distances any imperfections become more noticeable and they can end up distracting the viewer or spoiling what could be an excellent shot. However, taking the time to look at your subject, making sure the butterfly you're photographing doesn't have a damaged wing or your fungi specimen isn't dirty or had a bite taken out of it, will mean you won't be disappointed when you review your shots on your computer once home.

2. Get Up Early

 

Not everyone's a fan of early starts but if you want to shoot macro photography out in the field, it's something you should get used to doing. Some subjects tend to be less active in the morning, especially when it's still a little chilly, making them easier to photograph and plants, flowers and other foliage are less likely to have had a bite taken out of them early on, too. Mornings can bring a sprinkling of dew which adds another level of interest to your shots and morning light is softer and warmer too.
 

3. Try Backlighting

 

Low, morning light makes it easier to backlight your subjects which can give your macro shots an interesting twist. Objects which are slightly translucent such as leaves, flower petals and butterfly wings look really good when light shines through them from the back. Keep a close eye on your shots though as the light levels can fool your camera into thinking the scene's too bright and it will underexpose the shot. If you do have problems just use exposure compensation to fix it.
 

4. Switch To Manual Focus

 

When working close to a subject, autofocus tends to end up searching backwards and forwards for something to focus on. Eventually, it may focus on the right point but it's much quicker to switch over to manual where you'll be able to focus more precisely. If you're not used to using manual focus it can take a little bit of practice but if you try shooting flowers, fungi and other objects which are less likely to fly or runoff, you don't have to rush so can take your time in getting your focusing spot-on. Then, once you're used to working manually, move on to more tricky subjects such as insects and other wildlife.
 

5. Try Pre-Focusing

 

Some macro subjects such as insects move fast and scare easily so pre-focusing your lens before they come into frame can increase your chances of capturing a good shot. Find something that's of a similar size of your subject and position it the same distance away as your subject will be when it lands.

 

6. Pack A Polarising Filter

 

A polarising filter can be fitted to a lens to ensure the colours captured are the same as the real thing, giving your shots more punch in the process. Attaching a polarising filter to your lens will slow your shutter speeds down, however, so make sure you're using a tripod to stop shake which can spoil your shot when working hand-held.
 

7. Avoid Shake

 

Camera shake is more noticeable when working close to your subject so always use a tripod. If you have one, use a remote release to fire the shutter button so you don't have to touch the camera or if you don't have one, use the camera's self-timer or your Smart Device if you have a camera that'll allow you to control it this way. Making sure your image stabilisation is on and using quicker shutter speeds, which you can get by switching to a higher ISO if you're working in low light, will help keep movement to a minimum but it's still best to fasten your camera to a tripod.
 

8. Windy Days Are Your Enemy

 

As already mentioned, any movement in the frame is exaggerated when working at such close focusing distances so what may seem like a small breeze to you can look like a strong, winter gale blowing through your image.

You can hold your subject in place with plamps etc. or if you're patient, just wait for the wind to stop blowing. You can also try and shelter the plant you're photographing with a make-shift shield. Card works well but if you're out in the field try using your camera bag or even your own body to shield your subject from the wind. Also, using a slightly quicker shutter speed will freeze motion but this isn't always possible, especially when working in darker locations such as woods.
 

9. Get In Close Then Add Some Space

 

By isolating part of a flower, insect or leaf you can create strong, abstract shots. So find detail that interests you and really zoom in close, filling the frame with striking shapes and interesting patterns.

Don't forget to try the opposite too so your subject has some space to 'breath'. Why? Well, it can help give your image context as well as create a sense of scale in your shot. Do keep your background simple if you do this though as you don't want it to distract from your main subject.
 

10. Light Your Shot Well

 

Where possible, try to use natural light, however, there are times when this isn't possible such as working in the woods where light levels are lower or when you're working with subjects that move quickly.

Rather than using your camera's built-in flash which is harsh and often too direct, try using a ring flash which can give a more even spread of light. Watch out for overexposed 'hotspots' appearing on your subject and when using natural light, make sure your own shadow isn't caught in-frame. You may also need to use a reflector to bounce much-needed light into dark areas of the shot. You can buy reflectors, but one made from a piece of card and silver foil can work just as well.
 

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With good cameras becoming more reasonably priced and nearly all phones having one built-in, photography's something that most people can now easily dabble in. Even though this is true, there are still people out there, kids for example, who haven't picked up a camera before and need a little guidance. So, that brings us on to our ten basic photography tips to teach someone new to photography.

1. Hold The Camera Correctly

This may seem like a really obvious thing to be telling someone, but camera shake, which can occur when you're not holding the camera correctly, is a problem those who are new to photography face. In fact, those who use mobile phones to take photos and hold one hand out while trying to press the shutter button will know all too well how it can result in blurry, wonky shots. To stop this, hold your camera/smartphone with two hands, quite close to your body, position your feet shoulder-width apart to give yourself a more stable base to shoot from.
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If you're using the LCD to compose your shot don't stick your arms out too far in front of you and keep your arms/elbows tucked in when possible.

Before you take your shot, make sure your fingers aren't over the flash (if using it) or blocking the lens and keep a firm grip of your camera but don't squeeze too tightly as you can cause the camera to move, resulting in shake.
 

2. Support

Having your arms tucked close to your sides and standing as still as possible will stop any blur caused by movement from spoiling your shot. Don't move your camera/phone away as soon as you've clicked your shutter button either as shutter lag can mean your camera's still processing the shot so you'll end up with a blurry photo of another part of the scene rather than the person or object you want a photo of.

Using a tripod will keep the camera still and help keep shake to a minimum. There are various light-weight, easy to use models which are designed to be used with smaller cameras.

If you don't have a tripod, use a nearby solid object as a support or lean against a wall, tree or whatever object you can find that won't move. 
 

3. Breathing

Being conscious of your breathing can further minimise shake. Some suggest taking a deep breath, holding it, taking your shot and exhaling while others prefer to do it the other way around. It's not something that's recommended for very long exposures though!

4. Hold The Camera Straight

Check the framing of your shot before hitting the shutter button as having a photo where it looks like everything's about to slide out of frame's easily done. Having said that, there are times when shooting on an angle can work really well but most of the time, you'll want your horizons to be straight. Using a tripod can help as some models have built-in spirit levels which can tell you when the tripod's not straight. There are the occasions where the spirit level will tell you the shot's wonky but your eye will know different so trust your instincts on these occasions.

