Crop Sensor vs Full Frame – Which Camera Do You Really Need?
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Crop Sensor vs Full Frame – Which Camera Do You Really Need?

The million dollar question! Do I need a full frame camera? Whether you are a beginner getting ready to purchase your first DSLR, or a advanced photographer considering if you need to upgrade your camera, at some point you may find yourself scratching your head and wondering: crop vs full frame, which camera do I…

Are Ring Lights Good for Headshots?
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Are Ring Lights Good for Headshots?

After posing, one of the most critical elements of a good headshot is the lighting.  But what kind of artificial lighting works well for headshots?  In this post, we’ll discuss using ring lights for headshots. Are Ring Lights Good for Headshots? Ring lights can be a great lighting source for headshots.  When used correctly, in…

Can Headshots Be Horizontal?
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Can Headshots Be Horizontal?

There are lots of considerations when it comes to taking headshots.  There’s posing, lighting, skin tones, etc. One of the things you shouldn’t stress is how to hold the camera! Can Headshots Be Horizontal? Headshots can be shot in a horizontal orientation!  Traditionally, headshots were shot vertically, also known as portrait orientation.  But now either…

How Much Should I Charge for a Headshot?
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How Much Should I Charge for a Headshot?

Pricing headshots feels tricky for new photographers.  Most clients claim they only need one image and may balk at a full session fee.  But your expenses and talent doesn’t change, even if they only need one image.  And it takes an investment of time to create one really great headshot.  So headshots can feel harder…

Best Lens for Headshots [Complete Guide for 2020]
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Best Lens for Headshots [Complete Guide for 2020]

Headshots are a staple of business owners, actors, actresses, models, and real estate agents.  If you’ve been asked to take headshots for a client but have never had a headshot session, you may have questions about the equipment you’ll need.  We’ve got some pointers on choosing a lens for headshots.   What is the best lens…

What Equipment Do I Need to Take Headshots? Understanding the Basics!
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What Equipment Do I Need to Take Headshots? Understanding the Basics!

Offering headshot photography sessions can be a great way to diversify to your photography business.  It’s a service needed year-round and in every community.  But before you begin offering headshots sessions, or even practicing them, you’ll need to make sure you have the right equipment.  Fortunately, headshots require very little in terms of photography gear….

How To Clean A Camera Lens Safely and Correctly
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How To Clean A Camera Lens Safely and Correctly

All manner of debris can make its way onto your camera lens, from finger smudges to dust and oil. Regular camera lens cleaning helps you get a more precise, sharper shot with crisper details. But too much cleaning may lead to scratches on your lens. Keep reading for simple tips that will show you how…

What Lens Should You Buy Next?  Building A Lens Kit
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What Lens Should You Buy Next? Building A Lens Kit

What lens should you buy next? It all depends on your needs, budget, and style! Read any photography forum and you’ll find the same questions get brought up over and over again.  One of those is “what lens should you buy next?”  Lenses are expensive.  No one wants to make a bad investment into a…

Lens Calibration 101: The Why and How of tweaking your lens
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Lens Calibration 101: The Why and How of tweaking your lens

Check out our Lens Calibration 101 guide on why and how to adjust your lenses! There are a lot of different reasons your images might not be as sharp as you want. Dirty equipment, the wrong camera settings or even your shooting stance can affect the sharpness of your images. But if you find that…

Why a Headshot Background is Really Important!
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Why a Headshot Background is Really Important!

Many headshot backgrounds are either black or white, but there is a range of textures, natural elements, and other features that you can use to make a professional headshot stand out. Our tips for choosing the right background for your headshot will help you select a better setting, and impress your clients with a headshot…

How to Price Headshots: A Beginner’s Guide
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How to Price Headshots: A Beginner’s Guide

Learn how to price headshot sessions with confidence One of the most frequently asked questions in the Cole’s Classroom Facebook group is about how to price headshots. Pricing headshots feels more difficult than other sessions. But it doesn’t have to be. We have a few tips on how to price headshot sessions and set yourself…

Understanding Lens Basics
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Understanding Lens Basics

Get to know your camera’s BFF from inside to out with our guide to lens basics! If you’re new to photography or just have a new lens, you might not know what all the bits and pieces of your lens are there for. We’ll help you identify what this switch does, decode those lens numbers…

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens review – Is it worth the hype?
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Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens review – Is it worth the hype?

Photographers everywhere rave about their Sigma Art lenses.  But is the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens worth the hype? When I needed a fast 35mm lens for my kit, I settled on the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens. It wasn’t without reservations. I’d read reviews but my experience with Sigma lenses was less than satisfactory. After…

5 Tips for Flying with your Camera and other gear
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5 Tips for Flying with your Camera and other gear

Are you leaving on a jet plane soon? Flying with your camera can seem intimidating. But it’s really not. Be prepared with these five simple tips. I don’t do much air travel anymore. And until recently, I’d never traveled with my “big camera.” But I was flying from Denver to Indianapolis for a seminar on…

Gifts for Photographers in 2019
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Gifts for Photographers in 2019

What are the best and hottest gifts for photographers this year?  We’ve got a list! Do you have a photographer in your life?  Do you know what’s on her holiday wish list?  You better believe she has one!  If you need ideas, we have you covered! From stocking stuffers to new gear, we have a…

Understanding Lens Filters
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Understanding Lens Filters

What lens filters do you need and why?  We’ll give you the basics! Have you ever heard a photographer talk about using a lens filter but didn’t really understand what that meant?  You’re not alone!  Lens filters are simple in design but can have many different functions.  They are also incredibly useful for getting your…