What Makes A Good Wildlife Photo? with Richard Bernabe and Scott Kelby

Finding an incredible animal is one thing. Turning that encounter into an incredible photograph is something else entirely.

In this new course, legendary wildlife photographer Richard Bernabe joins Scott Kelby to go through Richard’s own portfolio and talk about what makes the images work. From jaguars in the Pantanal and polar bears in Svalbard to lions in the Masai Mara, you’ll hear the stories behind the photographs and, more importantly, the decisions Richard made when creating them.

Richard and Scott look at how shooting from a low angle can put you eye-to-eye with your subject, how gesture and light bring energy to a frame, and how the right crop can pull the viewer into the photograph. They also explore why getting closer isn’t always the answer and when including more of the environment can tell a stronger story.

It’s a great opportunity to look beyond camera settings and gear and spend some time thinking about what actually makes a wildlife photograph connect with the viewer. Watch them tell you more about it below, and then check it out. You can watch the first lesson for free.

https://layersmagazine.com/what-makes-good-wildlife-photo-richard-bernabe.html




Creative Photo Illustration with an iPhone with Russell Preston Brown

Great photo illustrations still start with great photographs, and you don’t need a studio full of gear to create them.

In his new class, Adobe’s Russell Preston Brown starts with an iPhone, one continuous light, and a tripod to photograph model and professional bubbleologist Kirk Marsh. Russell shows you how to shoot 48-megapixel raw on the iPhone and create split, Rembrandt, loop, and butterfly lighting using just that single light.

Then the fun really starts.

Russell takes the photographs into Lightroom and Photoshop, where he uses Adobe Firefly and Generative Fill to build on what he captured in camera. You’ll see how he adds lighting that wasn’t there during the shoot and creates elements for the scene without changing his original subject.

It’s a great example of how a strong photograph and a little imagination can become something completely different. Watch Russell tell you more about it below, and then check it out. You can watch two lessons from the course for free.

https://layersmagazine.com/creative-photo-illustration-iphone-russell-brown.html




The Prepared Wildlife Photographer with Moose Peterson

Wildlife doesn’t wait. When something incredible happens in front of your camera, you might only have a few seconds to capture it.

That’s the idea behind Moose Peterson’s new course. Instead of figuring out exposure, focal length, or your gear when the action starts, Moose shows you how to make those decisions ahead of time.

You’ll learn how he prepares his cameras before heading into the field, from firmware checks and sensor cleaning to working with long lenses and getting exposure dialed in. Moose also covers using flash for color, choosing between teleconverters and crop mode, and even shares his teddy bear exercise for practicing exposure before the real wildlife shows up.

The goal is to make the technical side of photography second nature, so when the moment happens, you’re free to concentrate on the subject and the story.

Watch Moose tell you more about it below, and then check it out today (you can watch the first lesson for FREE)!

https://layersmagazine.com/prepared-wildlife-photographer-moose-peterson.html




This Week on The Grid: Better Waterfall Photos Start in the Field

There are plenty of things you can improve later in Photoshop, but some of the most important decisions in waterfall photography happen before you ever sit down to edit.

This week on The Grid, Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna were joined by waterfall and night photographer Kevin Adams, who shared his approach to creating stronger waterfall images in-camera.

Kevin explained how experimenting with shutter speed can completely change the appearance of moving water and why a polarizing filter can make such a big difference by controlling reflections and glare. He also discussed working in overcast and rainy conditions, finding strong foreground elements to create depth, and even photographing waterfalls at night.

Starting with the right light, composition, and exposure gives you much more to work with when the image eventually makes its way into Camera Raw or Photoshop.

The episode also included news about the Worldwide Photo Walk, Photoshop World, upcoming photography workshops and events, and The Grid’s new sponsor, SnapSign.

Watch the replay below and pick up a few ideas for your next waterfall shoot.

https://layersmagazine.com/waterfall-photo-editing-photography.html




Start Smart: Build a Strong Foundation in Lightroom Classic with Rob Sylvan

If Lightroom Classic has ever felt more complicated than it needs to be, sometimes the problem isn’t Lightroom. It’s how everything was set up in the first place.

