Articles By Topic

Six year old Jess in red coat poses with Halloween pumpkin

How Jess Became Red Riding Hood | Halloween Portrait Photography Ideas

Some of the best halloween portrait photography ideas aren't planned at all. They just happen when the right person walks ...
Woman with curly hair surrounded by dramatic smoke effect portrait studio

Using The PMI Smoke Ninja Dry Ice Nozzle For Portraits

I love the dry ice nozzle for the PMI Smoke Ninja. What it does, essentially, is cool the smoke as ...
Dramatic black and white single light portrait setup with moody side lighting

Five Portrait Looks with One Light

Want to know how many lights I typically use? Well, that's simple: just one. It's always been that way, as ...
Woman with long hair posing on stool in natural movement portrait photography

Photographing Natural Movement – Play With Hair

Photographing Natural Movement As a portrait photographer, I'm always looking for moments that look great but are also really natural ...
Black and white portrait of a sleepy Cocker Spaniel puppy with eyes closed

Backstory: Sleepy Pup

Let me tell you about this picture of Bond, who at the time I photographed him was one of the ...
10,000 Hours of Practice

10,000 Hours of Practice

You've all heard the quote that 10,000 hours of practice is what's needed to become good at something. Well, there ...
Teenage boy seated on wooden stool, dramatic studio portrait with dark background

The Softbox Is Just A Window (How to make lighting easy!)

When I first started learning photography, particularly studio photography, I found the way people taught it really tricky. It was ...
Young male model portrait with dramatic lighting against dark grey background

Angle Of The Light Part 1

When we talk about lighting patterns, it can feel like there's a myriad of variables at play. And of course, ...
Young woman with a soft expression, wearing an off-shoulder top against a light background.

Combining Broad and Narrow Lighting

A quick thought here, because we're photographing Abby in a fairly tight frame and not really thinking about moving her ...
Kinga posing in fairy light portrait photography with colorful spiral lights

Fairy Light Photography

If you're looking for something festive at this time of year, here's a lovely idea to try. Take a string ...
A portrait of a woman with long hair, featuring clamshell lighting setup.

Clamshell Lighting Setup For Portraits

A few people have asked about the next steps for setting up clamshell lighting. This technique involves using two lights ...
Memory Card Management: Don't Lose Those Precious Images!

Memory Card Management: Don’t Lose Those Precious Images!

One aspect that often gets overlooked in photography is the significance of memory cards. Every photograph you capture is stored ...
Young woman wearing glasses with visible lens reflections against dark background

Eliminating Reflections In Glasses

I am often asked about eliminating reflections in glasses during a shoot. The good news is that modern anti-reflective coatings ...
Rembrandt Lighting For Portrait Photographers

Rembrandt Lighting For Portrait Photographers

Many photographers discuss Rembrandt lighting, its applications, and techniques. Let's explore where you might use this lighting style. Typically, Rembrandt ...
Model in black outfit poses against a bright pink background.

Reliable Method For Off-Camera Flash

The studio was lit bright pink the day we filmed this, because sometimes you need to make a sensible educational ...
How to make a scene look cold

How to make a scene look cold

We often associate cold with blue tones, right? So here’s a little trick I use to make a scene feel ...
Video: Master Studio Dog Portraits

Video: Master Studio Dog Portraits

Join me as we explore a simple yet effective one-light studio headshot setup, mastering shallow depth of field and subtle ...
Video | Photographing Siblings: Chaos, Chemistry & Connection

Video | Photographing Siblings: Chaos, Chemistry & Connection

Unleash your creativity with five practical, client-friendly ideas for photographing dogs that capture character, storytelling, and genuine moments ...
Video | Location Portrait Photography: Mastering Natural Light on Oxford’s Streets

Video | Location Portrait Photography: Mastering Natural Light on Oxford’s Streets

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve rocked up to a jaw-dropping spot—batteries brimming, creativity running on fumes—and my client’s ...
Video | Eight Lighting Patterns For Portraits Every Photographer Should Know

Video | Eight Lighting Patterns For Portraits Every Photographer Should Know

Learn how to master eight essential portrait lighting patterns – including Rembrandt, Split, Loop, and Clamshell – to create professional, ...
Woman holding sword surrounded by dramatic blue smoke cloud in studio

Video | How I Use Smoke for Drama, Depth, and a Bit of Magic

Discover how I use smoke in my portraits to add drama, depth, and a bit of magic. This article shares ...
Before and after portrait showing Photoshop skin colour correction on blonde woman

Photoshop Quickies: How To Remove Any Skin Colouration (Quickly!)

