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Weekly Newsletter - May 5, 2020

Yes, it's giveaway time again!

I'm super-excited to announce the BIG winners from last time, and provide details of our new, EVEN BIGGER giveaway!

For more details check out our latest video on YouTube:

• PhotographyTalk Episode 24 - In addition to the usual round of photography news, I announce the BIG WINNERS from our last giveaway. I also share details on our new giveaway, which includes prizes valued at more than $4,000!
• Canon EOS R5: The Camera of the Decade - The slow trickle of confirmed news about the Canon EOS R5 continues, and it keeps getting more and more impressive!
• How to Set up a Photography Business - If you're ready to pull the trigger and turn your photography hobby into a photography busienss, this video is for you! Learn a few simple tips for getting your photography business off the ground.

As a reminder, we also have several videos designed to help you make the most of working from home in these tough times:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

One of the new items I have in my office is an awesome Razer computer.

If you know Razer, you know that they are typically gaming machines. I'm not a gamer, but this sucker has blown me away with its performance and features.

It has a gorgeous 15.6-inch OLED 4K touchscreen display that is crazy sharp with colors that are simply stunning. The sound quality is good as well. I'm not completely in love with the keyboard, but that's a minor issue compared to the things I do like about this machine.

My first impressions are that this rig could easily be an Apple killer. I'll have more details on it in the coming weeks as I get more familiar with it.

Photography quote of the week:

"The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don't belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation." - Susan Meiselas

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

Beginner Photography Projects

Tips for Head Shot Portraits

Photography Business Tips: Things Photographers Can Do During Stay-at-Home Orders

Landscape Photography Composition Tips

Shooting B-Roll With a Drone

Must Have Landscape Photography Accessories

Best Used Drones for Photography

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - June 16, 2020

I've made it no secret that I absolutely love my Canon EOS R.

Is it the perfect camera? No.

But it's been the best all-around camera for what I need, by far. And best of all, if you're thinking that an EOS R is in your future, the price should be on the way down in the next few weeks once the EOS R5 drops.

I talk about this and other reasons why you should pick up an EOS R in one of our recent videos. Speaking of, here's the latest from our channel:

• 10 Reasons to Buy a Canon EOS R in 2020 - There are PLENTY of reasons to switch to the EOS R (as I did a few months ago). If you've been on the fence about the EOS R, check out this video and learn why I think it's one of the best all-around cameras on the market.
• 7 Reasons to Upgrade to the DJI Mavic Air 2 - I've been testing the DJI Mavic Air 2 for a few weeks now, and I've found that there is a lot to love about this drone. Tune in and find out the seven BEST reasons to add the Mavic Air 2 to your kit!

Don't forget that we have these videos up on the YouTube channel to help guide you through these challenging economic times:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

My newest toy is something you wouldn't think is related to photography.

It's a Trek Remedy 9.9 bicycle.

I recently made the switch from Specialized to Trek, and so far, I've been ultimately impressed with this bike.

Given the continuing need to socially distance (and my inability to go to the gym), I decided that combining my passion for biking with my passion for photography would be a good idea. I call it "Photography Trekking."

Think about it...I can get much-needed exercise while exploring beautiful landscapes and getting away from the crowds and into some fresh air. What's not to like about that?!\

I'm chronicling my photography treks and offering up some tips on how you can start photography trekking on PhotographyTalk. Check out the first installment here and stay tuned for new articles just about every week.

Photography quote of the week:

''''The more you photograph, the more you realize what can and what can't be photographed. You just have to keep doing it." - Eliot Porter

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

How to Get Started with Artistic Nude Photography

Pros and Cons of Using Variable ND Filters

OLYMPUS OM-D E M-1 II Review

Basic Landscape Photography Tips for Beginners

The Benefits of Filters for Drone Photography

5 Things to Know Before You Buy a Canon 5D Mark IV in 2020

Creative Ideas for Improving Your Photography Income

Easy Summer Photography Tips

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - April 21, 2020

I know these are tough times for a lot of photographers, so if you find yourself in need of a little guidance or advice on how to improve your business now so it's stronger once all this is over, take a look at these videos on our YouTube channel:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

These videos include tried-and-true actionable steps you can take for working from home in a more comfortable, productive, and profitable way. Make sure to check them out!

Also on our YouTube channel are these brand-new videos:

• PhotographyTalk Episode 22 - Get the scoop on the latest photography news including new Canon RF lenses and Canon EOS M cameras, new lenses from Tamron, and a fun photo contest from Sigma you can enter for a chance to win gear or cash prizes.
• Colorado Tripod Company 5-Minute Review - The Colorado Tripod Company is a relatively new player in the tripod world, so I wasn't sure what to expect from their entry-level Centennial Tripod. Find out if this might be a good option for you in this quick review!
• 6 Reasons Why You Need a Telephoto Lens Right Now - The title pretty much says it all...if you don't have a telephoto lens in your bag, you need one. Find out why!
• What's in My Camera Bag for 2020 - My camera gear has changed A LOT in the last year. See what I'm rocking for 2020!

