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The biggest mistake in my free four-hour photography course had nothing to do with camera settings or composition. It was something more important I left out. And if you know the fundamentals but still wonder what to do when the camera’s actually in your hands, I think this is why.
Understand when and why to use the tools you already know.
Learn the basics without getting overwhelmed by settings and rules.
Make better decisions about light, composition, settings, and timing.
Build the confidence to trust your choices and create with intention.
Practice what you learn through: projects, live workshops, honest feedback, and a supportive community.
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For most of my photography career, I learned and taught photography the same way it’s been done for generations. So, mechanics first, right? So, learn aperture, shutter speed, ISO. Learn the Exposure Triangle. Learn the composition rules. And all of those things matter. But the problem is what happens next. Because after learning all of that information… …you're expected to somehow know which setting, technique, or rule to use when you're actually standing in front of something you want to photograph. Am I right? And knowing what aperture does... …isn't the same thing as knowing which aperture this photo needs right now. Also, knowing the Rule of Thirds... …isn't the same thing as knowing whether it makes sense for the scene in front of you at that time. So, that's the gap I finally started seeing in the way I had been teaching photography. Because you can understand the controls on your camera and still come home wondering why your images don't look anything like you imagined they would. And if that’s ever happened to you… let me know in the comments. Now, it took me 37 years to recognize what I was leaving out.
I wish I could tell you there was one moment when all of this suddenly clicked. But there wasn’t. It happened gradually while I was updating a couple of my photography courses. For example, I could teach the Rule of Thirds, leading lines... Or explain exactly what aperture is and does... But photographers in my photography community were still asking things like… “I know the composition rules… but how do I know which one I should use in a specific situation?” Or “which aperture or shutter speed should I use for x, y, z?” And that’s when I realized knowing how a tool works isn’t the same as knowing when to use it. So, I started paying attention to what I actually do when I’m creating an image. I don’t start with: “What aperture should I use?” And I don’t start with: “Which composition technique should I use?” I start with the image I want to create. So, what caught my attention? Who or what is the star of my image? What belongs in the frame... and more importantly what doesn’t? Then I choose the tools that help me create it. And if you’ve ever learned all the settings and composition rules but still stood there wondering what to do... That’s the gap I finally realized I had been leaving out of the way I was teaching photography.
So, I was teaching you what the tools did... But not how to decide which one to use in the moment. And that’s the part I want you to start thinking about differently. So, instead of beginning with: “What setting should I use?” Start with: “What do I want this image to become?” Then choose the setting, technique, or tool that supports that decision. For example, understanding shutter speed tells you what shutter speed can do. But before choosing one, you still have to decide what you want the motion to look like. Do you want to freeze the action? Or do you want to show some movement? That decision gives the shutter speed a purpose. And your choice can help you fulfill your creative vision. Now, the same idea applies throughout photography. You still need to understand your camera, your aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition, and more importantly the limitations of your gear. But those things are tools. They’re not the starting point. Your vision for your final image is the starting point. So, modern cameras can calculate exposure and even automatically adjust ISO. They can track your subjects and recognize eyes. But they can’t decide what you want your photo to become. That part still belongs to you. Your camera calculates. You decide.
Now, again, I understand that it sounds simple enough... ...make the decision first, then choose the tool. But that gets harder when you’re staring at the aperture dial trying to decide which number to use. So, there’s one question I ask before choosing an aperture that makes that decision a whole lot easier. Watch this video next, and I’ll show you exactly what it is.
