DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

 

A black-and-white portrait full of detail has been chosen as this week's featured image. Simply titled 'Lizzy', Hudson_Swan presents a photo with a blurred outdoor backdrop that frames her naturally. The patterned scarf, fur-trimmed coat and long wavy hair create strong textures that work well together. Lizzy rests her cheek in her hand and looks straight into the lens, giving the portrait a relaxed and natural feel. A really lovely portrait and a well deserved spot as this week's featured image.

Every Photo of the Week (POTW) winner will be rewarded with a Samsung 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, providing top-tier storage for all your creative needs across multiple devices. But that's not all! In January 2027, we’ll crown our 2026 Photo of the Year winner, who will take home the ultimate prize of a Samsung Portable 1TB SSD T7 Shield, courtesy of Samsung. It’s time to shoot, submit, and showcase your best work for a chance to win these incredible rewards!

The freedom of shooting thousands upon thousands of photographs on a single shoot or photo trip is a huge benefit of digital capture. That’s all very well but at some point you’ll need to trawl through your shots and find your ‘keepers’, organise them into collections, add keywords and delete the dross. That’s a job that can easily soak up hours and even days in front of a monitor and any technology that can ease the burden is very welcome. 

Excire Foto 2025, a software available for Mac and Windows, could be the answer. It’s an asset management program and has no editing capabilities but it can manage and organise your photo collection very quickly.

 

Navigating around Excire Foto 2025 is simple thanks to its clean interface and you get tooltips while hovering over each icon. Not having any editing functionality must help to keep the interface fuss-free.

 

Quick Verdict

It might be stating the obvious, but any piece of kit, be it a lens, filter or software, is only worth having if it plays a useful role in your photography. In respect of Excire Foto 2025, for productive photographers, being able to quickly and accurately search for pictures in a very large image collection is invaluable. Yes, it’s a serious investment but it is a one-off cost with the potential of saving you lots of time.

If you’re a frugal shooter with a disciplined shutter finger, Excire Foto 2025 might not be for you. But for photographers who like to keep their camera busy and shoot a broad range of subject matter, especially people and events but also nature and scenics, this amazing software is very effective. The ability to quickly search for images in many ways without having to keyword or rate them beforehand is a huge benefit.

Is Excire Foto 2025 worth the money? Well, that’s a question only you can answer but there’s no denying that it’s an excellent, very capable product worth trying.

 

+ Pros

• Fast, even with huge image collections
• Face and people search
• Easy to use
• Text prompt search works well
• Auto keywording is especially useful for people shots
• AI-assisted culling
• Outright purchase, no subscription
• Works for stills and video
• Excire runs locally – images aren’t sent into the cloud for analysis so there’s complete privacy
• Video playback possible directly from the preview

- Cons

• £199 / $229 is a significant investment
• Importing big photo collections takes time but it’s a one-time job
• Auto keywording can be less effective for non-people photos
• Aesthetic rating might not appeal to everyone
• Auto advance after image rating would be nice

 

 

Excire in its product range offers AI-powered image management software. Tested here is Excire Foto 2025, a standalone app with AI and traditional organising features. It should be stressed that Excire doesn’t have any editing tools, so in your workflow it complements rather than replaces your usual editing software. 

For those photographers with an Adobe Lightroom Classic based workflow, Excire does have a solution specifically for you. Excire Search 2026 works as a plug-in so meshes seamlessly with Lightroom Classic and has most of the features seen in Excire Foto 2025. 

Excire Foto 2025 and Excire Search 2026 sell for £199 / $229 each and that is for an outright purchase – there is no subscription model. Both apps come in a bundle price of £299 / $299 and are available on a free 14-day trial.

The top filter bar provides a selection of search and view options including metadata, capture time and Excire’s Aesthetics rating.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Getting started

Open up Excire Foto 2025 and you’re presented with a series of welcome screens that you can turn off. After that, you’ll see a cleanly laid out interface that is organised into sections. Image thumbnails are shown in the central area, and the size of previews can be varied to suit. Double-clicking on a thumbnail shows a larger preview that you can view at 1:1 or zoom into up to 500% for an even closer look. There’s also the option to compare two images. 

In individual image mode, images can be rated either with stars and colours which mirrors what Lightroom offers. Indeed, the same keys are used for rating (i.e. 1-5 for stars, 6-9 for colours). Also, it’s the same if you want to delete a photo (X), deselect an image (U), show the grid/gallery view (G) or go full screen (F).

In my case, where I used a collection of pictures already managed by Lightroom, existing star and colour ratings show up in Excire.

The left column is for folder navigation. There’s an option to show folders in a timeline and a search results palette where you can revisit previous searches. The fourth icon here is for image culling, which we’ll delve further into later.

Across in the top bar is a selection of filters and you can search by relevance, Excire’s Aesthetics rating, keyword metadata with parameters including camera used, ISO and shutter speed.

In the top corner of the right panel sit the search tools and immediately below are four palette options showing metadata, faces, keywords and general which includes the image’s histogram and information which includes file details. 

Shown enlarged here is the panel of Excire’s search tools. Across the top row (from left to right): Text prompt, Find duplicate, Find by GPS, Find by keyword. Across the bottom: Find faces, Find people, Find similar photos.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Ease of use

During installation, Excire asks where you want to install the default database which includes thumbnails, preview images and the program cache. The database will increase in size over time as images are added, so choose a hard disk with plenty of free space. In my workflow, Lightroom catalogues are kept on a separate 2TB NVMe SSD drive in a fan-cooled enclosure connected to the computer’s Thunderbolt 4 port, so I used this drive for my Excire database. For information, for this test I used a M2 Max Mac Studio 32GB RAM running Tahoe 26.2. 

Excire says it’s perfectly feasible to have a single database managing your entire image collection even if you have hundreds of thousands of high resolution Raws. 

That said, it depends how you like to work. For example, if you take on freelance commissions, you could have separate databases for personal and paid work. As part of my test I made several databases and moved them around with no problem.

Before importing your first images, you need to check the initial settings. Go to Excire Foto>Settings>Preferences to bring up a series of options. So, for example, if you want to add PSD files, the option in the Add menu must be selected. In Previews, the size of previews can be changed and if you want to work with 1:1 previews. In Metadata, you can choose to import existing keywords into Excire Foto.

Excire’s quick start guide walks you through the many options and it’s important to give the settings a few minutes of attention.

A prompt search for images with a full moon revealed this candid. You can see in the enlarged panel other keywords applied by Excire Foto 2025.

 

Excire Foto 2025 key features 

• Only available with a lifetime licence, no subscription option
• Range of search tools: Text prompt, duplicate, GPS, people, face, keyword,
• Organising tools: AI keywording, duplicate search, face-tagging
• AI-assisted culling module
• Stills and video compatible
• Intelligent face-sharpness detection
• AI Aesthetic scores
• AI-powered video management 
• High-speed preview rendering
• Supports Raw, PSD, JPEG files and more
• Available for Mac and Windows

 

Images imported into Excire Foto 25 go through a five-step process with images analyzed and keyworded so it takes time, but it only needs doing once. With big image collections, leave the software running overnight.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Performance

It’s while adding the images to Excire Foto 2025 that the magic happens when the images are analyzed and tagged by AI. To benefit from Excire’s skills, make sure the Analyze photos option is switched on in the Add Folders dialogue box.

The import process comprises five stages: Preparing, Adding folders, Finding photos, Registering Photos and Analyzing. The process is seamless so you don’t have to do anything during import and it’s the last two stages that take time.

I started with a new shoot. With 3377 50-megapixel images (1007 JPEGs, 2370 Raws) the adding process took just under 12 minutes.  Next, it was the turn of 37,966 images (25,927 Raws, 12,039 JPEGs) from a recent trip. This lot took just under two hours to initialise in Excire. 

My third test was going to be more strenuous. Excire suggests that adding large photo collections should be done overnight and that is advice worth heeding. I imported six years' worth of images, mostly Raws (in-camera and DNG) but also TIFs, PSDs and JPEGs. In bare figures, the 135,813 files amounted to 4.66TB so this was a serious task. The import process took precisely five hours, 49 minutes and 30 seconds. Before you think that I stayed next to the computer with a stopwatch in hand, I’ll come clean: you get a status report (see above) at the end of the adding process. 

The next evening, I added another year’s worth of photos which again took close to six hours taking the whole database to 259,280 photos. 

Adding photos is slow but this only applies at the beginning of your relationship with Excire and once you have your archive initialised, adding shoots as you go doesn’t take long at all.

 

In the Find by text prompt panel (enlarged here for better visibility) just tap in what you’re looking for. Your search could be for a specific subject or you might be after images that show a particular mood or emotion. Here, I was after ‘reflections’ and Excire found 3930 images.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Finding images

With images loaded, it was time to try the various search aids. I started with the Find by text prompt. Here you type in what you are looking for and you have options to limit how many images are shown and something called distance limit which defines how strict you want the search to be. 

