Camera Settings Cheat Sheets
Different types of photography require different settings for your camera. These cheat sheets will give you an idea of where to start with your camera settings when you head out. They are also downloadable so you can print them off and carry with you.
Portrait Photography
Camera Mode - Set Aperture Priority mode
Aperture - Lower f-stop for blurred background, higher for more in-focus
Shutter Speed - Shoot with a fast shutter speed - 1/100 or faster
ISO - Shoot with a low ISO - 100-1600 to reduce noise
White Balance - Match white balance to lighting
Shooting Angle - Keep at eye-level
Use a simple, clean backdrop
85-135mm focal length
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Aperture - Lower f-stop for blurred background, higher for more in-focus
Shutter Speed - Shoot with a fast shutter speed - 1/100 or faster
ISO - Shoot with a low ISO - 100-1600 to reduce noise
White Balance - Match white balance to lighting
Shooting Angle - Keep at eye-level
Use a simple, clean backdrop
85-135mm focal length
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| portrait_cheat_sheet.jpg |
Landscape Photography
Camera Mode - Set Manual camera mode
Shutter Speed - f-stop starting around f/11
This will vary depending on what
you are looking for with your image.
ISO - Low ISO of 100 is best
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shooting Angle - Try different angles for new perspectives
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Shutter Speed - f-stop starting around f/11
This will vary depending on what
you are looking for with your image.
ISO - Low ISO of 100 is best
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shooting Angle - Try different angles for new perspectives
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| landscape_cheat_sheet.jpg |
Macro Photography
Camera Mode - Set either Aperture Priority or Manual Mode
Aperture - For small subjects (one inch or smaller), use a higher aperture setting between f/8 and f/11.
For subjects larger than one inch, use a lower f-stop between f/2.8 and f/10
Shutter speed - With a tripod, aim for around 1/200. Without a tripod, stay above 1/320
ISO - Adjust your ISO to whatever setting keeps your aperture and shutter speed within optimal level
Lighting - Since lighting can be an issue when you’re shooting such small objects, it’s helpful to use a flash with a diffuser to soften the light
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Aperture - For small subjects (one inch or smaller), use a higher aperture setting between f/8 and f/11.
For subjects larger than one inch, use a lower f-stop between f/2.8 and f/10
Shutter speed - With a tripod, aim for around 1/200. Without a tripod, stay above 1/320
ISO - Adjust your ISO to whatever setting keeps your aperture and shutter speed within optimal level
Lighting - Since lighting can be an issue when you’re shooting such small objects, it’s helpful to use a flash with a diffuser to soften the light
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| macro_cheat_sheet.jpg |
Astrophotography
Camera Mode - Set to Manual Mode
Aperture - Choose the lowest aperture you can
Shutter Speed - Set exposure length between 15 and 30 seconds
ISO - Select a high ISO between 400 and 1600 (or more)
White Balance - Set to “auto” or “daylight”
Focus - Use manual focus
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Aperture - Choose the lowest aperture you can
Shutter Speed - Set exposure length between 15 and 30 seconds
ISO - Select a high ISO between 400 and 1600 (or more)
White Balance - Set to “auto” or “daylight”
Focus - Use manual focus
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| astrophotography_cheat_sheet_.jpg |
Pet Photography
Camera Mode - Set to Manual mode
Aperture - Shoot with a low f-stop. You will have a shallow depth of field to blur the background while keeping your pet sharp and in focus.
Shutter Speed - Use a fast shutter speed at least two times faster than your lens’s focal length to keep images sharp regardless of movement. For example, if you’re using a 50mm lens, set your shutter speed to at least 1/100ths of a second.
ISO - Try to keep your ISO as close to 100 as possible. If you’re shooting in low light, you might need to increase ISO to maintain a fast shutter speed.
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Aperture - Shoot with a low f-stop. You will have a shallow depth of field to blur the background while keeping your pet sharp and in focus.
Shutter Speed - Use a fast shutter speed at least two times faster than your lens’s focal length to keep images sharp regardless of movement. For example, if you’re using a 50mm lens, set your shutter speed to at least 1/100ths of a second.
ISO - Try to keep your ISO as close to 100 as possible. If you’re shooting in low light, you might need to increase ISO to maintain a fast shutter speed.
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| pet_cheat_sheet.jpg |
Nature Photography
Camera Mode - Set to Manual
Aperture - around f/11 to begin
Shutter Speed - will vary depending on your subject
ISO - Set to 100
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
Aperture - around f/11 to begin
Shutter Speed - will vary depending on your subject
ISO - Set to 100
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| nature_cheat_sheet.jpg |
Flower Photography
Camera Mode - Aperture Priority
ISO - Set ISO between 100 and 200 to maintain a sharp picture.
Shutter speed - Set to 1/125 or higher.
If you’re using a tripod with a still subject, shutter speed isn’t as an important consideration
Aperture - For small subjects, a wide aperture between f/1.8 and f/7 will give you a shallow depth of field with lots of background blur.
Narrow apertures of around f/11 or higher are best for large subjects like bouquets and big flowers, when you want the entire subject in focus
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
ISO - Set ISO between 100 and 200 to maintain a sharp picture.
Shutter speed - Set to 1/125 or higher.
If you’re using a tripod with a still subject, shutter speed isn’t as an important consideration
Aperture - For small subjects, a wide aperture between f/1.8 and f/7 will give you a shallow depth of field with lots of background blur.
Narrow apertures of around f/11 or higher are best for large subjects like bouquets and big flowers, when you want the entire subject in focus
White Balance - set to “daylight,” “shade,” or “cloudy”
Shoot RAW
Take test shots
| flower_cheat_sheet.jpg |