In our first episode of Photo Masters Podcast, I have an eye-opening conversation with Photo Masters founder Ian Plant. Ian's photography career began almost by accident, when he bought a camera after his first year of law school and quickly became obsessed. What started as a way to document outdoor adventures evolved into a lifelong passion, eventually pulling him away from law into full-time photography. Over time, Ian's approach shifted from intuitive shooting to a more intentional and artistic process. In this 1.5-hour conversation, he discusses how both the craft and the industry have changed, how he overcomes creative challenges, a harrowing experience he had requiring a dramatic rescue on the high seas, and much more.

With the rise of social media and popular “Instagram spots,” many photographers find themselves recreating the same images that have already been taken countless times. This conversation explores why copycat photography is so common, whether it’s part of the learning process, and when it becomes a limitation to creative growth.

In Adobe Lightroom and Camera Raw, there’s a useful but underrated tool called Dehaze. As its name suggests, Dehaze is meant to remove haze from your photographs. Personally, I like to use this tool for something completely different. Watch this video to learn more!

Color theory is a very important part of photography because it can help you tell a deeper story about your subject and create eye-catching photos. Once you master the art of colors, you’ll have even more creative tools at your disposal.

One of the most effective ways to create the illusion of depth in your photographs is to use shapes and visual elements that “lead” the viewer’s eye into the composition. Leading elements can be just about anything, including lines, curves, or a progression of visual elements that encourage the eye to travel deeper into the scene. In this video, I'll focus on the most simple of these, showing you how to use leading lines to create compelling photo compositions.

Join us for an in-depth discussion on exposure, starting with familiar basics and moving into more advanced, real-world concepts. This video challenges the traditional “exposure triangle,” reframing exposure around what truly matters: subject brightness, how light reaches the sensor, and how creative intent shapes your final image. Along the way, Ian Plant breaks down aperture, shutter speed, filters, ISO, and processing in a way that clarifies not just what they do, but why they matter.

Do you want to dramatically improve your photo compositions? In this video, pro photographer Ian Plant breaks down the one skill that will make the biggest difference in your photography: learning to see and work with bold, simple shapes. From triangles, curves, and circles to zigzags, spirals, and leading lines, Ian shows how powerful graphic shapes form the building blocks of strong visual design.

All digital camera sensors produce digital noise. That noise is at its minimum when you use your camera’s base ISO. As you increase ISO, digital noise increases as well. With ISO invariant sensors, you end up with the same amount of noise whether you increase ISO or keep it the same. Sounds confusing? Don't worry! Watch this video to learn more.

Joanna Steidle is an international award-winning drone pilot and artist based in New York. She has worked with National Geographic, BBC, Smithsonian Magazine, The Nature Conservancy, US Veteran Affairs, and most major news outlets. In 2025, she was honored as the "International Aerial Photographer of the Year." She's also the only female DJI creator in the USA. In this Photo Masters LIVE interview, Joanna talks about her outstanding drone photos, how she makes the most of her limited surroundings in New York, and much more. We take a look at some of her best images and talk about the stories behind them. This is an interview you don't want to miss! Joanna's portfolio: https://joannasteidle.com/

Recently, I went to Baja in Mexico to photograph the annual "sardine run," when massive schools of sardine and mackerel migrate, creating large bait balls that attract huge numbers of predators like dolphins, sharks, whales, birds, marlins, and sea lions in a feeding frenzy. Check out this video to learn more about my amazing experience there!

I'm always getting asked about which filters are needed for landscape photography. In this video, I share my thoughts on the best filters to use, as well as what NOT to use, for the best photography experience.

Learn about the exciting photography opportunities that you can enjoy in Mongolia.

Mentorship is the process of learning from someone with more experience than you. Oftentimes, this involves receiving constructive criticism, ideas, and guidance that improve your skills and help you reach new heights. Having a photography mentor isn’t mandatory, but it can make a significant difference in your creative journey.

Learn how to take outstanding autumn photos that inspire!

Photographers often talk about creative or artistic "vision," but what does this really mean? Part of developing your vision is learning to see the world differently — not just as your eyes and brain perceive it, but as your camera interprets it. In a sense, it’s training yourself to visualize reality through the filter of your equipment and settings. A choice as simple as focal length or lens type can dramatically change how a scene looks (a fisheye lens being an obvious extreme example). A slow shutter blurs motion; a fast one freezes it. Exposure can dramatically change how a moment is rendered. Being able to anticipate these results is an important step toward consistent, intentional creativity.

