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5 ways to find inspiration when the weather is sad and grey

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I was browsing the subreddit for photography recently, and one particular question from a new photographer caught my eye. It was worded in an amusing way (presumably because English wasn’t their first language). However, it was a very valid question and one that I feel merits some discussion.

“I had a lot of fun learning how to take pictures in sharp sunlight, golden hour and in general playing with light,” the Redditor says, “how to take good pictures when there’s no light and only sadness?” Indeed. How do you take good photos when there is “only sadness”? Well, luckily, I can think of a lot, and maybe this will help get someone out of a rut.

Photographer captures stunning underwater portraits at 100ft, breaks Guinness world record again

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After breaking the Guinness World Record for the deepest underwater portrait shoot, photographer Steve Haining has done it again. Not only has he outdone himself, but he’s done it five times better. From the initial 21 feet, Steve set the new record by doing a portrait shoot at 100ft (30m). And it all started as a joke.

“It’s truly an incredible feeling when you can show someone how beautiful they are”

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Award-winning photographer Bella Kotak is best known for her ethereal fine art portraits and also for her love of flowers and pomeranian dogs. Her images almost drip with finely graded colour and detail. Bella’s unique style of visual storytelling has helped her become one of the top photographers of this genre.

Bella was kind enough to sit down with DIYP for a chat to find out what goes on behind the scenes of one of her shoots. She tells us how she approaches the creative process, and we discover more about her newest venture.

Create this triadic colour portrait with this Rotolight LED lighting set-up

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With Rotolight announcing their latest powerhouse LED light, the Anova Pro 3 (check it out here), they asked me to share some of my lighting setups and techniques that showcase what this new light can do.

As anybody who has taken even the most cursory of glances at my portfolio will know, I love colour, and what originally drew me to Rotolight was exactly that, a LOT of colour! I’ve spent a very long time using coloured gels on my strobes, and although I’ve been collecting gels for well over a decade, I’m still a long way off collecting the 16+ million colours that Rotolight has packed in every light!

How a single photo turned a little girl’s life around

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Photography has made our lives better in so many ways. But perhaps you’ve wondered how you can take photos for the greater good. Maybe you asked yourself if you could change someone’s life with your photography. It may sound a little pretentious, but it doesn’t have to be. And today, I want to give you a proof.

I’ll tell you a story about a photographer who changed someone’s life for the better with just one photo. His name is Đorđe Đoković, and he comes from Valjevo, Serbia. He kindly shared the truly incredible story behind his photo that will make everyone tear up. First, you’ll cry out of sadness but then out of joy.

How to smile naturally and look great in photos

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If you’re a portrait photographer, knowing how to make your models smile naturally is helpful. And when you are the person in front of the lens, you’ll see how difficult it is to make your smile look unforced. Whether you show your teeth or try to get that Mona Lisa smile, it’s hard not to look awkward unless you’re a professional model.

In this video, Mathieu Stern shares seven tips to help models smile naturally, and we’ll expand on them a bit. So, no matter if you’re doing a photoshoot, taking a self-portrait, or just snapping a selfie (yes, there’s a difference), these tips will help you get those genuine smiles.

How to improve your photography branding in just a few hours

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When it comes to running a successful photography business, many photographers focus on capturing stunning images but often overlook the power of branding. Branding isn’t just about a logo and a font; it’s about creating a unique identity and a strong connection with your target audience.

In this excellent video, LA-based boudoir photographer Michael Sasser walks you through a few questions that you need to be able to answer to get your photography business on the right track.

This gif explains how changing focal length impacts a portrait

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One of the “fun facts” I remember from my photography classes was that “wide-angle lenses are not for portraits”. Of course, you can always experiment and photograph people with wider focal lengths, but the truth is – it does make them seem a bit weird in the photos. This fun gif shows precisely how the change of focal length affects the face of a person you’re photographing.

Bride excludes brother-in-law from photos ‘just in case’ of split

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A bride wanted to exclude her sister’s husband from her formal wedding photos due to concerns about a potential future separation. The matter came to light when a Reddit user sought advice on the AITA subreddit regarding her sister’s strange request.

The woman states that there have been no previous issues with her husband, and was confused about how to handle this.

Which lens is better for location portraits: Wide angle or telephoto?

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Do you ever struggle to know what gear to pack for a shoot? If you’re like me, you probably over-pack ‘just in case,’ and then in the end, you just use one or two lenses for the whole session.

If you can understand better what you can achieve with each lens, you might be able to plan ahead better and then pack accordingly. In this video from Adorama, Gavin Hoey takes us on a fascinating exploration of how varying focal lengths can transform a single location shoot into two distinct photography sessions.

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