 

5. Different Modes

Camera modes are there to help you capture the best possible images you can so learn what they're for and switch to them when needed. There's also aperture and shutter priority which give you more control over how your camera takes photos and are a great way to start your journey into the manual world. For more tips take a look at these tutorials:

• Camera Modes
• Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority

As well as using different modes for different situations, have a go at shooting from different angles and positions too.

 

 

6. Shutter Button

Don't be too heavy-handed with the shutter button as this can cause the camera to move which can mean you end up with a slightly blurred shot.

Another important thing to learn about the shutter button is that it can be pressed halfway to focus your shot. This can be used in all shooting situations but is particularly important for shots where your camera doesn't know what your main focus point is and as a result, you end up with blur in the wrong part of the shot. An example of this would be when you position your subject to the left or right of the shot, leaving more space towards the centre and opposite side. As your subject is off-centre your camera may not think they're what you want to focus on and as a result, they'll be blurry while you'll have a background that's nicely in focus. However, using focus lock (half-pressing the shutter) will stop this from happening. Have a look at our previous tutorial for more tips on how to use this: Focus Lock.

7. Backgrounds

Check the background for unsightly items and objects sticking out of your subject's head. If you're not planning on throwing your background out of focus (some drive modes do this automatically) so it's blurred, make sure it's not too distracting or cluttered.

 

8. Fill The Frame

Use the optical zoom on your camera to bring your subject closer, filling the frame and creating more interest. A person can look dwarfed in a wide landscape or surrounded by buildings so use your zoom so you don't lose them in the frame. If you're using a camera phone which doesn't have an optical zoom use your feet to move you closer to your subject rather than using the digital zoom which can lower the quality of the shot. 

 

9. Focus Point

A shot needs a focal point otherwise your eyes will be left searching the image and they won't find anywhere to settle. You can have more than one focal point but make sure the point that's secondary doesn't fight your main focal point to be the centre of attention. Once you know what your main focal point is there are various compositional tricks you can perform which includes using various elements within the frame to draw the eye to one focus point, you can adjust your framing to make a more pleasing composition or zoom in to really focus on your subject, eliminating other items in the process.

 

10. Shoot Different Subjects

Many professional photographers focus on one type of photography, but this isn't something you need to do straight away. Experiment with various subjects, learning how each needs to be approached differently in the process. It'll also give you the chance to find out which you enjoy shooting the most so if you do want to start shooting more regularly, you'll have a particular subject you can work on perfecting.

Don't be afraid to take lots of shots either as getting out there and actually pressing the shutter button is the best way to learn. Do take the time to evaluate your work too so you know what needs to be improved and just as importantly, know what techniques work successfully. You can also ask other photographers, family members and friends for their feedback too as sometimes they'll see things you've missed. Finally, make sure you have fun and enjoy taking photos! 
 

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A black-and-white portrait full of detail has been chosen as this week's featured image. Simply titled 'Lizzy', Hudson_Swan presents a photo with a blurred outdoor backdrop that frames her naturally. The patterned scarf, fur-trimmed coat and long wavy hair create strong textures that work well together. Lizzy rests her cheek in her hand and looks straight into the lens, giving the portrait a relaxed and natural feel. A really lovely portrait and a well deserved spot as this week's featured image.

Every Photo of the Week (POTW) winner will be rewarded with a Samsung 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, providing top-tier storage for all your creative needs across multiple devices. But that's not all! In January 2027, we’ll crown our 2026 Photo of the Year winner, who will take home the ultimate prize of a Samsung Portable 1TB SSD T7 Shield, courtesy of Samsung. It’s time to shoot, submit, and showcase your best work for a chance to win these incredible rewards!

The freedom of shooting thousands upon thousands of photographs on a single shoot or photo trip is a huge benefit of digital capture. That’s all very well but at some point you’ll need to trawl through your shots and find your ‘keepers’, organise them into collections, add keywords and delete the dross. That’s a job that can easily soak up hours and even days in front of a monitor and any technology that can ease the burden is very welcome. 

Excire Foto 2025, a software available for Mac and Windows, could be the answer. It’s an asset management program and has no editing capabilities but it can manage and organise your photo collection very quickly.

 

Navigating around Excire Foto 2025 is simple thanks to its clean interface and you get tooltips while hovering over each icon. Not having any editing functionality must help to keep the interface fuss-free.

 

Quick Verdict

It might be stating the obvious, but any piece of kit, be it a lens, filter or software, is only worth having if it plays a useful role in your photography. In respect of Excire Foto 2025, for productive photographers, being able to quickly and accurately search for pictures in a very large image collection is invaluable. Yes, it’s a serious investment but it is a one-off cost with the potential of saving you lots of time.

If you’re a frugal shooter with a disciplined shutter finger, Excire Foto 2025 might not be for you. But for photographers who like to keep their camera busy and shoot a broad range of subject matter, especially people and events but also nature and scenics, this amazing software is very effective. The ability to quickly search for images in many ways without having to keyword or rate them beforehand is a huge benefit.

Is Excire Foto 2025 worth the money? Well, that’s a question only you can answer but there’s no denying that it’s an excellent, very capable product worth trying.

 

+ Pros

• Fast, even with huge image collections
• Face and people search
• Easy to use
• Text prompt search works well
• Auto keywording is especially useful for people shots
• AI-assisted culling
• Outright purchase, no subscription
• Works for stills and video
• Excire runs locally – images aren’t sent into the cloud for analysis so there’s complete privacy
• Video playback possible directly from the preview

- Cons

• £199 / $229 is a significant investment
• Importing big photo collections takes time but it’s a one-time job
• Auto keywording can be less effective for non-people photos
• Aesthetic rating might not appeal to everyone
• Auto advance after image rating would be nice

 

 

Excire in its product range offers AI-powered image management software. Tested here is Excire Foto 2025, a standalone app with AI and traditional organising features. It should be stressed that Excire doesn’t have any editing tools, so in your workflow it complements rather than replaces your usual editing software. 

For those photographers with an Adobe Lightroom Classic based workflow, Excire does have a solution specifically for you. Excire Search 2026 works as a plug-in so meshes seamlessly with Lightroom Classic and has most of the features seen in Excire Foto 2025. 

