There are many free online gallery options, however paying for any of the following comes with added perks that can revolutionize and automate parts of your business.  In this article, we’ll discuss the most popular options available and give you our verdict on the best one.

Outline:

• How to Choose an Online Gallery for Photographers
• ShootProof
• Pixieset
• Zno
• Pixpa
• SmugMug
• Pixellu Galleries
• Photonesto
• Pass
• Pic-time
• Zenfolio
• Photoshelter
• Conclusion

How to Choose an Online Gallery for Photographers

Sign up for trials whenever available and thoroughly analyze the features and experience.  Switching services is cumbersome, so making a good initial decision is important.

When choosing the right online gallery, consider the following characteristics of the company:

• All levels of their pricing – Your online gallery storage needs will only increase over time.  Image file sizes are getting bigger with each generation of cameras, and you’ll also be adding many more shoots that you’ll be deleting.  This is why it’s critical to think long term.  Compare both the plan that you currently need as well as their highest plan with competitors to make a sound decision.
• Aesthetics – The aesthetics of the gallery is a factor, but perhaps an overrated factor.  Yes, the gallery should look and feel beautiful and high end.  However, a client may or may not notice small design differences between galleries.
• Features for the photographer – What other features and integrations does the gallery offer?  Some of these services offer additional features like a website and hosting, a Lightroom plugin for uploading photos, client and photographer contract templates, slideshows, and integrations.  Check to see if you need any of these additional features and weigh your options.
• Features for the client – Do they offer a good client experience?  Is it easy to access?  For example, some of these gallery options have apps for the clients to download and easily view/share their images.  Is that important to you?
• Longevity and growth – Will the company add features and grow with your studio?  Or is it struggling to stay afloat?  A company getting stagnant, not keeping up with tech, or even worse, going out of business could be a big hassle for you down the line.

With that said, let’s get into the best options.

ShootProof

ShootProof is one of the larger industry leaders for online photo galleries, and their main focus is on client-proofing and providing clients with excellent access to purchasing options for prints and downloads.

From the photographer’s perspective, ShootProof’s user interface is surprisingly fluid and easy to use, and they have plenty of tutorial videos for all of their tools. They also give you a lot of flexibility regarding the format and presentation of your galleries, something missing from most free gallery options.

Some of their security options are great for controlling how you share your work, with password and PIN-protected galleries, print releases, watermarking features, and the option to limit the number of downloads a visitor can make.

And instead of taking a cut from each of your sales, ShootProof operates on either monthly or annual subscription charges instead. You can try their trial 100-photo plan for free or pay $100/year for a 1,500-photo plan, $200/year for a 5,000-photo plan, $300/year for a 25,000-photo plan, or $600/year for a completely unlimited plan. Each plan comes with unlimited galleries, digital contracts, invoicing and brand development tools, and access to the mobile app. The unlimited plan also includes free archiving.

Because of its strong set of features, Shootproof is our recommended online gallery.

Pixieset

Like ShootProof, Pixieset operates on a flat subscription fee rather than charging you commissions for every transaction that you make through them, unless you are using the free account in which case they charge a 15% commission.

All paying subscribers have the option to connect Pixieset with their own domain and replace all of Pixieset’s branding with your own for a more professional client gallery. Clients are able to mark their favorite pictures using the Pixieset Favoriting tool, allowing you to track and download whatever they select.

All of their subscription options will allow your clients to create a mobile app of their photo gallery to preview images fast and easy. You also have the option to build your own professional portfolio site and blog, with tracking, and analytics integrations, and SSL security for an extra $12/month. In 2021, they released Studio Manager – a business app designed to help photographers enhance client onboarding, allowing you to create and send branded contracts, invoices and questionnaires, with booking and scheduling on the roadmap.

Their suite plans, which combine client galleries, online store, studio manager, and website, cost $28/month for 1000GB, and $48/month for unlimited space.

Their suite plans, which combine an online store, website, mobile app, and client gallery, cost $28/month for 1000GB, and $48/month for unlimited space.

Zno

This cloud-based gallery stands tall among the best in the batch of client photo galleries for a number of reasons.

When you register an account on Zno.com, you automatically get access to 1GB of storage on Zno Gallery. With a Basic level account (set at just $5/month), you can share, deliver, and proof your images. As a powerful and client-friendly tool, the Gallery allows your clients to select and download their favorite photos, which you can also track. Of course, you have the option to set the permissions for the gallery to not allow downloads, depending on your arrangements with your clients.

To keep your professional looking gallery on brand, you can customize the colors and add your logo. Furthermore, with a basic plan, you can send the gallery to a client through Zno using an unbranded URL, meaning only your brand will be represented.

Finally, yet another way that Zno Gallery stands out is through its integration with Zno Estore, an online store that you can use to sell prints, albums, and wall art with the images featured in your galleries. The online store allows you to set your own prices, doesn’t take a commission (other companies can charge 15% or more), and offers automatic fulfillment for printing and shipping your products to your customers.

Zno Gallery on its own is fantastic, but it’s worth noting that it is also part of a powerful all-in-one platform for photographers, which recently introduced a new Fulfillment Apps Bundle to make the Zno collection of apps more affordable than ever.

[Related Reading: The Best Online Album Proofing Options for Photographers]

Pixpa

Pixpa stands out from other online gallery options by enabling photographers to manage their online galleries along with a professional portfolio website, blog, and store – all in one place. Pixpa is also the most affordable option, with all-inclusive, flat-fees pricing plans ranging from $5 – $25 per month. Discounted yearly and 2-yearly plans are also available. All plans come with a 15 days free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. All plans offer the ability to connect a custom domain name, generous storage space, unlimited bandwidth, SSL certificates and 24×7 live chat support. You can add more storage space to any plan – $10 for 100Gb to $45 for unlimited storage.

Pixpa’s full-featured Online Galleries platform is included in all plans (except Basic) and enables you to share, proof, deliver and sell your images with style and simplicity. You can create unlimited client albums with multiple galleries in each album, enabling clients to mark favourites, download, and buy images easily. Selling images as prints and downloads is a breeze with custom price lists, discount coupons and an easy, smooth checkout experience. You can also create exclusive, personalised mobile gallery apps for clients to share your images with them.

Pixpa’s portfolio website builder also stands out with 150+ premium templates that can be fully customised. You can easily add an integrated online store, blog, marketing popups, ecommerce-enabled galleries and over 150+ apps and integrations to power up your portfolio website without touching a line of code.

Overall, Pixpa offers a great feature-rich package at a very affordable price, making it a great option for photographers looking for an all-in-one platform to showcase, share and sell their work online.

SmugMug

Unlike most of the online gallery options on this list, SmugMug doesn’t have any free account options, although users can try out their free 14-day trial period to get a feel for their platform. SmugMug has been operating since 2002, meaning they have weathered the age of Canon and Kodak and will most likely be around for many years to come.

Another perk to SmugMug is that every one of their plans comes with an unlimited amount of storage space and galleries, and you can easily import your photos from other platforms like Dropbox and Flickr. The downside is however that you need to purchase their more expensive options in order to have full control of your site’s e-commerce, and they have been criticized for having a cluttered user interface, although this is in part due to the amount of customizable gallery options they give.

Their basic plan starts at $7/month and comes with a fully customizable website, an easy drag-and-drop gallery organization system, password protection, email and social media integrations for quick sharing, and access to their print lab.

