• Dos & Don'ts For Freelance Photographers

    Dos & Don'ts For Freelance Photographers

    Visual poet and photographer Danny Bittencourt shares interesting advice on how to manage your career as a freelance photographer Choosing which themes to explore in your work, developing your own visual language, managing your routine and timetable, being your own boss... Sounds pretty good, right? Of course, being freelance has a lot of benefits, if and when you can avoid the most common problems. Visual poet and photographer Danny Bittencourt (@dannybbittencourt) is an expert in freelancing. In this post, she shares her dos and dont's for freelance photographers. Discover more in the video below:

  • The Story Behind "Accidentally Wes Anderson"

    The Story Behind "Accidentally Wes Anderson"

    We spoke to the creator of the popular Instagram account who has just launched a bestselling book for adventurers Accidentally Wes Anderson was created for adventures and explorers. It is a book brimming with beautiful photos and intriguing narratives for curious beings. Each photo looks like a frame straight out of a Wes Anderson film. Yet these are not film sets. They are authentic spots that you can visit, all over the world, and each spot has its own unique and enchanting story.

  • Domestika Diaries: Verónica Cerna

    Domestika Diaries: Verónica Cerna

    The conceptual photographer Verónica Cerna shares her creative routine and describes how her profession has adapted to lockdown Pictures, by definition, require the presence of two people: the photographer and their subject. So restrictions like those imposed in the wake of Coronavirus, which oblige us to maintain distances between one another and avoid moving from one place to another, can complicate or even stop the work of a photographer. Verónica Cerna, photographer and cofounder of the audiovisual studio BAF, whose work has been recognized in the International Photography Awards and The Photo Phore, explains to us in this installment of Domestika Diaries how her creative process as a photographer has changed during the current situation. You can see the video below:

  • What Is and How to Create a Cinemagraph

    What Is and How to Create a Cinemagraph

    Photography magic! We explain how to create movement in a static image step-by-step What is a cinemagraph? It's a fascinating combination of photos and videos. It usually consists of a small movement repeated in a loop within a picture, while the rest of the image remains entirely still. It results in a groundbreaking yet realistic effect. Nowadays, standing out in the digital world is necessary, and multimedia content is more than ever a visual experience. A fantastic moving image can help you achieve that distinguishing visual end product. Cinemagraphs, with their instantaneous visual elements, attract the viewer's attention. They are small, sophisticated works of art, subtle yet sufficiently attractive, that can capture our attention among the multitude of images we consume daily. Creating a cinemagraph is not difficult, and we’ll explain how, step by step. This is a short tutorial, and if you want to explore this technique, Mexican photographer Fernando Montiel Klint (@fernandomontielklint) teaches it in the Domestika course Creation of Cinemagraphs:

  • Materials: Make-up For Artistic Self-portrait Photography

    Materials: Make-up For Artistic Self-portrait Photography

    Cristina Otero talks us through her favorite products for creating experimental make-up looks Cristina Otero (@cristinaotero) is a photographer specializing in artistic self-portraits. At the age of 15, Cristina became the youngest Spanish artist to present a solo exhibition in a gallery. While her main clients tend to be art collectors, she has also worked on commercial projects for brands and organizations such as Huawei, Renfe, and Turismo Andalucía. Cristina started out drawing portraits of women, using herself as a reference. Drawn to hyperrealism, she began experimenting with photography and using herself as a model. When it comes to post-production, Cristiana insists, “I don’t edit, I paint”.

  • 7 Polaroids and Inspiring Quotes by Andrei Tarkovsky

    7 Polaroids and Inspiring Quotes by Andrei Tarkovsky

    Discover this collection of Polaroids taken by the Russian filmmaker–each one is accompanied by a quote that invites you to step into his world… Memory, dreams, and spirituality play a central role in the meditative work of Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. Born in Zavrazhye in 1932, he is considered by many to be one of the greats of film history. He won the Grand Prix Spécial du Jury twice at Cannes with Solaris (1972) and The Sacrifice (1986); the Golden Lion in Venice for Ivan's Childhood (1962); and was posthumously awarded the Soviet Union's prestigious Lenin Prize. Many of his sequences are iconic, such as the burning house in The Mirror (1975) or the protagonist’s long walk in Nostalghia (1983) as he tries to keep a candle alight. Tarkovsky was also concerned about the aesthetic and moral implications of the art itself, a topic he explored in his most-celebrated book, Sculpting in Time.

