Stunning Digital Photography

Price range: $9.99 through $24.99

2,000,000+ copies sold · 4.7★ on Amazon

The world’s bestselling photography book of the last decade, with 20+ hours of video lessons built right in.

  • Learn it on the page, then watch it demonstrated on video
  • Hands-on practices and online quizzes lock in every skill
  • Beginner basics to pro techniques: portraits, landscapes, wildlife, night skies and studio lighting

Choose your format:

Description

  • 2,000,000+

    copies sold

  • 4.7★

    from 7,600+ Amazon ratings

  • 20+ hours

    of captioned video lessons

  • Gold Seal

    IBPA Benjamin Franklin Digital Awards

Why it works

It’s not just a book. It’s a complete photography course.

Most photography books explain what the buttons do. Stunning Digital Photography teaches you how to make great pictures, shows you on video, and then gets you out shooting.

  1. 1

    Read it

    Clear, practical chapters in plain English, illustrated with original full-color example photos.

  2. 2

    Watch it

    Over 20 hours of video lessons are woven through the book. Tap a link or scan a QR code to see each technique demonstrated. Every video is captioned.

  3. 3

    Practice it

    Every chapter ends with hands-on practices that get you out from behind the book and behind the camera.

  4. 4

    Test it

    Online quizzes at the end of most chapters make sure nothing important slipped past you.

What you’ll learn

From your very first shot to pro-level techniques

New to photography? Start at the beginning. Already comfortable with your camera? Skip ahead to the techniques professionals use.

Start here

The fundamentals

  • Composition that works with any camera
  • Exposure: control how bright or dark your photos are
  • Shutter speed to freeze action or blur motion
  • Aperture to blur or sharpen the background
  • ISO for bright and dark scenes
  • Fixing blurry, dark and disappointing photos

Then shoot anything

Light and subjects

  • Finding beautiful natural light
  • Using flash without the ugly effects
  • Portraits and posing, with checklists
  • Pets and wildlife: mammals, birds, insects and fish
  • Landscapes, sunsets, cityscapes and waterfalls
  • Night skies: fireworks, stars and meteors

Level up

Pro techniques

  • RAW files and HDR
  • Studio lighting on any budget, including a home studio
  • Wireless multi-flash setups
  • Macro and focus stacking
  • Star trails and light painting
  • High-speed photography
  • Scouting locations and planning around the sun and moon

Bonus: extra chapters on wedding and underwater photography, plus printable pre-shot, portrait and wedding checklists.

Reader reviews

Loved by first-timers and decades-long shooters alike

4.7 out of 5 from 7,600+ ratings on Amazon

I’m the founder of photo.net (started in 1993), so I’ve seen a lot of photography tutorials. This might be my favorite so far in terms of density of practical information.

Philip Greenspun, founder of photo.net

Holy Cow, a photography book that actually teaches you real world, usable techniques.

A. Newman

Hands down, if you have only one book about photography, this is it.

Anderson H.

As someone who has consumed photography books since 1956, I can tell you that this one is succinct, comprehensive, and logically laid out. It is absolutely a stand-out.

Dave G.

The book is a real gem, in that it teaches you how to learn and how to think, instead of just what to do.

Brent

Well-written, clearly explained and illustrated, and actually fun to read (that’s a big one; some photography books are better as cures for insomnia than guides for improving technique).

M. Ruidera

I’ve been an amateur photographer for decades, but I’m learning a lot from your book which proves that you are never too old to learn new tricks!

Gary W.
Tony Northrup teaching a studio lighting lesson

Meet your teachers

Tony Northrup

Tony has been a photographer for more than 30 years and has written dozens of books. He has taught photography to millions of people on the Tony & Chelsea Northrup YouTube channel, which has more than 1.6 million subscribers, and he teaches portrait and lighting workshops in New York City.

His teaching style is practical and friendly: he tells you what matters, what doesn’t, and why, so you spend your time taking better pictures instead of memorizing menus.

Chelsea Northrup Mercado

Co-author

Chelsea Northrup Mercado

Chelsea is a professional photographer, YouTuber and publisher. She started her career as a stock photographer and stock model, and her photos have appeared on book covers, in magazines and on TV, for clients including Ladies’ Home Journal, Shape, Scientific American and Kraft Foods.

She and Tony wrote Stunning Digital Photography together, and she teaches photography and reviews photo gear on YouTube and Instagram. Her own portfolio spans portraits, conceptual portraits, wildlife, cars and travel.

Choose your format

Two ways to learn. Both include every video.

Most popular

eBook

$9.99

Instant download

  • The complete book in PDF, EPUB and Kindle formats
  • 20+ hours of captioned video lessons, streamed online
  • Hands-on practices and online quizzes
  • Bonus chapters and printable checklists

Get the eBook

Paperbacks ship from the US via USPS. Shipping is calculated at checkout.

FAQ

Questions, answered

I’m a complete beginner. Is this book for me?

Yes. The first chapters start from zero with composition, exposure, and the three settings that matter most: shutter speed, aperture and ISO. When you’re ready, later chapters take you into portraits, lighting, night photography and more.

Will it work with my camera?

Yes. The lessons apply to any camera with manual controls, mirrorless or DSLR, from any brand. The composition and lighting chapters will improve your photos on any camera, including your phone.

How do I get the eBook and videos?

Right after checkout, download the eBook from your account in PDF (computers and tablets), EPUB (phones and e-readers) or Kindle format. The videos stream online: tap the links in the eBook or scan the QR codes in the paperback. You’ll need an internet connection to watch them.

Are the videos captioned?

Yes. Every video lesson has closed captions.

Where do you ship the paperback?

We ship from the US via USPS, both within the US and internationally. Shipping is calculated at checkout, and your eBook is ready to download right away while you wait for the paperback.

Stunning Digital Photography book cover

Start taking photos you’re proud of

More than 2 million copies sold. Now it’s your turn.

Get the eBook – $9.99 Paperback + eBook – $24.99

Additional information

Weight 24 oz
Dimensions 8 × 10 × .48 in
Choose your format

eBook only, Paperback + eBook