This Months Highlights:
- ANOTHER SEASON COMES TO A CLOSE
- INVITATION: SPS AWARD LUNCHEON
- FOCUS ON: AI PHOTOGRAPHY CRITQUE, NEIL SHAPIRO
- LEARN TO SEE...AND SERENDIPITY WILL FOLLOW, ESSDRAS SUAREZ
- APRIL PRINT NIGHT
- LUBA RICKET CREATIVE COMPETITION NIGHT
- FIELD TRIPS WITH JANICE PRICHETT
- ASSIGNED TOPICS 2026-2026, 2027-2028
- APRIL COMPETITION WINNERS
Check out our archives for past newsletters!
Recent Competition Submissions
Lightroom View More
Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to Las Vegas with Jefferson Graham
Most visitors photograph the same version of Las Vegas. Jefferson Graham has spent more than three decades finding the other one. In this week’s class, Jefferson shares the approach he’s developed after more than 100…
The Photographer’s Editorial Marketplace with Moose Peterson
A lot of photographers assume getting published is something reserved for professionals with connections. Moose Peterson would disagree. In his latest class, Moose shares what he’s learned from being published in more than 143 magazines…
Announcing the Photographing People Conference
We’ve got a brand new online conference coming up, and I think a lot of you are going to love this one. Registration is officially open for the Photographing People Conference, happening July 20–22, and…
Pocket Portraits: Pro iPhone Photography on the Go with Lisa Carney
Most of us pull out our phones, snap a quick shot, and move on. Lisa Carney takes a very different approach. In her latest class, Lisa shares how to create professional-quality portraits using nothing but…
What’s New in Photoshop with Terry White
Photoshop updates are always packed with new features, but figuring out which ones actually matter can take time. In his latest class, Terry White cuts through the noise and focuses on the updates that really…
Family Event Photography: Lighting & Posing Techniques with Clay Blackmore
Photographing family events can feel unpredictable. You’re managing multiple people, changing light, and moments that don’t wait for you to be ready. In this week’s class, Clay Blackmore shares a practical, repeatable approach to handling…
The Sky’s the Limit: Capturing the Power of the Clouds with Moose Peterson
Most photographers wait for perfect light. Moose Peterson looks up. In his new class, Moose shares how he approaches one of the most overlooked elements in landscape photography—clouds. Unpredictable, fast-moving, and impossible to recreate, clouds…
Storytelling in a Single Frame with Sapna Reddy
A great photo can do more than just look beautiful—it can tell a story. In this week’s class, Sapna Reddy explores how to create images that communicate mood, meaning, and emotion within a single frame.…
Blue Hour Mastery: Creating Dramatic Cityscapes with John Dukes
There’s a reason photographers love blue hour. That short window right after sunset creates a perfect balance between the sky and city lights, giving your images a dramatic, polished look straight out of the camera.…
Stunning Night Landscapes: Capture the Milky Way, Moonlight & Stars with Erik Kuna
Shooting at night can feel intimidating—especially when you’re trying to capture something as complex as the Milky Way. But once you understand the process, it becomes surprisingly approachable. In Erik’s latest class, you’ll learn a…
Photoshop View More
Painted Wonderlands: Folk Art Nature Backgrounds
Painted Wonderlands is a collection of 8 free AI-generated folk art nature backgrounds featuring whimsical animals, decorative florals, woodland elements, tropical wildlife, ocean creatures, and enchanting storybook scenes. Each artwork combines rich colors, detailed folk…
Create Realistic Rim Light Effects on Portraits in Photoshop
Rim lighting transforms ordinary portraits into dramatic, professional-looking images by adding bright highlights around the edges of your subject. This technique simulates light hitting the outer contours of a person, making them stand out from…
How to Use Photoshop's Layer Cleanup Tool to Organize Messy Projects
Complex editing projects with Generative Fill and Expand often result in dozens of unnamed layers cluttering your workspace. The new Layer Cleanup tool automates the tedious process of renaming layers and removing empty ones, transforming…
How to Use Curves for Composite Color Matching in Photoshop
Curves adjustments are essential for making composite elements look natural and cohesive. Understanding how curves manipulate light values and color channels gives you precise control over matching different elements to their new backgrounds. The key…
How to Use the New Edge Refinement Tool in Camera Raw and Fix Complex Mask Edges
Camera Raw's new edge refinement tool helps clean up rough mask edges, but it has limitations when dealing with complex subjects like trees and foliage. While the tool works well for simple architectural elements by…
How to Fix Color Fringing in Subject Cutouts Using Clipping Masks
Perfect layer masks can still produce disappointing results when color fringing appears around hair and fur edges. This common problem isn't caused by poor masking technique—it's the original background bleeding through at the edges. Clipping…
Create Beautiful Floral Oval Frames for Portraits in Photoshop
Transform ordinary portraits into elegant artwork with decorative floral oval frames that blend seamlessly with your subject. This technique combines traditional framing with digital floral elements, creating a painterly effect that's perfect for fine art…
How to Use Dynamic Text Shapes in Photoshop 2026
Photoshop 2026's Dynamic Text tool transforms text formatting with new shape options that go beyond traditional block layouts. The updated tool includes circular, arch, and bow configurations that automatically format text while maintaining professional typography…
How to Perfect AI Mask Edges in Camera Raw in Photoshop
Adobe Camera Raw’s New Edge Cleanup Feature: How to Get Perfect Mask Edges Adobe has introduced a new edge refinement control for AI-powered masks in Camera Raw. At first glance, it looks like a simple…
6 Essential Photoshop Effects You Really Need to Learn
Not every Photoshop effect is worth your time. Some are novelties, some are niche, and some will date your work faster than you expect. These six are different — they show up constantly across editorial,…