Excire Foto 2025 and Excire Search 2026 sell for £199 / $229 each and that is for an outright purchase – there is no subscription model. Both apps come in a bundle price of £299 / $299 and are available on a free 14-day trial.

The top filter bar provides a selection of search and view options including metadata, capture time and Excire’s Aesthetics rating.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Getting started

Open up Excire Foto 2025 and you’re presented with a series of welcome screens that you can turn off. After that, you’ll see a cleanly laid out interface that is organised into sections. Image thumbnails are shown in the central area, and the size of previews can be varied to suit. Double-clicking on a thumbnail shows a larger preview that you can view at 1:1 or zoom into up to 500% for an even closer look. There’s also the option to compare two images. 

In individual image mode, images can be rated either with stars and colours which mirrors what Lightroom offers. Indeed, the same keys are used for rating (i.e. 1-5 for stars, 6-9 for colours). Also, it’s the same if you want to delete a photo (X), deselect an image (U), show the grid/gallery view (G) or go full screen (F).

In my case, where I used a collection of pictures already managed by Lightroom, existing star and colour ratings show up in Excire.

The left column is for folder navigation. There’s an option to show folders in a timeline and a search results palette where you can revisit previous searches. The fourth icon here is for image culling, which we’ll delve further into later.

Across in the top bar is a selection of filters and you can search by relevance, Excire’s Aesthetics rating, keyword metadata with parameters including camera used, ISO and shutter speed.

In the top corner of the right panel sit the search tools and immediately below are four palette options showing metadata, faces, keywords and general which includes the image’s histogram and information which includes file details. 

Shown enlarged here is the panel of Excire’s search tools. Across the top row (from left to right): Text prompt, Find duplicate, Find by GPS, Find by keyword. Across the bottom: Find faces, Find people, Find similar photos.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Ease of use

During installation, Excire asks where you want to install the default database which includes thumbnails, preview images and the program cache. The database will increase in size over time as images are added, so choose a hard disk with plenty of free space. In my workflow, Lightroom catalogues are kept on a separate 2TB NVMe SSD drive in a fan-cooled enclosure connected to the computer’s Thunderbolt 4 port, so I used this drive for my Excire database. For information, for this test I used a M2 Max Mac Studio 32GB RAM running Tahoe 26.2. 

Excire says it’s perfectly feasible to have a single database managing your entire image collection even if you have hundreds of thousands of high resolution Raws. 

That said, it depends how you like to work. For example, if you take on freelance commissions, you could have separate databases for personal and paid work. As part of my test I made several databases and moved them around with no problem.

Before importing your first images, you need to check the initial settings. Go to Excire Foto>Settings>Preferences to bring up a series of options. So, for example, if you want to add PSD files, the option in the Add menu must be selected. In Previews, the size of previews can be changed and if you want to work with 1:1 previews. In Metadata, you can choose to import existing keywords into Excire Foto.

Excire’s quick start guide walks you through the many options and it’s important to give the settings a few minutes of attention.

A prompt search for images with a full moon revealed this candid. You can see in the enlarged panel other keywords applied by Excire Foto 2025.

 

Excire Foto 2025 key features 

• Only available with a lifetime licence, no subscription option
• Range of search tools: Text prompt, duplicate, GPS, people, face, keyword,
• Organising tools: AI keywording, duplicate search, face-tagging
• AI-assisted culling module
• Stills and video compatible
• Intelligent face-sharpness detection
• AI Aesthetic scores
• AI-powered video management 
• High-speed preview rendering
• Supports Raw, PSD, JPEG files and more
• Available for Mac and Windows

 

Images imported into Excire Foto 25 go through a five-step process with images analyzed and keyworded so it takes time, but it only needs doing once. With big image collections, leave the software running overnight.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Performance

It’s while adding the images to Excire Foto 2025 that the magic happens when the images are analyzed and tagged by AI. To benefit from Excire’s skills, make sure the Analyze photos option is switched on in the Add Folders dialogue box.

The import process comprises five stages: Preparing, Adding folders, Finding photos, Registering Photos and Analyzing. The process is seamless so you don’t have to do anything during import and it’s the last two stages that take time.

I started with a new shoot. With 3377 50-megapixel images (1007 JPEGs, 2370 Raws) the adding process took just under 12 minutes.  Next, it was the turn of 37,966 images (25,927 Raws, 12,039 JPEGs) from a recent trip. This lot took just under two hours to initialise in Excire. 

My third test was going to be more strenuous. Excire suggests that adding large photo collections should be done overnight and that is advice worth heeding. I imported six years' worth of images, mostly Raws (in-camera and DNG) but also TIFs, PSDs and JPEGs. In bare figures, the 135,813 files amounted to 4.66TB so this was a serious task. The import process took precisely five hours, 49 minutes and 30 seconds. Before you think that I stayed next to the computer with a stopwatch in hand, I’ll come clean: you get a status report (see above) at the end of the adding process. 

The next evening, I added another year’s worth of photos which again took close to six hours taking the whole database to 259,280 photos. 

Adding photos is slow but this only applies at the beginning of your relationship with Excire and once you have your archive initialised, adding shoots as you go doesn’t take long at all.

 

In the Find by text prompt panel (enlarged here for better visibility) just tap in what you’re looking for. Your search could be for a specific subject or you might be after images that show a particular mood or emotion. Here, I was after ‘reflections’ and Excire found 3930 images.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Finding images

With images loaded, it was time to try the various search aids. I started with the Find by text prompt. Here you type in what you are looking for and you have options to limit how many images are shown and something called distance limit which defines how strict you want the search to be. 

This search is performed with the help of AI and is not keyword related. My large photo collection has been managed by Lightroom Classic with keywords limited to location, species and camera technique but no more.

In Excire, I tried words such as ‘tranquillity’ and ‘flight’ plus phrases such as ‘images that show happiness’. I also tried more descriptive searches such as ‘images with a full moon’, ‘calm water’, and ‘city skyline’ as well as locations. It was interesting in my London search that Excire included a red tram photo taken in Hong Kong, so I assume AI saw a red bus-like vehicle and assumed it was a London bus. It did, however, correctly identify 3926 London shots including infrared Raws.

