I get asked this question frequently during the web design process, especially now that the AI tools in Photoshop make it easier to make impressive tweaks and enhancements. After almost 30 years of using Photoshop, I’ve seen how the updates keep evolving, especially with tools like generative fill and content-aware options. For me, it’s simple: when there’s room in the budget, a professional photographer is worth every penny – you can’t beat that quality. But sometimes, calling in a photographer isn’t possible, especially when the scene isn’t quite ‘finished.’ Take my long-time client, Preserved Timber Products (PTP) near Builth Wells, as an example. They create incredible garden buildings, sheds, and offices, all crafted with local timber. But the challenge is capturing these buildings in a picture-perfect setting. This can mean waiting for things like fresh grass to grow or landscaping to be completed around the structure. Photoshop’s new AI features are a game-changer for those times, letting me work around unfinished surroundings while keeping the building’s integrity intact. My job is to enhance but never mislead. If you’re running a small business and looking to polish up your existing images or are curious about learning some of these Photoshop tricks, check out my blog via the link below. I also wanted to say a huge thanks to PTP for letting me use their projects for my demos. The quality of their garden buildings is superb, and you can take a look at their work here: https://preservedtimber.co.uk To dive deeper into when to bring in a photographer vs. when Photoshop can help, read the full blog here: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/blog/choosing-between-professional-photography-and-adobe-photoshop

Here's a new tutorial demonstrating how to feed spreadsheet data (Google Sheets) into your canvas designs. With a bit of preparation, you can create custom gift vouchers and certificates in bulk. My next step is to look into ways of making this fully automated - once you receive an order email, the certificate is created and sent directly from Canva. I 'think' it will work... Thanks to Cherie from our Coaching Community for the request!

This post is for those of you creating your own tutorial videos (or thinking about this). If you are on the fence, I strongly recommend giving this a try; if nothing else, it is one of the most helpful and efficient ways of supporting your customers or clients. I’ve just shared a new video on YouTube: "Stop Wiggling Your Mouse! Tips for Smoother Screen Capture Videos." If you’ve ever re-watched your tutorials and thought, "Why is my cursor dancing all over the place?" or had feedback from someone struggling to keep up with the chaos, this one’s for you. I’ve been guilty of this myself. Recently, I realized how distracting it can be when the mouse goes wild on the screen, especially for viewers with ADHD. In the video, I share a few simple tricks I’ve started using to keep things smoother and more accessible to follow. It's all about those little adjustments that make a big difference over time. On that note, a special shoutout to Berni for the fantastic feedback she gave after going through my digital marketing mini-course. She pointed out a few things I hadn’t even considered and gave solid advice I’m working on implementing. The video is linked below, so jump in when you get a chance, and let me know in the comments if you’ve picked up any tips that help you keep your tutorials under control—always learning as we go, right? Cheers, Elwyn P.S. (For the Pixelhaze Coaching Community members) If you’ve got any other feedback or ideas, feel free to bring them up in the next surgery call!

There’s a phrase I’ve come to appreciate: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. It originally came from military training, but I’ve found it fits perfectly into how I approach web and graphic design these days. If you take your time and plan things out, the process naturally becomes smoother and, in the end, quicker, too. I’ll admit, in my early days of teaching, I used to fly through demonstrations. Whether it was building websites, designing PowerPoint slides, or creating posters in Canva, I’d race through, showing off what I could do. But I realized it didn’t help anyone, especially beginners. It left people behind, and frankly, it was more about me showing off than giving people the tools to create something great themselves. That’s where “slow is smooth” came into play for me. I now focus on guiding my students and clients to slow down, plan properly, and think through their work. And the magic of it? It speeds up everything in the long run. Front-Loading Time = Less Stress Later One of the biggest benefits of slowing down is front-loading your time. By putting in a bit more effort upfront, you can save a lot of hassle later on. For example, if I’m designing an event poster, I don’t just dive into Canva and hope for the best. I start with a rough draft—grab a notepad, chalkboard, whatever works—get a few ideas sketched out, and tear them apart. I ask: - Have we got all the important details front and center? - Who’s the main focus here? Is it clear? - Are we prioritizing the right messages? That 10 minutes of planning saves me so much back-and-forth later. Without it, you end up stuck tweaking endless little details. But with a solid plan, you’re off to the races. Keep It Simple, Especially at the Start Here’s the thing: you don’t need to get fancy with your tools right away. When I say “plan,” I’m not talking about opening up complex software. Grab a pen and sketch out ideas or wireframes with simple black-and-white layouts in Canva. You can use tools like Square Forge as you get more comfortable, but when you’re starting, keep it simple. The goal is to get your ideas down quickly, not to worry about every tiny detail.

Here are two new tutorials demonstrating how we create tried and tested professional Squarespace hero designs in Square Forge. More on the way 😊