This search is performed with the help of AI and is not keyword related. My large photo collection has been managed by Lightroom Classic with keywords limited to location, species and camera technique but no more.

In Excire, I tried words such as ‘tranquillity’ and ‘flight’ plus phrases such as ‘images that show happiness’. I also tried more descriptive searches such as ‘images with a full moon’, ‘calm water’, and ‘city skyline’ as well as locations. It was interesting in my London search that Excire included a red tram photo taken in Hong Kong, so I assume AI saw a red bus-like vehicle and assumed it was a London bus. It did, however, correctly identify 3926 London shots including infrared Raws.

For ‘flight’ I ended up with 2539 images featuring insects, birds and airplanes. For the ‘moon’ search, 715 images were found and while most were of the full moon, I got also a few crescent moons and a couple of sunsets. What impressed, though, was that the search was largely accurate and included images where the moon was veiled by cloud or even if it was small in the frame. The search process was really fast too, typically taking less than ten seconds, which is incredible with a database of over 250,000 photos.

The Find by text search is cool and works impressively. The ability to make searches for specific subjects is great but to make conversational searches adds an extra dimension. 

With the Find Faces command, you get a dialogue box with quite a few options. So you could decide, for example, to search for a child, male and smiling. My collection of pictures included lots of family snaps so a search using those criteria found 375 shots, mostly of my great nephew so that worked.

 

In the Find People dialogue box, you can choose facial properties – smile or not, eyes open or shut – plus you can limit how many pictures you want to see and how ‘strict’ or ‘loose’ you want Excire to be in the search.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Find People

With the Find People tool, start by picking an image that includes your search subject. As I had a shot of my great nephew on-screen I used that and Excire found 151 images with a very high success rate.

That was a simple search, but the Excire Find People tool goes much deeper. First thing to stress is that Excire works locally, i.e. with connected hard drives, and nothing is uploaded so there is no risk regarding privacy.

The Find People tool uses the latest facial recognition technology. Using the Find People icon in the search panel is one way to access the dialogue panel but hover over an image and an icon appears top right that has the same job.

Next, choose where you want Excire to look (the whole collection or a specific folder), limit how many images you want to see and how exact (strict) or broad (loose) you want the search to be. You can also search by keyword or without keyword so that the found images can then have a keyword added.

With the search done, check the results. There is a Zoom faces option in the right panel or just hover on the thumbnail for a zoomed in view. Clicking on an image in gallery view also shows a head only preview in the right-side panel and here you can add the subject’s name for future reference.

If your found person is in a group, the AI technology will show all the faces with the option to name each person in the right panel. If you’re unsure of who is who, double click on the gallery view image for a large preview and you will see each face is highlighted. Hold down the Alt (Windows)/ Option (Mac) key and use the arrow keys to jump from face to face with a magnified view for easy identification.

For people photographers, the Find People tool has huge time-saving potential and it’s easy and quick to use.

 

Excire’s AI powered keywording works well as you can see with image taken in Venice with keywords including Boat, Lake, Waters and Person. The keyword Venice can be added manually and then copied onto other images but Excire has provided a good start.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Keywording

Keywording is the process of tagging descriptive words to your photos and doing it manually takes time and a great deal of it if you like to crunch the detail, even with a keyword-friendly software such as Lightroom. Personally, I keep it simple and often just tag the location, species, technique or project and I have all the keywords in a file that I import into every Lightroom catalogue.

Excire has AI-powered auto keywording that’s done when pictures are added. To get the benefit of the feature, make sure the Analyze photos is ticked when you import the images. The downside is that the initialisation process slows down the import process. However, as we’ve mentioned previously, if you have a large collection to add, leave Excire running overnight.

Excire’s keywording skills are impressive for general shots and you’ll find some images have many keywords while others might have one or two. Look at each keyword and you’ll see figures such as 0.99 or 0.97, which is the software marking itself on the accuracy of its keywording skills.

Excire doesn’t always go into too much fine detail, so you won’t, for example, get specific species or location. That said, some - but not all - of my shots of Big Ben were correctly keyworded while Waterloo Bridge was incorrectly identified as Tower Bridge.

Excire’s auto keywording is remarkably good and useful but don’t expect deep detail. I shoot a lot of nature so I found, for example, that pelicans were correctly labelled but not further identified as dalmatian or great whites. With my photos of ring-necked parakeets taken in the garden, these were correctly tagged as birds but for the next level of identification, I got budgerigar, tit and parrot, although not in all cases even in the same sequence. With insects, butterflies, caterpillars and dragonflies were all keyworded accurately but without the specific species although a praying mantis was correctly labelled. 

Excire’s AI keywording is not infallible and may not go into enough detail for some photographers, but there is no denying its overall effectiveness and time-saving potential.

 

When images are loaded into Excire Foto, its AI checks out each image technically and pictorially and gives it an Aesthetics rating out of a maximum score of 100. The enlarged section shows the Aesthetics rating of 83.18 for this image.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Aesthetics rating

Among Excire’s AI driven features is its ability to aesthetically assess your pictures giving a score out of 100. The software looks at the image characteristics such as exposure, sharpness, content, lighting and so on and makes an automated judgement. 

Leaving obvious technical failings aside, assessing a picture’s pictorial qualities is of course subjective and asking AI to perform the task is interesting. 

In my 250,000 plus database, a Burnham lighthouse at sunset picture was rated at 96.17 while a completely detailless black frame scored 14.78 but it should be much lower.

Where I think Excire’s aesthetic assessment will be particularly useful is with people pictures, where its AI skills can check whether a subject’s eyes are open or not, as well as technical considerations such as exposure and focus. 

Use the Sort by tool, choose Aesthetics and click on descending and your best shots, as rated by Excire, will sit at the top and you can focus your attention on those. It’s amazing that a 250,000 plus image database can be re-ordered in literally a second or so.

 

Excire’s AI culling module organises images into groups defined by different criteria which makes it a breeze to compare similar images shot in sustained bursts, for example.

 

Excire Foto 2025 Culling module

Shooting lots of pictures takes up storage and of course there is no point hanging onto shots that are obvious failures. Identifying rejects takes time so here Excire can also help you out with its Culling Project feature. There’s a selection of people-oriented culling profiles (People, Wedding, Vacation) but you can create your own profiles using aesthetic and technical settings. 

I decided to cull a folder of images taken last autumn at Bushy Park. It took six minutes for Excire to work through 487 Raws organising the shots into 71 Sequences, 31 Visual Similarity Groups and 136 Smart Selections. Clicking on the relevant category in the Culling Projects panel and you can check out what Excire has done. 

With each sequence or group open using Ctrl+Shift (Windows) / Cmd+Shift (Mac) and the left and right arrows on the keyboard lets quickly go through the sequences and you can select the keepers with the number keys 1-5 for star ratings, 6-9 for colours and X for rejects. You could even base your ratings on each image’s Aesthetic rating.

Again, it’s worth repeating that Excire’s speed is incredible and using full screen (F key) and the left and right arrows means you can check and rate photos as fast as you like. In this respect, Lightroom and even Fast Raw Viewer are left trailing in Excire’s wake in terms of speed. The only feature I would have liked is the option of auto advance so the next image appears automatically after rating the previous one.

 

This set of images has been grouped into sequences. That’s very useful for subjects such as nature where shooting sustained bursts of very similar pictures is normal.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Verdict

In my book, any device, gadget or software that saves time sitting in front of a keyboard is a good thing and there’s much to appreciate and enjoy in Excire Foto 2025. It’s a powerful image management software and I found it very useful and user-friendly and not frustrating in the way that Adobe Lightroom Classic can be. 

During the review, I loaded 250,000 images in a single database. In my experience, a catalogue that large in Lightroom Classic means waiting for previews to refresh and sharpen. In Excire, previews and thumbnail views are refreshed very quickly. Using the arrow keys, regardless of the chosen preview size, I could go from image to image with the tap of a key and no lag at all. Critically checking and rating images is amazingly quick and Excire Foto 2025 is worth the money for this capability alone.

Speed, of course, is important but it’s Excire’s many organisational skills that make it a great all-round asset management software. AI culling, AI keywording, its powerful search and organising skills, yes there’s a great deal to admire and enjoy in Excire Foto 2025. 

Of course, £199 / $229 is a significant purchase but you need to factor in how much time and effort Excire Foto 2025 will save you, and how many more pictures you could be out taking rather than sitting in front of a computer. In that context, it’s superb value for money.

 

Excire Photo 2025 Pros

• Fast, even with huge image collections
• Face and people search
• Easy to use
• Text prompt search works well
• Auto keywording is especially useful for people shots
• AI-assisted culling
• Outright purchase, no subscription
• Works for stills and video
• Excire runs locally – images aren’t sent into the cloud for analysis so there’s complete privacy
• Video playback possible directly from the preview

 

Excire Photo 2025 Cons

• £199 / $229 is a significant investment
• Importing big photo collections takes time but it’s a one-time job
• Auto keywording can be less effective for non-people photos
• Aesthetic rating might not appeal to everyone
• Auto advance after image rating would be nice

 

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Churches are something the majority of us will have in our towns and villages and they're a great location for a spot of photography as they're just as interesting on the inside as they are on the outside. Plus, you might have a graveyard to explore as well. Whatever your style of photography, a church will probably have something to grab your attention. 

