Quick Reference Guides
Settings, Tips, and Troubleshooting at a Glance
Settings Quick Reference
Portrait Settings
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/1.8 - f/4 (blurry background) |
| Shutter Speed | 1/125s or faster |
| ISO | As low as light allows |
| Focus | On eyes |
| Mode | Aperture Priority or Portrait Mode |
Landscape Settings
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/8 - f/11 (sharp throughout) |
| Shutter Speed | Varies (use tripod if needed) |
| ISO | 100-400 (lowest practical) |
| Focus | 1/3 into scene |
| Mode | Aperture Priority |
Action/Sports Settings
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/2.8 - f/5.6 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/500s or faster |
| ISO | As needed for fast shutter |
| Focus | Continuous AF tracking |
| Mode | Shutter Priority |
Low Light Settings
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aperture | Wide open (f/1.8 - f/2.8) |
| Shutter Speed | As slow as you can handhold |
| ISO | High as needed (1600-6400) |
| Stabilization | On, use tripod if possible |
Night/Long Exposure Settings
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/8 - f/11 |
| Shutter Speed | Several seconds to minutes |
| ISO | Low (100-400) |
| Support | Tripod required |
| Timer | Use 2-second timer or remote |
Composition Checklist
Before shooting, check:
- What is my subject? Is it clear?
- Is the subject well-placed (rule of thirds)?
- Is the background clean?
- Are there distracting elements?
- Is the horizon level?
- Have I filled the frame enough?
- What happens at the edges?
- Is there a foreground?
- Am I at the best angle?
Light Quality Guide
| Light | Character | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Golden hour | Warm, soft, directional | Portraits, landscapes, everything |
| Blue hour | Cool, ethereal | Cityscapes, moody shots |
| Overcast | Soft, even, no shadows | Portraits, colors, close-ups |
| Midday sun | Harsh, overhead, contrasty | Graphic shadows, not much else |
| Open shade | Soft, blue tint | Portraits |
| Window light | Soft, directional | Portraits, still life |
| Backlight | Dramatic, glowing | Silhouettes, rim lighting |
Troubleshooting Common Problems
Photo Is Blurry
Camera shake: Use faster shutter speed, stabilize, use tripod Subject motion: Use faster shutter speed Wrong focus: Check focus point, use appropriate AF mode Too shallow DOF: Use smaller aperture (higher f-number)
Photo Is Too Dark
Underexposed: Increase ISO, wider aperture, slower shutter Backlit subject: Use exposure compensation (+), fill flash
Photo Is Too Bright
Overexposed: Decrease ISO, smaller aperture, faster shutter Check histogram: Avoid clipping highlights
Colors Look Wrong
White balance: Adjust WB setting or fix in editing Mixed lighting: Choose which source to correct for
Photo Looks Flat
Needs contrast: Add contrast in editing Flat light: Shoot in more directional light Needs clarity: Add clarity/texture in editing
Background Is Distracting
Move: Change position to clean background Blur it: Use wider aperture Remove later: Edit out distractions
Smartphone Quick Tips
- Clean your lens
- Tap to focus on subject
- Adjust exposure with slider
- Use gridlines
- Avoid digital zoom
- Hold steady
- Use portrait mode for background blur
- Try night mode in low light
- Edit before sharing
- Back up your photos
Editing Workflow
- Import and cull — Delete obvious failures
- Select favorites — Mark best from similar shots
- Crop and straighten — Fix composition
- Exposure — Get brightness right
- Highlights/shadows — Balance tones
- Contrast — Set the feel
- White balance — Correct color
- Vibrance/saturation — Adjust colors
- Local adjustments — Fix specific areas
- Sharpen and export — Final touches
AI Editing Checklist
- Try auto-enhance as starting point
- Use AI noise reduction for high ISO shots
- Consider sky replacement for dull skies
- Use object removal for distractions
- Try portrait retouching (subtly!)
- Let AI suggest crops
- Use AI masking for selective edits
Keep this reference handy until it becomes second nature.