Photographer moms

ShuTree

what mode do you usually shoot in? Manual? Or Aperature priority? Or ?

i've been practicing with shooting in manual and its going well but i can't seem to get my moving boys in focus.  what's the secret? I know faster shutter speed and good light...but really what's the best way to do this if your in manual and lighting changes every second?  Do photographers shoot in A mode?  or do you just get really good at being quick and adjusting?

jellybean529

I switch between auto and aperture priority. The key is to get a lens that's fast, i.e. an aperture number of 2 or lower, which will let the most light in so you can use the fastest shutter speed.

ShuTree

Yep I have a 50mm. f1.4 lens. Love it.  I just don't know why i have a hard time getting really good focus.

j-w

Try Shutter priority mode.

ETA:  And, if you have the aperature all the way open, only a little bit would be in focus anyway, depending on the light!

becoming_untied

I am in interested in seeing the responses to this.  I shoot in manual and Aperature, but I too have a really hard time capturing what I want when my kids are zooming all over the place around me.  I want to get the candid shots and miss so many opportunities because my settings are wrong.

I also want to know how to focus.  Do you let the camera determine the focus points? Or do you set one and have to recompose - if so, how do you have the time to do it?

Punk*Mommy

I shoot 99% of my stuff in Manual mode.

Can you get your F-stop opened up to a 2.8? That will help with motion blur. Without seeing your shooting conditions or examples of your photos, I can't really help you out.

Before I really dove headfirst into Manual mode, I shot primarily in Aperture priority.

Eventually, if you keep playing in Manual mode, you'll get it down really quick. I've gotten to the point where I am really comfortable shooting in Manual at weddings and prefer it.