Learn about underwater photography as Ian Plant shares stories and photos from a trip to Baja in Mexico. This is a replay video of a live webinar with Slickpic, which creates and hosts stunning portfolio websites for photographers. https://www.slickpic.com

I was incredibly excited to sit down and talk with pro toy photographer Mitchel Wu. Yes, "pro toy photographer" is in fact a real thing! In a world of relentless Instagram repetitiveness, Mitchel's photos really stand out, imbued in equal parts with whimsy, wonder, and magic. Talking with Mitchel left me feeling inspired, energized—and dare I say—young again. Even though I don't plan on doing toy photography, I couldn't wait to pick up my camera and chase some wonder for myself.

I've exclusively been using Fotopro tripods for the past few years, and I have found them to be stable and dependable. In this video, I review their latest release, the Origin travel tripod.

In this live webinar replay, pro photographer Ian Plant shares photos from the Puna wilderness of Argentina, a beautiful high-altitude desert region. Learn more about his Puna Photo Tour: https://www.photomasters.com/puna-photo-tour

Managing Editor Taya Iv offers some suggestions for avoiding common mistakes made by photographers.

Ian Plant shares the stories behind photos he made on a trip to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah.

Masks are a great creative tool because you can make targeted edits to specific parts of an image, which enhances your artistic flexibility in the digital darkroom. Adobe Lightroom’s latest addition to its growing collection of mask selections is the AI Landscape Masking tool (this feature has also been added to Camera Raw). I wouldn’t say that this tool is a major game changer, but it’s worth checking out. Watch this video to see how this tool works selecting specific areas in different landscape photos.

Setting the white and black points refers to adjusting the brightest and darkest tonal values of a photograph to ensure a full range of tones from pure black to pure white. In this video, I demonstrate setting your white and black points in Adobe Lightroom. I also discuss when it’s appropriate (or not) to use this technique. Spoiler alert: I actually don't think it is a good idea to always do this!

Ben Williamson got into photography after a “failed music career”. At the beginning of his photography journey, he’d walk with his camera in Maine, photographing locations unique to the area. In this interview, we talk about his fascinating background as a musician, crossover skills, the artistic elements that he looks for when taking photos, and much more.

Our world is always in motion, but photographs are completely static and are incapable of showing real motion. As a photographer, your job is to create the illusion of motion and energy in your photos. If you do this well, you can greatly enhance the viewer experience. The key is to create dynamic compositions that imply motion. I’ll teach you how to achieve that in this video.

Matt Jacob is a portrait and travel photographer based in Bali. His love for travel inspired him to become a pilot, which eventually led to a unique photography career. We talk about his story, as well as the stories behind some of his best photos, in this video.

In this webinar replay, Ian Plant offers a preview of his upcoming course "Astrophotography Made Easy," which explores how you can use the Vespera smart telescope by Vaonis to get into astrophotography.

Check out my FREE photography webinar: https://www.photomasters.com/free-photography-webinar In this video interview, we have a conversation with the talented Huibo Hou. Huibo is a landscape photographer who started taking photos 25 years ago. Check out the interview below! What makes Huibo's work stand out is her thoughtful approach to every subject. She usually converts her photos to black and white, which gives depth and meaningful emotions to every image. In this interview, we talk about her inspirations, why she chose to focus on black & white photography, how she creates incredible compositions, and more! You can see more of Huibo's work on her website: https://www.huibohou.com/

Join my free photography webinar: https://www.photomasters.com/free-photography-webinar Recently, David duChemin joined me for a video interview about his outstanding photography and creative philosophy. David has a unique approach to his work that often involves intuition. Instead of taking photos for external validation, he takes photos for himself. He's also a talented entrepreneur, writer, and guitar player with a background in comedy. We had a lot to discuss! I'm glad that David finally joined us as a guest on Photo Masters. He's a great example of someone who isn't afraid of pursuing his creative dreams, trying new things, and bringing artistic people together to celebrate the art of photography. Check out David's work below: https://davidduchemin.com/ https://craftandvision.com/collections/all

In this video, I interview professional landscape and wildlife photographer Marc Muench about photographing Antarctica, one of the most amazing photo destinations on Planet Earth. Marc has spent a lifetime seeking composition, light, and decisive moments in the outdoor world. His life is now devoted to teaching others how important these concepts are in their quest to learn photography. In this video interview, Marc shares his photos, stories, experiences, and insights about photographing the icy continent.