A recent post about light meters on my Facebook page created a lot of debate and many photographers defended their use, which of course is absolutely OK. I’m not saying you can’t use them, I’m only here to explain why for me they are a waste of money and can negatively affect creativity. Please read on if you have an …
3D modeling for photographers
3D modeling and CGI are incredibly relevant to photography nowadays and many photographers are questioning whether it’s worth their time to learn this new skill. I’ve put together a basic guide to getting started with CGI and how it can be used hand in hand with photography. Our 3D modeling & CGI class, presented with Viktor Fejes, provide an introduction …
March 2019 ‘Motion’ Competition Winners
‘Motion’ was the theme for our March 2019 competition and we were excited to once again give away some great prizes to our members. First prize up for grabs was a Manfrotto 057 Carbon Fiber Tripod while second and third place winners received a Lee Filters The Super Stopper and Lee Filters Filter Foundation Kit respectively. 1st Place – Rich …
How to focus stack in Photoshop
I’ve had a lot of members asking me what focus stacking is, when to use it and how to focus stack images in Photoshop. Here you’ll find the answers to all those questions and learn how, using Photoshop, you can get the whole of your image sharp in just a few simple steps. Sometimes, regardless of what camera settings you …
Ocean pollution awareness campaign
“It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life” — Rachel Carson, marine biologist & author. Oceans are vital to human health — they generate half the oxygen we breathe and provide homes for many species that enable us to exist. They regulate …
Behind the scenes: The making of the Manfrotto ProLight Reloader Air-55 commercial
When Manfrotto approached me to film a commercial for their new Pro Light Reloader Air-55 camera bag, although I was excited, I knew it would be a big and challenging project. Designed for photographers who regularly travel for work, the concept of the video was to show off the features of the new bag, including the convenient carry on size, …
Jewellery photography: Top tips for how to photograph jewellery
Watches, rings and necklaces all present a unique set of challenges when it comes to photographing them. Their smooth, shiny surfaces cause chaotic reflections, their size and the high magnification required means it’s incredibly difficult to achieve sufficient depth of field. In our series of jewellery photography classes I show you step by step exactly how to photograph jewellery but …
Product photography: How to photograph glasses
Having shot advertising images of designer eyewear for Lagerfeld, Boss, Red or Dead and Hilfiger, this genre of product photography is certainly an area of expertise for Karl. Product photography is about making your product look desirable, but the size, reflective surfaces and varied textures you find in glasses means it can be very difficult to do this. In this …
Live Talk Show with Special Guest Ben Thomas
Ben Thomas is an award winning photographer who has garnered global attention with his hyperrealistic imagery of urban and city spaces. Ben’s most recent achievement was earning the prestigious title of Hasselblad Master. His work earned him first place in the Street/Urban category, where he was up against a record-breaking number of entries. His imagery, which makes use of techniques …
Creative Portrait Techniques Live Show
Do you feel stuck, like you’ve tried every lighting setup there is for portrait photography and run out of new ideas? Studio lighting for portrait photography can often look very similar to other photograph’s work, but with a little inspiration and advice, you can add your own creative twist to create something unique. In this live show Karl will be …
Live Cosmetics Shoot
In this live photography show Karl will be demonstrating how to light and photograph cosmetic product shots. Cosmetics can be complex objects to light — they’re often small and can feature different textures. Taking the time to analyse your product is the first step, and in this show you’ll see why this is so important. Karl will then show you …
Members Critique: Landscape Part 2
In this members picture critique Karl will be critiquing and providing professional feedback on landscape images. This informative show will give members who submitted their images before Part 1 an opportunity to receive professional advice and learn from other photographers work. Karl will be discussing what makes a successful landscape photograph, advising how to improve as well as sharing some …
How to photograph clear liquids: Gin/Vodka product photography
In this live photography workshop Karl will demonstrate how to effectively light and photograph clear bottles, such as gin and vodka. You’ll learn some of the most important techniques and tricks for creating effective advertising-style product images quickly and effectively.
Liquid Art and Motion Live Show
In this liquid art and motion live show Karl will demonstrate how photographing fast moving liquids is less about luck and more about planning and technique. He will show you how to photograph stunning splash shots and explain how, following certain steps, you can get great shots each time.
December 2018 ‘Red’ Photography Competition Winners
With the big prize of a Canon 5D Mark IV up for grabs, the competition was fierce for our December competition. As the theme was ‘Red’, it was quite open to interpretation, which meant there really was a wide variety of images to choose from. It was great to see the creativity of our members really coming out and see …
Submit your landscape photography image for our live critique
In this members picture critique Karl will be critiquing and providing professional feedback on landscape images. This informative show will give members an opportunity to submit their own images, receive professional advice and learn from other photographers work. Karl will be discussing what makes a successful landscape photograph, how to improve as well as sharing some useful post production techniques …
Tim Flach and Karl Taylor Photography Workshop: A Visual Journey
Animal and fine art photographer Tim Flach will be joining Karl Taylor for a unique photography workshop. They’ll be exploring the science behind our visual system and revealing how you can take your photography to a whole new level.
Live Photography Talk Show with Special Guest Anna Pustynnikova
In this live photography talk show Karl will be joined by Russian food photographer and stylist Anya Pustynnikova. Together they’ll discuss Anya’s career, her top tips for food photography and how to make it in the industry.