For ‘flight’ I ended up with 2539 images featuring insects, birds and airplanes. For the ‘moon’ search, 715 images were found and while most were of the full moon, I got also a few crescent moons and a couple of sunsets. What impressed, though, was that the search was largely accurate and included images where the moon was veiled by cloud or even if it was small in the frame. The search process was really fast too, typically taking less than ten seconds, which is incredible with a database of over 250,000 photos.

The Find by text search is cool and works impressively. The ability to make searches for specific subjects is great but to make conversational searches adds an extra dimension. 

With the Find Faces command, you get a dialogue box with quite a few options. So you could decide, for example, to search for a child, male and smiling. My collection of pictures included lots of family snaps so a search using those criteria found 375 shots, mostly of my great nephew so that worked.

 

In the Find People dialogue box, you can choose facial properties – smile or not, eyes open or shut – plus you can limit how many pictures you want to see and how ‘strict’ or ‘loose’ you want Excire to be in the search.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Find People

With the Find People tool, start by picking an image that includes your search subject. As I had a shot of my great nephew on-screen I used that and Excire found 151 images with a very high success rate.

That was a simple search, but the Excire Find People tool goes much deeper. First thing to stress is that Excire works locally, i.e. with connected hard drives, and nothing is uploaded so there is no risk regarding privacy.

The Find People tool uses the latest facial recognition technology. Using the Find People icon in the search panel is one way to access the dialogue panel but hover over an image and an icon appears top right that has the same job.

Next, choose where you want Excire to look (the whole collection or a specific folder), limit how many images you want to see and how exact (strict) or broad (loose) you want the search to be. You can also search by keyword or without keyword so that the found images can then have a keyword added.

With the search done, check the results. There is a Zoom faces option in the right panel or just hover on the thumbnail for a zoomed in view. Clicking on an image in gallery view also shows a head only preview in the right-side panel and here you can add the subject’s name for future reference.

If your found person is in a group, the AI technology will show all the faces with the option to name each person in the right panel. If you’re unsure of who is who, double click on the gallery view image for a large preview and you will see each face is highlighted. Hold down the Alt (Windows)/ Option (Mac) key and use the arrow keys to jump from face to face with a magnified view for easy identification.

For people photographers, the Find People tool has huge time-saving potential and it’s easy and quick to use.

 

Excire’s AI powered keywording works well as you can see with image taken in Venice with keywords including Boat, Lake, Waters and Person. The keyword Venice can be added manually and then copied onto other images but Excire has provided a good start.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Keywording

Keywording is the process of tagging descriptive words to your photos and doing it manually takes time and a great deal of it if you like to crunch the detail, even with a keyword-friendly software such as Lightroom. Personally, I keep it simple and often just tag the location, species, technique or project and I have all the keywords in a file that I import into every Lightroom catalogue.

Excire has AI-powered auto keywording that’s done when pictures are added. To get the benefit of the feature, make sure the Analyze photos is ticked when you import the images. The downside is that the initialisation process slows down the import process. However, as we’ve mentioned previously, if you have a large collection to add, leave Excire running overnight.

Excire’s keywording skills are impressive for general shots and you’ll find some images have many keywords while others might have one or two. Look at each keyword and you’ll see figures such as 0.99 or 0.97, which is the software marking itself on the accuracy of its keywording skills.

Excire doesn’t always go into too much fine detail, so you won’t, for example, get specific species or location. That said, some - but not all - of my shots of Big Ben were correctly keyworded while Waterloo Bridge was incorrectly identified as Tower Bridge.

Excire’s auto keywording is remarkably good and useful but don’t expect deep detail. I shoot a lot of nature so I found, for example, that pelicans were correctly labelled but not further identified as dalmatian or great whites. With my photos of ring-necked parakeets taken in the garden, these were correctly tagged as birds but for the next level of identification, I got budgerigar, tit and parrot, although not in all cases even in the same sequence. With insects, butterflies, caterpillars and dragonflies were all keyworded accurately but without the specific species although a praying mantis was correctly labelled. 

Excire’s AI keywording is not infallible and may not go into enough detail for some photographers, but there is no denying its overall effectiveness and time-saving potential.

 

When images are loaded into Excire Foto, its AI checks out each image technically and pictorially and gives it an Aesthetics rating out of a maximum score of 100. The enlarged section shows the Aesthetics rating of 83.18 for this image.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Aesthetics rating

Among Excire’s AI driven features is its ability to aesthetically assess your pictures giving a score out of 100. The software looks at the image characteristics such as exposure, sharpness, content, lighting and so on and makes an automated judgement. 

Leaving obvious technical failings aside, assessing a picture’s pictorial qualities is of course subjective and asking AI to perform the task is interesting. 

In my 250,000 plus database, a Burnham lighthouse at sunset picture was rated at 96.17 while a completely detailless black frame scored 14.78 but it should be much lower.

Where I think Excire’s aesthetic assessment will be particularly useful is with people pictures, where its AI skills can check whether a subject’s eyes are open or not, as well as technical considerations such as exposure and focus. 

Use the Sort by tool, choose Aesthetics and click on descending and your best shots, as rated by Excire, will sit at the top and you can focus your attention on those. It’s amazing that a 250,000 plus image database can be re-ordered in literally a second or so.

 

Excire’s AI culling module organises images into groups defined by different criteria which makes it a breeze to compare similar images shot in sustained bursts, for example.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Culling module

Shooting lots of pictures takes up storage and of course there is no point hanging onto shots that are obvious failures. Identifying rejects takes time so here Excire can also help you out with its Culling Project feature. There’s a selection of people-oriented culling profiles (People, Wedding, Vacation) but you can create your own profiles using aesthetic and technical settings. 

I decided to cull a folder of images taken last autumn at Bushy Park. It took six minutes for Excire to work through 487 Raws organising the shots into 71 Sequences, 31 Visual Similarity Groups and 136 Smart Selections. Clicking on the relevant category in the Culling Projects panel and you can check out what Excire has done. 

With each sequence or group open using Ctrl+Shift (Windows) / Cmd+Shift (Mac) and the left and right arrows on the keyboard lets quickly go through the sequences and you can select the keepers with the number keys 1-5 for star ratings, 6-9 for colours and X for rejects. You could even base your ratings on each image’s Aesthetic rating.

Again, it’s worth repeating that Excire’s speed is incredible and using full screen (F key) and the left and right arrows means you can check and rate photos as fast as you like. In this respect, Lightroom and even Fast Raw Viewer are left trailing in Excire’s wake in terms of speed. The only feature I would have liked is the option of auto advance so the next image appears automatically after rating the previous one.

