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PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS: GET OFF AUTO AND SHOOT LIKE A PRO

HOT OFF THE PRESS 

You’ve just bought a fancy camera and decide to take it for a spin. Flicked it on auto, taken a shot, but disappointed with the results.   I hear you, where is all that nice soft light, bokeh blur background. Your shots look nothing like you see on Instagram right. Auto is not all that […]

March 18, 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS: GET OFF AUTO AND SHOOT LIKE A PRO

Photography

You’ve just bought a fancy camera and decide to take it for a spin. Flicked it on auto, taken a shot, but disappointed with the results.
 
I hear you, where is all that nice soft light, bokeh blur background. Your shots look nothing like you see on Instagram right. Auto is not all that it’s cracked up to be. If you want to use the full power of that lovely camera and lens you got to go manual.

You’re worried, I get it, you think it’s difficult to learn and without a solid understanding of ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture how will you ever take that awesome picture. You know the one to share on the gram, FB, and that beautiful website.

 
 
Let’s get to know the “Exposure Triangle“ that’s right, the Three Kings or Queens of Photography. Knowing how to adjust the setting of the camera when needed, helps to get the best out of your camera and pushes you and it to its limits helping you to take great photographs.
 
 
Now we can go super tech with this, or I get right to it and give you the basics… I know which one I’d prefer, here a link to an article with all the super technical terms
 
Let’s start with SHUTTER the basic.
 
Shutter speed is one point on the exposure triangle, there are three main factors (the other two are aperture and ISO) that affect the quality of your photos. Shutter speed gives you creative control over exposure, allowing your images to be bright or dark, blurry or sharp.
SLOW SHUTTER | FAST SHUTTER
HOW TO SET THE SHUTTER SPEED ON A CAMERA
 
Setting your shutter speed manually allows more creative flexibility with your photography. Most digital cameras allow you to set the shutter speed manually in one of two ways:
  • Manual Mode: Set via the setting dial on top of the camera or within the settings on the viewfinder, and indicated as “M” on most digital cameras. Manual mode allows control over shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, this is my go-to in most situations.

 

  • Shutter priority. Written as “S” or as “TV” on many cameras. In shutter priority mode, you set the shutter speed while the camera automatically adjusts the corresponding aperture and ISO for the surrounding lighting conditions. Great if you want to make sure the subject had no blur motion or if you have shaky hands.
 
WHAT IS ISO?
 
ISO is a camera setting that determines your camera’s sensitivity to light. In terms of image quality, a low ISO value (100 iso) means your image will be darker and have less grain (or noise). A high ISO number (1600 iso) means your image will be brighter and have more grain. The letters “ISO” stands for International Organization for Standardization, the group that established the standards for light sensitivity in film. The term stuck, but it uses to be called ASA, but we will save that for another day.
 
 
LOW ISO | HIGH ISO
HOW TO DETERMINE THE BEST ISO SETTINGS
 
Here’s an idea of what the ISO numbers mean for particular lighting conditions.
  • ISO 100-200: Best for bright daylight. Results in a crisp image with little grain or noise. Your camera’s default ISO base setting will likely be in this range.
  • ISO 200-400: Slightly less ambient light, such as indoors during the daytime or outdoors in the shade.
  • ISO 400-800: Indoors, with a flash.
  • ISO 800-1600: Low light indoors or at night when you can’t use a flash.
  • ISO 1600-3200: Extreme low-light conditions without a flash. Your image will have a lot of grain or digital noise because of the low light.
 
 
HOW TO SET ISO ON A DIGITAL CAMERA
 
  • Your digital camera may default to an “Auto ISO” setting, which means it automatically adjusts your camera sensor’s light sensitivity to your current conditions. This can be useful, for most casual photography in the daytime, however, it’s better to get to know your camera first before we start sticking it back on autos.
  • ISO is usual on the top, side or within your menu, have a play with it, take your time, go from inside to outside to see the benefits
 
APERTURE THE KEY TO CREATIVE CONTROL
 
Aperture is the key to your creative control in photography, this gives you the flexibility needed to capture that unique shot.
LOW APERTURE, BLUR | HIGH APERTURE, SHARP
WHAT IS APERTURE?
 