Anna Pustynnikova Live Food Photography Show
In this live food photography workshop top Russian food photographer and stylist Anya Pustynnikova will be returning to Karl Taylor Education to demonstrate how to photograph and style food.
Submit your product image for our live critique
In this members picture critique Karl will be critiquing and providing professional feedback on product images. He will be discussing what makes a successful product image, how to improve as well as sharing some useful post production techniques that you could use for your future shots.
Product Photography – How to photograph a high-end handbag
In this live product photography workshop I will show you how to effectively photograph handbags, explaining how to overcome the most common problems. From the lighting to styling, I’ll show you each step of the shoot, answering your questions live as I go.
How to use Photoshop: Common retouching mistakes and how to avoid them
We caught up with professional retoucher Viktor Fejes to find out some of the common mistakes he sees in Photoshop and how to avoid them.
October 2018 ‘Macro’ Photography Competition Winners
View the October 2018 ‘Macro’ Photography Competition winners on Karl Taylor Education. For our October competition we were transported into the close up world of Macro photography. Prizes included a Lee Filters Foundation Kit, a Lee Filters Big Stopper and a Lee Filters Long Exposure Kit.
Viktor Fejes: Life as a professional retouch artist
Viktor Fejes took the first steps towards a career as a retoucher at the age of eight years old, but it wasn’t until years later that he realized that’s where life would take him. Read more about his career as a professional retoucher ahead oh his live shows on Karl Taylor Education here.
Portrait Photography: How to take better business portraits
As a commercial photographer business portraits are still a regular feature in my calendar. Here I’ve outlined the key elements to ensure you’re able to successfully tackle a business shoot, including lighting setups, posing your subject and recommended camera settings and lenses.
How to retouch like a professional: The secret to efficient photo editing
We caught up with professional retoucher Viktor Fejes ahead of his live shows on Karl Taylor Education to find out how you can optimize your retouching workflow and retouch like a professional, and his answers might surprise you.
LIVE Retouching with Viktor Fejes
In this live retouching show members will have an opportunity to submit their own images for professional retoucher Viktor Fejes to retouch. He’ll be explaining his retouching process, offering professional advice and sharing a number of useful retouching tips as he works through the image.
Pack Shots Product Photography
Speed and efficiency are key when it comes to doing pack shots, which is why it’s important that you have a lighting setup that’s both suitable and simple. In this live photography workshop I’ll be demonstrating effective studio lighting setups for pack shots and explaining everything you need to know to ensure a great result each time.
Product Photography – How to photograph footwear
In this live product photography show I’ll be showing you how to photograph footwear, demonstrating a number of useful techniques and explaining what you should be thinking about when shooting.
Macro Photography: Tips to take better macro pictures
Macro photography is a popular genre of photography that can yield some fascinating results. I’ve put together a complete guide to help you get started and quickly improve your macro photography.
Live Flat Lay Photography Workshop
In this live photography workshop I’ll be showing you how to take your own flat lay photographs. From lighting to styling, I’ll show you how to achieve great results that require minimal retouching
Live Talk Show with Professional Retoucher Viktor Fejes
Viktor Fejes will be joining Karl in studio to discuss his work, the reasons for retouching and the future of the retouching industry. They will be taking your questions live, so make sure to join them for this insightful live show.
Daria Belikova – All in the name of beauty
Daria Belikova on Karl Taylor Education | See what rising fashion star Daria Belikova had to say about her career, inspiration and unique style ahead of her live interview on Karl Taylor Education.
Lighting Modifiers: Softboxes
Softboxes are popular modifiers that are well suited to many genres of photography. Here I explain the advantages, disadvantages and effects of softboxes as well as offer some alternatives.
Studio Photography – Finding the right studio
For many photographers there comes a point when you think about opening your own studio. It’s a daunting step forward, and one that requires careful consideration. If you’re thinking about opening your own studio, whether it be buying or renting, there are a few important things to think about…
Submit your Fashion and Beauty Image for our live critique
In this live show Karl will be looking at fashion and beauty images submitted by members, sharing his thoughts and advice on how to take stand-out images. This live show will provide an opportunity for members to receive feedback on their image, understand what makes an effective picture and watch as Karl demonstrates effective retouching techniques. He’ll demonstrate how, with …
The Best Photography Books
Over the years I’ve built up quite a collection of photography books and as many of you have asked what my favorites are, I thought I’d put together a list of my favorite inspirational and educational photography books.
How to set up a small photography studio
Shooting in a small studio can be challenging, but it isn’t impossible. There are a number of things you can do to make working in limited space easier and more effective, which is what I recently showed when I set up a small studio for a friend’s business.
Lighting modifiers: The beauty dish
The beauty dish is often a popular lighting modifier among fashion and beauty photographers because of its versatility and unique light. In my next live show I’ll show you exactly what you can achieve with it and demonstrate how you can modify it even further.
Photographing Products with LEDs & display screens
From iPhones to kettles, self-illuminating dials, LCD screens or LED lights are key components of many products nowadays and while many photographers find it difficult, it’s actually quite simple. For our next live show I’ll be showing you how to photograph a voice recorder that has both self-illuminating illuminating buttons and a LCD screen.