 

1. Getting Access 

 

To make the most of what our churches have to offer we have to get inside them which can be trickier than you think. Larger churches and cathedrals may have photographic restrictions (a fee payable to use a tripod, no flash etc.) and certain opening hours but generally smaller, local churches are more willing to give you access any time of the day. Just phone in advance to let the vicar or whoever holds the key know that you'd like to take some photographs inside the church. In many smaller towns churches are left unlocked during the day. 

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In buildings of this size, you might as well keep your flash in your bag as it will only add light to objects a few feet in front of you. Instead, you need to get your sturdy tripod out, fasten your camera to it and use a long exposure.

As exposures can be several seconds long, the smallest of nudges can cause the camera to shake so try using a remote / cable release or the camera's self-timer option to reduce it. You could even use your Smartphone to trigger the shutter if you have a camera which can be controlled remotely via smart devices. When it comes to lenses, anything goes. Telephoto lenses can be used to capture the details found on the roof, wide-angle lenses for the wider architectural scenes and macro lenses for close up details of pews, columns and altars.

 

2. Respect Your Surroundings & Fellow Visitors 

 

Before we discuss shooting suggestions do please remember churches, particularly smaller ones, are quiet places so try to make as little noise as possible as you move around. Be respectful of others around you who are there to pray etc. too.

If you're visiting a church that's popular with tourists do remember that others will want to take photos too so work quickly or plan your visit for first thing in the morning or nearer closing time when less visitors will be around. 

 

3. Shooting Suggestions 

 

Try shooting down the aisle to capture the lines of pews, altar and everything else people think of when you ask them to describe a church. Find a comfy pew or a part of the floor you can lie on (don't worry about the funny looks) and focus your lens on the roof which often has interesting patterns and features. Don't be afraid to get in close to objects either.

Reflections off windows, cases and even abstract shots of blurred lines of pews up close can create interesting images. Although if you're trying to capture images of objects protected by cases you won't want reflections or glare spoiling your shot. Try using an ND, polarising filter or cupping your hand around your lens to cut down on reflections and have a cloth handy to remove any fingerprints that have been left on the case.

The large stained glass windows found in most churches look great when lit up by sunlight and they also work well as zoom burst subjects, something we've covered previously on the site. 
 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

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The latest winner of our popular daily photography theme which takes place in our forums have been chosen and congratulations go to saxon_image (Day 2 - Spring).

 

Daily Theme Runners-Up

If you didn't win this time, keep uploading your images to the daily competition forum for another chance to win! If you're new to the Daily Theme, you can find out more about it in the Daily Theme Q&A. 

Well done to our latest runners-up, too, whose images you can take a look at below.

  Day 1

Daffodils

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Day 3

Creative Horizons

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Day 4

Sky

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  Day 5

Sense Of Scale

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Day 6

Movement

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Day 7

Outdoor Portraits

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You’ll find the Daily Themes, along with other great photo competitions, over in our Forum. Take a look to see the latest daily photo contests. Open to all levels of photographer, you’re sure to find a photography competition to enter. Why not share details of competitions with our community? Join the camaraderie and upload an image to our Gallery.

 

Some people put their pets before family and have images of their favourite dog sat alongside their wedding, holiday and children's pictures. This might be you too! Of course, you are stuck if you do not have a dog, but the odds are you know someone with one so if you are really keen, finding a subject is not an issue.
 

1. Kit Suggestions 

 

In terms of kit, all you need is a camera with a lens or two. Or you could try something like using a Lens Baby for a different effect. If you're heading to a dog show consider taking a smaller camera bag as space can be a premium and leave the tripod at home. 
 

2. Do They Like The Camera?

 

Having a trained dog that's used to being in front of a camera will make things easier. You don't want to get your camera out to find they either want to eat it or won't come near you because they're unsure about it. Some dog could not give two hoots; others will just scamper away.

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3. Get Them Running Around 

 

Pet photography is a popular subject, but most people tend to snap their dog when sitting, rather than capturing the active moments dogs are well known for.

Shots of your pet running and chasing around are far more interesting than a static shot of them sat on a rug in front of the fire. But to capture them it takes some planning and dogs running around are fast and they can be unpredictable. Having someone with you (your partner? Kids?) definitely will be a help because you can ask them to call for the dog while you concentrate on shooting.

Try autofocus with continuous shooting and see if it can track the subject. It might cope well but as dogs move quickly and their coats are low contrast, autofocus can be tricky so try manually pre-focusing on a particular spot and when your dog runs to it, press the shutter.

You'll need a reasonably fast shutter but not so fast that the dog is frozen in the image. Having a mix of sharpness and blur can work well, or just use an even slower shutter speed for more blur to exaggerate its movement. 
 

4. Get Down Low 

 

We're used to standing and looking down on dogs so a shot from this height is nothing special. So instead, try getting down to your dog's eye level or even lower. Kneel, lie (but there's no need to roll over!) to produce a much more dynamic and interesting shot. With features like LiveView, getting a composition from ground-level is easy enough. Of course, there are times when shooting from a higher angle works well such as in the shot at the top of the article.

  5. Exposure Tips 

 

Expose for the dog and not the surroundings. If you have a particularly dark or light dog you may find exposure compensation helps the camera meter correctly. As with human portraiture, it's also important for the eyes to be sharp but again, due to the speed they move, this can be difficult to perfect.
 

6. Natural Light Is Your Friend

 

Natural light is good but as with humans, dogs look less good in contrasty light. For maximum detail in the coat, a bright sky when the sun is gently diffused by high cloud can work well. If the day is quite dull, try fitting the flashgun to lighten the shadows or try underexposing the daylight so your lit subject stands out proudly from a darker sky - it can be a great look.
 

You've read the technique now share your related photos for the chance to win prizes: Daily Forum Competition

                                                                                                                           

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Outdoor portraits add levels of interest to a shot you can't always get from an indoor shoot and as this time of year particularly, it's the perfect excuse to wrap up in layers and pose in front of snow-filled scenes. No snow? Well, your highstreet at night can be an equally cool location as can be your local woods or even your backyard should you not want to walk as far. 

To kick-start your outdoor photoshoot, we've put a few easy to understand but rather essential outdoor portrait tips together for you to peruse. Plus don't forget to share your examples of outdoor portraits in our Gallery or Daily competition forum. 

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1. Get Your Lighting Right 

Once you've found a model brave enough to go out, possibly in the cold, you need to sort out your lighting. It is a good idea to have a friend or fellow photographer on hand. This applies to both male and female photographers and an extra pair of hands can be really handy to hold flashguns and look after things during the shoot.

If working a night, a powerful torch will help you focus. Just shine the light at the subject – not directly into the model's face and focus. It is worth considering shooting using manual focus for this subject because autofocus might continually adjust and throw the subject out of focus once the torch is switched off. Flash modifiers, coloured filters and lighting stands will find a use too. 

One of the big problems of using flash at night – apart from the attention (sometimes unwanted) that it attracts – is that a flashgun can pump out too much light and burn out the subject. You need to watch this and use flash exposure compensation to cut down the amount of light if that is the case. 

Another important thing to remember is the inverse square law – double the distance between the flash and the subject and the power output falls by a factor of four, not two as you might expect.

As well as on-camera type flashguns, there are several studio-quality flash units that run off portable batteries. These are more powerful than a typical flashgun and worth trying.
 

 

2. Tripod Or No Tripod? 

Your tripod is handy here too, especially if you want to mix flash and ambient lighting. That said, blurring the ambient light can be an effective technique. Any tripod will be fine, although if you have to walk some distance to your chosen shoot location you may want to consider packing a light-weight model. Carbon fibre models are lighter than those made of aluminium, although they can be cold to the touch but many tripods feature thick foam on the legs that enable a secure grip and stop you having to touch the cold surface.

 

 

3. Poses & Direction 

Make sure you've primed the model regarding poses, clothing and the location that you will be shooting in. You need to think of their comfort, dealing with the weather, keeping warm in between shots and so on. Conversation can help with the flow of the shoot but if you're not very good at banter, just be concise with your posing instructions and don't try to be something you're not. 

You can find plenty of ideas about posing in lighting in fashion magazines and in ePHOTOzine's gallery but just don't simply copy someone else's work, always put your own 'stamp' on it. You need to shoot quickly and have fresh batteries in the flashgun. Minimal messing around is a good idea too and show the model the effects you are getting as you go along. 

