Articles by Sean McCormack | Digital Camera World

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Sean McCormack is a commercial, and editorial photographer, book author, and regular contributor to Digital Camera magazine based in Galway, Ireland. He has extensive experience with Lightroom, dating back to its original beta version, and has tried out just about every plugin and preset available. His latest book is Essential Development 3: 25 Tips for Lightroom Classic’s Develop Module.

Articles by: Sean McCormack

You can look like an expert portrait photographer using just one light

By Sean McCormack published 24 July 24

opinion Six simple, but stunning, ways to light a headshot like a pro

Photoshop plugin used for retouching portrait of woman

Think you don't need plugins for photo editing? I think you're probably wrong

By Sean McCormack published 2 June 24

opinion Photoshop and Lightroom plugins can save you time - and make you more creative

Fujifilm X100VI camera on a wooden surface

I can’t believe I actually bought this camera

By Sean McCormack published 29 May 24

opinion I have enough cameras already, but an unexpected conversation made me put my name down for this one

The biggest secret to pro photography success will surprise you

By Sean McCormack published 27 May 24

opinion Sean McCormack reveals the one thing you really need to make it as a pro photographer

Fujifilm XF 10-24mm f/4 and 56mm f/1.2 lenses on a wooden surface

These two lenses could do 90% of your photographic work

By Sean McCormack published 25 May 24

opinion My favorite two lenses are not from the obvious trinity of zooms that most professional photographers use

I've used 100s of Lightroom & Photoshop plugins, but I fell in love with Boris

By Sean McCormack published 24 May 24

opinion This Plugin will change your editing forever

Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece

Photographers… Stop doing this to your skin!

By Sean McCormack published 19 April 24

opinion There is a right and a wrong way to minimize skin blemishes in portrait photography

A raw steak on a wooden board - Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece on shooting in Raw

You don’t always have to shoot Raw as a photographer, but you probably should

By Sean McCormack published 15 April 24

opinion As a professional photographer, I sometimes shoot in JPEG – but it is only in very specific, controlled situations

I switched camera systems, and this is the lens that really surprised me

By Sean McCormack published 11 April 24

opinion Pro photographer Sean McCormack discovers that faster is not always better

Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece about the three things that make you look like an amateur photographer

These three things make you look like an amateur photographer

By Sean McCormack published 7 April 24

opinion Avoid these pitfalls and your photos will immediately look more professional (and less upsetting to me!)

This is why I hate being a photographer…

By Sean McCormack published 6 April 24

opinion … and it is not just one reason either!

Lightroom series part 32: How to develop your own style in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 6 May 20

Editing Go beyond cleaning up and photo correction as you discover how to add a distinctive look to every shot you take

Lightroom series part 31: How to create a mono masterpiece in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 5 May 20

Editing Take advantage of the latest tools in Lightroom Classic to choose and customise your preferred black- and-white look

Lightroom series part 30: How shoot and edit classic concert photos in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 4 May 20

Editing Get out and about to capture a performance, then deal with the effects of low light and bring out the colour of the scene

Lightroom series part 29: How to 'insta-fy' a photograph in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 3 May 20

Editing Avoid manufactured social media filters and create your own Instagram-inspired look – one you can adapt over again

Lightroom series part 28: How to process a moonlit landscape in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 2 May 20

Editing Discover the techniques that help you make a night-time sky sparkle after a nocturnal shooting session

Lightroom tutorial black and white landscape

Lightroom series part 27: How to create a black and white landscape in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 1 May 20

Editing Convert a regular color image into a moody monochromatic landscape with tonal contrast and dynamic range

Lightroom series part 26: How to merge a series of exposures into a raw HDR shot

By Sean McCormack published 27 April 20

Editing Merge bracketed exposures into to a single HDR file without losing access to Lightroom’s full raw editing toolset

Lightroom series part 25: How to merge a raw panorama in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 26 April 20

Editing Bring your separate panoramic photos into Lightroom and merge them into a raw file you can edit any way you like

Lightroom tutorial borders and signatures

Lightroom series part 24: How to create a cool border and signature in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 25 April 20

Editing Create a matte border to show off your photos in the Print Module in Lightroom, and discover some automation tricks

Lightroom series part 23: How to bring back the film look in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 24 April 20

Editing Apply a series of Lomography-inspired effects to make your images look like you shot them with an old-school film camera

Lightroom series part 22: How to boost a model's freckles in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 23 April 20

Editing Add character to your subjects by bringing out their freckles, using techniques that work in both black and white and color

Lightroom tutorial perspective correction

Lightroom series part 21: Correcting lens and perspective distortions in Lightroom

By Sean McCormack published 22 April 20

Editing If your building shots are looking squiffy, Lightroom can fix your images so that everything is looking nice and straight

Lightroom series part 20: Create your own light leaks in Lightroom!

By Sean McCormack published 21 April 20

Editing Add old-school imperfections to your pristine photos with the help of the Graduated and Radial Filters in Lightroom

Lightroom series part 19: Create a dramatic landscape with Merge to HDR

By Sean McCormack published 20 April 20

Editing How to use Lightroom’s HDR Merge options to effectively combine a set of landscape photos at different exposures

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