If you're not ready to learn all of the intricacies of photography, but want to use your new dSLR camera to make beautiful photos, this guide is for you. We'll go over basic modes, what some of those little buttons on your camera do and a few tricks for making your first photos more successful.
Get your grip right
The key to successful photos is a good grip to prevent shaky images. Wrap one hand around the grip on the body of the camera. The grip will be the textured, protruding area jutting out of the front of the dSLR.
Get your grip right, part 2
Place your other hand around the bottom of the lens. Use your index finger and thumb to hold the lens steady while propping your other fingers against the body.
Auto focus and stabilizer
When you're just starting out, you want your auto focus and stabilizer switched on. This will make your photos clearer. The auto focus and stabilizer are usually found on the lens of the camera by the body.
Get a memory card
If your camera didn't come with a memory card, you'll need to purchase one since most dSLR cameras don't have built-in storage for your photos. I recommend a card with at least 32GB of memory. You can store hundreds of photos on a card of this size, no problem. I personally use the SanDisk Extreme 32GB .
Also, be sure to look for a card with a fast read speed of 45 MB/s or more so that your computer can quickly upload your photos.
Get know the modes
These cameras come with various modes to make shooting photos easier. These modes set the flash, aperture, shutter speed and more for you, basically taking out a lot of the guesswork until you feel confident enough to learn what those words mean. On some cameras, like in the Canon line, there is a mode dial by the on/off switch. On others, like some Nikon cameras, you'll need to press a mode button to access options. Be sure to check your manual.
Here are some of the most common modes.
Macro mode
Macro means small, so not surprisingly, people often use the macro mode to take photos of small things. This mode simply allows you to take clear images of things close-up, big or small. For example, bugs, jewelry details, the veins in leafs and close-ups of flowers are all good subject matter for macro. This mode is often marked with an icon of a flower.
Night mode
When it's dark outside, the camera needs more light to create a photo. Setting your camera to night mode -- usually marked by an icon of a moon -- enables the camera to take in as much light as possible while snapping the photo.
Sports mode
Sports mode -- illustrated by a running man icon on your camera -- basically freezes action shots so there's no blur.
The mode also gives you the option of taking rapidfire shots. Just hold your finger down on the shutter button and your camera will keep on taking photos. Taking so many photos in rapid succession can ensure you get the perfect action shot.
Sports mode for fireworks
Sports mode is great for taking photos of kids running around, babbling streams, sports and car races. I've also found it handy when taking photos of fireworks. Since fireworks give off large bursts of light, I don't need night mode, but I do need a setting that can quickly capture the explosion.