 

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Love it or loathe it, blurred water can look great in the right situation so it is always worth a try. For those who are new to the technique, here are 10 tips to get you started in turning even small cascades can look like raging torrents. 

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1. Time Of Day

Waterfalls are a favourite landscape subject and early morning or late afternoon on an overcast day is the perfect time to photograph them using this technique. Bright sun stops you using slow shutter speeds and the contrast can be horrendous. 

 

2. Camera Set-Up 

Switching to shutter-priority so you can control the length of the time the shutter is open for makes this technique easier so take a camera out you can do this with. DSLRs are an obvious choice but if you want to use a smaller bodied camera, take a look at a high-end compact or Micro Four Thirds System.

 

3. Use A Support

As you're using slow shutter speeds you need to use a tripod, self-timer or a remote cable release to ensure the camera stays completely still. Using the camera's mirror lock-up can also help with this, as it will avoid shutter shock. 

 

4. Find Your Filters

A polariser, as well as a neutral density filter, is handy for cutting down the amount of light reaching the camera sensor, thus allowing even slower shutter speeds. 

 

5. Slow Shutter Speed

The slower the speed you choose the more blur there will be. Try a speed of 1/8sec to 1/15sec but if this doesn't work, change the shutter speed and take the shot again.

 

6. Volume, Flow And Distance

There is no right or wrong speed for this as this changes depending on how much blur you want, the volume of water (large amounts need shorter shutter speeds), the speed of flow (slower flows need slower shutter speeds) and the distance between the camera and water (shorter the distance the faster the shutter speed needs to be).

 

7. Metering Tips

Take care when metering water as the large areas of light tones can fool the meter into underexposing, making the picture look dark. It's always worth bracketing, perhaps shooting at plus and minus one stop.

 

8. Take 2 Shots

Slow shutter speeds will add blur to anything that moves so if grass or plants surround the waterfall these could end up blurred too. To combat this, you can take two shots: one with a slow shutter speed to capture the waterfall and one with a faster shutter speed to capture the surroundings. You then combine both images later during post-production. 

 

9. How To Shoot

To create impact, fill the frame with the waterfall. Taking a low angle will also make the waterfall more dominating. Shooting straight on will allow you to capture water patterns. 

 

10. Away From Waterfalls

This same technique can be applied to wave imagery. You can create lava-style flows of water by choosing a slow shutter speed. Simply mount your camera on a tripod and choose an area where the water is crashing against rocks so the shape of it changes. 

 

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We rely heavily on pictures in our everyday life. Pictures can be used for remembering special moments, work, online accounts, social media, and for business purposes. Not every picture comes out perfect, though. Photos can be fuzzy, ruined with grain, dark, and older pictures can be dull. This is where an online photo enhancer comes in handy.

You don't have to deal with bulky software or have any experience in image editing to enhance image quality anymore. Modern web-based online photo enhancers use artificial intelligence to sharpen details, remove blurriness, enhance resolution, improve color, and more in just a few clicks.

Browser-based photo enhancer online tools ease the process as you don’t have to download or install any software. So, in this article, we will discover the six best online photo enhancers, their features and which one is best.

 

What Makes a Good Online Photo Enhancer?

 

A good online photo enhancer should increase an image’s quality while keeping it from looking artificial. It has to improve some features, tone down noise and fix blur all while keeping colours true. It should be simple enough for anyone without any photo editing experience to be able to use it, and it should be quick without complicated processes.

Photo enhancers should also ideally work in-browser, so there is no need to download anything. Users need to feel safe and that their photos will be treated in a secure manner. Users often love photo enhancer tools that are able to enhance different kinds of images, such as portraits, landscapes or vintage photos. It should be designed to enhance photos for both personal and professional use.

The photo enhancers should also be used in-browser so no downloads are needed. People should feel safe and be confident that their photos will be taken care of. A best photo enhancer should assist in enhancing a wide variety of photos, such as portrait photographs, landscape images, and old-photos. It should be designed to enhance photos for both personal and professional use.

 

6 Best Online Photo Enhancers Compared

 

If you want to enhance your photos, there are many options available online, but they do not all provide the same results. Below are some of the most popular options to compare.

 

1. HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer

HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is a tool that enhances images through AI. HitPaw can improve the image quality by unblurring it, removing image noise, sharpening details, and increasing image clarity up to 8k. After uploading an image, the AI enhances the photo in a matter of seconds. It also offers flexible and affordable pricing options, including weekly, monthly, and yearly plans to suit different needs and budgets.

 

 

Key Features 

• AI-powered image enhancement that improves clarity and sharpness
• Image upscaling up to 8K without pixelation
• One-click unblur and noise reduction
• AI retouching that keeps skin details natural
• AI restoration for old and damaged photos
• AI sharpener for clearer edges and fine details
• Support for JPG, PNG, and WebP image formats

 

2. Airbrush AI Image Enhancer

Airbrush is a web-based AI photo enhancer and upscaler that allows users to enhance photo quality with one simple click. Without the hassle of manual edits, Airbrush improves photo details, color, sharpness, and resolution. 

 

 

Key Features

• One-click AI image enhancement for clarity and sharpness
• Automatic color and contrast adjustment for more vibrant photos
• Noise and imperfection reduction for cleaner images
• AI image upscaling without quality loss
• Works well for prints, zoomed images, and large formats
• Supports online use plus desktop and mobile apps
• Simple upload, enhance, and download process

 

3. Picsart Photo Enhancer

Picsart Photo Enhancer is a photo quality enhancer online tool that improves the clarity and sharpness of your photos with a single click. It can remove blur and noise and enhance details and contrast with powerful AI technology. This tool is popular for the ease of use and the ability to download edited photos at no cost.

 

 

Key Features

• Trained for Blur, Noise and Low Contrast
• Boosted auto clarity and sharpened
• One click enhancement for no editing skill needed
• Save lower resolution photos for free
• Positive response from creators and companies

 

4. Remini Web

Remini Web is an online AI tool that lets users enhance photos quickly. Users can unblur, enhance, or sharpen any media file. This tool is best for users who want a fast, quality upgrade and do not wish to manually edit anything. Users just have to upload or drag and drop a photo to instantly enhance them in seconds.

 

 

Key Features 

• Enhance photos with 1-click AI enhancement 
• AI unblurring sharpens and unblurs images of poor quality 
• Enhance images for clear frame and higher resolution 
• Offers drag-and-drop upload 
• Minimal setup and fast processing via cloud 
• Great results on files that are old, low resolution, or compressed

 

5. Topaz Labs Image Enhancer

Topaz Labs is an online tool that enhances images naturally and with high quality. It has various AI-powered features based on deep learning algorithms to automatically improve clarity, sharpness, details and resolution of images, all in one simple click. This is an online web-based tool that allows you to get started immediately, being perfect for both casual users and professionals, with no downloads needed.

 

 

Key Features 

• One-click AI photo enhancement with realistic results
• High-resolution output for sharper and clearer images
• Multiple AI enhancement models for different photo needs
• Adjustable sharpening and denoising controls
• Restores details in old or low-resolution photos
• Improves logos, graphics, and product images
• Suitable for large prints, banners, and advertising visuals

 

6. Adobe AI Image Enhancer

Adobe Express is a photo enhancer online for enhancing photos. They use a blend of artificial intelligence and manual editing tools, offering a simple approach to image enhancement. You don't have to be a pro, and you can edit images right in your browser.

 

 

Key Features 

• Instant improvement of your photos using the AI based photo enhancement tool
• Intelligent AI based detection algorithm for background removal
• AI manipulation tools for addition, removal and alteration of objects in photos
• Built in sharpening tool for image defocusing
• No credit card just free sign up is required
• File formats supported: JPEG, JPG, PNG and WebP
• Available for online use as well as for mobile application

 

Comparing the Best Online Photo Enhancers

 

Feature / Tool HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer Airbrush Picsart Remini Web Topaz Labs Adobe Express AI Photo Enhancement Available Available Available Available Available Available Maximum Resolution Boost Up to 8K High (AI upscale) Moderate High High Moderate One-Click Enhancement Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Partial Noise Reduction & Sharpening Advanced Standard Standard Strong Advanced Basic Fully Online Usage Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Sign-Up Required for Basic Use No Optional Optional Required Optional Required Old / Blurry Photo Restoration Excellent Good Good Excellent Excellent Fair Extra Photo Tools Included Yes Limited Yes No No Yes Ease of Use for Beginners Very Easy Easy Easy Easy Moderate Easy

 

HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is the best choice among all of the tools discussed in this article, even though all of the tools can be used to improve photo quality. The tools differ in experience, functionalities, and design. 

Some tools are more focused on design, while others offer resolution or editing. With HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer, you get trusted AI image enhancement and resolution image tools, and flexible pricing plans that don’t require user registration. This significantly improves your experience. 

To clarify how each tool is different, we’ve created a table comparing all six tools, showing why HitPaw is the convenient photo enhancement option for day-to-day use.

 

FAQ’s   Can I enhance photos online without downloading software?

