Fstoppers

The Nikon NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7 lens hits that sweet spot between casual shooting and serious close-up work, so you are not constantly swapping lenses just to cover everyday scenes and detail shots. Here's a look at what you can expect.

[ Read More ]

If you spend time on wildlife, distant sports, or compressed landscapes, this new Panasonic telephoto finally gives the L-mount system a native option that reaches deep without feeling like a boat anchor.

[ Read More ]

A brand just slid into your DMs. They love that photo you posted last week and want to use it on their Instagram. What do you charge? If your first instinct is to panic, calculate your hourly rate, or worse, just send them the file for free because "exposure is good," then you need to read this article. Right now.

[ Read More ]

When you’re just dipping your toes into video, the last thing you want is gear that holds you back or drains your wallet. I needed a monitor that was powerful enough to handle bright outdoor shoots but still stayed firmly in the affordable range (since professional video isn't my main gig). That’s why the Viltrox DC-A1, a 7-inch on-camera unit, caught my eye. At $278 with a truly stacked accessory kit, it looked like a steal. But does this budget-friendly monitor live up to the hype?

[ Read More ]

Choosing a tripod can be agonizing. The good news? You don’t need to empty your wallet to get one. As a night photographer, I'll reveal four great tripods for photography that nail the sweet spot for stability, functionality, weight—and yes, price. After all, if a tripod can survive a night photographer’s abuse, it’ll be more than good enough for you.

[ Read More ]

Edits rise or fall on how much color data remains when shadows are lifted or highlights are controlled, and 16-bit files preserve far more of that information. The difference shows up in smoother gradients, cleaner transitions, and a wider range of tones that stay stable under heavy adjustments.

[ Read More ]

Tilt shift on an ultra wide 17mm lens can either make your buildings look natural and solid or turn them into distorted shapes that feel wrong. When you shoot architecture, interiors, or tight city streets, understanding exactly how that movement works at this focal length decides whether your images look intentional or like corrections gone too far.

[ Read More ]

Fast 85mm primes are where a lot of the magic happens on modern mirrorless bodies. If you shoot people, street, or compressed landscapes on Nikon Z or Sony E, a small, affordable 85mm can change how often you leave the zooms at home.

[ Read More ]

Inspiration and influence—these are things I’ve been thinking about lately. Why? Because it’s clear to me that so many new photographers are getting their influence from other photographers on social media. This isn’t always a good thing.

[ Read More ]

Small APS-C bodies can look like side projects compared to the flagship full frame cameras, yet they often end up being the workhorses that leave the house most. If you care about staying nimble as a photographer, hearing how the Nikon Z50 II mirrorless camera has actually behaved over a year of real shooting is a faster way to judge it than reading specs in isolation.

[ Read More ]

You have a beautiful website. You've spent countless hours perfecting it, choosing just the right template, uploading your best work, and crafting what you think is compelling copy. You're getting traffic. People are visiting. But your inbox? It's either a ghost town or it's full of tire kickers asking "how much?" before disappearing forever. Meanwhile, you watch other photographers in your area, photographers whose work isn't necessarily better than yours, booking client after client. What are they doing that you're not?

[ Read More ]

Lomography recently announced its newest camera, the Lomo MC-A, and it raised a bit of a ruckus. It’s an entirely new point-and-shoot camera with some fascinating features and promising ideas. On Friday, I got the chance to handle one of the prototypes at the Lomography office in DUMBO (“Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” for non-New Yorkers), and I have to say, I really liked what I saw.

[ Read More ]

An 85mm prime is still the classic way to get flattering portraits on a full frame body, and the latest option from Viltrox tries to give you that look without the usual bulk or price. If you want a compact lens that still feels serious in the hand, this release deserves your attention.

[ Read More ]

The Leica M10 Monochrom locks you into black and white the moment you turn it on, with no safety net of color files to fall back on. That single constraint forces you to look harder at light, contrast, and shape instead of thinking about what preset you will use later.

[ Read More ]

Turning a paid shoot from guesswork into a clear, repeatable process is what actually makes you look professional to clients. If you want to stop winging every session and start leading shoots with calm confidence, this video walks through a planning workflow that keeps every step under control.

[ Read More ]

If you're tired of the endless hamster wheel of Instagram reels, TikTok trends, and algorithm changes that seem designed to make you fail, you're not alone. Social media has become an exhausting game that burns through time without delivering consistent bookings. The truth is, while social platforms can be useful tools, they should never be the foundation of your business. The most successful photographers I know have built their client base on three timeless pillars that actually work: local SEO, vendor relationships, and strategic community presence.

[ Read More ]

Let’s cut the fluff! If you’re relying solely on social media trends, aesthetic reels, or gifting your clients cupcakes to stay top-of-mind, you’re missing the long game. In an industry drowning in performative marketing, the most powerful and most slept-on strategy is simple: ethics.

[ Read More ]

As photographers, we have all felt that creeping anxiety when leaving a car full of equipment that’s often worth more than the car itself. Whether it’s a quick stop on the way to a location shoot or leaving our gear in the car parked overnight, the thought of something happening to it is always at the back of our minds. This is where a reliable dash cam with parking monitoring can add an extra layer of peace of mind.

[ Read More ]

Choosing between Canon’s newer R bodies is not a spec-sheet game. It changes how you shoot wildlife, action, and low light work day to day. The way the EOS R5, R5 Mark II, R6 Mark II, and R6 Mark III handle speed, autofocus, and files can either lift your keeper rate or quietly hold you back when things move fast.

[ Read More ]

Landscape photography punishes lazy habits and vague plans. If you want images that stand out among other photographers instead of blending into the scroll, you have to confront some blunt lessons about light, gear, and how much effort you are actually putting in.

[ Read More ]