Quick and trusty Photoshop tips to zap away pesky skin colouration without losing natural texture or personality ...
Professional portrait setup created in a workplace environment using studio lighting

Video | Transform Any Workplace Into A Pro Portrait Studio

Discover how to transform any everyday workplace into a professional portrait studio using smart lighting, simple gear, and a creative ...
Video | Five Ideas For Photographing Dogs

Video | Five Ideas For Photographing Dogs

Unleash your creativity with five practical, client-friendly ideas for photographing dogs that capture character, storytelling, and genuine moments ...
Black and white portrait of young woman leaning against stone wall using off-camera flash

Video | Five Ideas For Off-Camera Flash

Five creative ways to use off-camera flash to transform your location portraits — with practical tips, lighting setups, and real-world ...
Video: Five Ideas For High-Key And Low-Key Studio Portraits

Video: Five Ideas For High-Key And Low-Key Studio Portraits

Explore five practical and stylish lighting ideas for high-key and low-key studio portraits, packed with tips to shape light and ...
Video | Five Ideas For Portraits In Harsh Sunlight

Video | Five Ideas For Portraits In Harsh Sunlight

Struggling with harsh sunlight in your portraits? Dive into five practical, creative ideas for working with strong available light that ...
Young woman laughing in black crop top and denim mini skirt

Video | How To Structure A Portrait Shoot

Discover how to structure a portrait shoot effectively with this insightful video guide that breaks down preparation, client connection, and ...
Monochrome studio portrait of bearded man with arms crossed against black background

Rob | Monochrome Studio Portrait

Dive into a beautifully moody monochrome studio portrait of Rob, where lighting meets emotion. Discover how simple light positioning sculpts ...
Video: Mastering Portrait Photography Workshop on Location, Oxford, UK, 2024

Video: Mastering Portrait Photography Workshop on Location, Oxford, UK, 2024

Join me on location in Oxford for a deep dive into mastering portrait photography — capturing real moments, playing with ...
Video: Mastering Location Portraits In Oxford, UK

Video: Mastering Location Portraits In Oxford, UK

Join me on a breezy day in Oxford exploring how natural light and location combine to bring out authentic portraits ...
Photoshop: Creating An Action To Remove Flyaway Hairs

Photoshop: Creating An Action To Remove Flyaway Hairs

Learn how to create a custom Photoshop action that swiftly removes flyaway hairs, streamlining your retouch workflow while preserving natural ...
Removing skin redness from a portrait photo using Photoshop

Photoshop Quickies: How To Remove Skin Redness In Photoshop (Easily!)

Learn a quick, straightforward Photoshop trick to remove skin redness without losing natural texture—perfect for subtle yet effective portrait retouching ...
Realistic Eye Reshaping Using Masks, Smart Objects And Liquify

Realistic Eye Reshaping Using Masks, Smart Objects And Liquify

Discover how to reshape eyes realistically in post-production using masks, smart objects, and Photoshop’s liquify tool without losing natural skin ...
Video: Creating Stunning Portraits With Rotolight AEOS and NEO2

Video: Creating Stunning Portraits With Rotolight AEOS and NEO2

Discover how the innovative Rotolight AEOS and NEO 2 lights can transform your portrait photography with creative lighting techniques that ...
Photoshop: Getting The Best Out Of Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Photoshop: Getting The Best Out Of Nik Silver Efex Pro 2

Discover how to unlock the full potential of Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 in Photoshop to create timeless, detailed black-and-white ...
Video: Photographing Siblings

Video: Photographing Siblings

Capturing the unique bonds between siblings can be both challenging and rewarding. Dive into this video guide as I unpack ...
Video: Studio Lighting For Available-Light Photographers

Video: Studio Lighting For Available-Light Photographers

Discover how to bring a studio vibe to your available light portrait sessions with simple video lighting techniques and clever ...
Walkthrough: How To Use The Photoshop Mockups

Walkthrough: How To Use The Photoshop Mockups

Discover how to streamline your Photoshop workflow using Room Sets for efficient, client-focused portrait edits without drowning in layers and ...
Photoshop Shorts: How To Add Textured Backgrounds

Photoshop Shorts: How To Add Textured Backgrounds

Discover how to add textured backgrounds in Photoshop to elevate your portraits with subtle depth and mood, perfect for photographers ...
Photoshop Shorts: 3 Simple Ways To Enhance Eyes In Photoshop

Photoshop Shorts: 3 Simple Ways To Enhance Eyes In Photoshop

Discover three quick and effective ways to enhance eyes in Photoshop, helping your portraits sing without that over-processed look ...
Video: BJJ Fighters - Pose, Shoot, Photoshop

Video: BJJ Fighters – Pose, Shoot, Photoshop

A candid, practical dive into photographing BJJ fighters – capturing strength, personality, and movement through confident posing and creative decisions ...
Walkthrough: Black Dog, Black Background

Walkthrough: Black Dog, Black Background

A practical, no-nonsense walkthrough on how to reveal detail and create separation in images of black dogs against black backgrounds, ...
Photoshop Shorts: Create A Reflection That Can Be Adjusted

