Photography has been part of my life since I was little, I started my journey with a small Kodak disposable camera in hand as a kid. A passion that turned into a career, not only am I passionate about what I am blessed to do for a living but, I love helping others. Coaching and mentoring have also been something that brings me great joy!


So, I put together a quick blog to help those who want to take their photography to the next level, get off that automatic mode and take your photography to the next level.


Let’s start with the basics!


Photography is a wonderful hobby that can bring a lot of joy and creativity to your life. However, it can be intimidating for beginners who are just starting out. There are a lot of buttons and settings to learn, and it can be overwhelming to figure out how to use them all. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the most important buttons and settings to learn, as well as recommend the top 5 mirrorless cameras for beginners.

ISO


ISO refers to the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive your camera is to light, which means you can use a faster shutter speed or smaller aperture in low light situations. However, a high ISO can also introduce noise or graininess to your photos. For beginners, it’s best to start with a lower ISO (around 100-400) and increase it only when necessary. Your ISO should be the last thing adjusted, keeping It as low as possible will give you better quality images overall.

F-Stop & Aperture


The aperture is the opening in the lens that controls how much light enters the camera. The f-stop is the number that represents the size of the aperture. A smaller f-stop (such as f/1.8) means a larger aperture, which lets in more light and creates a shallower depth of field (the area in focus). A larger f-stop (such as f/22) means a smaller aperture, which lets in less light and creates a deeper depth of field. For beginners, it’s best to experiment with different f-stops to see how they affect the depth of field in your photos. A lower F-stop means a more compressed image = a more blurry background. A higher f-stop will have more in-focus in the background. If you are photographing one person, a lower f-stop should be fine, but, the more people you have the higher your f-stop needs to be. A “safe” aperture is around 2.5-3.5, this means that if you have one subject their entire face will be in focus. Keep in mind: If you have a lower aperture and you are close to your subject not only will that blur your background even more but, it can also mean less features of your subject are in focus. A lower aperture and standing further away will still have a compressed background but more of your subject will be in focus!

Shutter Speed


The shutter speed controls how long the camera’s shutter is open, which affects how much light enters the camera and how motion is captured in the photo. A faster shutter speed (such as 1/1000th of a second) freezes motion, while a slower shutter speed (such as 1/30th of a second) can create motion blur. For beginners, it’s best to start with a faster shutter speed to ensure your photos are sharp, and then experiment with slower speeds to create intentional motion blur. My personal rule is I never go below 1/250 especially if its photographing my kids.


Pro Tip


For sunny days outside in direct sun you will want your ISO as low as it can go, your shutter speed high and then adjust your f-stop last to expose properly in camera.


So what gear should you own?


So let’s talk gear, maybe you already have a camera and you are ready to go out and tackle what you learned here. I would love for you to come back and comment below how your first round in Manual mode went! But, if you are still in the market to get this journey started, I have made a list of cameras I trust!


  1. Canon EOS M50 Mark II – This camera has a 24.1-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, and offers good autofocus and image quality. It also has a vari-angle touch screen, making it great for vlogging and selfies. This is a crop sensor, which means your view is “tighter”. My son has this camera for his macro photography and it is truly an incredible little machine!
  2. Canon EOS M6 Mark II – This camera has a 32.5-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, and offers excellent autofocus and fast shooting speeds. It also has a tilting touch screen and can shoot 4K video. Again, another crop sensor, so keep that in mind. If you ever plan to go from hobbyist to more “professional” it would be worth getting a full frame.
  3. Nikon Z50 – This camera has a 20.9-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and EXPEED 6 image processor, and offers good autofocus and image quality. It also has a tilting touch screen and can shoot 4K video.
  4. Canon EOS R – This camera has a 30.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, and offers excellent image quality and autofocus. It also has a vari-angle touch screen and a weather-sealed body. I love this camera as it is more “rugged” and a great work horse. If you plan to cross the line to taking clients this is a perfect gateway!
  5. Canon EOS R6 – This camera has a 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC X image processor, and offers excellent image quality and autofocus. It also has in-body image stabilization and can shoot 4K video. This is my daily use camera! It is most definitely the most expensive of the bunch, but it will also last you the longest next to the R.


Both Canon and Nikon offer great mirrorless cameras for beginners that provide excellent image quality and autofocus performance. With any of these top 5 mirrorless cameras, beginners can get started with photography and capture high-quality photos and videos. Once you learn the basics, it is perfecting your knowledge! Stay tuned for our next blog on lighting (indoors and out) as well as a full blog on my editing process, I will also be adding a short blog to help you choose a lens that is right for you!


Until then, See ya next time!