 

This set of images has been grouped into sequences. That’s very useful for subjects such as nature where shooting sustained bursts of very similar pictures is normal.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Verdict

In my book, any device, gadget or software that saves time sitting in front of a keyboard is a good thing and there’s much to appreciate and enjoy in Excire Foto 2025. It’s a powerful image management software and I found it very useful and user-friendly and not frustrating in the way that Adobe Lightroom Classic can be. 

During the review, I loaded 250,000 images in a single database. In my experience, a catalogue that large in Lightroom Classic means waiting for previews to refresh and sharpen. In Excire, previews and thumbnail views are refreshed very quickly. Using the arrow keys, regardless of the chosen preview size, I could go from image to image with the tap of a key and no lag at all. Critically checking and rating images is amazingly quick and Excire Foto 2025 is worth the money for this capability alone.

Speed, of course, is important but it’s Excire’s many organisational skills that make it a great all-round asset management software. AI culling, AI keywording, its powerful search and organising skills, yes there’s a great deal to admire and enjoy in Excire Foto 2025. 

Of course, £199 / $229 is a significant purchase but you need to factor in how much time and effort Excire Foto 2025 will save you, and how many more pictures you could be out taking rather than sitting in front of a computer. In that context, it’s superb value for money.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Pros

• Fast, even with huge image collections
• Face and people search
• Easy to use
• Text prompt search works well
• Auto keywording is especially useful for people shots
• AI-assisted culling
• Outright purchase, no subscription
• Works for stills and video
• Excire runs locally – images aren’t sent into the cloud for analysis so there’s complete privacy
• Video playback possible directly from the preview

 

Excire Photo 2025 Cons

• £199 / $229 is a significant investment
• Importing big photo collections takes time but it’s a one-time job
• Auto keywording can be less effective for non-people photos
• Aesthetic rating might not appeal to everyone
• Auto advance after image rating would be nice

 

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Churches are something the majority of us will have in our towns and villages and they're a great location for a spot of photography as they're just as interesting on the inside as they are on the outside. Plus, you might have a graveyard to explore as well. Whatever your style of photography, a church will probably have something to grab your attention. 

 

1. Getting Access 

 

To make the most of what our churches have to offer we have to get inside them which can be trickier than you think. Larger churches and cathedrals may have photographic restrictions (a fee payable to use a tripod, no flash etc.) and certain opening hours but generally smaller, local churches are more willing to give you access any time of the day. Just phone in advance to let the vicar or whoever holds the key know that you'd like to take some photographs inside the church. In many smaller towns churches are left unlocked during the day. 

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In buildings of this size, you might as well keep your flash in your bag as it will only add light to objects a few feet in front of you. Instead, you need to get your sturdy tripod out, fasten your camera to it and use a long exposure.

As exposures can be several seconds long, the smallest of nudges can cause the camera to shake so try using a remote / cable release or the camera's self-timer option to reduce it. You could even use your Smartphone to trigger the shutter if you have a camera which can be controlled remotely via smart devices. When it comes to lenses, anything goes. Telephoto lenses can be used to capture the details found on the roof, wide-angle lenses for the wider architectural scenes and macro lenses for close up details of pews, columns and altars.

 

2. Respect Your Surroundings & Fellow Visitors 

 

Before we discuss shooting suggestions do please remember churches, particularly smaller ones, are quiet places so try to make as little noise as possible as you move around. Be respectful of others around you who are there to pray etc. too.

If you're visiting a church that's popular with tourists do remember that others will want to take photos too so work quickly or plan your visit for first thing in the morning or nearer closing time when less visitors will be around. 

 

3. Shooting Suggestions 

 

Try shooting down the aisle to capture the lines of pews, altar and everything else people think of when you ask them to describe a church. Find a comfy pew or a part of the floor you can lie on (don't worry about the funny looks) and focus your lens on the roof which often has interesting patterns and features. Don't be afraid to get in close to objects either.

Reflections off windows, cases and even abstract shots of blurred lines of pews up close can create interesting images. Although if you're trying to capture images of objects protected by cases you won't want reflections or glare spoiling your shot. Try using an ND, polarising filter or cupping your hand around your lens to cut down on reflections and have a cloth handy to remove any fingerprints that have been left on the case.

The large stained glass windows found in most churches look great when lit up by sunlight and they also work well as zoom burst subjects, something we've covered previously on the site. 
 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to saxon_image (Day 2 - Spring).

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 1

Daffodils

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Day 3

Creative Horizons

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Day 4

Sky

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  Day 5

Sense Of Scale

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Day 6

Movement

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Day 7

Outdoor Portraits

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

 

Some people put their pets before family and have images of their favourite dog sat alongside their wedding, holiday and children's pictures. This might be you too! Of course, you are stuck if you do not have a dog, but the odds are you know someone with one so if you are really keen, finding a subject is not an issue.
 

1. Kit Suggestions 

 

In terms of kit, all you need is a camera with a lens or two. Or you could try something like using a Lens Baby for a different effect. If you're heading to a dog show consider taking a smaller camera bag as space can be a premium and leave the tripod at home. 
 

2. Do They Like The Camera?

 

Having a trained dog that's used to being in front of a camera will make things easier. You don't want to get your camera out to find they either want to eat it or won't come near you because they're unsure about it. Some dog could not give two hoots; others will just scamper away.

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3. Get Them Running Around 

 

Pet photography is a popular subject, but most people tend to snap their dog when sitting, rather than capturing the active moments dogs are well known for.

Shots of your pet running and chasing around are far more interesting than a static shot of them sat on a rug in front of the fire. But to capture them it takes some planning and dogs running around are fast and they can be unpredictable. Having someone with you (your partner? Kids?) definitely will be a help because you can ask them to call for the dog while you concentrate on shooting.

Try autofocus with continuous shooting and see if it can track the subject. It might cope well but as dogs move quickly and their coats are low contrast, autofocus can be tricky so try manually pre-focusing on a particular spot and when your dog runs to it, press the shutter.

You'll need a reasonably fast shutter but not so fast that the dog is frozen in the image. Having a mix of sharpness and blur can work well, or just use an even slower shutter speed for more blur to exaggerate its movement. 
 