Yes, you can; the majority of online photo enhancers run directly in your browser, meaning you don’t have to install any software. You just have to upload your image, wait for the AI to do its part and download the end result. 

 

How do AI photo enhancers improve image quality?

AI image enhancers scan pictures for blur, noise, low resolution and loss of details. Instead of just enlarging photos, the AI fills in the gaps with missing information, sharpens up edges and equalizes colors. This improves sharpness and definition while preserving the natural textures of your images.

 

Can online photo enhancers improve very old or severely damaged photos?

Yes. Many AI-powered photo enhancers can restore old or damaged images by reducing scratches, fixing faded colors, removing noise, and reconstructing missing details. The final result depends on the condition of the original photo, but advanced AI tools generally deliver noticeably better restoration results.

 

Conclusion

Online AI image enhancement tools have made it quicker and easier to enhance photos while still giving the image editing a professional gaze. Among all of them, HitPaw Online Photo Enhancer is a powerful and easy-to-use one that can give the user advanced AI technology without complex operations. This is ideal for folks that want high-quality photos without having to deal with photo editing.

 

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  Wondering what the point of using a tripod is when your arms do a great job of holding your camera? Here are our eight reasons why you should consider popping a tripod on your 'must-have' photography kit list. 

 

1. A Tripod Frees Your Hands

 

Using a tripod leaves you to have your hands free, making it easier to tweak and adjust your lens, camera settings and composition. You can also set the camera up and move away from its position which means you can capture shy animals or position your tripod where you may not want to stand such as in a pool of water that sits in front of a waterfall. 

 

2. Helpful For Panning

 

If you want to create a sense of speed when capturing action shots such as cars racing around a track or bikes speeding around a course you'll want your sharp subject to be sat against a blurred background. To do this you need to pan your camera, following the subject as they move through your frame and although you can do this hand-held, some photographers find it easier to use a tripod or monopod to help them capture the perfect pan. Monopods can move with the turn of your body while if you choose to use a tripod, a pan or ball head will make the task easier.

 

3. Create Different Angles

 

By using a tripod, you can get to new higher or lower angles that you wouldn't be able to reach as easily or comfortably if working hand-held. For example, macro and flower photography is easier if you have a tripod where the centre column can be moved from zero to 180-degree angles. You can then use your camera facing the ground or at 90-degrees if you're shooting into a flowerbed. Some tripods also have special low lever legs and macro arms that mean you can position the camera at almost ground level. 

 

4. You Can Do Time Lapse Photography

 

Time-lapse photography is all about capturing a sequence of shots a few seconds, minutes, hours or even days apart. These shots are then combined to form a series of images that can be played back as a short video. As any movement of the camera will cause your final piece to appear jaunty you'll need a support for your camera. Take a look at this tutorial for more tips: Time Lapse Photography

 

5. Play Around With Longer Exposures     

If you're planning on taking photos at sunset or in the evening you'll need to use slower shutter speeds so enough light can reach the sensor for the image to expose correctly. But working with slower speeds hand-held can mean shake will blur your shot. A tripod will help reduce this and keep your hands free to hold a cup of tea when you're using really long exposures to capture evening shots such as light trails!

Don't think you just need your tripod in the evening though as to turn the movement of waterfalls, rivers and waves into smooth, dry ice-like textures, you'll need slower shutter speeds. 

  6. Get Your Horizons Straight

 

Most tripods feature spirit levels which will show you if your tripod's straight and you can also buy spirit levels which can be clipped to your camera's hot shoe. Tripods also make it easier to adjust the position of your camera which in turn will move where the horizon sits in your shot. For more tips on why this is important, take a look at this article: Photographing Horizons

 

7. Capture Panoramas

 

Panoramas are created by stitching a series of shots together (either in-camera or during post-production) that you've captured by moving your camera from one side of the frame to the other, allowing for a little overlap between each frame. A tripod will keep your shots steady and level which means they'll be easier to stitch together if you're doing it manually. 

 

8. Shoot Self Portraits

 

Working with your arm outstretched so you can be in frame isn't practical and won't produce award-winning shots anytime soon. For this reason, it's important to have a support so you can frame up, ensuring your horizon is straight if out on location before you take your shot. The same goes for group shots at parties, weddings and other gatherings you attend where you want to be in the frame. It also means you can shoot self-portraits in the studio, leaving the camera framed-up on the spot you want to position yourself in once you've set the camera up. 

 

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Editing is as crucial as capturing a great shot. Removing distractions, adjusting elements, or enhancing visuals can be time-consuming. AI tools now assist photographers in handling repetitive post-processing tasks efficiently, while keeping creative control intact.

Platforms like Piclumen provide intelligent features for real-world editing needs. These tools do not replace artistic judgment but help streamline tedious processes, letting photographers focus on refining their vision.

 

 

AI Replace: Targeted Editing for Photographers

 

The AI replace function allows selective content replacement in images. Users can mark areas to modify — such as unwanted objects or backgrounds — and describe the desired replacement. The system blends new content naturally into the image. This reduces manual editing time while maintaining creative flexibility. Instead of painstaking pixel-level adjustments, photographers can quickly implement changes while keeping control over the final image.

 

Using AI Replace in Your Workflow

 

A simple workflow makes AI replace accessible:

1. Mark the area: Use the brush to select parts to edit.
2. Describe the change: Input a brief description of the replacement.
3. Generate and review: Evaluate the AI-generated result and fine-tune if necessary.

This process is ideal for photographers looking to save time on repetitive tasks, especially in client work or batch editing.

 

 

Solving Common Editing Pain Points

 

Unwanted subjects or distracting background elements are common in photography. AI replace can quickly remove these issues — for example, stray pedestrians in street photography or clutter in product shots — by replacing them with cleaner backgrounds or natural textures. This helps photographers focus on composition, lighting, and storytelling rather than repetitive pixel work.

 

Keeping Creative Control

 

AI replace is an assistive tool, not a replacement for the photographer’s skill. Creative decisions about composition, lighting, and visual narrative remain fully under the user’s control. By treating AI outputs as drafts or variations, photographers retain full creative freedom. 

 

Conclusion

 

AI replace offers a practical way to speed up post-processing while preserving creative control. Tools like Piclumen support photographers in reducing repetitive editing tasks, allowing more time to focus on the artistic aspects of photography, without ever replacing the human judgment at the core of image creation.

 

 

 

Photos are an important part of family history. We look back on them to remember our childhood. We think of times that we can't go back to. Regrettably, time inflicts its damage. Photos crack, stains appear, and colors go from bright and vivid to faded and dull. Restoring old photos is a way to bring back a part of family history, but without the right methods, you could damage them beyond repair. Many people want to know how to restore old photos, but some people are apprehensive about how the restoration process may affect the photograph.

In the past, old photo restoration was time-consuming and expensive because it required professional editing and the use of expensive tools. With the advancement of AI, everything is digitized, and new-age software can perform repairs to old photos automatically. In this article, we will discuss the reasons why old photos become damaged, the difficulties of restoring damaged photos, some tips to prepare, and the process to restore old photos using HitPaw FotorPea.

 

Why Old Photos Get Damaged Over Time

The first step to restore old photos is understanding the damage. Most old photos are printed on paper. Light, heat, and moisture damage that paper. Sunlight can fade photos and cause yellow tones. Heat and humidity can cause stains, mold, and even curling edges. If photos are stored in poor conditions, there can be scratches, cracks, and torn corners.

Careless handling can damage photos. Finger oils can leave permanent marks. Dust can settle on the photo and will make it look less clear. Some people try to edit old photos and don't know what they are doing. As a result, they remove important parts of the photo.

Digital restoration is therefore superior to physical restoration. You can keep the original photo safe by creating a digital version of it.

 

Common Problems People Face in Old Photo Restoration

People think restoring old photos is pretty easy, but that's not the case for many people. They lack skills and time and are afraid of damaging their memories, which makes the entire process stressful, especially with the use of manual editing tools.

 

Manual Editing Takes Too Much Time

Fixing scratches, stains, cracks, and faded areas requires patience and a level of expertise that beginners usually don’t have, and they often end up spending hours on a single image and still don’t get it to look right or like a complete photo.

 

Faces Are Difficult to Restore Naturally

Old photos can have blurry facial features, faded tones, or details that are simply missing. Changes made manually can change expressions, remove key facial features, or make the subject's face look overly smooth and unrealistic.

 

Over-Editing Reduces Photo Quality

When a lot of filters are applied to a photo, it may seem clearer, but many details and textures are lost. This can result in many of the emotions and the essence in the photo being ruined.

 

Large Photo Collections Become Overwhelming

Restoration of just a single photo may seem easy, but it gets really tiring when it comes to large family albums. Because of the required time, someone may just entirely give up restoring old photos.

