How to Shoot in Manual Mode: A Practical Guide

Today we’re breaking down how to shoot in manual mode in order to help you better understand your camera settings and master your creative vision. Using auto mode is fine if you want the camera to do the work for you and make all the details and decisions for you. But if you want full control and a better understanding of photography, shooting in manual mode is the way to go.

This guide isn’t going to get too in-depth technical, instead, I’m more concerned about teaching you what will actually help you in your photography. Understanding camera settings is the key to mastering your photography beyond framing and composition. By the end of this article, I hope you are both empowered and inspired to begin shooting in manual mode.

We’ll talk about how to get more light into the camera’s sensor first, when you might use slow shutter speeds for motion blur, and why you don’t need to be afraid of High Iso. First, we’ll walk through why to use manual mode and then the key camera settings you need to understand. Finally, I’ll give you tips for shooting in manual mode as well as 10 reasons why manual mode is better than auto mode.

Why Use Manual Mode

First things first—why manual mode? Well, when you shoot in auto mode, (including aperture or shutter speed priority) your camera decides everything for you—aperture, shutter speed, ISO. But by using manual mode, you take complete control of these key settings, giving you the freedom to capture your images exactly how you want them. Manual mode is the key to creating images with better exposure, sharper focus, and more creative control.

But, if you’re just starting out, it can feel a little intimidating. Don’t worry—we’re going to break it down step by step, so you’ll feel comfortable and confident using manual mode! Auto mode isn’t all bad, and it does have a purpose. It’s like auto-tuning on karaoke or using a box of cake mix instead of a made-from-scratch recipe.

There is a time and a place for auto mode but understanding manual mode and the camera settings associated with it will make you a better photographer. So, don’t be scared, it’s time to dial in your manual settings and shed more light (pun intended) on your photography skills.

Key Camera Settings to Know For Shooting in Manual Mode

Let’s talk about the manual settings you need to know in order to shoot in manual mode. To start, you need to understand the three core settings in manual mode: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Let’s dial in your basic understanding of manual settings.

1. Aperture (f-stop)

The size of the aperture (wide or narrow) determines how much light the lens lets in. A wide aperture lets in more light than a narrow aperture.

Aperture is measured by the f-stop setting… f/2.8 lots of light… f/22 very little light.

Aperture also determines the depth of field in your photos—meaning how much of the photo is in focus.

Wide apertures (like f/2.8) will give you a shallow depth of field—great for portraits where you want a blurred background (bokeh).
Narrow apertures (like f/8 or f/16) keep more of the image in focus, which is ideal for landscapes.

Remember: a lower f-stop number means a wider aperture, and a higher f-stop number means a narrower aperture.

Some photographers like using aperture priority mode because they can set their aperture to a wide aperture, letting in as much light as possible for any given lens. Then they only have to worry about the two other settings. But you can do essentially the same thing in manual mode by choosing a wide aperture to start first. More on that later

2. Shutter Speed

Shutter speed controls how long your camera’s shutter stays open to let in light. The longer the shutter stays open, the more time light has to enter. Shutter speed also impacts motion in your photos. Slow shutter speeds can capture motion blur whereas a fast shutter speed freezes motion.

Fast shutter speeds (like 1/1000 or 1/500) freeze motion, which is great for action shots or sports.
Slow shutter speeds (like 1/60 or 1/30) allow motion to blur, which works well for creative effects like flowing water or light trails.

Pro tip: To avoid camera shake when shooting handheld, use a shutter speed that’s at least 1/ focal length. So, if you’re shooting at 50mm, your shutter speed should be at least 1/50 to keep things sharp.

3. ISO

ISO controls your camera’s sensitivity to light. Higher ISO values (like ISO 800, ISO 1600) are great for low-light situations, but the downside is they can introduce more noise or grain into your photos.

In bright light, use a low ISO (like ISO 100 or ISO 200).
In low light, you can bump up the ISO to 800 or higher to help you get a properly exposed photo.

The key is to use the lowest ISO possible without underexposing your final image, as this helps keep your photos cleaner with less noise. You’ll also get more dynamic range which is the range of brightness your camera can capture.

Some modern cameras are great at higher ISOs, it’s good to research your camera and know what your max ISO tolerance. You don’t need to be afraid of high ISO anymore because modern cameras are incredible in low light. Manual mode allows you to decide on the tolerance of what high iso you’re willing to use.

Balancing Camera Settings for Shooting in manual mode

Here’s the tricky bit confusing part—getting the right exposure requires balancing these three settings: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The goal is to let in the right amount of light, so your photo is neither too bright nor too dark.

If you want a well-exposed photo, it’s all about balancing aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.

Here’s how to get more light from each:

Wide aperture = more light in, and shallower depth of field.
Slower shutter speed = more time for light to hit the sensor but can capture motion blur
Higher ISO = more sensitivity to light, but less crisp photos.

So while you want sufficient light, you would prefer to shoot at as LOW of an ISO as possible.

And for shutter speed, you want something fast enough to freeze the motion of your subject while still letting in enough light. (unless you want motion blur)

And for aperture, you want a low number to let in light but a deth a field that allows your subject to be sharp.