Their Portfolio plan, which is billed at $27/month, is where you start to have more control over your e-commerce with a Turnkey storefront, e-commerce gallery optimization, multiple options to fulfill print orders, download sales, and the ability to set your prices store-wide. You can also use your own domain name with this option. For $41.99/month, you can create custom price lists and coupons for individual clients, group multiple galleries under single events so customers can access all of the relevant photos and choose their favorites, brand your shipping orders, and give clients additional gift-wrapping options.

Smugmug offers the best pricing, and it’s a great option for those looking for a great solution at a great price.

Pixellu Galleries

Pixellu was initially known for their slideshow software, SmartSlides, an Animoto alternative and their SmartAlbums, a Fundy alternative for album design.  However, they recently announced their client photo galleries, and they are worth considering.   The Pixellu team’s primary focus is solving three specific problems:

• Usability – They’ve simplified the upload process into a three-step workflow (upload, customization, and delivery).
• Limited Layout Options – They offer multiple text and layout options for the client galleries.
• Slow Loading Times – They’ve optimized their galleries for fast loading for both the photographer and the client.

The rest of their feature set is comparable with the other Online Galleries like Pixieset and Pass, with reasonable pricing starting at $8/month.  This should be your Online Gallery of choice if you already use SmartSlides or SmartAlbums, as you can get ALL three for $40/month.  This can potentially save you significant money if you can eliminate the need to pay for these types of services separately.

Read our more detailed breakdown here.

Photonesto

Photonesto is mostly known for its easily customizable online galleries and user-friendly system for selling photos online. The images in their photo albums are always presented with a clean, beautiful aesthetic.  Their password protected galleries work quickly and reliably and are tailored for every device.  For the end user,  the photo selection is made intuitively by marking the chosen photos with a star, and each selection is signed with the customer’s email address.

In addition, proofing galleries are password-protected and pictures within them are secured with watermarks. Other useful features include,  e-mail templates, currencies support, activity log storing all events, sale of additional products (prints, photo painting, etc.) and 24/7 technical support.

Photonesto is also unique because of their prcing model, where subscription is not required – basically, you pay for what you use. Online photo album prices vary depending on the publication period (3, 6 or 12 months) and the size of the album.  For example, choosing 6 months publication period, one small album (up to 1 GB of data – about 100 photos in full resolution) is $5.50, medium album (up to 3 GB of data- approx. 300 photos in full resolution) – $6.00, large album (no data limit – unlimited number of photos) – $6.50.

For more information, click here.

Pass

Pass has been around for roughly a decade, and they are mostly known for catering to wedding photographers and other professional photographers who deal with large quantities of photos per gallery or event. This means that they have great upload and download speeds to and from their platform, and they feature fluid social media integrations that allow your clients to easily share their favorite picture to their social media feeds with a backlink to your work, spreading your brand through word of mouth. Their gallery setup has a pinterest-esque feel to it, allowing clients to easily move through large volumes of content.

And best of all, they have expanded their free account options to up to 6,000 photos or 20GB of storage. Free accounts are charged a 15% fee on all purchases, and come with unlimited galleries, the use of your own logo in client galleries, an online smart store, mobile app, a portfolio site, and sales & marketing help.

Paid accounts start at $17/month for 30,000 photos or 100GB of storage and include the above without the 15% purchase fee, along with email marketing and additional album design options. Their unlimited account is $34/month and comes with the above as well as a full professional website and blog.

Pic-Time

Pic-Time operates as more of an integrated workspace for photographers rather than just being a stand-alone online gallery space. Their platform has Lightroom integrations and syncing, and also comes with some great marketing tools that help you to make coupons, promo codes, and a range of marketing campaigns for your products.

Their platform is also well known for its easy-to-use and beautiful aesthetics on both the photographer’s end and the client’s. Customers can select their favorite shots and build their own albums, and the range of prints available through Pic-Time, including calendars and greeting cards, allows any photographer to increase their product range.

Pic-Time has a comprehensive range of pricing plans with three client gallery options, three art gallery options, and three bundle plans. Client galleries start at just $17/month for 100GB of storage or $34/month for unlimited storage with the option for you to add multiple brands for $16 each. These options all include an online store, marketing platforms, customizable products, GIF and video integration, shipping rerouting, customizable domain names and more.

The art gallery options have a similar option for expanding your operation to cover multiple brands, and the prices start at just $10/month, although this art gallery package comes with a 15% sales commission. You would need to purchase the $17/month art gallery option for commission-free sales.

Zenfolio

Zenfolio has a similar setup to SmugMug, but what sets them apart is a much easier to use interface, and more features in their cheaper plans.

They also streamline the dialogue between clients and photographers, since clients are able to browse photo galleries and select their favorites, and photographers are then able to access those favorite lists and open them directly in Lightroom using a special plugin.

The Portfolio plan is a cheap $5/month and comes with 15GB of storage space, an Instagram feed, the ability to use your own domain name, social media integrations, and shareable photo galleries. The $10/month Pro account comes with an easy-to-use website builder, unlimited photos and videos, custom watermarks, an online store, client proofing, access to print labs, online payment processing, and a selection of marketing tools such as gift certificates and email reminders.

Their advanced plan is probably one of the most attractive options on this list, at just $15/month. This comes with specialized features for school, sports, and event photographers, a post-shoot green screen, multiple user accounts for larger businesses, the ability to set your own shipping methods, the creation of mini-sites to target specific events, boutique packaging options and much more.

PhotoShelter

Right away, one of the most attractive aspects of PhotoShelter is their image proofing system that gives photographers a wide range of easily customizable options for presenting and delivering photos to clients. Customers also have the option to rate and comment on pictures they like, giving photographers instant feedback on what works and what doesn’t, and the use of FTP and password-protected links makes sharing photos easier than ever.

One of the downsides though is that there is a commission fee between 8% and 10% on all sales regardless of the plan that you purchase. This downside is offset by the fact that every plan comes with free self-fulfillment of orders, and the platform supports 23 global currencies as well as PayPal, so there are almost no geographical limitations to your customer base.

Each of their plans comes with 9 HTML5 site templates, a custom domain name, Vimeo, Instagram, WordPress, and Tumblr integrations, SEO marketing and social media sharing tools, their mobile app, and the ability to sell prints and license photos. The basic plan for $12.99/month only comes with 4GB of cloud storage though, which is comparatively low compared to competitors, and this package does not come with a client proofing tool which their other two options do include. The standard $29.99/month plan gives you the above plus 100GB of online storage, while the $49.99/month gives you unlimited storage.

Conclusion

When it comes to professional online photo galleries, there really is no “right” option.  Each has a set of pros and cons, some are better looking than others, and some offer more features than others.  Switching galleries is a hassle, so signing up for a free trial and doing proper homework is critical.  You will likely be married to your final choice for a long time.   Ask yourself, what is the best option for you now and years down the line.  Will the price creep up and out of control as you add more images?  Do you trust that the company is well managed, and that the company will be around in 5-10 years?  These are all factors to consider.

But we’d love to hear from you.  What is your favorite online gallery? If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in our thoughts on the Best Studio Management Software and our thoughts on the Best Website Builders for Photographers.

In previous articles, we’ve covered iPhone Photography Tips to improve your mobile photography skills; and in today’s piece, we’ll be looking at the best iPhone camera accessories to expand your creative toolkit. Professional photographers and enthusiasts alike use these accessories to make their iPhone camera better and more dynamic, while helping their photos and videos stand out.

Tripods, Mounts and Straps

A tripod is a three-legged support used to keep the camera steady and prevent blur caused by shaky hands. With the right tripod and mount, you can take sharp, clear, and well-composed photos with your iPhone. There are various types of tripods and mounts available for iPhone, including tabletop tripods, flexible tripods, and clamp mounts.

Joby GripTight ONE Mount

One of the best tripods for iPhone is the Joby GripTight ONE Mount. It is a flexible tripod that can be wrapped around any object and features a spring-loaded grip that can accommodate any phone model. It also has a 360-degree rotating head, which enables you to adjust your iPhone’s angle easily.

DJI Osmo Mobile 4 Gimbal

As they say, “Optical and digital image/video stabilization isn’t enough for iPhone photographers.” If that’s the case with you, you can buy the DJI Osmo Mobile 4 Gimbal to keep your iPhone super stable and smooth when you are shooting.

Whether you are jumping, walking, or running, DJI Osmo Mobile 4 Gimbal makes sure that your photos or videos are buttery smooth and stable. Although investing in this accessory can cost you a bit, it’s undoubtedly one of the best accessories to make iPhone camera better.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Joby GorillaPod GripTight One

Like its big brother, the original GorillaPods, GorillaPod GripTight One by Joby is versatile, has bendable legs, and has a sturdy build quality. If you are serious about getting outstanding shots from absolutely any setting, GripTight One has got your back.

GripTight One features rubber feet that provide stable grip across all surfaces, flexible legs, and more to be the contender of one of the best iPhone camera accessories.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Moment Neck Strap

Breaks are essential, and in those breaks, Neck Strap by Moment can come in as a helping hand. This high-quality neck strap will hold your iPhone for you when need to free your hands.

Moment Neck Strap can be adjusted from 37 inches to 44 inches, and it’s made up of high-quality American leather. According to the official website of Moment Neck Strap, every piece in the strap is hand-made – making it one of the best iPhone camera accessories.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

iPhone Lenses

Lenses are another essential accessory for iPhone photography. They can help you capture a wider field of view, zoom in on distant objects, and add creative effects to your photos. Some of the most popular types of lenses for iPhone include wide-angle lenses, telephoto lenses, and fisheye lenses.

Moment Lenses

Moment lenses are one of the must-have accessories to make the iPhone camera better! Moment lenses are available in various specifications like macro, wide-angle, fish-eye, telephoto, and more.

One of the best lens options for iPhone is the Moment Wide 18mm Lens. It’s a high-quality lens that offers a wider field of view than the iPhone’s built-in camera. This lens is ideal for landscape and architectural photography, and it also works well for capturing group photos and selfies.

You can buy any of the Moment lenses and pop them directly on the top of your iPhone’s camera. Note that Moment lenses won’t improve the quality of the image but significantly alter the angle of view and make your shots stand out.

Also, note that Moment Lenses can only be used with the Moment cases!

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Sandmarc Lenses

Sandmarc lenses, much like the Moment ones mentioned above are also on the must-have accessories list to make the iPhone camera better! Sandmarc lenses are available in various bundles and styles like macro, wide-angle, fish-eye, telephoto, and anamorphic.

You can buy any of the Sandmarc lenses and pop them directly on the top of your iPhone’s camera. And as an added bonus, the Sandmarc lenses come with a clip-mount so that you can use them without a specific case. And you can use them on any smartphone camera, not just the iPhone!

Check Pricing & Availability Here: B&H | Amazon

iPhone Lighting Accessories

Lighting is crucial for photography, and it’s no different when it comes to iPhone photography. Good lighting can help you capture bright, vibrant, and sharp photos, while poor lighting can result in blurry or grainy images. There are various types of lighting accessories available for iPhone, including LED lights, ring lights, and portable softbox kits.

Lumecube Lighting Kit

One of the best lighting options for iPhone is the Lume Cube 2.0. It’s a small, portable LED light that can be mounted directly onto your iPhone. This light is waterproof and features adjustable brightness levels, making it ideal for outdoor and indoor photography.

This lighting kit is definitely one of the best iPhone camera accessories for professional mobile photographers.

Lumecube Lighting Kit produces 1500 lumens of bright light, and it comes with a cube and a smartphone mount. To give your shots a professional look, this kit comes with filters and diffusers. And because of their small size, you can take them anywhere! Lastly, Lumecube Lightning Kit is one of the best iPhone camera accessories to emulate studio lighting – use it to believe it.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon | Lume Cube

Auxiwa Clip-On Light

Photos and videos are all about lighting. Even the iPhone’s camera can get sluggish in low-light situations. And that’s precisely where you’ll find the Auxiwa Clip-On Light useful! With the Auxiwa Clip-On Light, you just need to clip it on, and you are ready to shoot.

The Auxiwa Clip-On Light features 36 LEDs and three intensity modes that are perfect for absolutely any setting.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Amazon

iPhone Microphone Accessories

Good audio can be the difference between professional quality video and an amateur one.  For iPhone filmmakers, consider investing in an iPhone microphone.

Rode VideoMic Me-L

iPhone’s camera is considered to be one of the most capable video cameras today. But it lacks microphone quality. And that’s where Rode VideoMic Me-L can come in handy. VideoMic Me-L by Rode features a directional microphone with an integrated lightning connector. iPhone camera users who want crystal clear audio quality and eliminate background noises won’t find a better fix than Rode VideoMic Me-L.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Remote Shutter Release iPhone Accessories

A remote shutter release is a device that allows you to trigger your iPhone’s camera from a distance, without having to physically touch your phone. This can be particularly useful when taking selfies, group photos, or long-exposure shots. There are various types of remote shutter release options available for iPhone, including Bluetooth remotes, wired remotes, and self-timer apps.

Movo PR-1 Smartphone Grip

One of the best remote shutter release options for iPhone is the Movo PR-1 Smartphone Grip. It’s a versatile grip that can be used as a tripod mount, a selfie stick, and a remote shutter release. It connects to your iPhone via Bluetooth, allowing you to trigger the camera from up to 30 feet away.

iPhone Storage and Batteries

Finally, storage is an essential aspect of iPhone photography. With high-resolution photos and videos, it’s easy to run out of storage space quickly. Fortunately, there are various types of storage options available for iPhone, including iCloud storage, external hard drives, and USB drives.

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive

One of the best storage options for iPhone is the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive. It’s a small USB drive that can be used to transfer files between your iPhone and computer. It also features an app that allows you to automatically back up your photos and videos, freeing up valuable storage space on your iPhone.

Moment Pro Photo Battery Case

Moment Pro Photo Battery case serves four purposes: it provides juice to your battery, protects your phone, has a DSLR shutter button, and complements Moment lenses. It’s an all-in-one case for people who are serious about leveling up their iPhone camera game.

Moment Pro Photo Battery Case is great for all the iPhone photographers who need something that’s packed full of features.

Check Pricing & Availability Here: B&H | Amazon

Conclusion

If you have the best iPhone camera accessories at your disposal, then believe us, you have got everything to boost your photography potential. The products we listed are all affordable and readily available so be sure to use them and take your iPhone photography experience to a whole new level.

Famous and Inspiring Photography Quotes

Photography is more than just an art form. Photography is a way to capture history, to express a thought, to freeze a moment in time, share an emotion and much more. To each individual, photography has a unique purpose and meaning.

The personal facet of photography makes reading and analyzing photography quotes an interesting exercise and a way to find inspiration. As you’ll see from our massive list of photography quotes, which we’ll update annually, each photographer and thought leader has a unique and interesting perspective on photography.

Photography Quotes on the Importance of Photography

The world moves fast, changing everything around us with each new day. Photography is a gift that can keep us in a moment forever, blissfully eternal

-Ali Novak

The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do

-Andy Warhol

A tear contains an ocean. A photographer is aware of the tiny moments in a person’s life that reveal greater truths.

-Anon

A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense and is thereby a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety

-Ansel Adams

Photography Quotes Related to Feeling and Emotion

Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.

-Don McCullin

Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field

-Peter Adams

Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.

-Aaron Siskind

A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed

Photography Quotes Related to People

It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter

-Alfred Eisenstaedt

A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people

-Annie Leibovitz

Photography Quotes Related to Vision

The thing I love about photography is that for just a moment, you can make everyone else look at the world the way you see it.

-Amy Spalding

Photography Quotes Related to Lighting

Wherever there is light, one can photograph

-Alfred Stieglitz

Photography Quotes Related to Photo Editing

If Photoshop is the answer, you’re asking the wrong question

-Dean Farrell

Inspirational Photography Quotes

Once the amateur’s naive approach and humble willingness to learn fades away, the creative spirit of good photography dies with it. Every professional should remain always in his heart an amateur.

-Alfred Eisenstaedt

In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality

-Alfred Stieglitz

Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.

-Ambrose Bierce

In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes

-Andy Warhol

The best images are the ones that retain their strength and impact over the years, regardless of the number of times they are viewed

-Anne Geddes

I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place could be photographed

-Annie Leibovitz

One doesn’t stop seeing. One doesn’t stop framing. It doesn’t turn off and turn on. It’s on all the time.

-Annie Leibovitz

The camera makes you forget you’re there. It’s not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.

-Annie Leibovitz

When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them. Anyone I know I photograph

-Annie Leibovitz

Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.

-Anon

Once photography enters your bloodstream, it is like a disease.

-Anon

Once you learn to care, you can record images with your mind or on film. There is no difference between the two.

-Anon

Taking an image, freezing a moment, reveals how rich reality truly is.

-Anon

When people ask me what equipment I use I tell them my eyes.

-Anon

You don’t take a photograph. You ask quietly to borrow it.

-Anon

A good photograph is knowing where to stand.

-Ansel Adams

A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.

-Ansel Adams

Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer – and often the supreme disappointment.

-Ansel Adams

Photography is an austere and blazing poetry of the real.

-Ansel Adams

Sometimes I arrive just when God’s ready to have someone click the shutter.

-Ansel Adams

The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score and the print the performance.

-Ansel Adams

The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!

-Ansel Adams

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.

-Ansel Adams

There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs

-Ansel Adams

There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept

-Ansel Adams

To the complaint, ‘There are no people in these photographs,’ I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer

-Ansel Adams

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence

-Ansel Adams

You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved

-Ansel Adams

You don’t take a photograph, you make it

-Ansel Adams

Me and my Photographs are a bit romantic. I do not take photographs in a normal light. Either at sunrise, or sundown, or early in the morning. Besides I want to explain something in every frame. Every image has to have a message.

-Ara Güler

A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart.

-Arnold Newman

In photography there are no shadows that cannot be illuminated

-August Sander

Photography helps people to see

-Berenice Abbott

If you really want to become a better photographer don’t save other photographers good photographs to your computer. Save it to your heart, then you can take better picture than that picture in similar situations.

-Biju Karakkonam

Only a photographer can stop the time. Just by one click.

-Biju Karakkonam

The beauty of Photography is not in what you see, its art lies in your dreams.

-Biju Karakkonam

Photography has no rules, it is not a sport. It is the result which counts, no matter how it is achieved

-Bill Brandt

In photography and as in life, it is the strong contrasts between dualities that make things interesting and beautiful…particularly speaking, darkness has to exist and be present in order for light to glow, and have meaning and purpose.

-Bodhi Smith

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you

-Brigitte Bardot

I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.

-Bruce Gilden

If you can smell the street by looking at the photo, it’s a street photograph

-Bruce Gilden

A photograph is like a recipe the memory is the finished dish.

-Carrie Latet

-Cecil Beaton

Allow yourself the freedom to step away from perfection because it is only then that you can find success.

-Chase Jarvis

The best camera is the one you have with you

-Chase Jarvis

Fear is the thing that prohibits a lot of photographers from reaching their full potential

-Collin Pierson

Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like

-David Alan Harvey

Photography is a means by which we learn to see the ordinary

-David Bailey

Without vision, the photographer perishes

-David duChemin

The best photographers do not need 50000 dollars worth of gear. Look what Ansel Adams did with a Kodak brownie camera. A good photographer has a way of seeing (perspective) that is different from the mundane.

-David Hultgren

A photograph is an opportunity to keep a moment forever.

-Destin Sparks

I have a dream… photography allows me to share it with you.

-Destin Sparks

Photography is inspired by beauty, captured with passion.

-Destin Sparks

Photography is the story I fail to put into words

-Destin Sparks

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.

-Diane Arbus

A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know

-Diane Arbus

For me, the subject of the picture is always more important than the picture

-Diane Arbus

I never have taken a picture I’ve intended. They’re always better or worse.

-Diane Arbus

I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.

-Diane Arbus

I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.

-Diane Arbus

Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies.

-Diane Arbus

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.

-Dorothea Lange

The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera

-Dorothea Lange

While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.

-Dorothea Lange

Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.

-Duane Michals

Photographs allow for connections to be made and for time to pause to appreciate all the world has to offer.

-Dustin Thibideau

A portrait is not made in the camera but on either side of it

-Edward Steichen

Photography is a major force in explaining man to man.

-Edward Steichen

If I have any ‘message’ worth giving to a beginner it is that there are no shortcuts in photography

-Edward Weston

My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, or the camera’s eye may entirely change my idea.

-Edward Weston

The camera sees more than the eye, so why not make use of it?

-Edward Weston

To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk

-Edward Weston

I like to photograph anyone before they know what their best angles are

-Ellen von Unwerth

All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.

-Elliott Erwitt

The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things with words

-Elliott Erwitt

To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them

-Elliott Erwitt

A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away

-Eudora Welty

If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it’s already a lot. The instrument is not the camera but the photographer.

-Eve Arnold

A photographer is like a cod, which produces a million eggs in order that one may reach maturity

-George Bernard Shaw

For me, documentary photography has always come with great responsibility. Not just to tell the story honestly and with empathy, but also to make sure the right people hear it. When you photograph somebody who is in pain or discomfort, they trust you to make sure the images will act as their advocate

-Giles Duley

I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.

-Gilles Peress

Every artist has a central story to tell, and the difficulty, the impossible task, is trying to present that story in pictures

-Gregory Crewdson

I have always been fascinated by the poetic condition of twilight. By its transformative quality. Its power of turning the ordinary into something magical and otherworldly.

-Gregory Crewdson

All the planning, intuition, technical prowess, and knowledge, as well as the trust and rapport you have (or haven’t) established, will show up in the picture, frozen forever

-Gregory Heisler

Whatever happens in front of the lens stays. What’s captured during the encounter is all that exists

-Gregory Heisler

I guess I’ve shot about 40,000 negatives and of these I have about 800 pictures I like

-Harry Callahan

I think of photography like therapy

-Harry Gruyaert

Actually, I’m not all that interested in the subject of photography. Once the picture is in the box, I’m not all that interested in what happens next. Hunters, after all, aren’t cooks.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

In photography, the smallest thing can be a great subject. The little, human detail can become a Leitmotiv.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

It is through living that we discover ourselves, at the same time as we discover the world around us.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

Photography is an immediate reaction, drawing is a meditation

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

Sharpness is a bourgeois concept

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

There is a creative fraction of a second when you are taking a picture. Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera. That is the moment the photographer is creative. Oop! The Moment! Once you miss it, it is gone forever.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

To me, a photograph means the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the meaning of an event on the one hand and the exact arrangement of the visually perceived forms expressing that event on the other

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

To photograph is to hold one’s breath, when all faculties converge to capture fleeting reality. It’s at that precise moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst

-Henri Cartier – Bresson

The formula for doing a good job in photography is to think like a poet.

-Imogen Cunningham

Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow

-Imogen Cunningham

A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.

-Irving Penn

A photojournalist makes snap decisions; based on the ability to quickly assess situations and record one’s perceived truth

-Jack Dykinga

John White, another Pulitzer Prize winning photographer at the Sun – Times once told me he photographed every sunrise. In disbelief, I inquired why? He simply said he didn’t want to miss the really great one

-Jack Dykinga

It’s weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don’t even amount to a couple of hours.

-James Lalropui Keivom

In the world of photography, you get to share a captured moment with other people.

-James Wilson

You don’t take pictures, they take you

-Jay Maysel

Photography is truth. The cinema is truth twenty – four times per second.

-Jean – Luc Godard

When you photograph a face . . .you photograph the soul behind it.

-Jean – Luc Godard

We don’t learn from our good images; we learn from the ones that can be improved on

-Jen Rozenbaum

If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff

-Jim Richardson

You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life

-Joan Miro

Yes, it took me just a moment to draw this line with the brush. But it took me months, perhaps even years, of reflection to form the idea

-Joan Miró

You cannot possibly hit the shutter without leaving a piece of you in the image

-Joe Buissink

Don’t pack up your camera until you’ve left the location

-Joe McNally

Photography is what emotions look like.

-Jon Luvelli

What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce

-Karl Lagerfeld

Actually, it’s nature itself that creates the most beautiful pictures, I’m only choosing the perspective

-Katja Michael

No, you don’t shoot things. You capture them. Photography means painting with light. And that’s what you do. You paint a picture only by adding light to the things you see

-Katja Michael

Photography is all about secrets. The secrets we all have and will never tell

-Kim Edwards

What I have learnt and what I teach now is all about experimentation and learning to pick yourself up and try again when you fall down

-Lara Jade

If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera.

-Lewis Hine

If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.

-Linda McCartney

Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask ‘how’, while others of a more curious nature will ask ‘why’. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.

-Man Ray

Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second

-Marc Riboud

My ultimate goal is to try to make the ordinary look extraordinary.

-Martin Parr

Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.

-Matt Hardy

The golden rule in the arts, as far as I am concerned, is that all rules are meant to be broken.

-Michael Kenna

We see in colour all the time. Everything around us is in colour. Black and white is therefore immediately an interpretation of the world, rather than a copy.

-Michael Kenna

Sometimes one waits too long for the perfect moment before snapping the picture. You never realize that you needed was to change perspective

-Miguel Syjuco

I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I’ve lost

-Nan Goldin

A camera is just a medium to capture what you have in your vision, and vision is something that cannot be bought.

-Neeraj Agnihotri

The camera is much more than a recording apparatus, it is a medium via which messages reach us from another world

-Orson Welles

It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are

-Paul Caponigro

Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees

-Paul Strand

Your inspiration is better if it comes from many different sources and your sensibilities will transform all those influences and inspiration into your own visual world. It’s like reading the book instead of watching the movie.

-Peter Lindbergh

We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us

-Ralph Hattersley

All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth.

-Richard Avedon

My portraits are more about me than they are about the people I photograph

-Richard Avedon

If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough

-Robert Capa

The pictures are there, and you just take them

-Robert Capa

Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference

-Robert Frank

The eye should learn to listen before it looks

-Robert Frank

There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment

-Robert Frank

When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice

-Robert Frank

There is a vast difference between taking a picture and making a photograph

-Robert Heinecken

Work very hard, until you don’t have to introduce yourself anymore

-Roberto Vazquez

A camera is a SAVE button for the mind’s eye

-Roger Kingston

What the Photograph reproduces to infinity has occurred only once: the Photograph mechanically repeats what could never be repeated existentially

-Roland Barthes

Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future

-Sally Mann

Essentially what photography is is life lit up.

-Sam Abell

The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.

-Scott Lorenzo

Photography is the recording of strangeness and beauty with beguiling precision.

-Sebastian Smee

I try with my pictures to raise a question, to provoke a debate, so that we can discuss problems together and come up with solutions.

-Sebastiao Salgado

You photograph with all your ideology.

-Sebastiao Salgado

Art is what we call…the thing an artist does. It’s not the medium or the oil or the price or whether it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky. Something human. Art is not in the …eye of the beholder. It’s in the soul of the artist

-Seth Godin

My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport

-Steve McCurry

The art of photography is all about directing the attention of the viewer

-Steven Pinker

For a Photographer – Having an observant mind is more important than having an expensive camera.

-Sukant Ratnakar

Photographs are like diamonds. Polish them well to make them priceless.

-Sukant Ratnakar

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

All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt

-Susan Sontag

Photographs are a way of imprisoning reality…One can’t possess reality, one can possess images–one can’t possess the present but one can possess the past

-Susan Sontag

The painter constructs, the photographer discloses

-Susan Sontag

Today everything exists to end in a photograph.

-Susan Sontag

If you can see it, you can shoot it.

-Ted Grant

When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!

-Ted Grant

Kodak sells film, but they don’t advertise film; they advertise memories.

-Theodore Levitt

Only photograph what you love

-Tim Walker

Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.

-Tony Benn

To me, it is better to ‘guess’ at how something works, experiment, fail, guess again, fail, and keep repeating that process over and over again until you either figure it out or you discover a multiplicity of other cool tricks along the way.

-Trey Ratcliff

I think good dreaming is what leads to good photographs

-Wayne Miller

What’s really important is to simplify. The work of most photographers would be improved immensely if they could do one thing: get rid of the extraneous. If you strive for simplicity, you are more likely to reach the viewer.

-William Albert Allard

Be yourself. I much prefer seeing something, even it is clumsy, that doesn’t look like somebody else’s work

-William Klein

When I photograph, what I’m really doing is seeking answers to things.

-Wynn Bullock

The earth is art, the photographer is only a witness

-Yann Arthus – Bertrand, Earth from Above

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.

-Yousuf Karsh

Impactful Quotes Applied to Photography

Ralph Waldo Emery

Ralph Waldo Emery made a profound statement when he said, “Every artist was first an amateur.” I see this quote as having two messages. The first being aimed to encourage amateurs that are reaching up to become great artists, and the second being to remind those that are great artists to remember that they were once amateurs. There should be no purpose or place for rock-star attitudes in our industry. While they exist, that doesn’t mean that we all must follow suit. As an amateur photographer with lofty goals, just remember that those you idolize were once in your exact same position. Once you have made it and are successful, reach back and help those who may now idolize you.

Confucius

I think “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it” may have been Confucius’ way of saying “Look, there are haters out there, deal with it.” So you took a photo that someone doesn’t like, who cares? We all have different tastes when it comes to clothing, food, jobs, hobbies and photography is no different. Realize that there will be “haters”, there will be those that don’t share your style, and there will be those that absolutely love your work. If you’re on the other end and you’re the one not seeing the beauty, then maybe it’s up to you to look deeper in order to find it.

Kirby Ferguson

At a recent TED talk, Kirby Ferguson gave an awesome lecture aimed to silence those in the technology world who are delusional in believing that their ideas are the only ones that are truly unique. While referencing Steve Jobs’ past of copying Xerox’s technology in the early days of Apple and later suing anyone coming close to infringing on their patents, Kirby said “Everything is a remix.”

Most if not all ideas were based or inspired by someone else’s ideas. This is no different in the world of photography. This phrase isn’t intended to give permission to go ahead and steal each other’s work, but rather to RELAX! If someone takes one of your ideas, move on. It is bound to happen. In any creative field, conscious or subconscious, there is borrowing and sharing of ideas and inspiration. Lend your own personality into every “inspired” idea to make it more your own.

Albert Einstein

Never was there a more prolific scientist than Albert Einstein, who admitted to his faults and humanity in the statement, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” Mistakes are probably the best way to learn when it comes to photography. Throw all of your ideas against the wall and see what sticks. You will not grow as an artist unless you are making mistakes and pushing the limits.

Pye Jirsa

Haha, fooled you! Yeah, this article should have been called “4 Famous Quotes and the Ramblings of a Crazy Persian.” So sue me ;)

During our iPhone Fashion Shoot Tribute Video, I said to Chris and Justin jokingly, “Give me an iPhone and a Coke and I’ll rock your world.” It was an amazing lesson to me that I learned during that shoot. While equipment could potentially hold you back from creating the types of images you want, 99% of the time the only thing holding us back is ourselves. I don’t think I truly believed this sentiment until after the iPhone Fashion Shoot when I realized that it truly didn’t take much other than your own creativity to create art worth looking at.

Why the Coke? Because I’m a fatty-Mc-fatty and I love my soda! =)

Conclusion

In conclusion, photography quotes offer a powerful way to encapsulate the essence of this art form. They remind us that photography is not just about capturing images, but about capturing the emotions, the stories, and the beauty that surround us. Whether you are an amateur photographer or a professional, these quotes can inspire you to keep pushing your boundaries, experimenting with new techniques, and telling more compelling stories through your images. From the wise words of Ansel Adams to the provocative insights of Cindy Sherman, these photography quotes provide a glimpse into the minds of some of the most influential photographers in history. So the next time you are struggling to find inspiration or motivation, turn to these photography quotes and let them guide you towards new and exciting possibilities.

The best tripods for iPhones and smartphones are ultra-compact and lightweight, yet sturdy and versatile.  The ideal iPhone or android tripod is easy to carry around in a pocket or a bag, making it convenient to use and easy to access.  After testing dozens of tripod and gimbal solutions, we’ve come up with our favorite iPhone and smartphone tripods for content creators on the go.

Mobile by Peak Design

Mobile by the Peak Design Team is an entire ecosystem of mounts, cases, accessories, and chargers.  With a sleek design, magnetic connections that snap together with a clean, crisp satisfaction, and a versatile set of attachments, this is one of the most innovative tripods for the iPhone that we’ve ever seen.  This case and system is currently only available for the iPhone.

See Pricing on: Kickstarter

Manfrotto PIXI with Universal Smartphone Clamp

A solid tripod that doubles as a clamp kit, the Manfrotto PIXI with Universal Smartphone Clamp is ideal for those who want to save money and avoid buying separate components. It works well for smartphones and cameras alike thanks to the integral ball head. The Manfrotto PIXI is solidly built from stainless steel and is stable enough to take incredible images using most of the smartphones available on the market. Weighing in at just 0.49 lbs./220 gr, this tripos is ultra-compact and easy to carry everywhere.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini

Featuring a design that’s often imitated, the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini has flexible legs and a ball head that secures the smartphone in place. A great option for vloggers, this tripod is very small and lightweight and is easy to wrap around objects so you can get shots from just about any angle. It’s also a great option for those looking for a stable viewing stand. The rubberized jaw of the Joby GorillaPod Mobile Mini can handle even plus size smartphones, including iPhone Plus and Max models.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Adonit Photogrip

One of the few tripods out there that allows you to recharge a smartphone wirelessly while taking photos, the Adonit Photogrip also sports a built-in Bluetooth shutter button. This ultra-compact tripod remains lightweight even though it has a 3,000 mAH built-in battery. The Adonit Photogrip is available in black or white and comes with a neoprene bag to store and transport the tripod.

See Pricing on: Amazon

Joby GripTight PRO TelePod

This is another tripod from Joby, but one that doubles as an extending pole, being suitable for video creators working with smartphones and action cams. You can use the Joby GripTight PRO TelePod in both landscape and portrait mode, and the adjustable tilt also makes it suitable for selfies. The tripod comes with a removable Bluetooth remote shutter, making it easy to capture shots remotely. The GripTight PRO TelePod is a highly versatile choice as it includes a Pin Joint mount action for Go Pro cameras and a cold shoe PRO mount for accessories.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount

What makes the Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount different from other models is the rotating mount that can hold any size phone securely without the need of a stand. You can use it in both portrait and landscape orientation, and the tripod is an excellent choice not just for vloggers and videographers, but also for conference calls or simply for watching movies in bed. The Square Jellyfish Metal Spring Tripod Mount features four springs for a strong grip and a sturdy heavy duty clamp. It’s also compact enough to fit in your pocket.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Shoulderpod S2

Boasting a high-quality grip, the Shoulderpod S2 works as a tripod mount, traveler stand and filmmaker handle. It’s a solid portable solution for filming professionally with your smartphone. The Shoulderpod S2 comes with a tripod mount that’s compatible with smartphones of all sizes, a handle made from Sapeli wood for a comfortable grip, and a wrist strap for extra safety. You can use your smartphone with or without a case with this tripod, and the compact design makes it easy to carry everywhere.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Benro BK10 Mini Tripod and Selfie Stick

A compact mini tripod that doubles as a selfie stick, the Benro BK10 Mini is suitable for smartphones, Go Pros and small cameras. It’s also a good option for 360 cameras because its handle can convert to tripod legs. In the box you’ll find a 1/4-20 attachment, a removable ballhead, a Go Pro adapter, and Bluetooth remote that you can stow in one of the legs of the tripod. The Benro BK10 Mini has a maximum usable length of 33.8 inches and you can use it with the smartphone in a case.

See Pricing on: Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed reading about the best iPhone and Smartphone tripods.  We’ll update this list every year, so please make any recommendations in the comments below.  For more “best of” lists, see our Best Of category.

What is Street Photography?

Let’s take a quick moment to revisit the definition of street photography. Street photography is a highly candid style of photography. It is essentially focused on spontaneously capturing people, objects, and moments in public areas. Street photography involves capturing honest moments in their natural environments, which are usually cities and other urban environments.

This style of photography involves reacting to life as it happens and capturing images on the fly. The moments you capture are real and unposed, and street photographs allow the audience to feel connected with the emotions and feelings portrayed in the image.

What Cameras Are Best Suited for Street Photography?

Because of the candid and spontaneous nature of street photography, the best camera for street photography should be small, portable, inconspicuous, and versatile.  Some of the most important elements that a street photography camera must meet include:

• Size: Street photography cameras should be small and easily concealed. This can help prevent your subjects from realizing that they are being photographed and posing, thus ruining the image. Many street photographers prefer cameras that are compact enough to fit in a pocket.
• Speed: A good street photography camera should be fast and responsive. This will allow you to capture fleeting moments that vanish as quickly as they appear. Your camera should especially be fast in terms of autofocus and burst shooting.
• Usability: The last thing you want is to waste time scrolling through your camera menus, causing you to lose that perfect moment that was begging to be photographed. An effective street photography camera should thus have intuitive controls that are well laid out.
• Weight: If you’re planning to wander the streets all day, a heavy camera can be more tiring than you think. A lightweight camera will ensure that you’re focused on finding the perfect shot rather than looking out for a space to sit down for a rest.

[Related Reading: Free Street Photography Masterclass from Nick Turpin]

What Is the Best Street Photography Camera?

