Yanik’s Photo Blog

Do you have an idea for a video tutorial? Are there photo techniques you’d like me to explain? Would you like me to review a new book, website or software? I have tons of ideas but I just might run out!

So I created a Suggestion Box just for you! Just click on “suggestion box” in the top menu and send me your ideas. Nothing is too wild for me! Challenge me! Remember that this blog is for you so please let me know what you would like to see. I’m not a mind reader just yet. Just remember to keep you suggestions photography related.

I hope you enjoy this new feature on my blog and I look forward to having a full box!

Hi guys! And welcome to part 2 of my portrait makeover. In this Photoshop™ video tutorial, we’ll look at removing pimples and skin imperfections as well as reducing wrinkles. I’ll be using the healing brush for this technique.

I’m working on a photo of Steeve Michaud, international opera singer. To know more about Steeve and to see more of my images, you can check out his Website.

If you missed part one of the portrait makeover, you can check it out HERE.

You can also browse through my other video tutorials HERE.

In part 3, I’ll show you how to Continue Reading »

As some of you might know, my main source of income derives from stock photography sales… more specifically, microstock photography. It accounts for roughly 75% of my photography income. When I meet new people, the conversation usually goes like this…

So Yanik, what do you do?
I’m a professional photographer.
Hey, that’s cool! So what do you do? Weddings or portraits?
Actually, I mostly do commercial and editorial photography but my main source of revenue comes from microstock photography.
Micro what?


Many people are still learning about microstock photography, so I though I would do a series of articles explaining the ins and outs of this new Web phenomenon. In part 1, I’ll give you a breakdown of what it actually is and how it all started. So let’s get started! I think the best way to start this series is to interview my good budy Continue Reading »

I’ve had quite a few students in my “Intro to Photography” workshop ask me why they should upgrade to a DSLR and I always answer back with this question: “What do you dislike about your point & shoot (P&S) camera?” and I often get the same 5 answers. So I thought I would share those answers with you. So you see, this isn’t even coming from me. It’s coming from my students! I’m letting them do all the work today.

Before we go at it, let me just explain basically what a DSLR is. DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. DSLRs have interchangeable lenses while P&S have Continue Reading »

I’ve decided to do a multi part video tutorial series on portrait touch-ups in Adobe Photoshop CS3. This way you can get a nice feel of my workflow when I retouch people’s faces instead of having random tutorials here and there not always being able to connect the dots. I hope you find them useful. Feel free to leave your tips and tricks by adding your comments. Spread the love!

In part 2, I’ll focus on removing skin imperfections and wrinkles. In part 3, I,ll go through… well… I’m not sure yet. It’ll be a surprise!

You can also see my other Continue Reading »

Here’s my second post for entry level DSLRs. I’m posting this one right away following my Canon 450D review so that you may compare them if you’re currently in the market to upgrade your current DSLR or planning on switching from your point & shoot to a DSLR.

The Nikon D60 was released in early 2008 and it replaces the Nikon D40x. It’s a direct competitor to the Canon 450D in both quality and price. Both are excellent cameras.

The Nikon D60’s 18-55mm VR kit lens, like its Canon equivalent, is a good entry level lens but Continue Reading »

Canon recently upgraded its most affordable DSLR camera, the EOS 450D. It replaces the Canon 400D. This is the perfect DSLR entry camera for anyone looking to move away from the point and shoots. It compares to the Nikon D60 (Nikon’s entry level DSLR). Both are excellent cameras. Some pros actually have entry level cameras as their backup body now.

So that just goes to say that they do a great job! You have the option of getting the EOS 450D body in either black or silver. Personally, I prefer traditional black. Silver makes it look more like Continue Reading »

Here’s another great review of a top of the line telephoto zoom lens from Canon. So all you Canon guys & gals out there, go have a look at the 70-200mm lens review and start drooling. This lens compares to my post I did here on the Nikon Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens.

To see the detailed review on my favorite camera review site DPReview, click HERE.

Ok, this software is a revolutionfor photographers and photo enthusiasts! But I’m getting ahead of myself… excitement and all. Let me introduce you to TinEye.com. The first true image search engine to hit the Net. Here’s my interview…

Welcome to Yanik’s Photo Blog TinEye, how are you today?

Thank you for having me, Yanik. I’m great! Thanks for asking.

For the folks that haven’t heard from you yet, please tell us what you are and what you do.

Well, Yanik, I’m the codename for Idée’s image identification-based web search engine, currently in private beta. I do for images what Google does for text. Just as you are familiar with entering text in Google to find web pages that contain that text, using me, you enter an Continue Reading »

I’m an animal lover. That’s one of the reasons we moved out to the country last year. And since then, I’ve been blessed by having the best neighbors in the world: animals! Of course my camera’s been going crazy shooting anything that moves around here. I’ve often been asked, “Yanik, how do you get those lovely bird shots?” and I thought I would share with you a few tips to help you shoot birds or any other critter from a distance. Here we go.

1 - Patience. Yes, that’s right! Patience. These aren’t models in your studio that you can just direct… “move a little more to the left”, “tilt your head to the right”…. you have to wait for them. And once they’re there, you have to wait for the right pose, the right branch, the right light. I can take hundreds for chickadee shots a day but only have Continue Reading »