Photography Resources

I’m an entirely self-taught photographer. Everything I’ve learned about photography has come from online resources, thanks to the kind photographers who are willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us for free. Below is a list of various resources you can use to improve your shooting, editing and other photography skills. If you find a tutorial or resource useful, please be sure to leave the author a comment to thank them for sharing their expertise!

*Do note that most of the camera type of tutorials can usually only be used for DLSRs, and many of the editing tutorials are based out of Photoshop or Elements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (morgan.gaking[at]gmail[dot]com) and I’ll do my best to answer them.

My SmugMug Site | My Flickr Site

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The Basics of Shooting

ISO Settings by MckMama

ISO Settings by Rachel Durik

Shutter Speed by Rachel Durik

Exposure Illustrated

Aperture by Rachel Durik

Macro Shots

Shooting in JPEG

ISO and Noise

Intro to Aperture

Shooting in RAW

Discovering Lenes

Using the Histogram on Your Camera

Understanding Shutter Speed

Blurry Backgrounds

Understanding Camera Lenses

Using a Gray Card

Shooting in RAW by Rachel Durik

Fill Flash

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The Basics of Editing (Photoshop CS & Elements)

Intro to Editing (Using Layer Masks)

Basics of Cropping

Using Textures

Using Clipping Masks (Elements)

Converting to B&W in Elements (PDF)

Adding Texture by Andrea Riley (Elements)

Boosting Color

Replacing Color (Elements)

Making Eyes Pop (Elements)

Clipping Masks Unmasked

Skin Retouching (Photoshop)

Blurry Blackgrounds

Replacing Color (CS4 Video)

RAW to the Next Level

Making Your Own Actions (Photoshop Only)

Dodge and Burn Tool (Elements)

Combining Exposures

Clipping Masks (Elements)

Using Brushes

Making Eyes Pop

Shine Be Gone! (CS4 Video)

Blurry Backgrounds in GIMP

Lighten, Darken, Pop

Smoothing Skin (CS4 Video)

Gradient Map Adjustment Layer

Vignette Effect

Enhancing Eyelashes (Elements)

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Fun Editing Stuff

Vellum Overlay

Creating Story Boards

Adding Borders

How to Make Rounded Edges

Navy Blue Exclusion Layer (Vintage technique)

Conquering Actions

X-Equals Presets

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Lightroom 2

Making Eyes Pop

Presets Heaven

Batch Resizing

Intro to Plug-Ins

Creating Web Slideshows

Adobe Video Tutorials

Creating Droplets from PS Actions

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Free Textures

Set 1 and Set 2 compiled by Jasen Robillard

Volume 1, Volume 2, and Zabriskie Textures by ground*floor

Textures by lepiaf.geo

Coffee Shop Textures

Shadowhouse Creations Textures

Ishtexture by Ishkamina

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Free Actions

Coffee Shop Actions (Photoshop/Elements 6 & up)( Installation Instructions)

Pioneer Woman Actions Sets 1 & 2 (Photoshop Only)

MCP Free Actions (Photoshop Only)

Texas Chicks Actions (Elements)

Mulletgod’s Actions (Photoshop Only)

Smashing Magazine’s Actions (Photoshop Only)

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Free Brushes

Shadowhouse Creations Brushes

Brusheezy

Wow Brushes

Brush King

123 Free Brushes

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Other Stuff

Coffee Shop Storyboards

Shooting with Overexposure

Making Your Own Watermark

Shortcut for Installing Actions in PSE

Goodies from Coffee Shop

Subtle Watermarking

Shooting Silhouettes

Color Schemer

Make Your Own Camera Strap

Photoshop Shortcuts (PDF)

MCP Actions Video How To Collection

Tips for Capturing Newborns

Elements 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Michael’s Photography School

Tips and Trick from Nikon

Handwriting and Scrapbooking Fonts by Kevin and Amanda

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Free Editing Programs

GIMP

Paint.net

Picasa

Picnik

Photoshop Express

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Inspiration

O2 Photography

Jessica Claire Photography

Heather Nan Photography

Any Wenzel Photography

Susan Keller Photography

Simplicity Photography

Savor Photography

Tara Whitney

Jasmine Star

3 thoughts on “Photography Resources

  1. How kind of you to list all of these wonderful resources. I am mostly self taught myself, at least in the digital world. It would have been grand to have stumbled upon your blog a year ago! Thank you for your generosity in sharing your knowledge and linking my blog… I always feel so humble when I discover this.
    Thanks!
    Heather

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