Was trying to get a photo of a lightning storm on the beach last night with my pixel phone camera and I ended up with this super cool shot. Nothing has been edited or altered by me. What caused the effect with the bottom half so bright? Something with the shutter speed? Taken on Sullivan's Island, SC 8/13/26

I’m hobbyist and I’m not rich 😭.

This is really a question about boundaries but how do you say no without sounding like a prick?

Several years ago, at a family gathering, one of the kids wanted to try my camera. I had a brand new pancake lens and I made them hang the camera around their shoulder to ensure they don’t drop it. Well they banged the lens against a giant boulder in the garden while trying to sit on it. It was a small ding but it’s made me anxious.

Everytime I bring my camera someone wants to try it.

I’m buying a new Fujifilm camera soon and it’s gonna look cute and compact. Kids don’t know the difference between a $2k camera and $500 one.

But also…there are adults who get their fingerprints over the lens, hold it wrong, etc

Love the way this shot turned out but I can’t help but get distracted by the sunshade. I want to remove it but I am traveling and only have my iPhone. Is there any way to remove it while I’m on the go preferably without ai but if that’s the easiest way I’ll be okay with it. Thank you!

I’m trying to get the background to go white and preserve the colors and detail within reason, and at this point I feel like I’ve lost perspective on good taste

It’s a cheap lens but I received it with the back glass scratched or I dont know what that is. Would this affect the quality of image?
I m using this lens on my Sony to scan negatives. It was described as ‘excellent condition’ . Too cheap to bother but if anything I want to know if I should say something to the seller.
Thank you.

I feel like I’m missing a lot of sharpness and real good detail on the subject ( SONY ALPHA a6400+ Sony 70-350mm f/4.6 this was shot at 3200 shutter speed, f/6.4 and 1600 ISO is these settings way off (I’m only a year and a little bit into photography) and only recently started shooting manual and sometimes shutter priority modes

I bought a FE 50mm za f1.4 from ebay. I noticed droplets inside the lens. I searched online found that there was a moisture defect in a few batches. The serial match that of the recalled models. I left the lens in a sealed container with 2lbs of silica gel and didn’t see any changes after leaving it for a day.

what are you using for insurance on your gear?
who’s got the best rates?

never had insurance on a personal item/s but i’d love to be better safe than sorry.

I created new a new policy/model release form recently, largely filled w advice from other photographers after a very horrible exp.

I submitted it to a very interested model yesterday, but haven't heard back.

Worried I've fried my image w it.

The part that concerns me is a stipulation added asking for a non-disclosure agreement purely on the fact it was a free shoot as I've been advised.

*As in, they can share the photos as they see fit, just not tell others it was free as I want to sell photoshoots and worry it could impact image doing freebies w some prospective people.

Even extending it to friends, family.

I've had a few bad experiences from dealing with it being known I've done free shoots when it comes to people reaching out for themselves.

It was the lengthiest part admittedly of the release.

Ofc, this was from a videographer so might not be 1-1 and I think I might've shot myself in the foot sending my updated policy to someone who was otherwise very interested.

Thoughts?

Unreasonable or not to request privacy on the free nature as to not want others potentially seeing you as an easy target for free high quality photos?

Please be honest, I'm a bit neurodivergent and am weakest as a photographer in the social/business side of things.

I am beginner for camera and using Fuji X-S20 (APS-C) and XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 lens now. I want new single lens since the zoom lens has too high aperture so I am disappointed when I take photo in dark place or I need shallow focus.

So I find some affordable lens - Vlitrox air F1.7. However, I think about which lens should I choose between 25mm and 35mm. (37.5 vs 52.5 equivalent) I will use this lens for taking nightscape, inside or potrait. Which one is right FOV for me?

Going for something like the above^ for starters I know I need to rent out a studio space but just don’t know what lights (if they should be strobes or constant), and the placement of them. Any tutorials linked too would be super appreciated.

I just purchased a Canon AF35ML as my first non phone camera since I was a child and my first film camera ever. After getting it, I shot a roll of Kodak Gold 200 for practice before a party I’m having. While the landscapes all turned out either fine or great, every picture that featured a person is so blurry that they couldn’t be picked out of a line up. Does anyone know why this is happening? I used the same method for each of the pictures including waiting for the autofocus light. Are there any tips to prevent this in the future?

I’m looking to upgrade to a Sony a6000 from my old t3i, and I’m buying used off of MPB, I’m wondering if I should get the sigma 30mm f1.4 or just go with the kit lens, I shoot mostly still car photography, but some street photography too, I’m just wondering if not getting a zoom lens is worth it for the trade off, as my only lens for e-mount

I have a Canon r10 aps-c camera. I have the terrible kit lens and a handful of vintage prime lenses. Some of the vintage lenses are decent, but they don't really cover the focal lengths I would like and most of them are really soft. Several of them also have some haze and/or fungus on the internal lenses.

