Hot Photography How-Tos
How To: Take photographs outdoors
Outdoor photography is about cropping scenes and getting natural light on the products or models you're shooting. Learn how to shoot photographs outdoors from a professional photographer in this free photography video series.
How To: Develop black and white film
Become a more complete photographer and save money at the same time. Learn how to develop and print your own film in this free darkroom tutorial from a professional photographer.
How To: Use studio flashes and modifiers for photography
The appropriate lighting in photography can make the difference between an average photograph and a great photograph. Get a better understanding of how to create the perfect lighting for your photograph from a professional photographer in this free photography video series.
How To: Learn about tabletop product photography
Product photography is where we get pictures of new cars, watches, toys and food items. Learn about product photography on tabletops from a professional artist in this free photography video.
How To: Use a variety of lenses for jewelry photography
Photographing jewelry may use a variety of lenses popular with professional photographers. Learn about lenses and practice your jewelry photography with this free product photography video. Use a variety of lenses for jewelry photography - Part 1 of 22.
How To: Develop film
Save money and become a more complete photographer. Learn how to develop your own film in this free darkroom tutorial from a professional photographer.
How To: Use lighting and equipment for photography
Professional photography is all about lighting and equipment. Get tips for beginning your photographer career in this free video series from a professional!
How To: Master single light studio portraits in photography
Studio portrait photography using a single light can be tricky to master. Learn how to achieve beautiful portraits with expertise from a professional photographer in this free instructional video series.
How To: Use digital cameras
Buying a digital camera takes research so find a digital camera with the megapixels, noise level, and features that fit your uses. Learn all about digital consumer, prosumer and SLR cameras in this free photography video.
How To: Frame black and white photos
Have a wonderful black and white photo? Time to frame it! Learn to frame black and white photos, including matte options, frames, glass, laminates, hangers, and more in this free photography video series on framing taught by expert Minnie Bell.
How To: Frame color photos
How to wrap picture wire around the hangers you've installed on your picture frame; learn this and more in this free online photography video about framing taught by expert Minnie Bell.
How To: Use soft boxes in photography
Soft boxes diffuse and enlarge your light source. Learn about soft boxes in this free video on studio equipment for photography. Use soft boxes in photography - Part 1 of 30.
How To: Use a photographic enlarger
A photographic enlarger is a piece of equipment used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives. Learn more about photographic enlargers and how to use them from a professional photographer in this free video. Use a photographic enlarger - Part 1 of 26.
How To: Set up a big white infinity sweep for photo studio
This instructional photography video shows how to setup large white infinity backgrounds in the photo studio. The key components to this setup is include this six foot octobox softbox light, which requires quite a bit of power; a framed aluminum reflector; the background itself is vinyl floor painted white; and a black baffle to shield the camera from lens flare. Set up professional looking shoots and take great portraits with this tutorial.
How To: Use a light meter for your photo camera
This cinematography tutorial video provides the basics of working with a photographic light meter as well as how to read the meter. A light and flash meter is nothing expensive. All you need is something that will measure the light and your flash. Most light meters are relatively the same. Metering is a relatively simple process. Just key in the ISO, key in the shuttle speed, push the button, and it gives you the f-stop to use on your professional photo camera.
How To: Take photographs at night with a professional camera
This instructional photography video helps you to better understand how to take great photographs at night. Night photography is a tricky art that you can master with this video. This tutorial is great for photography enthusiasts looking to improve their skills.
How To: Understand the basics of a Nikon SB-600 photo camera
This instructional photography video teaches the basics of the Nikon photo camera in this hands-on demonstration of Nikon's amateur-grade SB-600 speedlight. Watch this video and start taking more professional looking photos. This tutorial is great for photography enthusiasts.
How To: Use Nikon's metering system for photo cameras
This instructional photography video explains the basics on how to use all three different types of metering systems on Nikon D-SLR photo cameras: 3D Matrix Metering, Center-Weight Metering, and Spot Metering. Watch this tutorial and start taking better, more professional photographs now that you understand how to use the metering system.
How To: Understand the basics of a Nikon SB-800 photo strobe
This instructional photography video guides you in a step-by-step process with the most basic information on Nikon's flagship speedlight of the SB-800 photo camera. Watch this photography demonstration to better utilize your camera's settings and control your results. This video is great for photography enthusiasts.
How To: Use active D-Lighting for your photo shoots
This instructional photography video explains step-by-step the features of active D-Lighting: what it can do and how it affects your images. Active D-Lighting allows you to photograph in various lighting situations for more neutral contrast results. Here is a basic explanation of the settings on a professional Nikon photo camera:
How To: Understand focal length on your photo camera
This instructional photography video explains and shows the difference in zoom lenses' focal lengths. This basic demonstration uses a Nikon professional photo camera to exhibit the various zoom lenses, and provides examples of its photographic capabilities. Watch this video and improve your photography skills.