4. Get Down Low 

 

We're used to standing and looking down on dogs so a shot from this height is nothing special. So instead, try getting down to your dog's eye level or even lower. Kneel, lie (but there's no need to roll over!) to produce a much more dynamic and interesting shot. With features like LiveView, getting a composition from ground-level is easy enough. Of course, there are times when shooting from a higher angle works well such as in the shot at the top of the article.

  5. Exposure Tips 

 

Expose for the dog and not the surroundings. If you have a particularly dark or light dog you may find exposure compensation helps the camera meter correctly. As with human portraiture, it's also important for the eyes to be sharp but again, due to the speed they move, this can be difficult to perfect.
 

6. Natural Light Is Your Friend

 

Natural light is good but as with humans, dogs look less good in contrasty light. For maximum detail in the coat, a bright sky when the sun is gently diffused by high cloud can work well. If the day is quite dull, try fitting the flashgun to lighten the shadows or try underexposing the daylight so your lit subject stands out proudly from a darker sky - it can be a great look.
 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

                                                                                                                           

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Outdoor portraits add levels of interest to a shot you can't always get from an indoor shoot and as this time of year particularly, it's the perfect excuse to wrap up in layers and pose in front of snow-filled scenes. No snow? Well, your highstreet at night can be an equally cool location as can be your local woods or even your backyard should you not want to walk as far. 

To kick-start your outdoor photoshoot, we've put a few easy to understand but rather essential outdoor portrait tips together for you to peruse. Plus don't forget to share your examples of outdoor portraits in our Gallery or Daily competition forum. 

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1. Get Your Lighting Right 

Once you've found a model brave enough to go out, possibly in the cold, you need to sort out your lighting. It is a good idea to have a friend or fellow photographer on hand. This applies to both male and female photographers and an extra pair of hands can be really handy to hold flashguns and look after things during the shoot.

If working a night, a powerful torch will help you focus. Just shine the light at the subject – not directly into the model's face and focus. It is worth considering shooting using manual focus for this subject because autofocus might continually adjust and throw the subject out of focus once the torch is switched off. Flash modifiers, coloured filters and lighting stands will find a use too. 

One of the big problems of using flash at night – apart from the attention (sometimes unwanted) that it attracts – is that a flashgun can pump out too much light and burn out the subject. You need to watch this and use flash exposure compensation to cut down the amount of light if that is the case. 

Another important thing to remember is the inverse square law – double the distance between the flash and the subject and the power output falls by a factor of four, not two as you might expect.

As well as on-camera type flashguns, there are several studio-quality flash units that run off portable batteries. These are more powerful than a typical flashgun and worth trying.
 

 

2. Tripod Or No Tripod? 

Your tripod is handy here too, especially if you want to mix flash and ambient lighting. That said, blurring the ambient light can be an effective technique. Any tripod will be fine, although if you have to walk some distance to your chosen shoot location you may want to consider packing a light-weight model. Carbon fibre models are lighter than those made of aluminium, although they can be cold to the touch but many tripods feature thick foam on the legs that enable a secure grip and stop you having to touch the cold surface.

 

 

3. Poses & Direction 

Make sure you've primed the model regarding poses, clothing and the location that you will be shooting in. You need to think of their comfort, dealing with the weather, keeping warm in between shots and so on. Conversation can help with the flow of the shoot but if you're not very good at banter, just be concise with your posing instructions and don't try to be something you're not. 

You can find plenty of ideas about posing in lighting in fashion magazines and in ePHOTOzine's gallery but just don't simply copy someone else's work, always put your own 'stamp' on it. You need to shoot quickly and have fresh batteries in the flashgun. Minimal messing around is a good idea too and show the model the effects you are getting as you go along. 

 

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Love it or loathe it, blurred water can look great in the right situation so it is always worth a try. For those who are new to the technique, here are 10 tips to get you started in turning even small cascades can look like raging torrents. 

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1. Time Of Day

Waterfalls are a favourite landscape subject and early morning or late afternoon on an overcast day is the perfect time to photograph them using this technique. Bright sun stops you using slow shutter speeds and the contrast can be horrendous. 

 

2. Camera Set-Up 

Switching to shutter-priority so you can control the length of the time the shutter is open for makes this technique easier so take a camera out you can do this with. DSLRs are an obvious choice but if you want to use a smaller bodied camera, take a look at a high-end compact or Micro Four Thirds System.

 

3. Use A Support

As you're using slow shutter speeds you need to use a tripod, self-timer or a remote cable release to ensure the camera stays completely still. Using the camera's mirror lock-up can also help with this, as it will avoid shutter shock. 

 

4. Find Your Filters

A polariser, as well as a neutral density filter, is handy for cutting down the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, thus allowing even slower shutter speeds. 

 

5. Slow Shutter Speed

The slower the speed you choose the more blur there will be. Try a speed of 1/8sec to 1/15sec but if this doesn't work, change the shutter speed and take the shot again.

 

6. Volume, Flow And Distance

There is no right or wrong speed for this as this changes depending on how much blur you want, the volume of water (large amounts need shorter shutter speeds), the speed of flow (slower flows need slower shutter speeds) and the distance between the camera and water (shorter the distance the faster the shutter speed needs to be).

 

7. Metering Tips

Take care when metering water as the large areas of light tones can fool the meter into underexposing, making the picture look dark. It's always worth bracketing, perhaps shooting at plus and minus one stop.

 

8. Take 2 Shots

Slow shutter speeds will add blur to anything that moves so if grass or plants surround the waterfall these could end up blurred too. To combat this, you can take two shots: one with a slow shutter speed to capture the waterfall and one with a faster shutter speed to capture the surroundings. You then combine both images later during post-production. 

 

9. How To Shoot

To create impact, fill the frame with the waterfall. Taking a low angle will also make the waterfall more dominating. Shooting straight on will allow you to capture water patterns. 

 

10. Away From Waterfalls

This same technique can be applied to wave imagery. You can create lava-style flows of water by choosing a slow shutter speed. Simply mount your camera on a tripod and choose an area where the water is crashing against rocks so the shape of it changes. 

 

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We rely heavily on pictures in our everyday life. Pictures can be used for remembering special moments, work, online accounts, social media, and for business purposes. Not every picture comes out perfect, though. Photos can be fuzzy, ruined with grain, dark, and older pictures can be dull. This is where an online photo enhancer comes in handy.

