The Only 3 Camera Settings You Need to Master as a Beginner

By Mike Lias The Raw Artist

When you first pick up a camera, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, metering, histograms… it’s a lot.

But here’s the truth: you only need to master 3 basic settings to take control of your photos and stop relying on Auto mode.

Let’s break them down, The Raw Artist way, simple, real, and beginner-friendly.

1. Aperture (a.k.a. f-stop)

What it does:

• Controls how much of your photo is in focus

• Affects how much light enters the lens

The look it gives:

• Low f-number (like f/1.8): Blurry background, sharp subject (great for portraits)

• High f-number (like f/11): More in focus from front to back (great for landscapes)

Quick tip:

If you want that creamy background blur, lower your f-stop. Just remember: lower number = more blur.

Raw Artist Real Talk: Aperture is what gives your photos that cinematic feel. Master it and your shots instantly level up.

2. Shutter Speed

What it does:

• Controls how long your camera's sensor is exposed to light

• Affects motion blur

The look it gives:

• Fast shutter (1/500+): Freezes action, perfect for sports, movement, street

• Slow shutter (1/30 or slower): Adds motion blur, great for long exposures, night shots, light trails

Quick tip:

If your photos are blurry and you didn’t want them to be, your shutter speed is probably too slow. Try 1/125 or faster when hand-holding.

Rule of thumb: Shutter speed should be at least as fast as your lens' focal length. (Example: shooting at 50mm? Stay at 1/50 or faster.)

3. ISO

What it does:

• Controls your camera’s sensitivity to light

• Affects how much noise/grain is in your photo

The look it gives:

• Low ISO (100–400): Clean, sharp image, use in daylight

• High ISO (1600+): Brighter image in low light, but can get grainy

Quick tip:

Use the lowest ISO you can get away with. If it’s too dark, raise ISO only after adjusting aperture and shutter.

The Raw Artist Rule: ISO is your last resort. Don’t start with it, end with it.

Bonus: The Exposure Triangle

These 3 settings, aperture, shutter speed, ISO make up what’s called the exposure triangle. Changing one affects the others. It’s all about balance:

• Want more blur? Lower aperture → may need faster shutter or lower ISO

• Want a darker look? Raise shutter speed or lower ISO → may need wider aperture

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to memorize every menu on your camera to take great photos.

Just focus on these 3 settings. Play with them. Make mistakes. Review your shots. And most importantly—shoot as often as you can.

The rest will come.

Want visual breakdowns of aperture, shutter, and ISO?
Check out my Instagram or YouTube for quick tutorials, behind the scenes setups, and editing tips designed for beginners who want to grow fast.