About Photo Cultivator

Stop wasting money on gear you don’t need. Stop guessing your camera settings. Start taking photos you’re proud to share.

Photo Cultivator is a weekly newsletter that teaches practical photography techniques and honest gear advice—no marketing fluff, no affiliate spam, no ads.

What You’ll Learn

Master your camera without shooting in auto mode forever

Every week, you’ll get camera settings, composition techniques, and editing workflows you can test on your next shoot—not vague theory you’ll never use.

See photography tutorials →

Buy the right gear and avoid expensive mistakes

I test cameras, lenses, and accessories before recommending them. No sponsorships. No affiliate links disguised as reviews. Just honest advice that saves you hundreds.

Read gear reviews →

Get better faster with step-by-step workflows

Premium members get downloadable Lightroom presets, camera settings cheat sheets, and editing tutorials you can follow along with—starting today.

See what’s included in Premium →

Who Creates This?

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I’m Hakan Ozturk, a professional photographer based in Paris.

My work has been published globally through Adobe Stock (where I’ve sold thousands of images), and I’ve spent 15+ years shooting stock, landscape, wildlife, and drone photography.

I started Photo Cultivator because I was tired of seeing beginners waste money on overpriced gear they didn’t need, and experienced photographers stuck repeating the same mistakes.

My goal: Help you take better photos without the gatekeeping, gear worship, or marketing hype that dominates photography education.

Why Photo Cultivator Is Different

100% ad-free

No pop-ups. No “sponsored content.” Every article focuses on teaching, not selling.

No hidden affiliate links

When I recommend gear, it’s because I tested it—not because I get a commission.

Honest reviews

I’ll tell you when expensive gear isn’t worth it and when budget options outperform flagships. See my camera comparisons →

Practical, not theoretical

Every tutorial includes exact settings, step-by-step instructions, and real examples—not vague “find your style” advice.

Privacy first

Your email is never sold or shared. Cancel anytime, no questions asked.

What Members Are Saying

“I saved $600 by reading Hakan’s monitor calibration guide before buying. Worth the subscription just for that.”

— David M., Premium Member

“The wildlife photography settings guide is the most useful thing I’ve read in years. My keeper rate went from 20% to 70%.”

— Jennifer K., Premium Member

“Finally, a photography newsletter that doesn’t try to sell me a $3,000 lens I don’t need.”

— Alex R., Free Subscriber

Join 200+ Photographers Improving Every Week

Free subscribers get weekly photography tips, gear recommendations, and curated inspiration.

Premium members ($7/month or $60/year) get step-by-step tutorials, downloadable resources, and honest gear reviews that save hundreds on bad purchases.

Founding members ($297 one-time) get lifetime access to everything I ever create—locked in before the price increases.