Hello, my friend!

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I just released a new video that’s been getting a lot of attention — and for good reason. It dives into a surprisingly overlooked topic: how your JPEG settings can still affect your RAW photos.
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This was something I ignored for years… until I realized just how much it was impacting my edits. And judging by the feedback, I’m definitely not alone.

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​​I hope you find some useful information in this edition of The Morning Blaze and as always thanks so much for reading & sharing. Have a great weekend! - Mark D.

📺 MY NEW VIDEOS

Don't Shoot Your Next RAW Photo Until You Fix Your JPEG Setting

If you’re shooting RAW and your photos still don’t look quite right, there’s a good chance your camera’s JPEG settings are to blame—seriously. Most photographers assume JPEG settings don’t matter when you’re capturing RAW files, but there’s one hidden setting—like Picture Profile, Picture Control, or Creative Style depending on your camera—that can quietly ruin your images before you even get to edit them. In this video, I’ll show you exactly how this setting affects your histogram, your exposure decisions, and even the way your RAW files preview on the back of your camera.

7 Editing Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Landscape Photos

If your landscape photos still feel off no matter how much time you spend editing, you’re not alone — and you’re probably making one of these 7 common mistakes. After reviewing thousands of images from photographers at every level, I’ve noticed the same bad habits show up over and over again. In this video, I’ll walk you through the most common photo editing mistakes I see — from overcooked skies and unnatural colors to workflow traps that ruin your final image without you even realizing it.

🔓 VAULT FAVORITES

Turn OFF These 7 Camera Settings for Landscape Photography

There are a ton of videos, articles, and podcasts dedicated to the best camera settings for photography, but understanding which camera settings to turn off is just as important as understanding which ones to turn on. In this video, I'll review the 7 camera settings I always turn off for landscape photography and all but one of the settings covered here could potentially ruin your photos and the other one might not ruin your image, but it could drive you absolutely crazy!

📖 GOOD READS Rise of the Square Crop: A Guide to Balanced Landscape Photography In an era where social media platforms often dictate the dimensions of our images, it's easy to fall into the trap of tailoring our compositions to fit predefined social standards. However, the resurgence of the square crop signifies a departure from the norm—a rebellion against the constraints of traditional horizontal and vertical compositions. But what makes the square format so appealing? Understanding Visual Flow Before we dive into the intricacies of square cropping, let's take a moment to explore how our eyes perceive photographs in different orientations. In a horizontal composition, the eye naturally flows from left to right or right to left. Conversely, in a vertical composition, the eye is drawn upwards or downwards. Basically, the eye follows along the dominant, or longest edge of a photograph, whether that’s on the top and bottom or left and right side. Enter the Square: Finding Balance Now, picture a photograph without dominant edges—where symmetry reigns supreme and every side holds equal weight. This is the essence of the square crop—a realm of balance and harmony, where the eye wanders freely, unhindered by predetermined paths without dominant sides. Unleashing Creativity: The Power of Square So, when should you consider incorporating a square crop into your photography? The answer lies in the subtle nuances of your >> Read More​