You don't have to deal with bulky software or have any experience in image editing to enhance image quality anymore. Modern web-based online photo enhancers use artificial intelligence to sharpen details, remove blurriness, enhance resolution, improve color, and more in just a few clicks.

Browser-based photo enhancer online tools ease the process as you don’t have to download or install any software. So, in this article, we will discover the six best online photo enhancers, their features and which one is best.

 

What Makes a Good Online Photo Enhancer?

 

A good online photo enhancer should increase an image’s quality while keeping it from looking artificial. It has to improve some features, tone down noise and fix blur all while keeping colours true. It should be simple enough for anyone without any photo editing experience to be able to use it, and it should be quick without complicated processes.

Photo enhancers should also ideally work in-browser, so there is no need to download anything. Users need to feel safe and that their photos will be treated in a secure manner. Users often love photo enhancer tools that are able to enhance different kinds of images, such as portraits, landscapes or vintage photos. It should be designed to enhance photos for both personal and professional use.

The photo enhancers should also be used in-browser so no downloads are needed. People should feel safe and be confident that their photos will be taken care of. A best photo enhancer should assist in enhancing a wide variety of photos, such as portrait photographs, landscape images, and old-photos. It should be designed to enhance photos for both personal and professional use.

 

6 Best Online Photo Enhancers Compared

 

If you want to enhance your photos, there are many options available online, but they do not all provide the same results. Below are some of the most popular options to compare.

 

1. HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer

HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is a tool that enhances images through AI. HitPaw can improve the image quality by unblurring it, removing image noise, sharpening details, and increasing image clarity up to 8k. After uploading an image, the AI enhances the photo in a matter of seconds. It also offers flexible and affordable pricing options, including weekly, monthly, and yearly plans to suit different needs and budgets.

 

 

Key Features 

• AI-powered image enhancement that improves clarity and sharpness
• Image upscaling up to 8K without pixelation
• One-click unblur and noise reduction
• AI retouching that keeps skin details natural
• AI restoration for old and damaged photos
• AI sharpener for clearer edges and fine details
• Support for JPG, PNG, and WebP image formats

 

2. Airbrush AI Image Enhancer

Airbrush is a web-based AI photo enhancer and upscaler that allows users to enhance photo quality with one simple click. Without the hassle of manual edits, Airbrush improves photo details, color, sharpness, and resolution. 

 

 

Key Features

• One-click AI image enhancement for clarity and sharpness
• Automatic color and contrast adjustment for more vibrant photos
• Noise and imperfection reduction for cleaner images
• AI image upscaling without quality loss
• Works well for prints, zoomed images, and large formats
• Supports online use plus desktop and mobile apps
• Simple upload, enhance, and download process

 

3. Picsart Photo Enhancer

Picsart Photo Enhancer is a photo quality enhancer online tool that improves the clarity and sharpness of your photos with a single click. It can remove blur and noise and enhance details and contrast with powerful AI technology. This tool is popular for the ease of use and the ability to download edited photos at no cost.

 

 

Key Features

• Trained for Blur, Noise and Low Contrast
• Boosted auto clarity and sharpened
• One click enhancement for no editing skill needed
• Save lower resolution photos for free
• Positive response from creators and companies

 

4. Remini Web

Remini Web is an online AI tool that lets users enhance photos quickly. Users can unblur, enhance, or sharpen any media file. This tool is best for users who want a fast, quality upgrade and do not wish to manually edit anything. Users just have to upload or drag and drop a photo to instantly enhance them in seconds.

 

 

Key Features 

• Enhance photos with 1-click AI enhancement 
• AI unblurring sharpens and unblurs images of poor quality 
• Enhance images for clear frame and higher resolution 
• Offers drag-and-drop upload 
• Minimal setup and fast processing via cloud 
• Great results on files that are old, low resolution, or compressed

 

5. Topaz Labs Image Enhancer

Topaz Labs is an online tool that enhances images naturally and with high quality. It has various AI-powered features based on deep learning algorithms to automatically improve clarity, sharpness, details and resolution of images, all in one simple click. This is an online web-based tool that allows you to get started immediately, being perfect for both casual users and professionals, with no downloads needed.

 

 

Key Features 

• One-click AI photo enhancement with realistic results
• High-resolution output for sharper and clearer images
• Multiple AI enhancement models for different photo needs
• Adjustable sharpening and denoising controls
• Restores details in old or low-resolution photos
• Improves logos, graphics, and product images
• Suitable for large prints, banners, and advertising visuals

 

6. Adobe AI Image Enhancer

Adobe Express is a photo enhancer online for enhancing photos. They use a blend of artificial intelligence and manual editing tools, offering a simple approach to image enhancement. You don't have to be a pro, and you can edit images right in your browser.

 

 

Key Features 

• Instant improvement of your photos using the AI based photo enhancement tool
• Intelligent AI based detection algorithm for background removal
• AI manipulation tools for addition, removal and alteration of objects in photos
• Built in sharpening tool for image defocusing
• No credit card just free sign up is required
• File formats supported: JPEG, JPG, PNG and WebP
• Available for online use as well as for mobile application

 

Comparing the Best Online Photo Enhancers

 

Feature / Tool HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer Airbrush Picsart Remini Web Topaz Labs Adobe Express AI Photo Enhancement Available Available Available Available Available Available Maximum Resolution Boost Up to 8K High (AI upscale) Moderate High High Moderate One-Click Enhancement Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Noise Reduction & Sharpening Advanced Standard Standard Strong Advanced Basic Fully Online Usage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Sign-Up Required for Basic Use No Optional Optional Required Optional Required Old / Blurry Photo Restoration Excellent Good Good Excellent Excellent Fair Extra Photo Tools Included Yes Limited Yes No No Yes Ease of Use for Beginners Very Easy Easy Easy Easy Moderate Easy

 

HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is the best choice among all of the tools discussed in this article, even though all of the tools can be used to improve photo quality. The tools differ in experience, functionalities, and design. 

Some tools are more focused on design, while others offer resolution or editing. With HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer, you get trusted AI image enhancement and resolution image tools, and flexible pricing plans that don’t require user registration. This significantly improves your experience. 

To clarify how each tool is different, we’ve created a table comparing all six tools, showing why HitPaw is the convenient photo enhancement option for day-to-day use.

 

FAQ’s   Can I enhance photos online without downloading software?