Speaking of telephoto lenses, I'm loving my Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L lens. It's my go-to telephoto lens and has really impressed me with its performance and image quality.

This lens is versatile, so I can use it for sports (if there were any at the moment), portraits, wildlife, landscapes. you name it.

It's a total workhorse too. My 70-200mm lens is built like a tank, and that durability is a nice bit of peace of mind for when I can get back out in the real world and take photos again. I can't wait!

Stay safe and healthy, my friend.

Photography quote of the week:

"Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships." - Ansel Adams

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

How to Photograph Your Newborn

Drone Safety: What You Need to Know

Mirrorless vs DSLR: Which is Best for You in 2020?

These Vlogging Accessories Will Help Take Your Videos to the Next Level

Portable Lighting Tips

Homeowner Tips for Spring Real Estate Photography

Camera Bags for Every Kind of Adventure

How to Find Your Personal Photography Style

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - June 9, 2020

Here we are nearly in the middle of June. Even though 2020 has been tough so far, it sure is going by fast!

I'm hopeful that the second half of 2020 is better than the first...

Anyway, here's our latest videos in case you missed them:

• PhotographyTalk Episode 27 - I was a little late with this one, but there's still TONS of news to share, including just how bad camera sales were in May. Hint...they were BAD.
• Landscape Photography: 7 Best Tips I''ve Learned of the Years - There are hundreds of tips you can use to become a better landscape photographer. But in my experience, there are some landscape photography tips that have proven to be much more valuable than others. Check them out!
• PhotographyTalk Episode 28 - In this episode, I announce the big winners of our last giveaway and I also preview the swag bag for our next giveaway. I discuss important news and notes from around the photography world too!

Don't forget that we have these videos up on the YouTube channel to help guide you through these challenging economic times:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

If you've been following our YouTube channel, you know that there's been a lot of content lately about the DJI Mavic Air 2.

This is a fantastic drone, and if you ask me, it's one of the best priced drones on the market as well.

But every drone needs a few accessories, and Haida just sent me an ND filter kit for the Mavic Air 2 that has three ND-polarizers in it.

These filters have the build quality you'd expect from Haida, including K9 optic glass, an aerospace aluminum fame, and multiple nano coatings to provide protection from scratches, water, and oils.

There's a 3-stop ND/polarizer, and a 4-stop and 5-stop as well, so you're covered for just about any photography or videography project you want to tackle with your Mavic Air 2.

I love these combo filters because they give me the advantages of a polarizer and ND filter in one. It's just a cleaner, simpler setup, and so far, I'd say Haida has knocked it out of the park with these things!

Photography quote of the week:

"Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual." - Edward Weston

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

Quick Tips for Better Portraits of Kids

Titans Collide: MacBook Pro vs Razor Blade 15 Studio

Battle of the Oldies: Canon EOS 5D Mark III vs Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Learn Nude Photography With the Camera You Have

Canvas or Paper Prints: Which is Best for You?

Quick Tips for Great Self-Portraits

Top Ball Heads of 2020

6 Benefits of Using Lens Filters

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - April 28, 2020

With most of the world still in some form of lock-down or stay-at-home order, things may be getting a bit tedious for you.

If that's the case, I'm hoping the content I've got for you this week will put a smile on your face, inspire you, or at least distract you from the doom and gloom for a while!

Here's a list of our brand-new videos:

• PhotographyTalk Episode 23 - In this week's roundup of photography news, I discuss how you can get free photography gear, the details on the upcoming DJI Mavic Air 2, Canon's new cloud service, and more!
• New Desktop Photo Printers 2020 - Epson has two new printers coming up - the P700 and the P900. Will these new printers meet the same high benchmark as Epson printers of the past??
• Ultimate Adventure Backpack for Photographers - I got my hands on an f-stop Tilopa a while back, and have been testing it out to see just how good it is. I've had a number of f-stop bags over the years, and the Tilopa delivers the same level of functionality and quality as you'd expect from f-stop!
• Photography Quotes That You Need to Know in 2020 - With so much bad news in the world, I figured it would be a nice change of pace to share some of my favorite inspiring photography quotes.

Also remember that if you're in need of some advice for getting your photography business primed and ready for our return to normal life, we've got you covered:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

Of course, it's impossible to list EVERY photography business tip, so if there's something I missed in the videos above, hit me up and share your top tips!

One of the videos I included above is my initial impressions of Epson's new P700 and P900 printers.

For some context, I've had an Epson P800 for years, and it is hands-down one of the best printers I've ever had.

The colors are spectacular, the printer is actually really easy to use, and you can print on different sized mediums. It looks like the P700 and P900 printers will retain those qualities - and add tons more - that will make them even more functional for photographers.

I have my eye on the P900, so expect a detailed review on that once I can get my hands on one!

Photography quote of the week:

"One doesn't stop seeing. One doesn't stop framing. It doesn't turn off and on. It's on all the time." - Annie Leibovitz

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

Camera Sensor Sizes Explained

Where Should You Spend Your Money - Camera Body or Lenses?