  • What is CGI Photomontage?

    What is CGI Photomontage?

    Discover this method for creating impressive (and often unimaginable) images, as if by magic The initials CGI stand for “Computer Generated Imagery” and refer to any form of visual expression that uses a digital medium: digital photography, analog photography scanner, digitalizations, image banks, and 3D images, etc. Ricardo Salamanca (@ricardo_salamanca) is a designer and art director. He has worked on advertising campaigns that have won awards at festivals around the world. Ricardo describes CGI as “the result you create with an image that has been digitized,” which involves integrating photography shots, 3D images, or takes of actors performing against a green screen, as well as any other image generated using digital means.

  • What Is Location Scouting, and Why Is It Important in Photography?

    What Is Location Scouting, and Why Is It Important in Photography?

    Photographer Viridiana enlists the main aspects of this pre-production stage Preparation is crucial in all kinds of photography to determine the success of your images. Once you have a concept clear in your mind, it is time to move on to pre-production. This includes finding a place to shoot, in other words, location scouting. Photographer Viridiana (@holaviridiana) specializes in editorial fashion photography, and her work has appeared in magazines such as Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan. Read on as she explains why scouting a location is essential.

  • Turning a Concept Into a Strong Project Statement

    Turning a Concept Into a Strong Project Statement

    Conceptual portrait photographer Verónica Cerna shares tips for turning a concept into a strong project statement Verónica Cerna (@veronica_cerna) is a photographer and videographer who’s had her work published in magazines such as Musée Magazine, Shots Magazine, Better Photography, and Revista Pecado. Verónica started out creating self-portraits and has always been drawn to experimental portraiture. During her teens, she discovered that photography was a way for her to understand herself and take control of her body. She counts Edward Hopper, Ouka Leele, and Gregory Crewdson among the artists she’s been most influenced by. In her Domestika course, she invites you to learn about her process for creating a series of conceptual portraits. In this blog, she shares tips on how to create a concept and convert it into a powerful statement.

  • Domestika Diary: Elaine Li

    Domestika Diary: Elaine Li

    Art director and photographer Elaine Li shares her process for capturing cityscapes This year, coronavirus has had an impact on nearly every sector, and for industries like travel photography the sudden restriction of movement has come with a unique set of professional challenges. But just because travel is limited doesn’t mean photographers still can’t turn their lenses onto their home cities, finding new ways to capture iconic landmarks. Elaine Li is a Sydney-based art director and photographer who specializes in cityscapes and travel photography. In this Domestika Diary, she explains what lenses she likes to use and takes us on a sunset photoshoot of the Sydney Opera House while sharing tips and recommendations about how to take dynamic shots.

  • What is Visual Storytelling?

    What is Visual Storytelling?

    Photographer and designer Marioly Vázquez explains why visual storytelling is the best branding ally you can find Social networks were designed to make people connect to each other, but, according to Marioly Vázquez (@cestmaria), the way we use them now can often make us feel more isolated. In this context, how can you get your personal project or brand to truly connect with the audience? Marioly, an expert in creating creative online content, has the answer. Find out what visual storytelling is, how to build your brand, and how to create deep connections with your followers using this technique.

  • 5 Essential Books to Learn Composition and Balance

    5 Essential Books to Learn Composition and Balance

    Improve your photo composition skills with a handful of recommended publications Creating an image is not merely putting different elements together. Composition and balance are essential to ensure our photo elements are well placed, effectively structured, and guide the viewer's gaze to the center of our image. Lídia Vives (@lidiavivesphoto) is a photographer specialized in artistic photography and known for her pictorial self-portraits that always hide secrets. Lídia's work has been exhibited in galleries in Spain and Australia and is inspired by the Renaissance's great Italian masters.

