Photoshop Lightroom was one of the most highly anticipated software packages ever for professional photographers. It’s not a stretch to say that in an era when organization and efficient workflow are paramount, Lightroom probably captures more attention than even the new release of Photoshop CS3. Lightroom isn’t meant to be a replacement for Photoshop. It’s meant to exist side by side with the heavy processing power of Photoshop as a tool to help you efficiently handle workflow and many of the routine image-processing tasks.

A personal studio is a luxury these days, largely impractical and far too expensive for most. With leasing rates and real estate prices beyond ridiculous, revenue going down and a high percentage of shoots being done on location, a growing number of photographers find it’s better to rent what they need, where and when they need it.

Being a great photographer is no guarantee that you'll be a successful one. Talent is important, there's no doubt about that. But if you don't find effective ways to let your talent be known, you'll flounder. Today, it's promote or perish. You must market yourself.

The age of traditional freelance photojournalism is no more. Newspaper and magazine markets are shrinking. Editorial budgets are at an all-time low. Assignments and opportunities have decreased dramatically, even for the top-tier photographers. The glory days of months-long assignments with large advances and a big chunk of magazine space waiting at the end of the job are gone, too. In these changing times, freelance photojournalists can still make a living and fulfill the calling to get the story out by adapting to a new paradigm.