In this new class, Rob Sylvan goes back to the fundamentals and shows you how to build a Lightroom Classic workflow that will serve you well for years.

You’ll learn how the catalog really works, how to create a reliable backup strategy, and how to make smart decisions about importing, previews, folders, and presets. Rob also tackles one of those problems nobody wants to see: missing photos.

Whether you’re just getting started with Lightroom Classic or you’ve been using it for years and aren’t entirely sure your setup is as solid as it could be, this class is a great way to get everything on the right track. You can preview two lessons from the class for free, then jump into the full class when you’re ready.

https://layersmagazine.com/start-smart-lightroom-classic-rob-sylvan.html




Last Week on The Grid: Photoshop AI, Firefly & Brand-New Features

There was plenty for Photoshop users to geek out over on last week’s special Photoshop World 2026 edition of The Grid.

Scott Kelby and Erik Kuna welcomed Photoshop World instructors Lisa Carney, Rob Sylvan, and Karen Hutton, with Lisa sharing how she’s using AI and Adobe Firefly in real-world retouching workflows. Rather than AI for the sake of AI, the focus was on where these tools can actually save time and help solve everyday editing challenges.

Scott also put Photoshop’s generative AI to the test in a live demo, experimenting with what it could handle and where it still needed a little help. Then, in perfect timing, new Photoshop features actually dropped during the show, giving the crew a chance to explore some of the latest additions on the spot.

Rob Sylvan shared Lightroom Classic workflow advice, Karen Hutton brought a creative photography perspective to the discussion, and Erik Kuna offered tips for photographing a lunar eclipse.

It all made for a fun preview of the kind of Photoshop, Lightroom, AI, and photography training coming to Photoshop World 2026, sponsored by Adobe, September 14–17.

Watch the replay below and see what’s new.

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https://layersmagazine.com/photoshop-ai-features-firefly.html




How to Treat Your iPhone as a Professional Mirrorless Camera with Erik Kuna

Your iPhone is a pretty incredible camera. The trick is learning to treat it like one.

In this new class, Erik Kuna shows how to approach your iPhone the same way you would a traditional mirrorless camera, taking control of the decisions that go into creating the photograph instead of simply letting the phone figure everything out.

You’ll learn how to lock focus and exposure, choose the right lens instead of pinching to zoom, understand when ProRAW is worth the extra file size, and take control of Night mode, macro, and long exposures. Erik also shares useful shortcuts and walks through a straightforward editing workflow from Apple Photos to Lightroom Mobile.

If you already carry your iPhone everywhere, this class will help you get a whole lot more from the camera that’s always with you.

▶️ Watch it here!

You can purchase this class for just $39, or subscribe to KelbyOne and get access to this course plus our entire library for only $19.99 a month. Try it risk-free with our 100% money-back guarantee.

https://layersmagazine.com/iphone-professional-mirrorless-camera-erik-kuna.html




Four Days to Learn, Create, and Get Inspired at Photoshop World 2026

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your creativity is shake up your routine, learn something new, and spend some time around other people who love creating as much as you do.

That’s what Photoshop World 2026, sponsored by Adobe, is all about.

Join us online September 14–17 for four days packed with creative education, practical techniques, new ideas, and an incredible community of photographers, designers, retouchers, and digital creatives.

With more than 45 interactive sessions, there’s plenty to explore, whether you spend your days in Photoshop, Lightroom, behind a camera, experimenting with AI, or moving between all of them.

Real-World Creatives. Real-World Techniques.

Photoshop World instructors aren’t teaching from a script. They’re working professionals who use these tools to solve creative problems every day.

We’re bringing together an incredible group of photographers, retouchers, designers, educators, and creative professionals ready to share the techniques and workflows they’ve developed through years of real-world experience.

That means practical instruction you can actually use, from smarter Photoshop and Lightroom workflows to retouching, compositing, photography, AI-powered tools, creative effects, and much more.