  • The Pros and Cons of Photography Work from Home
    Teacher Photography

    The Pros and Cons of Photography Work from Home

    In the video 'Working from Home', photographers in three different countries relate their experiences of bringing their production into their homes In the second half of September, the US environmental scientist and engineer Gretchen Goldman went viral, with more than 300,000 likes on her tweet graphically portraying the truth of her WFH set up. With just two photos, she shows how she appears working remotely, impeccably dressed (from the waist up) while commenting on a political and environmental issue on CNN. Meanwhile, in the image next to her, we see the environment she really finds herself in during the broadcast: surrounded by children's toys, in a messy room, with a chair for a desk. This has become a common reality for many millions of workers around the world during this pandemic: between 25% and 30% of workers in the United States and the European Union, according to a report by Global Workplace Analytics, a number that could reach 41% by next year, as a study by the consulting firm Gartner predicts. To understand how professionals in a career essentially linked to contact, interaction, and physical presence have adapted to working at a distance, we interviewed photographers from different corners of the world. Among them, the Brazilian Bob Wolfenson, creator of some of the most famous portraits of celebrities, anonymous people, models and personalities of his country; the Hong Kong based Elaine Li, art director and multi-faceted photographer; and the duo Daniel Rueda and Anna Devis (@annandaniel), from Valencia, Spain, whose photos take a fantastical, ironic, and stylish look at the everyday that has earned them almost 900 thousand followers in Instagram. Watch the video below:

  • Be Inspired to Compose Artistic Photos

    Be Inspired to Compose Artistic Photos

    Carlos Herrejón's references will help you create beautiful photomontages Artistic photo composition, or artistic photomontage, means generating surprising narratives within an image using powerful creative and visual metaphors. The process begins with careful planning and usually involves a great deal of editing. This is Carlos Herrejón's (@carlos_herrejon) specialty. He creates striking photo compositions that work as conceptual fine art:

  • What Are the Types of Photo Lenses and How to Use Them

    What Are the Types of Photo Lenses and How to Use Them

    Find out how to maximize each click, as we explain the difference between macro, telephoto, and fisheye lenses There are a few differences between each of the five most popular photographic lenses that go beyond size and shape. Here are the keys to deciding which lens to use when and improve your photography skills. Fisheye Fisheye lenses have become very fashionable over the last few years and are characterized by minimal focal length (between 6 and 16 mm). This feature allows us to include massive areas of the space photographed with a view up to 180º or more, distorting straight lines. Recommended for: fisheye lenses are for photographers who do not want to capture the world as it appears, but rather as a bright, magnificent, and distorted place. Not recommended for: neutral-toned images without distortion.

  • Hard Light and Diffused Light in Photography

    Hard Light and Diffused Light in Photography

    Learn to use light in your photos to achieve the desired effect every time In photography, natural light is the most unpredictable element when we set up for a shoot. Until we are behind the camera, we cannot be sure what type of lighting we’ll be working with, so we need to know how light affects the scene. Zony Maya is a master of this skill. He explains the difference between a hard and a diffused light, and how to use these lighting conditions to achieve incredible pictures.

  • What is a Fashion Stylist and How to Become One

    What is a Fashion Stylist and How to Become One

    Learn about one of the most desirable and important jobs in fashion today and how to make it your own Clothes are the building blocks of fashion. How we put an outfit together is as important as each individual piece. Whether it’s on the runway, in a magazine, or in our day-to-day life, styling can transform how a person is seen, for better or for worse.

  • A Brief History of Fashion Photography

    A Brief History of Fashion Photography

    Join Park Studio’s Carola Rafowicz on a tour of the key moments in fashion photography As a creative discipline, fashion photography has evolved along with photography itself. Changes in the perception of the aesthetic and social functions of photography, as well as technical advances and social changes, have given this discipline its versatile character. Creative director Carola Rafowicz from Park (@parkcreative), an expert in the execution of projects and strategies for brands, production and fashion, gives us a brief account of the most emblematic moments in the history of fashion photography.

  • Download a Free Adobe Photoshop Lighting Action

    Download a Free Adobe Photoshop Lighting Action

    Use this Photoshop action to easily and quickly edit your photos Lighting is a very important factor in the work of Carles Marsal (@carlesmarsal). The images he creates are made up of bits and pieces of other imagery, therefore taking into account light and the direction of shadows is vital to the final results. No matter how fanciful and unrealistic the subject may be, the lighting must be realistic. After perfecting his process and working with countless photos, Marsal has automated parts of his techniques and encapsulated them into a Photoshop action that helps him organize layers of light and shadow and create magical photos.

  • 5 Resources to Create Beautiful Photomontages

    5 Resources to Create Beautiful Photomontages

    Discover these sites and resources to create high-impact photomontages Photomontage is the composition of different images to create a completely new one; it’s used as much by artists as by advertisers. Here are the best free resources to aid you start out or perfect your skills in this creative discipline, helping you achieve better finishes with your experiments in photomanipulation.