 

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How to Restore Old Photos with HitPaw FotorPea (Step by Step)

Old photos can be challenging to restore when they are scratched, faded, or blurry. Manual editing can be time-consuming and ruin crucial parts of the image. HitPaw FotorPea is designed to restore old photos using AI. It automatically fixes damage, improves the clarity, restores color, and brings back facial features. This makes HitPaw FotorPea user-friendly for photo editing novices.

 

Key Features and AI Models for Restoring Old Photos

HitPaw FotorPea uses advanced and powerful AI models that have been designed and developed for old photo restoration. Each feature is designed to address one of the most common issues that we find in photos that have been damaged or aged over time.

 

Key Features

• Removes scratches, cracks, and visible damage from old photos
• Enhances clarity in faded or low-quality images
• Restores natural tones in dull or washed-out photos
• Colorizes black-and-white photos with realistic colors
• Recovers facial details like skin texture, eyes, and expressions

 

AI Restoration Models

• AI Portrait Restoration: Repairs old or damaged portraits
• Scratch and Damage Repair: Fixes worn and scratched areas
• Blur Removal and Clarity Enhancement: Sharpens blurry photos
• Black-and-White Photo Colorization: Adds natural color
• Natural Color Enhancement: Improves tone and balance

 

These AI models work in unison to edit and restore old photos, while maintaining the integrity of the original image and not over-editing it.

 

How to Restore Old Photos 

Step 1: Download and install HitPaw FotorPea on your computer.

 

 

Step 2: Open the software and click on “Image Restoration”.

 

 

Step 3: Upload the old photo by clicking the “+” button, or simply drag and drop the image.

 

 

Step 4: Select the right AI restoration model according to your image.

 

 

Step 5: Click “Export“ to save the restored photo, or click “Enhance” if you want to further improve the image quality.

 

 

Tips to Get the Best Results When Restoring Old Photos

Keep edits light and keep it looking as natural as possible to get the best results. Small changes and careful previews can improve clarity, detail, and balance without ruining the original look.

• Start simple: Let AI do touch-ups first. Fix scratches, blur, and fading first.
• Preview often: Before and after views can help achieve more natural results.
• Face balance: Face enhancement can distort natural and real expressions so use with caution.
• Avoid over-editing: Too many effects can make editing photos look fake.
• Save versions: Saving different versions of the photo helps you see the difference between all the edits.
• Protect originals: Make sure you do not lose the original image file.
• Natural finish: Make sure you aim for a natural soft look where the original image can still be appreciated.
• Final review: Make sure to check the details before saving the image, while zoomed in.

 

Conclusion

Restoring old photos isn't as hard or time-consuming as it once was. With AI tools, anyone can repair damages, improve clarity, and revitalise faded photos. For example, HitPaw FotorPea allows users to restore old photos quickly and easily. Its automatic features let users fix scratches, details in faces, and photo blurriness. If you're looking for an inexpensive and straightforward way to restore old photos, using HitPaw FotorPea is the best option.

 

With some schools closed for the half-term break this week we thought we'd give you some suggestions on where you can go with the kids that'll keep them entertained and still give you the opportunity to get your camera out of its bag.

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1. The Coast

 

With arcades, beaches, ice cream and fish and chips, the coast is a great place for a family day-trip. Plus, with lighthouses, piers, promenades and plenty of other photographic opportunities available your camera won't be spending too long in its bag. 

Here are 10 techniques for you to take a look at before you head for the seaside: 

1. Coast Close-Up Photography With Compacts
2. 5 Tips To Improve Your Coastal Landscapes
3. Photographing Lighthouses In The Landscape
4. Long Exposures At The Coast
5. Coast Photography Tips For The 'Golden' Hours
6. How To Photograph What The Sea Washes Up
7. Photographing Piers
8. Photographing Under The BoardWalk
9. Lighthouse Photography Tips
10. Out Of Season Coast Photos

 

2. Castles

From sweeping majestic castles with interactive features to ruins of castle walls that once protected its occupiers, these great structures offer ample opportunity for photographers and their gear. Attractions such as Warwick Castle are both photogenic and entertaining thanks to tours and other activities taking place during opening hours. The summer months tend to be the times when more entertainment is put in place, however, a quick search online will soon show you what locations are hosting what events/activities during the half-term break. 

For tips on equipment choices and shooting angles, have a read of these castle photography techniques:

• A Guide To Photographing Castles
• Quick Stately Home And Castle Photography Tips
• Castle Photography Advice

 

3. The Zoo

 

A day out at the zoo is something loved by children and families, but they're also a great place for photographers, too. They're brimming with photographic subjects but the screens and fences that protect them, and us can be a bit of a nightmare for photographers. They put distance between you and the animal and as you can't generally photograph over them you have to shoot through them. However, there are a few ways you can make your day out at the zoo more of a photography success as we explain in these articles:

• 15 Top Zoo Photography Tips
• Photography At Zoos

  4. Your Local Park

 

Among the concrete jungle, there are pockets of green that break the greys of the city skyline up and whether you're snapping the blankets of alternating colour from a distance or are among the trees yourself, city parks have plenty of photographic opportunities to keep you busy. Plus, with plenty of grass for kicking a ball around and swings for entertainment, your children won't be bored either!

Have a read of these tutorials for park photography tips: 

• What To Photograph In Parks
• Photography In Parks

 

5. Set-Up A Portrait Shoot

One way to keep the kids entertained at home that'll still give you the opportunity to get your camera out is a portrait shoot. This could be indoors or out, posed and with guidance or have a more candid style to it. Whichever you decide, here are a few tutorials to help you out. Plus, you'll find even more portrait-related articles in ePHOTOzine's technique section. 

• Indoor Portraits With Window Light
• How To Capture Smiling Close Ups Of Children
• Photographing Family Or Groups Of Friends
• Shooting A Set Of Fun Portraits
• Tips For A Child Portrait Shoot
• Creative Children Portraits On A Budget

 

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Why Do We Need To Do This?

When you're working with tall structures such as a mountain range, it can sometimes be difficult to grasp how tall they really are but if you add an object the viewer recognises the scale of, it's much easier for them to understand how big the other object is. As a result, your shot will have various points of interest that can lead the eye through the frame, depth and scale. Another reason for doing this is to give your shot impact. For example, when you see an image of the desert with a person mid-frame you are suddenly reminded of the sheer size of the landscape which often results in a 'Wow' moment.

 

What To Use?

People work well as they are an easily recognisable shape that's easy to grasp the size of. In turn, this makes it easier for the viewer of the image to understand how vast the area is that's surrounding the person. Of course, you can use other objects that are easily recognisable or even part of a subject. This works well with very large man-made objects such as cruise liners as it suggests they are so big, they can't be fitted into the frame. Add holidaymakers walking next to it and suddenly you're realising that it's a huge piece of engineering.

 

 

Where To Position Your Person / Object?

Positioning your secondary subject roughly anywhere from the middle to the back of the shot will make it easier for the viewer of your image to grasp the size of the mountains, dunes trees or whatever else sits in the surrounding shot.

If it's difficult for your subject to reach this area of the shot move further back if you can or if you have to, position them in the foreground without pulling focus from the landscape. If you position your secondary subject too close it can distort the perspective as your foreground subject will appear larger in the frame but this still shouldn't be a problem if you're using a person.

 

 

Change Perspective With Your Lens

The lens you choose to use and its focal length can change the perspective of your shot too.

By moving the position you're shooting from, altering the zoom or by using a different type of lens altogether will change how the final image looks and in some cases the distance that appears to be between objects in the frame. For example, you may be shooting a landscape that has a single house or tree in it and by using a wide-angle lens you can include more of the scene around the object, creating a sense of isolation and demonstrating how small it is compared to what else is in the frame. Go the opposite way and zoom in or use a telephoto lens to pull the object to you and it will fill the frame, becoming more of a focus rather than a way to express the size of its surroundings.
 

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Daylight is free and it is wonderful for portrait work as not only is it flattering and photogenic but it's really easy to work with so it's a good place for beginners to start. You don't need a fancy studio, either, as you can pick a location outdoors or simply set-up next to a window in your own home.  

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1. Light & Time Of Day

To take good portraits with light from a window you don't need a lot of space but do try and avoid an area/time of day where direct sunlight is flowing through the window to avoid contrast problems. If you can, work on an overcast day because the light will be naturally diffused and won't be too harsh. 

As we are working with window light, you don't want other light sources spoiling your shot so turn your house lights off for neutral results.

 

2. Use A Reflector 

You'll probably need to bounce some light onto your subject's face and the best way to do this is with a reflector. You can either use a purpose-made one, some white card or some silver foil stuck onto a sheet of MDF will do.

In case you don't have someone to hand, a tripod makes a good reflector holder or you can hold the reflector yourself and set the camera on a self-timer. Or, you could use a reflector designed to be held by a photographer. If you are shooting tightly cropped images, the model can hold the reflector for you, too.

 

 

3. Metering Tips 

If you use manual metering, take a reading from the model's face and not the window. If you meter from the window it will think the scene is brighter than what it is and as a result, your subject will be underexposed.
 

