Some photographers, like today’s instructor Joris Hermans, simply can’t stop themselves from purchasing lens filters in the hope that these affordable accessories will protect their expensive lenses, create unique effects, help modify light, and magically add impact to the photos and videos captured outdoors.

As time goes by, a few of these filters become trusted companions, others are only employed on rare occasions, and some are set aside and never see the light of day more than once. If you’re suffering from this strange form of Gear-Acquisition Syndrome, please accept our heartfelt condolences.

To complicate matters, some of us purchase the same filter in various sizes to accommodate a variety of regularly used lenses, and this is where things can get expensive—to say nothing of cluttering up your bag. Hermans sets aside his filter obsession for the next 10 minutes as he takes a close look at nine filters he says everyone should try.

Hermans describes the intended purpose of his top picks and provides a quick discussion of how each can best be used to fulfill specific goals. His first favorite is the widely used Neutral Density (ND) filter that’s a favorite among landscape photographers, and this one not only comes in various sizes but in different strengths as well. In simple terms, think of ND filters as “sunglasses for your camera because they enable you to control the amount of light reaching the sensor.”

Another ubiquitous choice is the polarizer which can be helpful for several reasons. By turning it’s rotating front ring you can darken pale blues skies, increase vibrance and saturation, and remove or reduce unwanted reflections on not-metallic surfaces like glass, water, and the like. This filter can be more or less effective depending upon your angle relative to the sun, and it’s important not to take things too far because a total lack of reflections can impart a lifeless  look to a shot.

Mist filter are often used by landscape and nature photographers to imbue images with a moody or “atmospheric” appearance that can be quite intriguing—even when shooting on clear days. The extremely dark solar filter, on the other hand, serves one primary purpose: namely, photographing the sun.

By following Hermans’ advice you’ll save some cash by avoiding unnecessary temptations while enhancing your outdoor images in various ways. Be sure to visit his instructional YouTube channel for more tips, techniques, and worthwhile gear recommendations.

Another quick way to modify the appearance of your images involves using presets during post processing, and we recently posted a story offering a free pack of these timesaving tools. So be sure to take a look and take advantage of this time-limited offer.

The Patrick’s Boudoir Photography YouTube channel is a great source of information for those new to this unique subset of portraiture that relies heavily upon your ability to capture flattering, sensuous images that emphasize a subject’s best physical attributes. The video below is episode #22 of an ongoing Two-Minute Series.

Our instructor Patrick is a Vienna-based boudoir artist who specializes in natural light B&W imagery with simple gear. His straightforward lessons cover everything from simple window lighting without costly supplemental illumination, composition techniques, unique eye-catching effects, appropriate camera settings, post processing methods and more.

He does some of this in today’s lesion, but the main emphasis is on posing. If you’re just getting started it’s unlikely you have access to professional models (most of whom have slim figures) so your subject will probably be a spouse, significant other, or a willing friend who just may be more curvy or voluptuous that an experienced model.

This situation requires a different approach that calls for positive reinforcement and careful direction on your part so that your subject is relaxed, confident, and feels like an important partner in the session. You’ll also want to patiently guide her through a number of simple poses that accentuate her form without taking things too far.

By following Patrick’s suggestions in the next two minutes you’ll be able to fulfill these responsibilities and capture alluring images that make you and your subject proud.  Along the way you’ll learn how switching up your vantage point and a slight shift in body posture can quickly transform a good photo into a great one with a professional look.

The lesson concludes with a quick discussion of post processing and an illustration of how Patrick’s Ultimate Preset Pack (there a link in the description beneath the video), will enable you to make great edits with ease. There’s also a link for downloading his Free Posing Guide that will prove very helpful as your boudoir photography skills evolve.

Be sure to visit Patrick’s instructional YouTube channel where there are many more how-to videos, along with all the earlier installments of this Two Minute Series for beginners.

If you prefer shooting in color and your photographs look wrong, don’t miss the earlier tutorial we featured with a post-processing expert who demonstrates a quick trick for achieving images with perfect tones.