I get a lot of comment {love} about my pictures… someone even used the word “delicious” to describe them. I thought that was too stinking cute! I am so not a photographer. However, I do {love} to style things and set up fun photo props for the blog. So, I thought I’d tell you that I shoot with a Cannon Rebel XSi with an external flash. I use a 50mm lens for everyday use — aaaand I take 99% of my pictures on Auto. So what? Big deal, right? Well, apparently it is a BIG deal. {giggle} I say, “Do whatever works for you!” I will tell you that good pictures are SO important in bloggy world — they catch peoples attention, they get you featured and they’re just pretty to look at.
Moving on. As many of you already know — my twin sister, Kristine, is the photographer behind Kristine Lynn Photography (KLP). I’m not sure I’ll ever hear the end of it when it comes to shooting in Auto vs. Manual. She recently offered a Photography 101 class here in St. Louis.
 |
| Kristine of KLP {see the resemblance?} |
Of course I attended and had a super fun time. It was a wee bit overwhelming at times, but informative. I’ll try to put my best foot forward in shooting on Manual, but playing with your exposure, aperture, shutter speed and/or your ISO requires time and patience. Two words that you might not use to describe me. HA!
 |
| the group photo was provided to me by Kristine Lynn Photography |
I did learn a ton and walked away with some great references. One being this sah-weet cheat sheet. I’ll be tucking this away in my camera bag for sure!
Kristine not only taught us about the settings on our cameras, but she also set up a few stations for us to take some still shots. Soooo, I thought I’d share a couple of the pics I shot in MANUAL {smile}. The room was orange, so it did present it’s challenges, but the natural light did seem to help balance the lighting situation out a bit. What do you think? Not too shabby, right?
So, now my question for you is what do you use to take your pictures with?
Do you have a point and shoot or an SLR? Do you shoot in Auto or Manual?
—-> BE HONEST <—
Be sure to visit with me here too:
Unknown says
Since 2008 Ive shot in manual. I love controlling everything. Recently, Ive shot some in AV and auto ISO and liked it. For me it clicked right away.
Hayley
http://www.hayleysworld.com
Kelly @ Live Laugh Rowe says
Yo go girl!
Karen Harper says
I have a Canon Rebel T3. My husband surprised me with it for Christmas. I've been shooting in manual only lately. I really wanted to learn how to use the camera to its fullest potential so I took a big gulp, sucked it up and fearfully started tackling it. I've got a lot to learn…but its a lot of fun.
Kelly @ Live Laugh Rowe says
Good for you, Karen. Shame on me, right? 🙂
Mindy @ My Life As says
I started out using a 35mm Cannon Rebel T2 something or other in 2001 & fell in love… Last year I upgraded to a Cannon t3i & love it! It took a while to figure it out {I.e. I'm a picture perfectionist and don't like messing up pictures}, but my boyfriend helped me take the auto to manual leap in January! I only shoot in manual now! I have to stop and think about what I am doing most of the time, but I wouldn't change it! Good Luck!
Mindy @ My Life As says
I was in the same boat & wanted to learn everything I could about my camera.. Good luck tackling it!
Jennifer M. says
That's a pretty accurate cheat sheet! Although their shutter speed explanation seems a little misleading. In BRIGHT sunlight, for example, I'd use a much faster shutter speed because the shutter doesn't need to stay open for very long. And at night, I'd leave it open longer to let in more light.
Anyway… I shoot in partial manual mode, I guess you could call it. I have a Canon Rebel something or other and I generally use either AV mode or TV mode (aperture priority or shutter speed priority) depending on which are more important to me for my shot. I still set the white balance and ISO by hand with these speeds. I find that when I'm shooting quickly, this really speeds things up so I'm not having to fiddle with my settings with every shot.
Occasionally I do actually go into full manual mode, but that's only when I've taken the time to figure out exactly what I want my settings to be and I don't want anything to change it (shifting colors or light, etc). In most situations, I find this method to be overkill though, so don't bother going full manual.
As for the photos in my blog… most of those are shot with my iPhone! Lol. True story. Next term I'm taking a photography class at school though, so that'll be an excuse to carry my "real" camera with me everywhere. You just might end up seeing a lot more "real" photos on my blog, as a result!
jess says
I love that I always learn something from you! Anyway, I have had my Canon T2i for over a year and I shoot on auto 90% of the time [shame on me!]. That's on my list to correct, though. Thanks for the cheat sheet!
Melissa Bo says
~ Have fun with your Camera!
When I was younger..I used the Manual setting on my camera, however I usually use automatic now.
I want to get back into photography, I love it!!
Melanie says
Kelly, girrrrl I am so dang happy to have found you! We have the exact same camera. I just got my Canon Rebel a couple of months ago. I am loving it, but honestly I feel like my photos have taken a bit of a hit w/ the ugly stick. Every pic on my blog before Jan 12 was taken w/ my ole Kodak Easyshare point & shoot. For what it was, it was awesoome to me. I have been trying to shoot in AV mode mostly, but have shot a (quite) a bit in auto. I am trying to learn all the setting "stuff," & this cheat sheet is flippn wonderful!! Thanks mama! It is so cool to know somone w/ the same camera. I know you have an external flash, but are you still using your kit lens? I really want to get a new one, I just have the kit still. Awww… I feel bonded w/ ya girl! Your shots are beautiful, btw!
cathy@my1929charmer says
I have a Nikon D40, pretty much always shoot in Program mode. If I'm outside shooting closeups of flowers outside I switch to A. Really don't know what I'm doing. See you cheat sheet and think?
Jennifer says
I try to play around with manual but it's freakin confusing! So I do a lot of auto haha.. I actually sat down and read some of my manual like a year after getting my canon rebel and learned a little. I would've loved to take your sisters class, she's good!
Leslie says
I’m totally an auto girl (which is why so many of my photos are just slightly off). Since I usually don’t get more than about 10 minutes to take my pictures, there’s just no patience to sit there and play with all the manual settings. Besides, isn’t that what Photoshop is for? (That cheat sheet is amazing, though…can’t wait to print it out and use it!)
Dana @ CraftedNiche.com says
What a great class! Is she In the STL area? Any chance she'll be offering another in the future? I'd love to take it
Kristine Lynn Photography says
So glad you came to the class! Practice makes perfect!
Sharisse Lopez says
I don't have a fancy camera, just a little digital friend I take with me. 🙂