Portrait and studio photography
Light, glass, and the frame worth keeping
Stong Photography Journal is a working logbook of portraiture: what a lens or a light actually does once the session starts, and the pictures that came out of it.
In the frame
Verdicts on bodies, lenses and lighting, written after the shutter rather than from the spec sheet.
Latest writing →By subject
Headshots, portrait sessions and studio craft, grouped the way a photographer goes looking for them.
Browse topics →From the journal
Latest writing
10 Common Beginner Photography Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
Discover 10 common beginner photography mistakes to avoid, plus practical fixes for sharper, better-composed photos every time you shoot. Updated for .
10 Common Portrait Lighting Mistakes to Avoid (2026)
Learn the 10 common portrait lighting mistakes to avoid, with practical fixes for softer light, better shadows, natural skin tones and stronger…
How to Speed Up a Photography Website With Large Images (2026)
How to speed up a photography website with large images in : resize, compress, serve WebP, lazy-load and cache photos so galleries…
How to Teach a Beginner Photography Workshop (2026)
How to teach a beginner photography workshop: a timed run-of-show, hands-on exercises, a feedback method and venue prep for first-time instructors in…
How to Choose a Domain and Host for a Photo Site (2026)
How to choose a domain and host for a photo site in : compare storage, image delivery, privacy, support and renewal costs…
How to Write a Photography Blog That Gets Traffic (2026)
Learn how to write a photography blog that gets traffic in : pick a niche, find searchable topics, optimize images, and publish…
How to Submit Work to Photography Magazines (October 2026)
Learn how to submit work to photography magazines: research titles, read the guidelines, prep a portfolio, write a sharp pitch and follow…
How to Get Photography Feedback That Helps (2026)
Learn how to get photography feedback that helps you improve. Ask specific questions, pick trusted reviewers, and turn critique into better photos…
How to Avoid Copying Other Photographers: Build a Style (2026)
Learn how to avoid copying other photographers in : write down why an image works, then rebuild it with your own subject,…
A note to readers
Photography rewards patience far more than it rewards new equipment, so the writing here stays close to the work: how a lens behaves through a long portrait session, how one light reshapes a face, what survives from the shoot to the final print. Expect plain language, full-size pictures, and an honest verdict even when the answer is that your current kit is fine.
The Stong Photography Journal editors
About this journal
Written beside the camera
Stong Photography Journal exists for photographers who want a straight read on gear and lighting before they spend, and something worth looking at once they have — portrait and studio work first, and the wider craft that feeds it.
Everything published here is written from use: tested on real sessions, shown at full size, and revised when a better way turns up.