Shutterbug is Back and Everyone is Invited
About 20 years ago, Maureen Jenson, the editor of Home Theater magazine, asked me to explain DLNA. It was a new standard that let TVs, computers, and streaming boxes share audio and video media including photos. Digital cameras were pretty new and the thought of viewing on the TV what I had uploaded to my computer was exciting. I wrote the story in the way I’d explain it to a friend.
And thus began my writing career with Home Theater and Sound and Vision. From high-end reviews to simple how-to’s, I’d always explain in plain language so people can put what they read to use.
All the while I was also working as a professional travel photographer, improving my craft and learning everything I could get my hands on.
That’s why they thought of me when it came to leading Shutterbug after its recent acquisition by Pray Media Holdings. I could take that same plain talk and bring it to cameras and photography whether it’s to explain the basics to a beginner or give seasoned pros direct tips for quick results.
Why the change? “I liked it the way it was”
Yes, I’ve followed Shutterbug and have great respect for its legacy. For those of you who have known Shutterbug from its 45 years in print or even the yellow newsprint days when it first began, you’ll still find the same integrity and in-depth recommendations and all the specs you could want. But we’re broadening it to include what to do with those specs and features and how to do it.
Now that most of us carry a camera with us everywhere (on our phone) more people want to know how to get better photos. And many of them are new to photography terms and tools.
It’s not just smartphone cameras. In the beginning of 2026, Japan’s camera makers shipped almost five times as many fixed lens compact cameras as DSLRs. More people want to easily take better photos without lugging huge gear kits. (Though I still carry my backpack filled with two bodies and a few lenses.).
While we’ve all known (or been) the camera loyalist, be it Nikon or Canon or Fiji, or… I am truly agnostic. For years I traveled with a Nikon on one shoulder and a Canon on the other (and now I shoot with Sony). But I’ve tutored new camera owners on just about every brand of camera around.
What to expect
Many of our sections will stay, though some may change a bit. We’re also adding a few new areas. These new areas include:
First steps. For beginners who are just starting out: what to buy, where to start, basic principles.
Gear in real life. Reviews and how-tos that put cameras, lenses, phones, and accessories to the test in our everyday photography.
How it was shot. The settings behind real photos, how it was processed and what challenges were faced, and solutions that were chosen along the way.
Everything Smartphone camera. Smartphone cameras have improved to the point where the photos are good enough to hang on the wall. But the manuals are limited and getting the shot means knowing how to use the camera and the right settings. We’ll also cover accessories that expand what your phone camera can do, bringing it closer to digital camera quality.
The Post (processing) posts- a mediocre photo can really shine with the right editing. A RAW photo is just that: raw. It needs you to finish it. Here we will cover techniques to enhance and improve photos from basic masking to blending and compositing photos.
And, along with the website revitalization, our bi-monthly newsletter will soon be in your email box highlighting the “don’t miss” articles and including tips. Be sure to sign up if you’ve not yet subscribed. Members can also comment and ask questions on the website.
Thank you, and welcome
Thank you to everyone who has stayed with Shutterbug through all its changes. Some of you have been reading since the pages came in the mail. You’re the reason it’s still here.
And if you’re new, welcome. Pull up a chair. There’s room for you.
One small favor
Do you know someone who has ever pointed a camera at something they loved? Or someone who pulls over to take a picture of the sunset? Please share Shutterbug with them. They are included and welcome. That’s how this community grows.
I’d love to hear from you, too. Write to me at [email protected] and tell me what you’re taking pictures with and what you’d like to see here.
I’m glad you’re here. Let’s go make some photos.
All photos by Barb Gonzalez. Feature photo and Lewis Falls photo were taken on an iPhone 17 Pro.
Barb Gonzalez is the editor of Shutterbug and the founder of Learn Better Photography. Find her books and classes at learnbetterphotography.com.
A fine art travel and wildlife photographer based in Bend, Oregon, Barb has spent a lifetime taking photos, including more than a decade as the main travel photographer for the Bend Bulletin. For more than 20 years, she has written about cameras and home tech, including at Sound & Vision. Early in her career, her knack for making gear make sense earned her the nickname “Simple Tech Guru.”
