Five Things I Wish I’d Known as a Beginner Photographer

As photographers, we all reach a point where it’s not just about mastering the techniques but understanding when to apply them. One question I recently received is about when to use the different traditional portrait lighting setups. You’ve probably practiced broad lighting, short lighting, Rembrandt, butterfly, and split lighting—so when exactly should you use each…

In this Flash Photography for Portraits crash course (updated for 2025), I go over all the important things you’ll need to know to get started. The course will teach you about flash photography for portraits. Learn about different flash gear options (speedlites and strobes), flash synchronization, lighting modifiers, how to take advantage of TTL and…

How to use a strip softbox in four different scenarios. Including as a Key Light, Background Light, Rim/Kicker, and Bodyscape (figures) Light.

Beginner portrait photographers often freeze when the photo shoot is supposed to begin. If you get stuck wondering where to start with your lighting setup, here are a few things to keep in mind. And remember, we always want to start with the key light in a common sense placement.

If you have ever been curious about artistic photography that features the human form, this video walks through how to get started in a thoughtful, realistic way. Not from the perspective of someone who already feels completely confident, but from the place most photographers begin: interested, uncertain, and trying to understand what the work actually…

Let’s quickly go over some photography terminology. This is helpful if you’re a beginner who’d like to know what the following terms mean: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, TTL, High-Speed Sync, Focal Length, and Field of View.