Understanding the Exposure Triangle

Now, how do we figure out how to balance all three manual mode camera settings? The key to success in manual mode is the exposure triangle. Here’s more detail how it works:

If your photo is too bright, you can lower the ISO, increase the shutter speed, or narrow the aperture.
If it’s too dark, you can raise the ISO, slow down the shutter speed, or open up the aperture.

It’s all about experimenting and finding the right combination for each scene. And remember, every photo is different, so don’t be afraid to adjust as you go!

You want a low ISO to avoid camera grain but you want to make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to freeze motion and your aperture is creating the proper depth of field for your image. If you understand the limitations of each of these camera settings, you’ll be able to decide when to change which setting.

Practical Tips for Shooting in Manual Mode

Next, let’s talk through a few practical tips to help you while you’re shooting in manual mode. These tips will give you some starting points for deciding your camera settings. These are shortcuts for manual shooting that will help you when you’re learning manual camera mode.

Practice in different lighting conditions

Start practicing in bright light, then challenge yourself in low light. This will help you understand how each setting impacts your photo.

Start Simple: Choose one setting at a time

Choose one setting to play with and learn the impact changing that setting has on your photo.

Use the Digital Viewfinder (or histogram or test shots)

If you’re shooting mirrorless, the digital viewfinder will give you immediate feedback on if your exposure is right. When you rotate your setting dials you’ll see an immediate effect on the brightness of your scene. Otherwise, on a DSLR you can use the histogram or take test shots to see if your exposure is balanced.

Start with a Low f-number (But not too low)

Generally choosing the lowest aperture your lens allows will help you keep your shutter speed fast and your ISO low. However, if you have a 1.8 lens you might not want every picture at 1.8 especially if you have multiple subjects because the depth of field is too shallow. For group portraits, people will not be in focus.

Shoot in Raw

Make sure you’re shooting in RAW because this will give you more editing leeway if you are under or over-exposed. More room for error allows you to fix and learn in post-production.

Set your ISO for the Darkest Area

If you’re working in variable lighting conditions, it can help to set your ISO for the darker area and then focus on adjusting your shutter speed. Otherwise, you might end up with too slow of a shutter speed.

10 Reasons for Shooting in Manual Mode

Manuel mode means no more over or under exposing … consistent exposure which is great for post-production efforts too.

Use Manual Mode for Rapidly Changing Lighting Conditions

Rapidly changing lighting conditions will throw off your camera’s light meter and your exposures can vary wildly. Instead, when you have control in manual mode you can make sure everything is properly exposed as you move through various lighting conditions.

Use Manual Mode for Mixed Lighting Conditions

In mixed lighting conditions such as if your subject is in the shade but your background is sunny, you may want to expose your subject or create a silhouette… manual mode allows you to choose rather than the camera deciding for you which generally means somewhere in the middle failing at both.

Use Manual Mode for Silhouettes

Silhouettes are next. The camera won’t ever be creative enough to intentionally take a silhouette since the camera thinks that’s just an under-exposed shot.

Manual Mode for Motion Blur

Motion blur is often undesirable… but there are ways to intentionally create motion blur and use it to great effect. That’s only something you can do if you understand and intentionally choose a low shutter speed. This is fun for capturing motion or effects like waterfalls.

Manual Mode for Starburst Effect

Starburst are also fun to play with. At a high aperture, like f/16, you can create a cool starburst effect with the sun.

Basically, it’s important to understand the exposure triangle so you can use it creatively and intentionally in all the ways we’re talking about.

Understand Manual Mode for Off-Camera Flash

indoor wedding ceremony on snowy day in breckenridge colorado

Using off-camera flash also is easier if you can shoot manually, another creative photography technique

Shooting and Manual Mode to Prevent Slot Shutter Speed from Silent Shutter

With a silent shutter on the new cameras, you can drop your shutter too slowly without realizing it and end up with blurry pictures. Knowing all your camera settings helps prevent this.

Low Light Performance Decision Making

And lastly, with low light performance… you get to choose your personal tolerance between iso grain or shutter speed motion blur. You might feel confident shooting your camera at 1/20th of a second in order to keep your ISO low OR you might prefer to push your ISO higher to capture a fast-moving subject. This might vary from situation to situation, full control of manual mode for the win.

Summary of Shooting in manual mode

Now that you know how to shoot in manual mode, the next step is to get out there and practice! Try shooting in different conditions and play around with your aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. If possible, set each one to a different dial on your camera and memorize how to change it. You’ll start to get a feel for how it all comes together and how to create your perfect exposure every time.

About the Authors

We’re the Bergreens, a photography team based in Evergreen Colorado. On the blog, we share our favorite gear tips and photography advice.

Download our free guide on how to build a creative business and a life you love or our free money and gear guide for photographers. Don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help! If we link to a product we love, Amazon links are affiliate links.

In the meantime, remember to…

How to Shoot in Manual Mode: Unlock Your Camera’s Full Potential

Why Use Manual Mode