Exposure Compensation Explained

Top DSLRs for 2020

Best Aperture for Landscape Photography

Two Lens Filters That are Must-Haves for Your Camera Bag

Anatomy of a High-Quality Photo Album Experience

What to Look for in Lens Filters

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - June 2, 2020

The BIG NEWS this week is that our last HUGE giveaway ended, and the winners will be announced this week.

The lucky ones will receive some awesome prizes worth $1000's!

Don't worry if you didn't win this time...

This week, I'll provide details of the NEXT GIVEAWAY, which will run for a month or so.

It's another great opportunity to win some fantastic prizes! Tune into the latest PhotographyTalk episode for all the details on that.

Anyway, here's all the latest videos in case you missed them:

• ViewSonic VP3881 Monitor Review - I recently upgraded the monitor situation in my office, and that includes having the ViewSonic VP3881 - a huge 38-inch curved widescreen monitor - as my primary monitor. In a word, this thing is incredible. Find out why in this review!
• DJI Mavic Air 2 Return to Home Test - Just how accurate is the Return to Home feature on the DJI Mavic Air 2? In this video, I test the Return to Home function in various settings by using the DJI remote and the smartphone app. The Mavic Air 2 has REALLY impressed me so far...will its Return to Home performance stack up? Let's find out!

As always, we have these videos up on the YouTube channel to help guide you through these challenging economic times:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

The gear I want to share with you this week isn't as sexy as some of the other stuff I have.

However, my new G-Technology 10TB G-Drive is extremely important as it's a critical component of my backup protocol.

I use this in conjunction with my Synology DS918+ network attached storage and a small 2TB portable SSD drive for when I travel. This way, I have multiple locations where I can backup my work (including off-site cloud storage too).

This drive has performed like a champ and offers fast read/write speeds that make quick work of saving important files. Like I said, it's not the sexiest gear I own, but it sure is functional!

Photography quote of the week:

"My interest in photography is not to capture an image I see or even have in my mind, but to explore the potential of moments I can only begin to imagine." - Lois Greenfield

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

Portrait Tips for Women

Top Accessories for the DJI Mavic 2 Pro & Mavic 2 Zoom

Fujifilm GHFX 50S Review

The Best Drone Under $1,000: The DJI Mavic Air 2

How to Use a Graduated ND Filter

Long-Term Review: The Canon EOS 5DS R is Still a Great Camera

Fujifilm X-T4 Review

Best Items Photographers Need to Invest In

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.

Weekly Newsletter - May 26, 2020

I'm going to rename my home studio "Drone Central" because I've been doing SO many videos about drones lately.

I've got more coming up too - so I hope you enjoy them!

Anyway, here's all the latest videos in case you missed them:

• DJI Mavic Air 2 Hyperlapse Tutorial - DJI packed the Mavic Air 2 full of Hyperlapse intelligent flight modes. In this tutorial, I show you how to use all four so you can create epic videos of your own.
• PhotographyTalk Episode 26 - You might have heard that there is an exciting new camera on the horizon - the Panasonic GH6. Get the latest rumors on it as well as confirmations that the Nikon D6 will soon hit store shelves. Also, was the Canon EOS R5 price accidentally revealed? Find out in this week's PhotographyTalk episode!
• Mavic Air 2, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Mini Lift Test - The premise of this video is simple (and maybe a little silly too): which drone can lift the most weight?
• Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 Review - Some 70-200mm lenses are big and heavy, but not this RF version. It's small, lightweight, and beautifully built. Learn why I think this is a must-have lens in this quick review!

As always, we have these videos up on the YouTube channel to help guide you through these challenging economic times:

• 11 Success Tips for Working From Your Home
• How to Improve Your Photography Business in 2020
• Make Money as a Photographer in 2020

You might recall that I picked up a Canon EOS M6 Mark II a while back to serve as my secondary camera for shooting video.

I've really enjoyed this little guy, and find myself taking it with me to shoot still photos when I want to do a little run and gun photography.

I also LOVE the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 lens I bought to go with this camera. I actually had this same lens for my old Sony camera and was so impressed with it that I had to buy it in a Canon mount for the M6 Mark II.

This lens is small, lightweight, beautifully sharp, and is a rockstar for still photography and video. What more could I ask for?!

Photography quote of the week:

"My love of photography is melded with the ability to capture what I want to remember in the moment I want to never forget." - Devin Dygert

Editor's Pick for Inspirational Photo of the Week:

News Updates & Interesting Articles

My Favorite Landscape Photography Filter

How to Set Up a Photography Portfolio

Nude Photography: The Beginners Guide

3 Bargain DSLRs for 2020

Productivity Tips to Jumpstart Your Success

Lighting Setups for Portraits of Men

Advanced Drone Photography Tips: Planning and Strategy

Top 5 PC Laptops

P.S. Fancy some free video content to discover more and sharpen your skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today.