How To: Build a useful inexpensive Tripod for your camera
Watch this instructional photography video that shows how to build a useful, inexpensive tripod for the amateur photographer on a budget. This tripod will be more useful than most commercial tripods with only a plastic bag full of beans. The result is a stable, useful extension with minimal photographic inhibitions that works on any surface. A great how to video for the amatuer photographer.
How To: Photograph shiny metal and reflections
Watch this instructional photography video that introduces a very important principle (the law of reflection) when applied to photographing shiny objects in the studio.
How To: Prepare a photography portfolio presentation
Putting together a print portfolio for your photography? This instructional photography video provides some suggestions on photographic portfolios and how to assemble a portfolio. It is very important to have a good online presence, a nice gallery of your work to show. But there are advantages to having a print portfolio as well.
How To: Learn studio product photography tricks
This instructional photography video with Jim Talkington explores various studio photography tricks. Whether shooting products or people, the whole reason for studio lighting is to be able to define the things you want to define and to minimize the things you don't want to see in the photograph. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Develop black and white film for photography
In this photography tutorial, learn the developing process of black and white film. Jim Talkington guides you through the steps in this instructional video. A good way to start developing your own black and white film photographs.
How To: Problem solve small product photography techniques
This instructional photography video explains how to problem solve small product issues. Two ways to tackle a particular challenge is through pre-production and the other in post-production. There are many different ways a photographer can approach and deal with a challenge. The more knowledge you have about different methodologies about photography, the better and easier you will be able to solve those problems when they occur.
How To: Learn extreme macro photography tricks
Watch this quick instructional photography video and discover how to do extreme macro photography without having any real specialized macro photo equipment. Use a couple of your existing lenses to create a super macro lens. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Light a '57 Chevy in the photo studio
Watch this instructional photography video with Jim Talkington and learn how to light a '57 Chevy in a photo studio. This is a beautiful car, but it prevents some challenges in photographing the shiny paint and chrome surface. In this tutorial, experiment how to set up the lighting. This video is great for car aficionados. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Learn tabletop studio photography with mirrors
This instructional photography video with Jim Talkington explores tabletop studio photography done with mirrors. Use just one light and several mirrors to light your subject. You can also use silver poster board or white poster board to reflect the light from the strobe. Mirrors are the best way to reflect most of the light in your shoot. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Master the classic three light studio portrait
Watch this instructional photography video with Jim Talkington and learn how to light a studio portrait using three lights. This is the classic three light portrait technique using a main light, fill card, hair light and background light in the photo studio. Adding additional lights should bring out texture, extra detail, and three dimensionality. Practice these tips and improve your photography skills.
How To: Take photographs like Gregory Crewdson
In this Ovation TV original special, acclaimed photographer Gregory Crewdson shares with us his insight into his photographic techniques. Like a film, he uses a lot of production, a lot of lighting, a lot of set design. He is an American photographer best known for elaborately staged, surreal scenes of American homes and neighborhoods. Learn how to take pictures like this master artist.
How To: Clean a DSLR camera
In this video segment, Veronica Belmont of Ask Mahalo shows how to clean a digital SLR camera. Follow the simple steps to get better quality photographs. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to clean a digital SLR camera and get crystal clear pictures.
How To: Process black and white film photographs
Ruth from Stuff.tv goes retro to show us how to process a black and white photographic film. Film isn't dead, maybe because there's nothing quite as satisfying as printing out a set of negatives to make photographs. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to process pictures from black and white film.
How To: Make a helmet headcam
This video tutorial shows how to make your own rough and ready headcam/helmet camera for shooting videos or taking photographs at work. To do this project, you will need a helmet, mounting plate, and a video camera. Start taking pictures and footage hands-free. Watch and learn how to make this simple headcam.
How To: Take and make 3D photos using a basic camera
This tutorial video will teach you to make photos into 3d masterpieces using simple software and a regular camera. Pretty soon, you'll have eye-popping results that will amaze all of your friends.
How To: Making and print a wet plate Collodion negative
This is a video demonstration of making a wet plate collodion negative, or ambrotype. Learn how to make a print a Collodion picture by watching this video photography tutorial.
How To: Varnish wet plate Collodion images
This video shows the process of varnishing a black glass Ambrotype. Not a high "wow-factor" here, but some practical knowledge needed in the process. It's very important to varnish wet plate images as they damage and tarnish easily. Learn how to varnish Collodion pictures by watching this video photography tutorial.
How To: Flow a glass photography plate with Collodion
Quinn Jacobson demonstrates how to flow a 4x5 glass plate to make a wet plate collodion negative. Learn how to prepare equipment for taking Collodion pictures by watching this video photography tutorial.
How To: Take photographs by the wet plate Collodian process
Quinn shows the entire 19th Century wet plate Collodion process step by step, including a brief history of the process. He talks about taking wet plate "on the road" (mobile photography). Learn how to take pictures using the Collodian method by watching this video photography tutorial.