Lighting How To

It may still be a bit cool for a swim at the beach, but that doesn’t mean it's too early in the season for a sensuous boudoir shoot on a nice day. And that's what you'll learn how to do in this behind-the-scenes tutorial from acclaimed expert Michael Sasser.

Nailing exposure can be be difficult once the the sun drops below the horizon, and one of the biggest challenges is controlling highlights for proper tonal balance throughout a low-light scene. This quick tutorial from the My Photo Journey YouTube channel describes the necessary in-camera adjustments in barely nine minutes.

Boudoir imagery is a unique subset of portraiture that's growing in popularity as more and more photographers learn how easy it is to pursue with the equipment they already own in the comfort of their home. There's no need for a decked-out studio or complex-and-expensive lighting gear if you understand how to take advantage of natural illumination streaming through a window.

Smartphone camera technology has advanced to the point that it's now long past time to stop looking down on photographers who pursue our craft with a mobile device in their hand. After all, with four billion smartphones capturing 73% of all images, it's time to embrace the power of your Apple or Android phone, and that’s the topic of today's tutorial from the My Photo Journey YouTube channel.

Most beginning photographers are taught to shoot will the sun at their back and avoid composing scenes with the sun behind their subject. While that technique is super easy, it often results in photos that could best be described as snapshots.

Many of us have busy schedules with jobs and other obligations that prevent from us being out in the field in early morning and late afternoon when Golden-Hour bathes the landscape with soft, beautiful tones. This means shooting in the middle of the day when high contrast and harsh illumination pose a difficult challenge.

Instructor Andy Parkinson is a National Geographic photographer and Nikon Ambassador who has traveled the world to capture stunning imagery under just about every lightning condition imaginable. He's also very generous about sharing the secrets to his amazing work that have earned him over 130 domestic and international awards.