Sean McCormack
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.
Latest articles by Sean McCormack
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rqk6x7NdJ58jR3vVDsjZLF-320-80.jpg)
Limiting your choices as a photographer is a brilliant way to improve your craft
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Sean McCormack shows you five simple exercises to limit the variables and help you become a better photographer
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gKEdN3UKVo9JyDKPWd2sWF-320-80.jpg)
Does copying other people's photos count as theft or inspiration?
By Sean McCormack published
opinion As AI complicates muddies the waters, Sean wonders if it is best for photographers to steal it all, but make something new
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/toQZhQ9MrDZSCWqHXf8KFF-320-80.jpg)
There's only one person you need to be better than as a photographer…
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Taking better pictures than you took in the past is more important than comparing yourself to famous photographers
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZqxXaWX6GuB3n6gUqbrjKL-320-80.jpg)
You don’t need another camera
By Sean McCormack published
opinion You've got enough megapixels already, and your gear acquisition syndrome must stop!
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cM2xeUGtrqyHNyX2NDeMPM-320-80.jpg)
What's the hardest thing to do in photography?
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Sean McCormack discusses the effort and decisions that we all have to make as photographers
![Photographic prints laid out over a table](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uo8rrF99rfiDYfSPiq856M-320-80.jpg)
Photos aren’t photos until you print them
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Make more of your memories, and keep them safe, says Sean McCormack, by making more hard copy prints
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aDapFPKJt6NMjGFcPc9NwM-320-80.jpg)
Don’t touch the model and other hard truths of being a pro photographer
By Sean McCormack published
opinion 7 essential tips to remember when using models for your photography
![Sean McCormack opinion pieces](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9dmALxF5K4Hus6cW8pfDtK-320-80.jpg)
"You’re cheating if you can’t get it right in camera"
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Sean McCormack locks horns with the photography purists
![Sean McCormack opinion column](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4XYpa9NakRCJmJ8tCZSgKG-320-80.jpg)
The top technique for great portrait photography isn’t what you think
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Lighting, lenses, and location are worth nothing in portrait photography if you don't have the secret ingredient
![Sean McCormack opinion column](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kEv4NoTj6hw3TY3y4FbyjG-320-80.jpg)
Social media is ruining photography – but my solution is to ignore the likes
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Instagram is no longer the promotional tool it was to photographers – so you need to think of it differently
![Sean McCormack opinion column](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j7VMDAb6bJ4iFziQ6ZLr9G-320-80.jpg)
5 things I wish I knew about cameras as an absolute beginner
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Simple steps for shooting success with a real camera
![Sean McCormack opinion column](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AXYR9E4UCnja8o7LhvErKH-320-80.jpg)
You can look like an expert portrait photographer using just one light
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Six simple, but stunning, ways to light a headshot like a pro
![Photoshop plugin used for retouching portrait of woman](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wQuxXXny8kdWBN2hscZTkV-320-80.jpg)
Think you don't need plugins for photo editing? I think you're probably wrong
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Photoshop and Lightroom plugins can save you time - and make you more creative
![Fujifilm X100VI camera on a wooden surface](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GBAdSx7A2pVUaVvfo5vbcV-320-80.jpg)
I can’t believe I actually bought this camera
By Sean McCormack published
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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qJxhh8efPy6wTZBmFMtpuV-320-80.jpg)
The biggest secret to pro photography success will surprise you
By Sean McCormack published
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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/45riiLt43eLm8wHnGX9v3W-320-80.jpg)
These two lenses could do 90% of your photographic work
By Sean McCormack published
opinion My favorite two lenses are not from the obvious trinity of zooms that most professional photographers use
![Boris FX Optics 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Xnq3ZsTyHCnKjjA2ph2dGW-320-80.jpg)
I've used 100s of Lightroom & Photoshop plugins, but I fell in love with Boris
By Sean McCormack published
opinion This Plugin will change your editing forever
![Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VrxLdQpX9XWfbHn2ca23xk-320-80.jpg)
Photographers… Stop doing this to your skin!
By Sean McCormack published
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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WEgs97ebfg9GC7KLAG5aHm-320-80.jpg)
You don’t always have to shoot Raw as a photographer, but you probably should
By Sean McCormack published
opinion As a professional photographer, I sometimes shoot in JPEG – but it is only in very specific, controlled situations
![Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sJpRkEehhayUWTsCNNWo7m-320-80.jpg)
I switched camera systems, and this is the lens that really surprised me
By Sean McCormack published
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](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4Kpd4w8PDngQp6QZmEFTSm-320-80.jpg)
These three things make you look like an amateur photographer
By Sean McCormack published
opinion Avoid these pitfalls and your photos will immediately look more professional (and less upsetting to me!)
![Header image for Sean McCormack opinion piece "This is why I hate being a photographer" with Sean looking unhappy holding up his camera in his edit suite](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8d98Y5AvhiqmXehe9mZbam-320-80.jpg)
This is why I hate being a photographer…
By Sean McCormack published
opinion … and it is not just one reason either!
![Lightroom tutorial develop a style](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XfLYwcsMrXGnqVRaRNPEsh-320-80.jpg)
Lightroom series part 32: How to develop your own style in Lightroom
By Sean McCormack published
Editing Go beyond cleaning up and photo correction as you discover how to add a distinctive look to every shot you take
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