The Ultimate Complete Wedding Photography Gear Guide!
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The Ultimate Complete Wedding Photography Gear Guide!

What wedding photography gear and equipment do you need? The very first video that I ever recorded for the Cole’s Classroom YouTube channel was “Our Must Have Wedding Photography Equipment” which oddly enough has still been our most viewed video yet.  At the time that was our wedding photography kit that we loved to pieces…

How Much Should You Charge for Your Photography?
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How Much Should You Charge for Your Photography?

Note: This is an excerpt from the 19 page photography pricing guide – “Pricing Yourself for Success“. Without a doubt the hardest piece of the pricing puzzle is knowing how much you should charge for your photography.   There is plenty of information on the web that makes it seem very formulaic and with some simple…

Why the New Nikon 35 1.8G FX Lens is a Game Changer!
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Why the New Nikon 35 1.8G FX Lens is a Game Changer!

Why the New Nikon 35 1.8G FX Lens is a Game Changer! (Above Photo Tech details: D800 + 50mm at f/1.8, edited with “Soft Creamy Color – Warmer” preset) For the vast majority of today’s photographers who’s first DSLRs are entry level “crop sensor” cameras (like the Nikon D3200 or a Canon Rebel), the decision…

How to Edit Newborn Photos in Lightroom in only 65 Seconds!
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How to Edit Newborn Photos in Lightroom in only 65 Seconds!

A couple months ago I posted a question on the Cole’s Classroom Facebook group asking what is the one area within newborn photography that people struggle with the most.  Nearly all the responses were related to the photo editing process taking forever. Not a huge surprise…  Many told me that hours would be spent fine tuning…

The Essential Newborn Lightroom Presets Collection is Here!
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The Essential Newborn Lightroom Presets Collection is Here!

Up until recently to be an effective Newborn Photographer you had to be a master artist within Photoshop spending an abundance of time editing photos, perfecting the soft, airy, and timeless look that we all love for these little angels.  Not to mention having to spend a tremendous amount of time retouching skin blemishes inherent…

D5300 vs D5200 – What’s New in the D5300?
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D5300 vs D5200 – What’s New in the D5300?

D5300 vs D5200 – What’s New in the D5300? It is remarkable how far technology has advanced and at how fast of a pace it is doing so!  Hot of the press tonight is the announcement of Nikon’s newest entry level DSLR, the Nikon D5300.  After reading through the Nikon D5300 specs I must say,…

Should I Upgrade or Keep The Kit Lens?
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Should I Upgrade or Keep The Kit Lens?

Should I Upgrade or Keep The Kit Lens? Here are my top 3 reasons why you should upgrade your kit lens… The beauty of having a DSLR camera is the versatility you have available by using a variety of lenses.  Despite this freedom of being able pick and choose the right lens for the job,…

Nikon Lenses for Weddings – Get Started Without Going into Debt!
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Nikon Lenses for Weddings – Get Started Without Going into Debt!

Are you hoping to get started in the wonderful world of wedding photography but feel you are unable to at the moment because of the expense of equipment?  Don’t be.  I am here to show you 3 of my favorite Nikon lenses for weddings that we just about exclusively use for every single engagement and…

5 Top Reasons Why You Need a 50mm Lens! [Updated for 2021]
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5 Top Reasons Why You Need a 50mm Lens! [Updated for 2021]

What is a 50 mm lens good for?  Here are our top five reasons every photographer should consider adding this to their camera bag! It doesn’t matter if you shoot Canon, Nikon, Sony or any other camera brand, the fact is, every photographer should own a 50mm lens! The amazing thing about a 50mm prime…

Second Shooting Weddings – How to Get the Opportunity!
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Second Shooting Weddings – How to Get the Opportunity!

[fusion_text] Second Shooting Weddings – How to Get the Opportunity! It doesn’t matter if you have your heart set on becoming a wedding photographer, portrait photographer, newborn photographer, commercial photographer or any other kind of photographer, without a doubt the best way to learn the ropes and jump start your own business or dream career…

Photographer Pricing Strategies: Packages vs a La Carte
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Photographer Pricing Strategies: Packages vs a La Carte

One of the most common questions I see in various online photography forums is related to the topic of pricing. Have you ever asked yourself: am I charging too much?  Am I charging too little?  There are many variables that all play a role into knowing what the “right” answer is and also which pricing…

Wedding Photography Reception Tips: How to Shoot Open Air Receptions!
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Wedding Photography Reception Tips: How to Shoot Open Air Receptions!

Wedding Photography Reception Tips: How to Shoot Open Air Receptions! To be a great wedding photographer – you have to be very experienced and versatile to be prepared to take on all kinds of different lighting scenarios and conditions.  Weddings in particular are such a dynamic event to photograph because each and every one is so different from…

Nikon D800 Megapixels: Why Having 36 Megapixels Doesn’t Suck!
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Nikon D800 Megapixels: Why Having 36 Megapixels Doesn’t Suck!

Nikon D800 Megapixels: Why Having 36 Megapixels Doesn’t Suck! Why the heck does anyone need 36 megapixels!?!?!? I will be the first to admit – I was disappointed when Nikon announced the D800, with 36 megapixels.  Everything else about the camera I loved and wanted and after lots of thinking over a couple months I…

Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro Lens Review – Should You Buy One?
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Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR Macro Lens Review – Should You Buy One?

In need of a macro lens? You’re in the right place! Here’s a practical lens review of the Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR macro. It’s no secret that I absolutely love shooting prime lenses.  In fact, when I first started Cole’s Classroom, the first video that I recorded was our “Must Have Wedding Equipment.” In that…

Wedding Photographer Words to the Wise – Chill Out!
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Wedding Photographer Words to the Wise – Chill Out!

Just go with the flow.  Do you ever tell that to yourself?  I sure do. The truth is, one of the best skills you can have if you want to be a great wedding photographer is to learn when to just go with the flow.  More times than not, weddings never go perfectly as planned…