Yes, you can; the majority of online photo enhancers run directly in your browser, meaning you don’t have to install any software. You just have to upload your image, wait for the AI to do its part and download the end result. 

 

How do AI photo enhancers improve image quality?

AI image enhancers scan pictures for blur, noise, low resolution and loss of details. Instead of just enlarging photos, the AI fills in the gaps with missing information, sharpens up edges and equalizes colors. This improves sharpness and definition while preserving the natural textures of your images.

 

Can online photo enhancers improve very old or severely damaged photos?

Yes. Many AI-powered photo enhancers can restore old or damaged images by reducing scratches, fixing faded colors, removing noise, and reconstructing missing details. The final result depends on the condition of the original photo, but advanced AI tools generally deliver noticeably better restoration results.

 

Conclusion

Online AI image enhancement tools have made it quicker and easier to enhance photos while still giving the image editing a professional gaze. Among all of them, HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is a powerful and easy-to-use one that can give the user advanced AI technology without complex operations. This is ideal for folks that want high-quality photos without having to deal with photo editing.

 

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  Wondering what the point of using a tripod is when your arms do a great job of holding your camera? Here are our eight reasons why you should consider popping a tripod on your 'must-have' photography kit list. 

 

1. A Tripod Frees Your Hands

 

Using a tripod leaves you to have your hands free, making it easier to tweak and adjust your lens, camera settings and composition. You can also set the camera up and move away from its position which means you can capture shy animals or position your tripod where you may not want to stand such as in a pool of water that sits in front of a waterfall. 

 

2. Helpful For Panning

 

If you want to create a sense of speed when capturing action shots such as cars racing around a track or bikes speeding around a course you'll want your sharp subject to be sat against a blurred background. To do this you need to pan your camera, following the subject as they move through your frame and although you can do this hand-held, some photographers find it easier to use a tripod or monopod to help them capture the perfect pan. Monopods can move with the turn of your body while if you choose to use a tripod, a pan or ball head will make the task easier.

 

3. Create Different Angles

 

By using a tripod, you can get to new higher or lower angles that you wouldn't be able to reach as easily or comfortably if working hand-held. For example, macro and flower photography is easier if you have a tripod where the centre column can be moved from zero to 180-degree angles. You can then use your camera facing the ground or at 90-degrees if you're shooting into a flowerbed. Some tripods also have special low lever legs and macro arms that mean you can position the camera at almost ground level. 

 

4. You Can Do Time Lapse Photography

 

Time-lapse photography is all about capturing a sequence of shots a few seconds, minutes, hours or even days apart. These shots are then combined to form a series of images that can be played back as a short video. As any movement of the camera will cause your final piece to appear jaunty you'll need a support for your camera. Take a look at this tutorial for more tips: Time Lapse Photography

 

5. Play Around With Longer Exposures     

If you're planning on taking photos at sunset or in the evening you'll need to use slower shutter speeds so enough light can reach the sensor for the image to expose correctly. But working with slower speeds hand-held can mean shake will blur your shot. A tripod will help reduce this and keep your hands free to hold a cup of tea when you're using really long exposures to capture evening shots such as light trails!

Don't think you just need your tripod in the evening though as to turn the movement of waterfalls, rivers and waves into smooth, dry ice-like textures, you'll need slower shutter speeds. 

  6. Get Your Horizons Straight

 

Most tripods feature spirit levels which will show you if your tripod's straight and you can also buy spirit levels which can be clipped to your camera's hot shoe. Tripods also make it easier to adjust the position of your camera which in turn will move where the horizon sits in your shot. For more tips on why this is important, take a look at this article: Photographing Horizons

 

7. Capture Panoramas

 

Panoramas are created by stitching a series of shots together (either in-camera or during post-production) that you've captured by moving your camera from one side of the frame to the other, allowing for a little overlap between each frame. A tripod will keep your shots steady and level which means they'll be easier to stitch together if you're doing it manually. 

 

8. Shoot Self Portraits

 

Working with your arm outstretched so you can be in frame isn't practical and won't produce award-winning shots anytime soon. For this reason, it's important to have a support so you can frame up, ensuring your horizon is straight if out on location before you take your shot. The same goes for group shots at parties, weddings and other gatherings you attend where you want to be in the frame. It also means you can shoot self-portraits in the studio, leaving the camera framed-up on the spot you want to position yourself in once you've set the camera up. 

 

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Editing is as crucial as capturing a great shot. Removing distractions, adjusting elements, or enhancing visuals can be time-consuming. AI tools now assist photographers in handling repetitive post-processing tasks efficiently, while keeping creative control intact.

Platforms like Piclumen provide intelligent features for real-world editing needs. These tools do not replace artistic judgment but help streamline tedious processes, letting photographers focus on refining their vision.

 

 

AI Replace: Targeted Editing for Photographers

 

The AI replace function allows selective content replacement in images. Users can mark areas to modify — such as unwanted objects or backgrounds — and describe the desired replacement. The system blends new content naturally into the image. This reduces manual editing time while maintaining creative flexibility. Instead of painstaking pixel-level adjustments, photographers can quickly implement changes while keeping control over the final image.

 

Using AI Replace in Your Workflow

 

A simple workflow makes AI replace accessible:

1. Mark the area: Use the brush to select parts to edit.
2. Describe the change: Input a brief description of the replacement.
3. Generate and review: Evaluate the AI-generated result and fine-tune if necessary.

This process is ideal for photographers looking to save time on repetitive tasks, especially in client work or batch editing.

 

 

Solving Common Editing Pain Points

 

Unwanted subjects or distracting background elements are common in photography. AI replace can quickly remove these issues — for example, stray pedestrians in street photography or clutter in product shots — by replacing them with cleaner backgrounds or natural textures. This helps photographers focus on composition, lighting, and storytelling rather than repetitive pixel work.

 

Keeping Creative Control

 

AI replace is an assistive tool, not a replacement for the photographer’s skill. Creative decisions about composition, lighting, and visual narrative remain fully under the user’s control. By treating AI outputs as drafts or variations, photographers retain full creative freedom. 

 

Conclusion

 

AI replace offers a practical way to speed up post-processing while preserving creative control. Tools like Piclumen support photographers in reducing repetitive editing tasks, allowing more time to focus on the artistic aspects of photography, without ever replacing the human judgment at the core of image creation.