Looking for ideas to improve the quality of your photographs?  Looking for some great ideas to improve your photography skills?  Our collection of photo tips may be just the answer for you.  Browse through the different topics below to find helpful tips for making your images picture perfect! If you have photo tips you'd like to share with us, please submit them along with your name and contact infromation.

The average 35mm or medium format negative will almost always have a higher resolution than your new digital camera. It’s just a fact. So why bother worrying when you can embrace this fact with the Holga line of cameras...

If you enjoy outdoor and nature photography, you already know that the great shots are not taken from the scenic overlooks. To get the best images, you frequently have to hike down trails, climb steep hillsides, traipse over rocks...

In the world of professional portrait photography there have always been discussions about ratios. The highlight to shadow ratio that often defines the look of dimension, shape, form, and even texture in a photograph. Everyone I know has...

Why should I calibrate my monitor? This will probably be your most common question and definitely your most important answer. First off, everyone needs monitor calibration. Your customer can own an $8000 EIZO monitor...

We could not stress more the importance of a tripod when you use telephoto lenses. The basic rule of thumb is the shutter speed on the camera should be set to one over the focal length of the lens for any hope at a sharp shot. In other words...

Focus is key. Most cameras today are “auto-focus” but that doesn‛t necessarily mean you can just point and shoot. If your camera has just one focus point aim it at the subject you want in focus, depress the button enough for the camera...

I frequently lead workshops in several unique locations across the county. Some of these destinations have a tendency to overwhelm the photographers who are experiencing the landscapes for the first time. From intimidating shelf roads...

I can’t wait for December when it’s once again time to meet so many lovely children! I really enjoy listening to them tell me what they’d like to get for a Christmas present. The Moms and Dads always seem to want to get a special photo of me with their kiddos, but alas, sometimes it doesn’t work out as planned...

These photo lessons show how to improve a shot, step-by-step, with plain text and images that can be enlarged with the click of the mouse. Both set up shots and results shots are shown so that you can see how we took our photos. Lessons cover topics of interest for the photo enthusiast and the seasoned professional.

There is a pleasing and more creative alternative to taking your photographs in the automatic or program mode, and that is to use the Aperture Priority mode. This mode is basically a semi-automatic mode that allows you to manually...

Here are a few of my tips for achieving your best fall photos. Time of Day: You’ve heard this before, but the time of day and the direction of the sunlight are both critical components in the success or failure of your photographs...

Photographing outdoors in the abnormal environment has become the latest trend in wedding and portrait photography. We have always taken our clients to the gardens and parks in town, but now more than ever we...

In the mid 1990’s, Canon USA began assembling a group of the most influential photographers in the world. Today this prestigious program includes a total of 78 leading photographers who are willing to provide inspiration and education...

What is the biggest advantage of shooting wildlife and scenic images over your client images? The answer is repeated sales of the same image. Has anyone ever sold a portrait of one family to another non-related family? I have been fortunate...

I think every pet owner likes to take photographs of their pet. With the advent of good, affordable digital cameras, taking good pictures of your pet is now within most everyone’s reach. While my tips are more oriented to photographing...

You and I and millions of others take pictures with digital cameras. To do so we depend on light of some kind or other, and yet so many of us do not understand the nature, function or correct use of light to produce an effective...

There are so many situations in photography where you never get a second chance to capture memories of the treasured moments in your life. We’d like to offer you some troubleshooting advice in a question and answer format that...

On occasion we end up with a photograph that was accidentally taken in a crooked manner. (Example 1) A quick trip to Adobe Photoshop can help you out! By learning how to use the “measuring tool” you will quickly become a master at...

Please let me begin by saying that if you do not use a software program to alter your images before they are printed then you need not worry about resizing them at all. Simply allow your lab to size the images for you. For 4x6 images it’s...

If you are magically lured to fields of wildflowers in hopes of capturing that perfect image that will amaze yourself or your family and friends, then read on. We’re going to explore the differences between using a D-SLR camera versus a compact...

Instead of spending an endless amount of time at your computer attaching many separate image files for e-mailing or ftp transfer; let’s explore a much faster method using a zip program. A zip program will allow you to literally “zip up” multiple...

Why use glass filters in the age of digital photography and Photoshop? There are numerous reasons, including saving your precious time and preserving the detail in your photographs...

With digital photographic equipment, the temptation is always to seek out the biggest, baddest, fastest, coolest tool on the market. Bigger cards are certainly more expensive which is often how we measure value and quality! For those...

One of our customer's most commonly asked questions during the Holidays is, "what do I need to do to take great photos of Christmas lights?" Barry Baker, UTA Photography Instructor, and one of our own staff member, addresses several...

Fall is a favorite time to venture into the great outdoors with your camera in hand. In many parts of the country the landscape is often filled with brilliant yellow, blazing orange and fiery red. In Texas, we have a relatively short season of autumn leaf color, so we must be resourceful and seek out the beautiful shades of fall...

Step One: Where you go, your camera goes. If you are comfortable, your camera is probably comfortable. This means to avoid leaving it in the car. In the Texas summer heat, the lubricants present in any mechanical part of your equipment...

Step One: Set the ISO setting at either 100 or 200 do not use a higher setting than this. If you do use a higher ISO such as 400 or 800 it will not benefit the image, the fireworks are very bright and do not need a higher ISO setting. The use of a...