I’ve been practicing photography as a hobby for years and have learned a lot along the way... but I forget things easily. This is a living brain dump I’ll update regularly, mostly for myself, as a refresher when I need to revisit the basics or shake the rust off.

Exposure Triangle
Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO all work together to control how bright or dark a photo is. Change one and you usually have to adjust the others.

Aperture
Aperture is how wide the lens opens to let light in. A wider aperture lets in more light and gives you that blurry background (bokeh). Wider = Smaller number. For example, F1.4 is very wide, F14 is not.

ISO
ISO is how sensitive the camera sensor is to light (aka fake light). Higher ISO brightens the image but adds grain/noise.

Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is how long the camera lets light hit the sensor. Faster speeds freeze motion, slower speeds let in more light but can cause blur.

Composition & Spacing
Composition is how everything is arranged in the photo. Spacing, negative space, and subject separation help keep images from feeling messy or cramped.

ISO (aka fake light)
ISO makes the image brighter without actually adding light. The higher it goes, the more grainy/noisy the photo gets.

DSLR vs Mirrorless
DSLRs use a mirror, mirrorless cameras don’t. Mirrorless cameras are generally smaller, newer, and what most brands are focusing on now.

Sony & Autofocus
Sony is especially known for really good autofocus. Eye AF is kind of their thing and works insanely well.

Practice > Studying
The best way to learn photography is to actually shoot. You learn way more by doing than just watching videos or reading.

Editing Is a Big Part of Photography
A lot of the final look comes from editing. Straight-out-of-camera photos are rarely the finished product.

Presets Are a Starting Point
Most photographers use presets to speed things up. They’re not magic — you almost always tweak after.

What “Mirrorless” Actually Means
Mirrorless just means there’s no mirror inside the camera. Light goes straight to the sensor and you see everything electronically.

Cropping Matters
Cropping can completely change a photo. It’s one of the easiest ways to improve composition after the fact.

Zoom vs Prime Lenses
Zoom lenses can zoom, prime lenses can’t. Primes are usually sharper and better in low light.

Lens vs Camera Body
The lens often matters more than the camera body. A good lens can make even an older camera look amazing.

Why Some Lenses Are So Expensive
Some lenses cost a lot because the glass is better, the aperture is wider, and the build quality is higher. They’re basically long-term investments.

Lightroom vs Lightroom Classic
Lightroom is cloud-based and simplified. Lightroom Classic is more powerful and what most pros still use.

Last Updated: 12/26/2025