Photo How To

So you have a bit extra cash to spend on photo gear, and you’re about to go shopping. Before you do we want to remind you of something we’ve stressed in the past; namely, it often makes far more sense to upgrade your optics than it does to invest in a new camera.

Lightroom is loaded with tools and special features, some of which change or are added every time there’s an update. So you’ll be excused for not taking advantage of everything this software has to offer.

Everyone has bad habits and gets lazy at times, and unless we’re careful this applies to our photography too. Fortunately, one of our favorite photo instructors provides a helpful list of mistakes to avoid in the quick video below.

Even the best photographers make mistakes on occasion, and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you correct the errors and make different one’s next time. The quick video below identifies five common mistakes, and explains how to fix them with ease.

Selecting the appropriate shutter speed for a given scene is important for most types of photography if you want the best possible results. This decision is important with landscapes and wildlife shots—particularly when shooting hand-held, for scenes with motion, and while using long lenses.

It’s not often that one has an opportunity to glean wisdom from six of the world’s top photographers, but that’s exactly what you’ll find in the eye-opening video below. In just six minutes, you’ll pick up 13 composition tips that will definitely improve your photography.

Cropping is a simple and effective way to fix poorly composed images, turn a horizontal shot into a vertical one, or get rid of distracting elements. And if you’re caught out in the field without a telephoto lens, cropping is an effective way to get in tight on a distant subject—especially if you’re using a hi-res camera.