4. Get The White Balance Right 

It is worth trying different white-balance settings. Auto white-balance can work well, but try shade or cloudy for warmer looking images.  
 

5. Framing & Capturing Your Portrait 

Get in as close as you can to capture/use as much daylight as possible. A tripod is useful, hand-held can work just as well but make sure you are shooting at a reasonably fast shutter speed and remember to focus on the eyes. Crop in tight on the face and if you wish, you can use the window to help frame the shot.

Most people are not natural posers so communication and guidance are important. For posing ideas, check out the fashion magazines and images in our gallery, too.
 

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© Skylum

 

Skylum is celebrating four years of Luminar Neo, reflecting the impressive evolution of its AI-powered photo editing software since its 2022 launch. A standout achievement came in late 2025 when Luminar Mobile received Google Play’s Best Multi-Device App Award, recognizing its smooth and consistent experience across phones, tablets, and desktops. To thank its growing community, Skylum is offering new customers discounts of up to 74%, creative anniversary gifts, and a special video message from the team.

 

From Skylum:

The software company Skylum is celebrating four years of Luminar Neo. The AI-powered photo editing software enables access to professional photo editing for both experienced photographers and beginners with just a few clicks. To mark the anniversary, Skylum’s development team has released a dedicated video. It particularly honors the creativity of Luminar Neo users and serves as a thank-you for the shared journey so far.

The video is available here:

 

From Desktop App to Ecosystem

Since its launch, Luminar Neo has evolved from a standalone desktop application into a fully developed cross-platform ecosystem seamlessly connecting PC, iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. The software synchronizes photo editing across all devices, allowing users to edit photos on the go using a smartphone or tablet and finalize them later on a desktop if desired. Advanced AI technologies can be used to automatically analyze image content as well as add or remove elements. This makes editing significantly faster, more precise, and more intuitive.

 

Google Awards 2025: Best Multi-Device App

A major highlight of the past year: Luminar Mobile was named Best Multi-Device App at the Google Play Best of 2025 Awards. The award particularly recognizes the seamless cross-platform use of the Android app, including Chromebook support, as well as its integration into desktop workflows. This category honors apps that provide an especially consistent and high-quality user experience across multiple devices.

“Four years of Luminar would not have been possible without our loyal community. We thank all our users for their trust, creativity, and valuable feedback, which plays a key role in the ongoing development of our software. Our goal is to continuously improve Luminar so that professional photo editing remains as simple, intuitive, and accessible as possible for everyone in the future,” says Yevhenii Tymoshenko, CMO at Skylum.

 

Benefits for New Customers

Skylum is currently offering various licenses with discounts of up to 74% as well as an anniversary gift:

• Perpetual Desktop License: Luminar Neo for Desktop (macOS, Windows) – €64.99 instead of €357.00
• Perpetual Multi-Device License: Luminar Neo for Desktop + Mobile App for iOS, Android, ChromeOS – €84.99 instead of €405.00
• Perpetual Max License: Luminar Neo for Desktop, Mobile App for iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and access to the Creative Library – €99.99 instead of €464.00

For more information about the deals, please visit Skylum's website. 

 

About Luminar Neo

Luminar Neo (skylum.com/luminar) is a powerful, AI-driven photo editing software developed by Skylum, a global company specializing in imaging technology. The software combines an intuitive user interface with advanced AI technologies to make professional-level photo editing accessible to everyone—whether beginners or experienced photographers. Thanks to Generative AI, users can effortlessly remove elements, extend backgrounds, or replace objects in just a few clicks. Enhance AI brings together more than 20 adjustments in a single tool, automatically optimizing color, detail, and exposure, while tools such as Relight AI and Atmosphere AI enable precise control over lighting moods and depth effects. Luminar Neo also offers non-destructive editing, RAW support, layers and masking features, as well as seamless integration into existing workflows. From portrait retouching and landscape enhancement to creative photo compositions, Luminar Neo revolutionizes photo editing with cutting-edge AI and unlocks entirely new creative possibilities for photographers.

As a comprehensive ecosystem, Luminar Neo also enables cross-device editing between desktop and mobile devices, allowing projects to be continued anytime, seamlessly. With integrated web galleries via “Spaces,” AI-powered photo restoration for old or damaged images, and an intelligent AI Assistant that provides personalized editing suggestions, the software supports creatives throughout the entire workflow—from the initial idea to the final presentation.

You can wait for hours, days or months for the right sky and still be disappointed. But don't get too downhearted as a little bit of digital processing will give your image the sky it needs.
 

Photograph The Sky Whenever & Wherever 

Before we get to this stage we need a sky to import and having a library of stormy, bright blue and sunset-coloured skies is a time-saving idea that's practical and easy to create. In other words, just shoot interesting skies whenever you see one and do so with wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses. Also, consider the many varieties of lighting - back, frontal, side, for example - so you build a library of sky images to cover all creative options.

  Quick Gear Checklist 

For most skies in the open, all you need is a wide-angle or standard zoom lens but a long telephoto lens can be useful too. If you're planning on taking several images of the sun LiveView is crucial as you don't want to be looking down the lens with it burning back into your eyes. A strong neutral density filter will help reduce the sun's glare and a polariser is perfect for creating saturated blue skies.

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Fill The Frame With Sky 

Usually, you're told to remove some of the sky but this time it's our focus so you want to shoot from a position that allows you to get plenty of it in the frame and be in a location where there are no distracting objects such as trees, buildings and long grasses.

Pay attention to which direction the light is coming from and note it down as you don't want to use a sky with light coming from the left when shadows on your original image lay in the opposite direction.

Don't ignore the clouds either as they can alter the light and make certain areas of the shot darker than others. For sunsets, which work well dropped into shots of people or buildings silhouetted, you need to fill the shot with the sun but don't stare at it through the lens as this will damage your eyes. Use LiveView, point and press.

Stormy skies are perfect for atmospheric shots where castles or any other old building are your centrepieces. Watch for breaks in the clouds where long streaks of sunlight burst through for more interesting images.

For more tips on replacing skies or shooting images where the sky is your main focus, have a look at these tutorials: 

• Shooting Landscapes With Interesting Skies
• Create A Dramatic Sky In Photoshop
• Enhancing Sky In Photoshop
• How To Replace A Sky In Elements
• Adding A Sky Behind A Lighthouse
• Photographing Beach Huts With A Big Sky

 

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Vignettes aren't a new editing trick, in fact, when darkrooms were still widely in use photographers would apply dodging and burning masks to images during the processing or use filters on their camera lenses when taking the shots. Now the effect is usually re-created digitally with software but the reason for applying them hasn't changed. They are still a simple yet, subtle way to guide/draw the eye to your main subject and frame shots.

The effect has also grown in popularity thanks to cameras such as Holgas becoming popular again. This 'hipster' look is now rather desirable so using techniques that re-create this, what was an unintentional vignette, on digital images is now something even apps are doing. In fact, creating vignettes on photos taken with mobile phones is one of the effects that's listed in our Ten Photoshop Techniques To Do On An iOS App article.

 

How And Why

When it comes to applying vignettes, less is usually better than more as if you make the effect too strong and obvious, it can end up spoiling your shot rather than enhancing it. Of course, there are times when a stronger vignette will work, such as with moody black & white landscapes, but most of the time subtle will be the way to go.

You should apply a vignette once all your other edits are complete as adjustments such as cropping may change the overall look of the image and the vignette could end up sitting in the wrong place or highlighting part of the shot you didn't want it to. This isn't true in Lightroom, though, as we'll explain further into the tutorial.

You can create vignettes in several applications including Photoshop, GIMP and Lightroom. For those wanting to learn more about the vignette options available in Lightroom, carry on reading this tutorial. For those looking for tips on how to create vignettes in Photoshop or GIMP, click on the following links:

 

• Four Ways To Create A Vignette In Photoshop
• How To Create A High-Key Vignette Using GIMP

 

Vignettes In Lightroom

When you open the develop module in Lightroom you'll see there are two Vignetting options. The first can be found under Lens Corrections and this is designed to decrease or even fully remove the vignetting caused by the lens when the image was taken. The changes are applied to the corners of the full-frame image and two sliders allow you to alter the strength and positioning of the effect.

 

Move the Amount slider to the right and the figure will increase, lightening the corners as the slider moves. Pull it to the right and the figure will decrease, darkening the corners. The Midpoint slider alters the area the vignette is applied to. Move the slider to the left and the vignette amount adjustment is applied to a larger area away from the corners, pull the slider in the opposite direction and this will restrict the adjustment area nearer to the corners of the image.

 

The Post-Crop Vignetting tool is one that's designed for more creative purposes and once applied, will stay on your image even if you decide to crop the shot again. There are also more editing controls available under the Post-Crop Vignetting tool, giving you more control over how the final vignette will look.

