Photography & Lighting Tips for Better Photos
Photography tutorials on lighting, posing, composition, exposure, and gear, plus behind-the-scenes shoots and interviews, from a photographer who also does the editing. More than 80 free and PRO video tutorials from Aaron Nace on shooting photos that are better before you open Photoshop.
What You’ll Learn
The best edit starts in camera. These tutorials cover the shooting side of PHLEARN: how to expose, light, and compose so the RAW file gives you something worth editing, and how to plan a shot around the edit you have in mind.
- Exposure and camera control. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering, histograms, and shooting RAW, explained for people who want to stop shooting on auto.
- Light. Natural light, window light, reflectors, speedlights, and studio strobes, and how the light you choose changes the retouch later.
- Composition. The rule of thirds and when to break it, leading lines, negative space, color in composition, and framing for a crop.
- Posing and directing. Portraits, groups, couples, and athletes, with the small direction changes that fix most awkward photos.
- Shooting for the edit. Plates for compositing, bracketing, focus stacking, shooting backgrounds and textures, and product setups.
Where to Start
The Photography & Photo Editing Learning Path starts behind the camera with Photography 101 and follows each shoot into the edit. For the free lessons only, see Free Photography Tutorials, and for professional shoots with the full setup, Behind the Scenes.
Free and PRO Tutorials
Free tutorials are complete lessons, not previews. PRO tutorials go deeper and longer, and they include the sample images, RAW files, actions, and presets used in the lesson so you can follow along on the exact same file. A PHLEARN PRO membership unlocks every PRO tutorial on the site, including all of the ones in this category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need expensive gear to follow along?
No. Most tutorials use a single camera and natural light or one modifier, and the gear tutorials are about using what you have. Where a specific light or lens matters, the tutorial says so and explains the alternative.
Should I shoot RAW or JPEG?
RAW, if you plan to edit. It keeps far more highlight and shadow detail and lets you change white balance after the fact. Several tutorials here show exactly how much you gain in the edit.
How do I light a portrait with one light?
Put it close, put it large, and put it slightly above and to the side. The one-light tutorials in this category show the setup, the exposure, and the edit that follows.
Where to Go Next
Every shoot ends in an edit, so the natural next stops are Photo Editing and Retouching. For the PRO photography courses, including full lighting setups, see PRO Photography.
Start Behind the Camera
The Photography & Photo Editing Learning Path begins with Photography 101 and follows each shoot into the edit.
On This Page
PHLEARN PRO
Every PRO tutorial in this category, with sample and RAW files, plus the full PRO library.
In today’s episode, we show you how to do Focus Stacking in Photoshop. We also give you some pointers on how actually shoot the images you’d need in order for Focus Stacking to work.
Sample Images Included
In today’s episode, learn how to Light an Amazing Portrait with a low cost DIY Lighting Kit. Our kit is under $50!
Not only do we show you how to create a panorama in Photoshop, we also give you some expert tips on shooting those panoramic images David J. Crewe lends us his knowledge as we give you six amazing tips.
Plan on Tackling Panoramic Photos? Check out this gear first!
Wedding Photography is a very popular, lucrative, and incredibly challenging specialty in the Photo World. This is why it’s important that you have the gear that’ll let you do your job to the best of your abilities!
Join us in today’s episode as we discuss color theory, give you some inside tips and tricks, and put them to use in Photoshop!
Freezing Motion can be incredibly useful in photography because it will allow you to create images that the human eye cannot. By utilizing shutter speed, cameras can freeze a tiny moment in time perfectly.
We compiled a list of photography gear perfect for any traveler. The gear includes both professional and budget items. The budget gear will definitely get the job done, but it is good to know what the professionals use also.
We’ve been dabbling in the Time-lapse world here at Phlearn we decided to share with you some of our suggestions for gear & accessories based on what we’ve tried out, and their alternatives.
Come behind the scenes with Aaron Nace and the Phlearn team for our latest Pro Tutorial, “Liquid Portrait”. We discuss developing a concept, lighting, photographing splashes and much more!
In this Photography tutorial we focus on three key elements necessary to produce this image. You will learn about lighting, Styling and props and shooting for a Composite.
Take your Photoshop knowledge to a whole new level with this advanced tutorial. Learn how to create an entire world from scratch, incorporating more than 20 photos, computer generated wings and lighting effects all with perfect perspective.
Photoshop | Compositing | Advanced | 3.75 hours
25 Sample Images | 2 Photoshop Brushes
As photographers we are no strangers to the pursuit of style, for it is what clients truly value most when deciding who to hire for a given project.
Come behind the scenes with us on one of our fashion shoots! These shoots can be intense, especially when everyone is on a strict time crunch.
Join us behind the scenes as we cover what it took to create our “A Dark Force” composite.
Part 2: Here is a behind the scenes of our latest “High Fashion” pro tutorial. See how we lit these amazing images and learn how to do it yourself.
Part 1: Here is a behind the scenes of our latest “High Fashion” pro tutorial. See how we lit these amazing images and learn how to do it yourself.
Here are 10 Phlearn submitted questions answered by photographer and editor Rob Woodcox.
Warning please do not try this without the proper safety measures. After Rob Woodcox broke into the Phlearn studio, he literally lit it on fire! Not only did he bring the heat, he shared some great Insights on being a conceptual surreal artist.
Sometimes it’s just fun to make a mess. We had wanted to play with paint for a while, and came up with this concept to create shoes splashing and blending with paint.
In Part 3, we tag along Chicago Photographer Grant Legan as he takes some awesome portraits.
After our interview in Part 1, we go behind the scenes with Grant Legan during a photoshoot.
Grant Legan is a Chicago based photographer who works very closely with modeling agencies, testing new models and filling out their portfolio’s with a variety of looks.
The most basic rules of composition are rather simple but can be extremely difficult to master. Here are a few less orthodox compositional suggestion that might help you make the most of your next photoshoot.
Today we’re going to talk about just how awesome mirrorless cameras are and why you should probably be at least taking a look at them if you’re looking to get a new camera.
Aaron hops behind the camera to share a few tricks on using a wide aperture to eliminate distractions.
A 5-in-1 reflector can be extremely useful when taking pictures in natural Light.
Watch as we explain the lighting that went into the portrait below, just in time to beat the impending torrential downpour!
A gobo can be anything, as long as it’s placed in between a light source and your subject. This casts unique looking Shadows on your subject.
Yesterday we took you behind the scenes and showed you the lighting that went into this image. Today we’re going to clean it up in Photoshop and make the Colors really pop.
Join us behind the scenes of our Portrait Photoshoot. We wanted it to seem natural and embody the subjects life.