Below are some of our recommendations for street photography cameras.

iPhone or Samsung Galaxy

The phrase “the best camera is the one that you have on you” applies to street photography, perhaps more so than any other genre of photography.  For that reason, the best camera for street photography could possibly be your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, or other smartphone cameras.  The obvious pro is the convenience, and with better technology in each generation released, the gap between a smartphone camera and a dedicated camera is shrinking.  The biggest cons are inferior low light performance and focus control with creative compositions.  If you’re opting to use your iPhone, be sure to see our iPhone photography fundamentals video.

Sony a7 III

The Sony a7 III is a mirrorless camera that features a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor. It has 15 stops of dynamic range. It also allows you to take shots that feature a lot of detail in the shadows and highlights. This means that if you have underexposed shots, you don’t have to worry about trashing them and your hard work.

This camera’s autofocus is one of the fastest around, and it captures 10 frames per second continuous shooting. The body is small and compact, and the camera works great at high ISOs. You can pair this with several different lenses. This means that not only is this great for street photography, you can also pair it with a zoom or portrait lens if you’re looking for a camera for other purposes.

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II

A highly compact camera that can easily fit into your jacket pocket and weighs only 340g, making it easy to carry around. It features a fast, 5x zoom lens that covers an equivalent focal range of 24-120mm.

It also features a customizable control ring on the lens, which gives you a greater amount of control over your preferred functions. This makes using this camera a highly intuitive experience, making it ideal for street photography.

Ricoh GR III

Another small and sleek camera that can easily fit into a pocket, allowing for discreet photography. Despite featuring a 24-megapixel sensor, the 18mm f/2.8 lens renders extremely detailed and sharp photographs. The photographs this camera produces have an almost film-like feel.

The near-silent shutter means that you do not have to worry about being noticed while snapping photographs. Furthermore, this camera has been designed so you can use it one-handed, so you can easily snap images on-the-go. The fixed, 28mm equivalent lens offers a wide-angle view. This makes it ideal for photographers looking to capture every element of the environment around them.

Fuji X100V

The vintage design makes this camera a charming addition to any street photographer’s arsenal. The 26-megapixel sensor means that you can be assured that your photographs will come out phenomenally. You also protect it from the weather by adding a filter to the front of the lens. This means you don’t need to worry about your camera getting ruined due to an unexpected rainstorm.

The silent shutter is great for taking inconspicuous shots, and the camera also performs very well at high ISOs. It comes with a built-in 35mm equivalent lens, as well as 50mm and 28mm equivalent adapter lenses.

Leica Q2

This camera’s minimalist design means that it is a simple and pared-down tool. You don’t need to worry about spending time figuring out the crazy menus that many alternatives have. It comes with a built-in 28mm fixed lens, which is paired with 47-megapixel full-frame sensor.

The autofocus makes it a great upgrade over the Leica M10-P, and the camera performs well at high ISO. The small size makes it easy to carry around unobtrusively. Overall, this is a versatile camera that you can use not only for street photography but also for travel.

[Related Reading: Best Cameras for Bird Photography]

Other Considerations

These are just five of our favorites in this category.  Other cameras you would want to consider would be each of the other new mirrorless cameras from the manufacturers, including the following:

• Fuji X-T4
• Canon EOS R5
• Sony A7S III
• Nikon Z 7II
• Nikon Z6 II

What are your thoughts?  What is your favorite camera for street photography?  Let us know in the comments below.

Overhead Ceiling Bounce Video Tutorial

In this video, Pye demonstrates the purpose of bouncing light overhead as a means of creating interesting definition and powerful highlights. With just a simple adjustment in position, your flash is modified to produce directional and controlled light.

Tips for Bouncing Flash Off Ceilings and Overhead Objects

To help reinforce the education in the video above, here are a summary of the tips presented in the video with visual examples.

1) Make Sure Your Ceiling is White for Best Results

Since our light is being bounced off of the ceiling, we want to make sure that there is no color being transferred into our scene. Your best bet to ensure this is to bounce light off of a white ceiling or use a v-flat in order to lessen the amount and spread of light dramatically. Aiming the flash directly at your subject fills in all shadows on the muscles therefore reducing the appearance of tone and definition.

2. Use a Snoot/Grid and Flash Zoom To Modify Light Spread

Now that we have our bounce prepared we can focus on the spread of light we desire. By changing the zoom settings on your flash, you are concentrating the light on a specific portion of the ceiling or v-flat without having it spread across. We can also modify and pinpoint our spread of light by using a Snoot or a Grid, the latter being easier to use because generally we are not bouncing far enough to use a Snoot.

3. Watch for Bright Non-Colored Surfaces vs. Reflective Surfaces

Bouncing light against a bright white surface will result in more diffused light being spread. Using a reflective surface, such as a silver reflector, will produce a more specular light. For this shot, the specular light was better because the harsher shadows show more definition in the muscles.

Infographic

For your convenience, we’ve summarized the information presented in the video with the infographic below. Feel free to pin or save the photo for future reference.

Bounce Flash Wedding Example 1

Although we’ve repeatedly listed bounce flash as one of the last go-to options for lighting a scene, there are some scenes that benefit greatly from this type of light source.

In this New Year’s Countdown image, there were DJ lights and other light sources from the exploding confetti canisters. We didn’t feel the need to add additional rim lights, and the bounce fit this scenario perfectly. Spotlighting can be risky in a one-chance must-have moment like this.

If you’re trying to take multiple shots at a higher flash power, we recommend using a battery pack to miss fewer shots (see above). Even with a battery pack, you may still expect to miss a shot here and there.

TIP: It doesn’t have to be New Year’s Eve to capture this image.

To capture the shot, elevate your position (stand on a chair, for example, with your shoes off), and aim the on-camera bounce flash up and forward so that the light can reach as far back as possible. For other settings, see the diagram above.

Bounce Flash Wedding Example 2

Whether you want to sell digital photographs, showcase your portfolio, or set up stock images, there is a website host that will help you accomplish your goals.  While there are many different hosting companies out there, this article will focus on the pros and cons of the following hosting providers:

• Bluehost
• WPEngine
• DreamHost
• SiteGround
• A2 Hosting
• Hostinger
• InMotion
• HostGator
• How to Shop for Hosting

Important note: Before you get started, make sure you’re in the right stage of your decision process.  Be sure you’re searching for a website host and not a website builder.  Choose a website host from the options below when you’re looking for a host for your website built on custom code,WordPress, Joomla, or other content management system.   On the other hand, look for a website builder, when you’re looking for all-in-one solutions like Squarespace, Wix, Format, or Smugmug.  We break down the best website builders for photographers in this other article.

Spoiler/Recommendations

The article will detail the pros and cons of various hosts below. However, if you’re short on time and want to skip to our recommendations, then here they are.  If you have the budget and you’re hosting a WordPress site, then we recommend going with WP Engine.  You’ll pay a bit more than most of the other options but the simplicity, reliability, and performance is worth the price tag for most photography businesses.  If you’re not ready for the higher price points, we recommend starting with a shared hosting plan from Bluehost, which provides a set of robust features for a great price.

Bluehost

Bluehost is often rated as the best web hosting for photographers and for good reason. It delivers on all the essentials that a photographer may need on a website. You get value for your money, excellent uptime, and the customer support is impressive. If your site is built on WordPress, this will be even better for you since WordPress recommends it as their top host provider.