Three types of vignettes are available and these are accessed from the Style menu. These three options will alter how the vignette you apply blends with the photo you're editing. Highlight Priority is set as the default option and will create a vignetting effect that you're most familiar with.

Once you've picked your Style (we are using Highlight Priority) you can use the various sliders to adjust the vignette.
 

Amount

Pull this slider to the right and the vignette will lighten, pull it to the left and it will appear darker.

Midpoint

This will change how much of the image away from the edges the vignette is applied to. Pull the slider left and the vignette's size will be increased, pull it to the right and it will retreat back into the corners of the shot.

 

Roundness

This changes the shape of the vignette to give it rounder or straighter edges. If you pull the slider to the left the shape is more rectangular/square while pulling it the opposite way will make the vignette more circular.

 

Feather

This adjusts how hard or soft the edges of the vignette are. A harder vignette (which you get by pulling the slider to the left) generally doesn't look as good as feathered vignettes as it creates a shape that's too defined. The second image, which shows a vignette with a higher feathered value, is much softer.

 

Highlights

When in Highlight or Colour Priority the Highlights slider becomes active if you've used a negative value when adjusting the amount (so the vignette is dark). Pulling the Highlights slider to the right will, according to Adobe, 'control the degree of highlight contrast preserved'. In other words, it allows you to control how little or much highlight contrast there is in your vignette.

See the difference in these two images when the slider is set at 0 then 45:

 

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Before heading out for a shoot or even while on one, make sure you don't overlook some of the most important but basic things. To stop you doing this, we've put together a quick checklist which may seem obvious but the things on it can often be overlooked and can cause a day out shooting to descend into chaos!
 

1. Charge Your Camera's Batteries

 

The most important thing to remember is to make sure that your batteries are charged. If not, your day out will be rendered useless when you discover that your battery has died. If your battery is low the night before but you don't want to charge it before it's fully dead, consider wearing the battery down on purpose so it can be fully charged overnight. You could also consider taking a spare battery if you have one, or a spare camera if you don't, so at least you can still shoot if your primary equipment fails.
 

2. Memory Card Check

You should ensure your memory card is not full or going to be quickly filled when you're out shooting. Always carry a spare card or two just in case one goes missing or shows a fault.

 
3. What Am I Trying To Say?

 

How you frame, light and compose your shot will provoke a different feeling, thought or emotion so think about what message you're trying to convey before hitting the shutter button.

4. Watch The Horizon

 

One of the main things to remember is to keep your horizon straight. If not, the shot will look wonky. If you're on flat ground, an easy way to ensure this is to use a tripod which has a spirit level built-in. However, do remember that if you're working with a hot shoe spirit level on terrain that's uneven the spirit level on your tripod may tell you the shot's wonky when actually it's not. 

 

5. Don't Make It Too Busy

 

Although you will want to portray a lot through your photos, try not to overcrowd the image. If you do, the eye will not know where to settle on the photo and ruin the feel of the image. Do a quick check of the foreground and background before you take your shot to check there's not unsightly elements and take the time to consider if your shot will work better with the background out of focus.

 

6. Fill The Frame Or Leave Some Space?

 

 

You should also consider how close you are to your subject/how much space you want in your shot. If it is too far away, the image can lose impact, however, if you're trying to create a sense of scale in your shot, moving a person further away, for example, moving a person further into an area of sand dunes, will make the landscape appear as if it stretches on for miles. If you do want to fill the frame, use the zoom on your camera or move your feet.

 

7. Have A Focal Point

 

Identify your main focal point so you can then decide if you're going to use secondary points of focus or just place your subject in the frame so all attention falls on them.

 

8. Look At The Lighting

 

The light's angle and how strong it is will, of course, change the look of your photograph but so will the type of light source you're using. For example, if the light is tungsten or fluorescent, your camera may have a specific white balance setting to make the scene look natural. If you're shooting in darker conditions and don't want to use flash, consider using a higher ISO instead.

9. Consider Creating A Path

 

Having a path within the photo for the eye to follow can help guide your viewer through your shot. The picture above is a good example as the metal railing guides the eye down the beach to the person in the distance. 

 

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Comfy integrates the HitPaw FotorPea API that allows for image enhancement for Comfy users. Users can now benefit from the technology that will help automate and enhance the quality of images. These tools will help restore, enhance, and denoise images, all operating directly inside Comfy.

This integration shows how photography is changing with the help of AI tools to add detail to older, lower-quality, and compressed images. Rather than replacing creative editing, these tools are focusing more on streamlining multiple edits and ensuring overall consistency and clarity. 

For photographers, content creators, and platforms that manage lots of visuals, processing large amounts of visuals with less post-production work can be really helpful.

 

What HitPaw FotorPea Brings to the Comfy Platform

 

HitPaw FotorPea focuses on enhancing photos without changing their overall natural look. Instead of using filters that change the photo more aggressively, the system leans on AI models that have been trained to understand the structures, textures, and minutiae of photos.

Due to Comfy integration, photo enhancement features can now be used within a single workflow. This also means no more exporting images or using other tools to improve the quality of images because improving images has been included in the workflow.

While this functionality aids individual creators, it is particularly useful for teams and services dealing with high volumes of images, especially when the prospect of manual editing is impractical.

 

AI Image Enhancement Integrated into the Core Workflow

 

 

With the integration of AI image enhancer, Comfy now has the ability to auto-enhance different types of images. It uses AI to analyze the images and adjust clarity, noise, and resolution while keeping the textures and features of the people in the images faces as natural as possible.

Most traditional upscaling tools enhance the whole image and result in a generalized view, often causing the person in the portrait to look artificial. HitPaw FotorPea, on the other hand, uses AI realism-based portrait enhancements, meaning they look natural.

 

Key image enhancement capabilities include:

• One-click enhancement for portraits and scenes
• Separate AI processing for faces and backgrounds
• 2x and 4x super-resolution options
• Noise reduction without heavy softening
• Batch processing for large image sets
• API access for automated workflows

The system's features are ideal for mobile phone photography, low-res web images, scanned images, older digital photos, and also for slight improvements to already high-quality images.

 

Model-Based Enhancement for Different Photographic Scenarios

 

The integration does not consist of simply applying a singular enhancement method across all images. Instead, it uses various AI models tailored for particular subjects as well as certain quality levels. This gives the end user more options to choose from when dealing with more challenging photographic materials.

 

Available image enhancement models include:

• Face Clear Model (2x / 4x): Upscales portraits and softens the skin to give a clearer picture and accentuates the surrounding details.
• Face Natural Model (2x / 4x): Maintains the skin texture and facial features to make them look more natural.
• General Enhance Model (2x / 4x): This model is used to enhance general and everyday images, like landscapes, architecture, animals, and many more.
• High Fidelity Model (2x / 4x): This tool is specifically designed for subtle enhancement of DSLR photos, posters, and AI images.
• Sharp Denoise & Detail Denoise Models (1x): Reduce noise in photos taken on mobile devices and cameras, while retaining the original flexible image size.
• Generative Portrait & Generative Enhance Models (1x–4x): Diffusion models that focus on rebuilding some of the details that may be missing because of heavy compression or destruction of the image.

This model selection structure enables photographers and content teams to select the specialized image enhancer AI technique that fits the source material the best instead of using a one-size-fits-all solution.

 

Built for Automation and Platform-Level Workflows

 

A key element in this integration is the API-based design. Rather than putting the tools just as creative editors, Comfy enables automated enhancement as part of broader content pipelines. This gives the value not just to individual photographers but to any platforms, publishers, and services that handle extensive image libraries. With the goal of quality improvement while maintaining smooth, automated workflows, Comfy integrates AI enhancement directly into the platforms.

 

Who Benefits Most from This Integration

 

The Comfy and HitPaw FotorPea integration streamlines work for various users, but some users enjoy better integration benefits, such as:

• Photographers wanting to recover detail of challenging light or old files
• Content creators seeking cleaned-up images without tedious edits
• Media platforms dealing with large quantities of user-generated or old images
• Creative teams desire consistent image quality across all their projects

In all these cases, the advantage lies in achieving improved image quality with minimal effort.

 

A Tool Designed for Modern Image Workflows

 

Today’s image workflows are speedy, multi-source, and often automated. Images come from phones, cameras, scans, and archives and have varying quality levels. Users do not need another complex editor; they need a reliable way to enhance the baseline quality.

HitPaw FotorPea seamlessly integrates with this environment because its AI models focus on realism, detail retention, and efficiency. The Comfy integration removes friction and allows image enhancement in the place where the work already exists.

 

Conclusion

 

The integration of HitPaw FotorPea's API with Comfy exemplifies the increased importance of automation in the contemporary photography world. Focusing on natural results, adaptable models, and the ability to handle larger projects shows how AI tools are becoming more flexible and are now more about improving technical quality than being used for creative purposes. HitPaw FotorPea is at the center of this integration. Its image enhancement models now work with Comfy to provide consistent and workflow-friendly visual improvement.