One of the first things to learn about using your new DSLR is to learn how to shoot manually. This can seem super overwhelming, but once you know the basics, it gets a lot easier – trust me! Setting your settings manually and exposing your photos in manual mode is one of the best things you can learn after getting your camera.

There are three main things that contribute to how a photo is exposed: ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. By changing these settings, you’ll change whether the exposure is brighter or darker.

So let’s break down how each of these things affects exposure:

ISO: The lower the number, the darker the photo is exposed (but also the more grainy). For example, if my ISO is at 640 then I lower it to 100, my exposure is going to be darker – but my photo will also have less grain.

APERTURE: The lower the number, the brighter the photo is exposed (lower apertures also create a smaller plane of field. The lower the aperture, the blurrier the background because the plane of focus is thinner). For example, if I have an aperture of 2.8 then lower it to 1.8, my exposure is going to get brighter – but my photo will have a smaller plane that is in focus.

SHUTTER SPEED: The lower the number, the brighter the photo is exposed (lower shutter speeds can also create camera shake, which is something to keep in mind when setting it!). For example, if my shutter speed is at 500 then I lower it to 250, my exposure is going to get brighter – but if I lower my shutter speed too much, I risk my photo being blurry from having camera shake.

That’s the basics of how to shoot manually! If you want to know my thought process behind using these settings and how to actually SET exposure (because y’know, that’s the important part) fill out the form below to receive my FREE guide, “How to Shoot Manually”: