Most of us strive to capture images with maximum sharpness and we’ve featured numerous tutorials on the subject with camera and lens settings, along with important techniques, for getting the job done to perfection. The video below takes the opposite approach by discussing how and why you should embrace the blur.

When done properly this technique creates images full of mood and emotion that really stand out from the crowd. This four-minute tutorial explains what you need to know to add this unique style to your repertoire, and why intentional image blur is so compelling.

Instructor Daniel Inskeep is an accomplished photographer and founder of the Mango Street YouTube channel, and he begins the lesson with this: “If you want to capture motion in your photos you’re going to need some subject movement and a slower shutter speed.” This may sound obvious, but there’s a right and wrong way to shoot photos with this eye-catching look.

Inskeep says a shutter speed of 1/60 or slower is a good place to start, depending upon how fast your subject is moving, but there a lot of other variables that are important to consider. To that end he covers “three different ways to get that blurry look that’s got a ton of rizz.”

Camera panning is at the top of the list, especially when shooting in the urban environment. The basic idea is stand in one place and pivot your camera to follow your subjects, like people or vehicles, as they move through the frame. As he says, “this will highlight your subject because it will be in focus but everything around it will be blurry.

With this approach he recommends beginning with a shutter speed of 1/30 and an aperture of f/16, and then adjusting these settings as conditions require. Inskeep also notes that you’ll want to position yourself so the subject moves parallel to your lens.

Inskeep says, however, that his favorite method for capturing intentional blur is to have the camera remain still while the subject is in motion. Here he had two subjects run toward the stationary camera. In this case he dialed in an exposure of 1/60 and says you can go slower if you want more blur. He explains the appropriate focus mode and other key variables.

Lastly is a technique Inskeep refers to as “background movement.” This approach is perhaps the least familiar of the three, and it requires a stationary subject in an environment with plenty of fast motion in either the foreground or background of the scene. He provides the perfect example of an evocative portrait captured in a train station with rail cars whizzing by behind the subject.

Th fun part is that all three techniques involve some trial and error to get exactly the look you like best. So experimentation is the name of the game. The Mango Street YouTube channel is known for “tutorials that don’t waste your time,” so be sure to take a look.

If you’re unfamiliar with Photoshop’s easy-to use Adjustment Layer Presets you’re missing out on a method for quickly improving your images. This tutorial from the Photoshop Essentials YouTube channel explains everything you need to know so you can start taking advantage of this method today..

The instructor named Steve explains the power of this technique for enhancing all sorts of images, adding that “it’s a great way to learn how Adjustment Layers work.” Another benefit is that this works its magic non-destructively so you can always go back for a do-over if need be.

In barely six minutes Steve shows you where to find the Adjustment Presets and how to apply one to an image. He also explains how to view the Adjustment Layers inside the preset, and how to change an Adjustment Layer’s settings. In addition to making conventional enhancements, this method enables you to easily add interesting special effects to a photograph that needs a bit of pizazz.

All you have to do to get started is go to Photoshop’s Adjustments panel and select Presets. If you don’t see this panel in your workspace, Steve shows you how to add it with a quick trip to the Window tab atop the screen. One you’re set up you can select from various of Presets. By hovering over each one you’ll get a quick preview of how the Preset will affect an image.

Only a few presets are displayed at first, but there’s actually a wide variety of choices divided into different categories. Simply click on the More button to see the full multitude of options. And, once again, each has a thumbnail that illustrates the effect it will add.

As you’ll see, Photoshop includes 32 built-in Presets divided into specific groups. These include Portraits, Landscape, Photo Repair, Creative, Black & White, and Cinematic. This makes it super easy to select the specific Preset for the task at hand, simply by clicking on its thumbnail.

Once you’ve made your choice, the Preset appears in the Layers panel as a layered group above your image. The step-by-step process for applying the preset and making modifications is so simple that we’ll let Steve walk you through the technique rather than summarizing it here.

Suffice to say that once you’re done watching, this is a method that you’ll turn to frequently. You can find more simple lessons like this one on the Photoshop Essentials YouTube channel.

We also suggest checking out a tutorial we posted recently from another editing expert, explaining how to save some cash by picking one of the best five free Photoshop alternative image editors.

If you’ve tried your hand at portraiture you know that different subjects require different techniques to obtain the best possible results. Photographing kids often means crouching down and shooting from their eye level, the task with men is making them appear strong and imposing, and portraits of women call for yet another approach.

Today’s tutorial comes from the Photography Session Days YouTube channel, a British workshop source for straightforward lessons designed for shooters of all skill levels. Today’s video is devoted to making portraits of women, with a number of great tips that will make you and your subjects proud.

Instructor Emma Finch is a portrait pro based Manchester, and she covers all the basics in less than seven minutes. You’ll learn how to prepare for a shoot and a variety of poses to use depending upon the look and mood you want to convey. Finch also discusses composition and simple lighting solutions that are well-worth giving a try.

Finch begins by directing her pretty model to strikes poses that make her look as attractive as possible. It’s obvious that a subject’s face is typically the key aspect of a portrait. According to Finch, the model’s hands are often next in the hierarchy. As she says, “after the face, hands can really make or break an image.” And she demonstrates a few important dos and don’ts.

Another key posing goal is to emphasize the female form, and here again Finch illustrates several flattering options. As she says, “we want to see curves.” Positioning a  model relative to the camera is the name of this game, and often the goal is to create a slimming effect. One trick here is a pose that accentuates a subject’s hip in comparison to her waist.

Legs are next on the list, and Finch says, “At the end of the day, all women want longer legs.” As you’ll see, there are a few ways to fulfill this request regardless of the models natural shape. Here she demonstrates counterproductive poses, followed by those that get the job done—whether a subject is seated, standing, or reclining.

All can be for not, even when the model strikes a beautiful pose, if you don’t compose the shot properly, and this is another topic of conversation. Skillful cropping also factors into the equation, so be sure to follow Finch’s suggestions for this key part of the process.

Finch also delves into simple lighting techniques than can make a huge difference in your photos. She insists that “the best light is the softest light,” and she illustrates this point with one of her award-winning dark and moody images.

If you’re interested in more portraiture techniques, all you have to do is visit the Photography Session Days YouTube channel where there’s much more to learn.