In photography, aperture refers to the hole in the middle of the camera lens which allows light to pass onto a digital camera’s image sensor or the film strip on a film camera.
You control the size of your camera’s aperture two ways. One by twisting the ring around the lens to open the aperture wider or smaller. The other is with the dial on the top of the grip with most DSLR’s. This affects how much light touches the sensor, as well as, how sharp and soft your back will be —a bigger aperture allows more light, creating a softer background and a smaller aperture allows less light, creating a sharper background.
 
HOW TO ADJUST APERTURE ON YOUR CAMERA
 
You can manually set the aperture on your digital camera in one of two ways:
  • Manual Mode: Written as “M” on most cameras on the top dial of the camera, which takes your camera out of auto mode. In this mode, you also have control over shutter speed.
  • Aperture priority mode: Written as “A” or “Av” on your camera. In this mode, your camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed according to the aperture you chose.
On some cameras, you select the aperture on the display screen. On other cameras, you select the aperture on the lens. AV mode is great when you have a bright sunny day and loads of fast-moving clouds. This is where you’ll constantly be going from sunny to cloudy. Stick it on AV and concentre on the creativity, not the weather.
 
 
Okay, that’s the nut’s and bolts of crafting great images, the short version is called the exposure triangle: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. In order to get a properly exposed photo, all three elements must work in harmony. If one part of the exposure triangle changes, the other two need to change as well. Of the three, aperture is the most crucial in controlling how your image will look and my favourite.
 
Why not download a free copy of my photography cheat sheet, to help you out. Or check out the video on my channel!
 
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Invest in your most valuable asset
 – YOU –
and your future self-employed success. This isn't just a guide; it's your ultimate self-coaching toolkit to gain the clarity, knowledge, and skills needed to create an actionable, personalised strategy to thrive in your freelance business and personal life.

Building a Resilient Self-Employed Life

ALIGN YOUR VALUES,
THRIVE AS SELF-EMPLOYED

MSc POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY & COACHING

CERTIFIED RESILIENCE COACH

DIGITAL MARKETING EXPERT TRAINING 2022

(British Psychological Society)

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MAPPCP & EMCC COACHING AWARDED 

(Brain Station Training)

(Kirros Training)

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What Makes This Different:

Let's Cut the Fluff
and Get You Moving

Look, you already know what you're supposed to do. Post consistently. Raise your prices. Show up on video. Network more. Build systems.

The problem isn't knowledge; it's actually putting it into practice.

That's where I come in. My coaching isn't about giving you more tactics to add to your overwhelm. It's about figuring out what's actually stopping you (usually it's psychology, not logistics) and dismantling those blocks.


Here's how it works:

EMCC Award Winner | 25 Years Self-Employed | Dual Master's in Psychology & Coaching | England-Based

We spend 90 minutes digging into what's really holding you back. I'll ask the questions you've been avoiding asking yourself. We identify the root cause, not the surface symptom.

Then we build your action plan. Not a 47-page strategy doc you'll never look at. Three to five specific actions you'll take in the next week. With accountability.

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Fair warning: I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what you need to hear.

THE CLIENTS HAVE SPOKE:

LOVE

NOTES

SOCIAL MEDIA CONFIDENCE CREATOR 

Louise  - COACHING

I cannot thank Jerri enough for helping me find my way when setting up my new beauty business. Not an easy business to set up in the middle of a global pandemic!!!!
Her enthusiasm for business and marketing is second to none. Her knowledge in social media blew my mind and helped me engage in a wider audience and even gave me the confidence to do my first ever live Instagram.

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GAYLE - BRAND SHOOT


Jerri, I honestly can't thank you enough for today. It was amazing to be in such a positive environment. You've given my confidence a real boost and I'm beyond happy with these visuals they are going to transform my blog, site and socials.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!


CONFIDENCE CONTENT BOOSTER

Anna- Coaching

Before meeting Jerri, I was struggling to get my new creative shop off the ground, but since our meeting she has moved my business forward by helping me to build my confidence with promoting, marketing and finding my customer base, all these essential elements which unknown to me were important for my business to be a success. I found her attitude very professional, and she made it fun and easy to understand, I can now use all the knowledge to help my business continually grow with confidence. I would happily recommend Jerri to anyone who is stuck in moving forward or looking for new creative ideas in getting their business on the map. I am extremely grateful for her support and guidance.

HOLISTIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

GAME CHANGER FOR MY CONTENT

LIZ - BRAND SHOOT

These images are a game-changer for my content and they're legit made me feel excited about the next stage in my business!!! These feel so aligned with the 'next level me' so grateful.

Trisha- COACHING

 "Working with Jerri was a very opening and supportive experience. I was completely stuck in my business, holding down a family, and two jobs made me an emotional wreck; each day, I was anxious because I didn't want to waste time focusing on the wrong steps. Jerri provided space for me - showing empathy and understanding - which was powerful. The session allowed me to confront my fears, work through barriers and provide actionable steps to move me forward. It was so helpful to work with someone genuinely passionate about helping others achieve their dreams. Thank you, Jerri, for your encouragement and expertise -
 I will be forever grateful."


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Louise 

What Clients Achieve

Beauty Business Owner

Creative Shop Owner

Before meeting Jerri, I was struggling to get my new creative shop off the ground, but since our meeting, she has moved my business forward by helping me to build my confidence with promoting, marketing and finding my customer base, all these essential elements which unknown to me were important for my business to be a success.

I found her attitude very professional, and she made it fun and easy to understand, I can now use all the knowledge to help my business continually grow with confidence. I would happily recommend Jerri to anyone who is stuck in moving forward or looking for new creative ideas in getting their business on the map. I am extremely grateful for her support and guidance.

Anna

Self-Employed Mother

 "Working with Jerri was a very open and supportive experience. I was completely stuck in my business, holding down a family, and two jobs made me an emotional wreck; each day, I was anxious because I didn't want to waste time focusing on the wrong steps.

Jerri provided space for me - showing empathy and understanding - which was powerful. The session allowed me to confront my fears, work through barriers and provide actionable steps to move me forward. It was so helpful to work with someone genuinely passionate about helping others achieve their dreams. Thank you, Jerri, for your encouragement and expertise -
 I will be forever grateful."


Trisha

Self-Employed Creative


Terrified of showing up on Instagram, getting inconsistent enquiries
After working with Jerri, I did my first Instagram Live, developed a content strategy that feels authentic, and am now getting 2-3 qualified leads per week.

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Rachel

SELECT THE INVESTMENT THAT WORKS FOR YOU:

NOTES

LOVE

Hey, Guess what...

Action taker. 
Enquire here!

I understand that feeling of uncertainty when it comes to hiring a coach. But fear not! I'm here for you and happy to answer any remaining questions on our call. 

I want you to know you're in safe hands, I've been self-employed since I was 18yrs, so I know what it takes to succeed (I've been at the game longer than most). I'm also a certified coach, with dual masters in Positive Psychology and Coaching. Plus, I hold a variety of qualifications in the personal development space. So, tell me, what do you need? I believe a little guidance or support will go a long way--something small might even help tremendously giving you clarity when planning your next steps. Ensuring your mental and emotional success in your personal and professional life. Most importantly, you'll have the momentum and confidence you need to become unstoppable.

SEND, I'M READY TO START!

Hey, Guess what...

Action taker. 
Enquire here!

I want you to know you're in safe hands because this isn't my first shoot (I've been at the game longer than most). If you feel you need a little guidance or support after you've read the FAQs, then I'm here for you. So feel free to ask me anything before booking your photoshoot. 

I understand that feeling of uncertainty when it comes to hiring a photographer. But fear not! I'm here for you and happy to answer any remaining questions on our call. 

If you feel you need a little guidance or support after you've read through the FAQs, then I'm here for you. So feel free to ask me anything before booking your photoshoot. 

I want you to know you're in safe hands because this isn't my first shoot (I've been at the game longer than most). So tell me, what do you need? I believe a little guidance or support will go a long way--something small might even help tremendously in planning your shoot, which ensures it's successful, creative, productive, and fun!! And most importantly, you feel empowered, authentic and inflow!

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Invest in your most valuable asset – YOU – and your future self-employed success. This isn't just a guide; it's your ultimate self-coaching toolkit to gain the clarity, knowledge, and skills needed to create an actionable, personalised strategy to thrive in your freelance business and personal life.

Building a Resilient Self-Employed Career

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