Photoshop Shorts: Create A Reflection That Can Be Adjusted

Learn a quick and effective Photoshop technique to create and adjust beautiful reflections in your portraits, adding depth and creative ...
Photoshop Shorts: How To Create An Action

Photoshop Shorts: How To Create An Action

Learn how to create a Photoshop Action to speed up your portrait post-production with this simple, no-nonsense guide—keeping your skin ...
Video: Beautiful dog portraits with natural and studio light

Video: Beautiful dog portraits with natural and studio light

Discover how to create beautiful dog portraits by blending natural and studio light, with practical tips on lighting setups, focusing, ...
Video | Beautiful Outdoor Christmas Portraits

Video | Beautiful Outdoor Christmas Portraits

Discover how to create stunning outdoor Christmas portraits using natural and subtle creative lighting, all captured in a charming Devon ...
Video: Photographing Children With Their Favourite Props

Video: Photographing Children With Their Favourite Props

Discover how to capture children authentically using their favourite props, with tips on connection, natural posing, and intuitive lighting from ...
Video: Using photo walks to add variety to a shoot

Video: Using photo walks to add variety to a shoot

Discover how incorporating photo walks into your portrait sessions can energise your creativity, add storytelling layers, and bring fresh lighting ...
Walkthrough: Creating High Key Images Of White Dogs

Walkthrough: Creating High Key Images Of White Dogs

In response to a question on the Forum, this walkthrough covers a method for creating high key images of white ...
Walkthrough: Fast Method For Retouching A White Background

Walkthrough: Fast Method For Retouching A White Background

In this video, I talk through how to clean up a white background. The image in question is of two ...
Video: Headshots with whatever you’ve got (studio flash / speedlights / windowlight)

Video: Headshots with whatever you’ve got (studio flash / speedlights / windowlight)

Discover how to nail headshots using whatever light source you have—studio flash, speedlights, or good old window light—with practical tips ...
Video: How to shoot a dark and moody portrait in the middle of the day

Video: How to shoot a dark and moody portrait in the middle of the day

Discover how to create dark, moody portraits in broad daylight using natural light and minimal gear—bringing drama and depth to ...
Video: Indoor portrait using a picture frame reflection and video light

Video: Indoor portrait using a picture frame reflection and video light

Discover a playful and inventive indoor portrait technique using a picture frame reflection combined with a video light to craft ...
Megan | Soft Light And Reflections In A Window

Megan | Soft Light And Reflections In A Window

Discover how soft window light and subtle reflections can enhance the intimacy and mood of your portraits, with tips on ...
Video: Spring-themed garden portrait of three-year-old Amelie

Video: Spring-themed garden portrait of three-year-old Amelie

Join me in this sunny spring garden portrait session with three-year-old Amelie, where natural light meets playful posing and gentle ...
Nikki | Laughter, Lighting And Artificial Rain

Nikki | Laughter, Lighting And Artificial Rain

Dive into creating atmosphere with artificial rain and masterfully shaped lighting in this Nikki portrait session, showing how mood and ...
Video | Using Off-Camera Flash To Make The Rain Drops Sparkle

Video | Using Off-Camera Flash To Make The Rain Drops Sparkle

Discover how to use off-camera flash to make rain droplets sparkle in your portraits, turning a dreary downpour into a ...
Video: Using location lighting through a window for a reflective portrait

Video: Using location lighting through a window for a reflective portrait

Discover how to harness location lighting through a window for atmospheric, reflective portraits with a minimalist setup that feels alive ...
Video: Capturing skate park rider silhouettes during sunset

Video: Capturing skate park rider silhouettes during sunset

Join me at a Devon skate park as we explore capturing moody silhouette portraits of a rider during sunset, using ...
Video: Indoor portrait of Megan with a tabletop reflection

Video: Indoor portrait of Megan with a tabletop reflection

Join me in the studio as I explore a reflective tabletop technique to add depth and drama to an indoor ...
Video | Simple Portraits Using Window Light

Video | Simple Portraits Using Window Light

Join me as I share a simple, pure approach to indoor portraits using nothing but the lovely window light on ...
Video: A simple spring-themed portrait of Nikki in the studio garden

Video: A simple spring-themed portrait of Nikki in the studio garden

Join me for a charming session with Nikki in the studio garden, exploring subtle spring-inspired portrait lighting and natural interaction ...
Video: Nikki | Easy natural light garden portrait

Video: Nikki | Easy natural light garden portrait

Join me in the garden with Nikki as we explore easy, natural light portraiture — no fancy meters, just a ...
Alice | Outdoor Portrait In A Pool Of Sunlight

Alice | Outdoor Portrait In A Pool Of Sunlight

A dive into working with direct sunlight outdoors, capturing natural textures and using shade creatively for flattering portraits ...
Video: Tutu Tutorial With A Beautiful Ballerina

Video: Tutu Tutorial With A Beautiful Ballerina

Step inside a lively portrait session with a stunning ballerina, where intuitive natural light meets client-focused posing in a dreamy ...
Video: Fine-tuning your subject's position in a tunnel of topshade

Video: Fine-tuning your subject’s position in a tunnel of topshade

Learn how subtle shifts in your subject’s position within a tunnel of top shade can transform your portraits, refining light, ...
Video: Creating a sense of motion

Video: Creating a sense of motion

Explore how to bring dynamic energy into your portraits by creating a sense of motion through simple camera and subject ...
Video: Striking teenager portraits on the street

Video: Striking teenager portraits on the street

Discover how to capture striking, honest teenager portraits on the street using natural light and intuitive posing in this behind-the-scenes ...
Video | Seven Daylight Portraits In Ten Minutes

Video | Seven Daylight Portraits In Ten Minutes

Join me for seven quick daylight portraits crafted in just ten minutes, using only available light and instinctive shaping to ...
Video: Photographing A Couple Outdoors

Video: Photographing A Couple Outdoors

Join me on a breezy Devon afternoon as I explore foolproof ways to capture couples outdoors, balancing natural light, connection, ...
Video: Looking For Light And Locations In The City

Video: Looking For Light And Locations In The City

Join me as I wander the city streets searching for the kind of natural light and locations that make portraits ...
Video | Multi Exposure BMX Stunt

Video | Multi Exposure BMX Stunt

Discover how to craft dynamic multi-exposure portraits combining BMX action with layered environmental storytelling, using subtle post-production techniques ...
Video: Replicating a windowlight portrait using studio lighting

Video: Replicating a windowlight portrait using studio lighting

Ever wondered how to conjure the soft, natural feel of window light with studio flash? Join me as I break ...
Video: Three studio portrait ideas for working with dark skin

Video: Three studio portrait ideas for working with dark skin

Exploring three distinct studio portrait lighting setups tailored to beautifully illuminate dark skin tones, enhancing natural textures and tones ...
Video: Studio portraits of Princess Amelie using a simple light set-up

Video: Studio portraits of Princess Amelie using a simple light set-up

Discover how to create beautiful, timeless studio portraits with a straightforward light setup, featuring Princess Amelie in a natural, warm ...
Video: Studio portrait of a ballet dancer en pointe

Video: Studio portrait of a ballet dancer en pointe

Join me in the studio capturing a ballet dancer en pointe as I share lighting choices, posing tips, and essential ...
Portrait photography lighting setup diagram showing professional light positioning

Video: Capture elegant portraits with soft but simple studio lighting

Discover a straightforward yet elegant approach to studio lighting that produces soft, flattering portraits using minimal gear and thoughtful setups ...
Walkthrough: Retouching A Black And White Portrait Of An Elderly Man

Walkthrough: Retouching A Black And White Portrait Of An Elderly Man

There is nothing quite like a beautiful black and white portrait. In this video, we walk through how to use ...
Walkthrough: Retouching A Black And White Portrait Of A Young Woman

Walkthrough: Retouching A Black And White Portrait Of A Young Woman

Bright sunshine and a beautiful subject, glorious greens and satin soft shadows. Ah, I have drifted into a romantic phase! ...
Walkthrough: Removing Reflections From Your Client's Glasses

Walkthrough: Removing Reflections From Your Client’s Glasses

This walkthrough is in response to a question on our forum. Rob Dunse (who kindly provided the photograph that I ...
Video: Fun, beautiful and characterful portraits of sibling groups

Video: Fun, beautiful and characterful portraits of sibling groups

Discover how to capture beautiful, characterful portraits of sibling groups with simple posing tips, natural light, and a playful approach ...
Video: One-light Studio Portrait Of Lily in the red dress

Video: One-light Studio Portrait Of Lily in the red dress

Join me as we break down a simple yet highly effective single Elinchrom light setup for a studio portrait session ...
Video: One-light studio headshot with shallow depth of field

Video: One-light studio headshot with shallow depth of field

Join me as we explore a simple yet effective one-light studio headshot setup, mastering shallow depth of field and subtle ...
Video: Lily, Sam, Multiple Studio Strobes And A Little Romance!

Video: Lily, Sam, Multiple Studio Strobes And A Little Romance!

Join me as I break down a studio session capturing Lily and Sam using multiple Elinchrom strobes, layering light with ...
Video: Studio-Style Portraits of Bob with one Flash Gun

Video: Studio-Style Portraits of Bob with one Flash Gun

Join me as I break down a straightforward yet effective studio lighting setup using a single flash gun to sculpt ...

Paul