You've decided you want to do some basic photography, but you've been intimidated by the myriad of settings your camera presents you, and as a result, your photos aren't quite coming out how you'd like them too.
Welcome, student. You're in the right place.
Today, we're going to be looking at another set of exposure-controlling settings, the shutter speed of your camera. Much like the aperture of your lens, though this setting directly affects the exposure of your final image, it may also affect many other settings, which means you've got some tinkering to do to make sure you fully understand what the shutter speed does and how it'll interact with your images.
Sometimes, Slow And Steady Wins The Race, But Sometimes, So Does Speed
We understand that exposing the camera sensor to more light means the final image will be considered to be more 'exposed', so it follows that slowing down the shutter speed, otherwise known as how long the shutter is open for when the camera is taking a picture, will result in the sensor being exposed to more light, creating a brighter image.
A Story In Motion
However, because light is simply a reflection of the world around us, that means motion now comes into play. A camera with a fast shutter speed, typically one thousandth of a second, tends not to take images that are motion blurred. This sort of shutter speed is excellent for capturing any subject that might be in constant motion, such as an animal, and will suit handheld photography.
You Might Want To Consider Propping It Up With A Tripod
By comparison, a slower shutter speed, which can go as high as two seconds long, means the sensor will be picking up a lot of motion, and if you're not using a tripod, that can include the motion of your hand swaying as you try to keep it still. When it comes to your shutter speed, it's about trying to strike a balance between making sure the shutter stays open long enough to capture the right amount of light for you image without introducing any unnecessary exposure.
Don't Discount Getting Some Professional Help From The Experts
These settings are complex, and their intricate interactions with each other can quickly cause your photos to come out dark, grainy, or otherwise marred. If you're looking to make sure your child has some fantastic photographs of their time in preschool, you'll want to contact the best childcare photographer in the city, Fotek, to make sure it happens. Our team are incredibly experienced in all matters related to photography for daycares, and we're the best choice available for anyone looking to make a long-term piece of memorabilia their kids will one day be able to share with their own children one day. To speak with our team about how we can help you with all kindergarten photography in Sydney, contact us here.