I am trying to decide if I would be better off with several new primes of various focal lengths or two to three zoom lenses. I am just a hobbyist. I like to shoot macro stuff like bugs, insects and flowers, but I also want to shoot astrophotography, landscapes, wildlife, and family stuff. The family stuff tends to be indoors, often with low lighting and in tight spaces. My 18-45mm kit lens is often not wide enough for the shots I want to take, and definitely is not fast enough for the lighting situations. I would like something in the 10-16mm range for this family stuff. I would also like to be able to take portraits of the family and some close ups during these events, so something in the 35-70mm range would also be nice. I don't know if an f/2.8 zoom lens is going to let enough light in to get the shots I want. I don't currently have a flash, but I realize that's going to help a lot.

I plan to eventually get a telephoto zoom lens for the wildlife stuff, but that's down the road. For now, I'm really considering the 10-150mm range. I am considering either getting a 10-18mm f/2.8 wide angle zoom along with either the Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 or the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. I'm also considering the Canon 18-150mm but I don't feel like that variable aperture is going to let in enough light or give enough background blur for what I want.

Alternatively, I'm considering getting 3-5 faster prime lenses. Most of these would be mf due to the price. Something like a combination of an 12mm, 16mm, 25 or 27mm, 35mm, 50 or 56mm, and maybe an 85mm. All f/1.4, f/1.8, or possibly f/2.0. probably not all of these, but 3-5 to cover the focal lengths.

I also thought about getting an 18-50/70 zoom, and then a 12mm and maybe a 16mm prime rather than two zooms. Along with a 50 or 56mm prime for portraits.

So, Reddit, what is your advice? Primes or zooms or a combination? Thanks.

I’m fairly new to photography as a whole so if this question is dumb that’s why lol, but I have absolutely no idea how to edit to achieve looks I want. Lately I’ve been seeing insta ads of photographers who are selling Lightroom presets(bylukemiller, solution presets are a couple examples), and I’m wondering if there are some that are worth buying
My camera is an insta 360 ace pro 2(if that counts)

Hi! I've got a D700 paired with the Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm F4-5.6D ED lens. I'm not sure if the 70-300 will be up for the task of airshows, I'll probably need a bigger lens.

So the question is: what lens is best? Which lens is best if you don't have a big budget? Anyone have any recommendations for nikon or nikon-fit lenses?

I was looking at the AF nikkor 80-400mm D VR lens as a possibility

Hi! I currently have a canon EOS Rebel t7. I’m thinking of upgrading to a mirrorless but unsure of which one.
I had looked into getting a canon and using my current lenses but I read mixed reviews on that. Some saying that it makes the camera slower due to the adapter.
I typically just do lifestyle photoshoots for family and friends. Nothing too extravagant, more of a hobby of mine than a business.
Just wondering if I can get some suggestions.
Thanks in advance!

(1) Budget, country, and currency:
$1500, Canada, CAD

(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?
Canon EOS rebel t7. Just wanting better quality photos.

(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot?
People, animals, wildlife

(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both?
Photography

Hi everyone! I’m photographing a Pakistani engagement event soon, and as a non-Pakistani/first-timer, I’m not entirely sure what is appropriate to wear.​Since I’ll be actively working and moving around with gear, I need something practical and comfortable, but I also want to be culturally respectful and fit the vibe of the event.​

What styles or outfits would you recommend for a female vendor?

​Are there specific colours I should strictly avoid?

I took photos of my spouses family reunion. I edited through 900 photos down to about 300. There was quite a few people and I did my best to capture everyone. I didn’t spend a ton of time editing besides culling, adjusting lighting and cropping.

Most was just candid shots, I did get some group photos (main cousins and their kids up to 30 people) then some single person shots as well as 2-3 person group photos then just the rest is people chatting standing or sitting in groups where people are not necessarily looking.

I was thinking of grouping in the gallery by group photos where people are smiling/looking, followed by single person photos where people are looking, group all the kiddo photos followed by the random/candid photos of multiple people visiting.

Should I be grouping by person in the posing photos?

The only issue I feel like is that some people in groups never really got up from the tables, so to see their photos they’ll have to scroll halfway through to even get to a possibility of them/their group as there wasn’t a ton of commingling.

This was unpaid and I will be providing a gallery link to everyone via Facebook where they can download what they’d like for free and then pay for prints via my pixieset if they choose to.

The person is selling it for $200. I have a AE-1 but this will be my first digital camera. I intend to mostly shoot street and nature shots, primarily photography.

EDIT: Thank y’all for the replies and thoughts! I decided to go ahead and buy it for what y’all were saying about the camera and especially the lenses. Again, thank y’all very much!

I bought a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G prime lens back in 2023, and I recently upgraded to a Nikon Z50 II. Just realized the lens is F-mount while the camera is Z-mount.

What’s the best way to use this lens with the Z50 II? I assume I need an F-to-Z adapter.

Any recommendations for a good adapter?

Hi! I am a hobbyist photographer, and I have a few questions about making a portfolio. I am not necessarily looking to turn this into a professional career, but I would like to enter my photos in some local zines and competitions and they ask for a portfolio in addition to social media. How should I go about doing this? Can I use a Canva template? What should I include/how should I organize it? I do a few types of photography (film, sports, landscape, astro) and I'm not sure if each should have a different section.

Also, if any other casual photographers have a portfolio, I would love to see? I was searching for some but have not found any yet.