  • 5 Essential Photo Retouching Courses for Perfectionists

    5 Essential Photo Retouching Courses for Perfectionists

    Photo editing and retouching experts show you how to improve the quality of your photographs Every great photographer knows that to achieve great results, retouching is an indispensable part of the post-production process. If you want your photos to be flawless and look professional, check out these courses, in which five experts share their knowledge to help you reach your full potential. To learn more about each course, click on the title in red. Introduction to Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, a Domestika Basics course by Juan Achiaga This Domestika Basics course will show you how to master Adobe Lightroom from scratch. Learn to organize, store, and edit your photos like a pro. Get to grips with the program’s basic tools, storage, and organization system, as well as the Develop module.

  • 5 Instagram Photography Courses

    5 Instagram Photography Courses

    Make the most of this social network and adopt effective strategies for your brand There’s no denying that Instagram is one of the biggest virtual display windows for showing off whatever products or services you're selling. Companies and brands each have to find their own way to use it to stand out and draw people in. Not only does Instagram enable users to get a good look at your projects and products, but it can also be used to construct a non-verbal narrative that tells the world outside what you’re about. While the app’s most popular tools are its filters, the most successful profiles are those sharing powerful photos that have a deep understanding of creativity, composition, and photographic technique. Learn to unlock your potential and embrace your artistic sensitivity with these five Instagram photography specialists and discover how to get the most out of the tools on offer. Professional Mobile Photography and Videos, a course by Nay Jiménez Learn to take great photographs using just your phone. This photographer and art director will help you understand concepts such as color and composition so that you can create an Instagram feed with a consistent visual style. Also, they will share all of their techniques for dispelling fear and transforming your phone into an ideas machine.

  • Great Architectural Photographers

    Great Architectural Photographers

    Be inspired by classic photographers who have led the way for Tuca Reinés and his professional career Tuca Reinés (@tucareines) trained as an architect, but his passion has always been photography. His work has been featured in the pages of major magazines such as Casa Vogue, A&D, Elle, Wallpaper and others, for almost three decades. He has presented solo exhibitions and created advertising campaigns for major clients: Maxhaus, Audi, Ermenegildo Zegna, Banco Santander, and Mobil, among others. Among his major awards are two golden lions at the Cannes Lions Festival.

  •  The 5 Names You Need to Know in Fine Art Photography

    The 5 Names You Need to Know in Fine Art Photography

    Gerardo Montiel Klint shares 5 influential artists that helped him discover his passion for photography Gerardo Montiel Klint (@gerklint) is an industrial designer and photographer, teacher, workshop leader, and member of the Sistema Nacional de Creadores in Mexico. He has received numerous accolades in his career, including the Acquisition Award of the XIII and XI Photography Biennial, the Silver Medal for Fine Arts Mexico 2008, the Omnilife 2000 Grand Prize, and Fonca/Banff Center artistic residencies in 2001 and 2002-2003. His work has been featured in collections and galleries throughout the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Hungary, Denmark, Spain, and China. He is also co-founder of the Hydra platform, belongs to the advisory team of EXIT magazine, and co-directs Klint & Photo, a production house and photographic studio specialized in advertising, interior design, fashion, and portraiture.

  • Pixelmator Photo: Edit Like a Professional Using Your iPad

    Pixelmator Photo: Edit Like a Professional Using Your iPad

    This photo editing app will convert your iPad into a mini studio that competes with any desktop software Pixelmator is a family of programs and apps, which serves as a basic and intuitive alternative to Photoshop, available for Mac users and all other iOS devices. Now, the company has launched Pixelmator Photo, an iPad app that makes the most of all the benefits this tablet has to offer for editing photos. Pixelmator Photo has a number of features that demonstrate that we can retouch photos from our iPad to professional standards. These are some of the stand-out tools that the app offers:

  • Essential Shortcuts for Mastering Adobe Camera Raw

    Essential Shortcuts for Mastering Adobe Camera Raw

    Speed ​​up your photography workflow with these Adobe Camera Raw shortcuts Raw photos are non-processed images, files that contain all the information that your camera is capable of capturing. One of the best tools for importing and editing these raw images is Adobe Camera Raw, a native Adobe plug-in for working with Raw files in both Photoshop and Lightroom, and a tool that has become indispensable for professional photographers. It is advisable to use Camera Raw whenever you are working with these types of files since its purpose is to recover all the information that the camera saved for processing the image. Then, you will be able to use any Photoshop or Lightroom editing tool on it. To increase your productivity when using the Adobe Camera Raw plug-in, use these basic keyboard shortcuts, and download a PDF file below.