Pros of Bluehost

• Low price for the first year
• Sufficient storage
• Good uptime
• Unmetered bandwidth
• You can install WordPress with one click

Cons of Bluehost

• Only US-servers
• No month-to-month shared hosting options
• Average site speed
• Migration fee – Bluehost charges a fee to migrate from another hosting.
• Backups – you must set up your own backups

Pricing and Features

• Offers a $2.95 monthly plan.
• They have a guaranteed 30 day money back option
• Offers free backup.
• Offers a free domain.
• They offer a 50GB disk space but also have an unlimited disk space

WP Engine

If you’re operating a WordPress website and you have a decent budget to spend on hosting, our recommendation is WP Engine.  While there are plenty of cheap hosts out there, the performance, features, speed and reliability of WP Engine is hard to beat.

Pros of WP Engine

• Optimized for WordPress users for great performance
• Offers migrations from old host.
• Free SSL certificate
• Easy staging setup so that you can develop features and test plugins on separate site without affecting the live site
• Performance tracking and reports

Cons of WP Engine

• More expensive than most options
• Only optimized for WordPress

Pricing and Features

• Managed Hosting at $25/month

DreamHost

If you are a photographer and are looking for the best hosting site for recoveries and back up, then Dream Host is the website for you as that is one of its outstanding features.

Pros of Dreamhost

• Free daily backups, whether you use VPS or shared hosting
• Great hosting features
• Supports different types of hosting
• Great contact support service that is always available

Cons of Dreamhost

• You cannot reach them on the phone. However, their support team can call you.
• Shared starter plan does not include free email
• No Windows-based servers

Pricing and Features

• It offers a $2.59 monthly plan
• It has a 99.95% uptime
• Money-back guarantee
• Offers free back up
• Offers a free domain
• It offers a 50GB storage space, but you can pay for unlimited space
• Good features for security
• Unlimited data transfers
• WordPress staging for your test website

A2 Hosting

A2 hosting web offers an array of hosting packages, including a dedicated plan for photographers. What sets it apart from other website hosts for photographers is the in-built gallery software options such as Piwigo, a photo gallery software built and backed by an active community, Coppermine, a feature-rich and easy-to-use photo gallery script, and more.  Also, the c-panel-based server makes it easy to set up the website on your own. 

Pros of A2

• You can choose your data center location.
• Offers advanced security options
• Excellent image hosting tools
• It has a sturdy infrastructure that can hold large media files.
• It has more than sixteen software tools, which are all unique and will assist you in making better use of your photos.

Cons of A2

• Does not have a free plan

Pricing and Features

• $3.92 monthly plan
• Unlimited storage space
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Offers free content delivery network
• Offers a free domain

Hostinger

Hostinger is known for its low pricing and transparency.  Their single shared hosting, which is probably not enough for most photographers, starts at $0.99/month for the first year.  Yes, that is cents, not dollars.  However, even their Business Shared Hosting, which is our recommended plan for photographers if they are going with this host, is still only $3.99/month for the first year and $8.99 at renewal

They publicly display their server status to show that their uptimes are consistent. If you have ever built a website using WordPress, you will have an easy time building a website with Hostinger.

Pros of Hostinger

• It offers you the flexibility of controlling your server.
• Allows you access to different site-building scripts and tools
• It offers an option of a $0.99 plan for a single website. The only con is that this option offers you 10GB storage and limited bandwidth.
• Solid State Drive (SSD) hardware
• 99.9% uptime
• Cache manager

Cons of Hostinger

• Does not offer a free content delivery network
• Does not offer a free plan
• No dedicated hosting plans
• It has a limited storage space
• No phone support

Pricing and Features

• Offers a $2.89 monthly plan
• Offers 20GB storage
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Offers a free domain
• Offers a custom domain use

InMotion

InMotion is another website with good hosting for photographers. It is efficient and affordable with quality features that photographers may want from a hosting web. Inmotion offers multiple reasonably priced options, including shared, dedicated, reseller, virtual private server (VPS), and WordPress plans.  They also boat great technical support and a 99.9% uptime.

Pros of InMotion

• It has some of the best hosting features
• Best value for your money

Cons of InMotion

• Its money-back guarantee policy is a lot longer than any other hosts

Pricing and Features

• Offers a $2.49 monthly plan
• It has a 90-day money-back guarantee policy
• Has a 99.97% uptime
• Offers free back up
• Offers a free domain
• Has unlimited storage space

HostGator

Hostgator is among the best hosting for photographers due to its renowned storage space. If you have a photography website or plan to get one, you know how essential it is to have sufficient space. You can always be assured that you can display your higher resolution images without worrying about running out of space.

While Hostgator offers multiple plans and options, including quality cloud, reseller, VPS, and dedicated server packages, its shared hosting plans are where they excel.

Pros of HostGator

• Free unlimited storage space
• Great help and support
• Great uptime

Cons of HostGator

• Does not offer a free domain
• It does not offer free backups
• No Windows-based VPS hosting

Pricing and Features

• Offers a $2.75 monthly plan
• It has a 45days money-back guarantee policy
• A 99.99% uptime
• Has unlimited storage

How to Shop For Hosting

When deciding on which hosting service is right for you, focus on the following features:

Pricing – Find the right features that you need without overpaying.  Note that the cheapest plan for any of these hosts will most likely not be enough for a media heavy photography website.

Hosting Space – We like Bluehost.com for its unlimited hosting space for your website. If you choose an option that does not have unlimited hosting, do some quick calculations to ensure that you’ll have enough on your desired plan.

Monthly Bandwidth – Given the fact that we photographers have very bandwidth intensive sites, you will want to find a hosting solution that has quite a bit of monthly bandwidth. 300GB is definitely enough for most new photographers, however you will begin to eat through this fairly quickly when you start to grow.

Email Accounts – Choose a plan with a free email account.  However, you will probably never even use 100 email accounts, as some offer. So while there is a difference here, it won’t be a difference that will matter to most of us.

3rd Party Applications – Choose a host that provides the 3rd party application you need like WordPress. These software packs allow you to get more into advanced web functionality without necessarily having to know all the nitty gritty details on your own.

Multiple Domain Hosting – First, what is multiple domain hosting? Multiple domain hosting means that you can have multiple websites all running off the same hosting account. Yes, that means that if you have a blog, a website, a portfolio site, a learning site, etc all of them can be hosted on one single Bluehost.com account rather than having to sign up a new hosting account for each domain.

Streaming Video and Bandwidth Throughput – While some hosts report unlimited bandwidth, pay attention to the bandwidth throughput. This means that even though bandwidth is unlimited per month, they only allow a certain speed of download at any one time. Thus preventing you from being able to stream video and slideshows through your own site.

[Related Reading: DJI’s Prices Are Going Up In The US Due To Trump’s Tariffs On China]

The list released by the Department of Commerce has added 78 companies (and individuals), to their block-list. DJI will be joining companies like Huawei and SMIC (China’s largest chip manufacturer)for the foreseeable future along with dozens of other Chinese based companies. And the reason for all of this? According to Reuters,  “wide-scale human rights abuses within China including abusive genetic collection and analysis or high-tech surveillance” and “facilitating the export of items by China that aid repressive regimes around the world, contrary to U.S. Foreign policy interests.”  This includes a report from Bloomberg stating that DJI drones are actively being used to surveil the Uyghurs in Xinjiang (A Muslim ethnic group).

[Related Reading: DJI Has Lost A Recent Patent Suit & Could Be Removed From The US Market By Summer]

While this doesn’t immediately affect American consumers, or prevent them from buying existing DJI products, companies on this list have historically found it incredibly difficult to do business in the continental USA.

According to PetaPixel, DJI has denied any requests for comments at this time, but we’ll update you should anything be reported as soon as it happens. Until then, what do you think about this situation? Do you have any DJI Products? Are you worried about them “Spying” on what you do with your drone like the Department of Justice has done? Let us know in the comments below.