You might come to Photoshop World looking for one particular skill and leave with an idea from a completely different session that changes the way you approach your work. That’s part of the fun.

Come for the Classes. Stay for Everything Else.

There’s a lot more happening at Photoshop World than what’s on the class schedule.

Our Pre-Conference Meet-Up gives you a chance to say hello, meet fellow attendees, and start making connections before the full conference begins.

Then we’ll get those creative wheels turning with our Opening Keynote presented by Adobe before heading into full days of classes and special events.

You’ll also be able to kick back and enjoy the PSW Film Fest, get inspired during An Evening With…, and laugh along with Late Night with Larry Becker & Guests, our newest event featuring a live late-night talk show experience with some familiar Photoshop World faces.

And then there are the Guru Awards, one of our favorite Photoshop World traditions. This is your chance to showcase your own work and let us celebrate the creativity happening within our community. Take a look at last year’s winners and finalists here.

An Online Conference That Actually Feels Connected

One of our favorite parts of the online Photoshop World experience is just how easy it is to be part of the conversation. Our chat windows stay open throughout the day, giving you a place to ask questions, talk about what you’re learning, meet fellow attendees, and connect with our friendly event staff.

Our sponsors get involved, too. Keep an eye out for chats, meetings, bonus sessions, and opportunities to connect directly with companies that can help answer questions about the tools and services you use.

You don’t have to travel anywhere to meet a whole bunch of people who understand why you can happily spend an hour debating the best way to make a selection in Photoshop. We think that’s pretty great.

A Full Year to Keep Learning

Of course, four days still isn’t enough time to see everything. That’s why every session is recorded and available to replay for a full year. Watch live when you can, catch anything you missed later, and return to your favorite sessions whenever you need a refresher or a little creative inspiration.

Early Birds Save $200

Registration for Photoshop World 2026 is currently just $299, saving you $200 off the regular $499 price. But don’t wait too long. Early Bird pricing ends August 14, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT.

If you’re ready for four days of learning, creating, connecting, and filling up that creative tank, we’d love to have you join us!

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https://layersmagazine.com/photoshop-world-2026.html




This Week on The Grid: Photoshop Fixes for Real-World Photos

This week’s episode of The Grid is packed with editing techniques that Photoshop users will appreciate. Scott Kelby takes a series of viewer-submitted photos and demonstrates how he solves common editing problems using Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Lightroom.

Working through everything from sports and wildlife to architecture and travel photography, Scott covers perspective correction, targeted masking, sky replacements, selective sharpening, AI-powered editing, and techniques for creating more natural-looking results. He also explains why Adaptive Color has become one of his favorite Camera Raw tools and when it makes sense to combine traditional editing with newer AI features.

One of the biggest takeaways is that successful editing isn’t about applying every tool available—it’s about identifying the handful of adjustments that make the biggest difference for each image.

If you’re looking for practical Photoshop techniques you can use on your own photos, this episode is well worth watching. Catch the replay below.

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https://layersmagazine.com/photoshop-editing-techniques-grid.html




The One Person Portrait Studio with Gilmar Smith

You don’t need a full crew to run a professional portrait shoot.

In her latest class, Gilmar Smith shares how she plans, packs, lights, shoots, and delivers portrait sessions entirely on her own.

Gilmar walks through the pre-production questions that help set expectations before the shoot, along with the packing and gear systems she relies on to stay organized when there’s no assistant around to help. You’ll also see how she approaches lighting, works efficiently on set, and creates a great experience for the people in front of her camera. She even shares the strategies she used to photograph 50 realtors in two days, completely solo.

If you regularly find yourself wearing every hat on a shoot, there’s a lot to take away from this one. Watch Gilmar tell you more about it below, and then check it out here.

You can purchase this class for just $39, or subscribe to KelbyOne and get access to this course plus our entire library for only $19.99 a month. Try it risk-free with our 100% money-back guarantee.

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https://layersmagazine.com/one-person-portrait-studio-gilmar-smith.html