How to Choose the Right Shooting Mode (Auto, Aperture, Shutter, or Manual)
One of the first things new photographers notice when they pick up a camera is how many different shooting options are available. On some cameras that’s a traditional mode dial, on others it may be menus, custom modes, or dedicated dials. The exact layout varies widely depending on the manufacturer.
Many cameras include scene modes, user presets, and manufacturer-specific options—and some systems, like Fujifilm, don’t use a traditional mode dial at all in most of their cameras. Rather than focusing on what happens to be printed on a dial (or not), this guide focuses on the four core shooting modes that exist across nearly all camera systems: Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual.
It’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to be shooting in Manual right away—and that if you’re not, you’re somehow doing photography wrong. The truth is much simpler: every shooting mode exists for a reason. Learning when to use each one will make photography more enjoyable and far less frustrating.
This guide breaks down those four core shooting modes and explains when each one actually makes sense to use.
Auto Mode: Letting the Camera Handle Everything
What it does:
Auto mode gives the camera full control over exposure, focus, ISO, and often flash. You point the camera, press the shutter, and it decides everything for you.
For many people, this experience will feel very familiar. Most smartphone photography is effectively full Auto—the phone handles all the technical decisions behind the scenes so you can focus on capturing the moment. Dedicated cameras simply give you the option to take control when you want to.
When Auto is useful:
Family outings and casual moments
Quick snapshots where the moment matters more than settings
Situations where lighting is changing rapidly
When photography is not the main focus of the outing
Limitations to be aware of:
Little to no creative control
The camera may choose flash when you don’t want it
Depth of field and motion blur are out of your control
Important mindset shift:
Using Auto mode does not make you less of a photographer. Just like using a smartphone camera, convenience and ease of use often take priority above all else. Auto mode is simply a tool—one that allows you to focus on the experience rather than the settings when that’s what matters most.
Aperture Priority: Controlling Depth of Field
What it does:
You choose the aperture (f-stop), and the camera automatically adjusts shutter speed (and sometimes ISO) to get a proper exposure. This mode may be labeled differently depending on the camera system, but the function is the same—you decide how much of the scene is in focus, and the camera balances the remaining exposure variables.
Why beginners love it:
Aperture Priority is often the easiest way to start taking creative control without feeling overwhelmed. Once you decide how much of the scene you want in focus, the camera takes care of the rest. For most daytime photography situations, Aperture Priority makes a lot of sense. There’s usually enough light available that you don’t have to worry about extremely slow shutter speeds, and ISO can often be kept low. Once you determine your desired f-stop, the rest largely takes care of itself.
Best situations to use Aperture Priority:
Landscapes (controlling depth of field)
Portraits (blurry backgrounds)
Street photography
Everyday walk-around shooting
What to pay attention to:
Lower f-numbers = more background blur
Higher f-numbers = more of the scene in focus
Watch your shutter speed in lower light to avoid motion blur
Using Auto ISO can be a powerful addition in this mode. Many cameras allow you to set a minimum shutter speed so it never drops below a value you’re comfortable with. If more light is needed, the camera compensates by raising ISO automatically. This adds an extra layer of protection while still keeping things simple.
Why it’s a great learning mode:
You start to see how aperture affects your images while the camera handles the technical balancing act in the background. Aperture Priority was my primary shooting mode when I started out, and it remains—at least in my opinion—the most logical step up from full Auto.
Shutter Priority: Controlling Motion
What it does:
You choose the shutter speed, and the camera adjusts the aperture (and ISO) to maintain proper exposure. Like Aperture Priority, this mode may be labeled differently depending on the manufacturer, but the concept remains the same—your priority is how motion is rendered in the image.
Best situations to use Shutter Priority:
Freezing action (sports, wildlife, kids running)
Intentional motion blur (waterfalls, waves, traffic)
Situations where motion is the primary concern
Examples:
Fast shutter → freeze a bird in flight
Slow shutter → blur moving water for a smooth effect
Things to watch out for:
In low light, the camera may open the aperture all the way
You could run out of available light without realizing it
Shutter Priority is best thought of as a special-use mode rather than a default shooting mode. In my experience, it’s a mode I rarely—if ever—use. If you shoot in Shutter Priority long enough, you’ll inevitably encounter situations where the camera can’t deliver the result you’re after due to aperture or light limitations.
For landscape photography in particular, this mode doesn’t fit naturally into most workflows. Depth of field and exposure consistency tend to matter more than locking in a specific shutter speed. That said, Shutter Priority can be useful in very specific scenarios where motion is the primary creative element.
Manual Mode: Full Creative Control
What it does:
You control aperture, shutter speed, and ISO yourself. The camera’s meter helps guide exposure, but you make the decisions.
When Manual makes sense:
Consistent lighting (studio, landscapes at sunrise or sunset)
Long exposures
Panoramas
Scenes that confuse the camera’s meter (snow, beaches, backlit scenes)
Common beginner misconception:
Manual mode does not automatically produce better photos. It simply gives you consistency and control when the situation calls for it.
I shoot almost exclusively in Manual mode today, but it took time to feel confident enough to get there. Once I gained a firm grasp of histograms and how to read them, shooting in Manual became a no-brainer. Manual mode gives the photographer full control over the creative decision-making process—exactly when that level of control matters most.
Many photographers ease into Manual mode over time rather than jumping in all at once—and that’s completely normal.
When Shooting Modes Can Work Against You
Every shooting mode makes assumptions on your behalf—and sometimes those assumptions don’t line up with what you’re trying to achieve.
Auto mode might decide that flash is necessary when you’d prefer available light. Aperture Priority can result in motion blur if light levels drop without you noticing. Shutter Priority may force extremely wide apertures or high ISO values in challenging light. Manual mode, while offering full control, can lead to poor exposure if you’re not paying attention to feedback like the histogram.
None of these outcomes mean you chose the “wrong” mode or that the camera failed. They’re simply reminders that each shooting mode prioritizes certain decisions for you. The more aware you are of those trade-offs, the more intentional—and confident—you’ll become as a photographer.
So… Which Mode Should You Use?
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
Auto: When the moment matters more than the settings
Aperture Priority: When depth of field matters and you want simplicity
Shutter Priority: When motion is the primary creative concern
Manual: When consistency and full control matter
There’s no “correct” shooting mode—only the mode that best supports what you’re trying to photograph and how much control you need in that moment.
You’ll often hear photography gatekeepers say that shooting in Manual is a must. I don’t agree with that sentiment—but I do love shooting in Manual for two very specific reasons: creative control and the photographic experience itself.
From a creative standpoint, the camera can’t read my mind. It can’t know where I’m willing to make a creative concession or what I’m prioritizing in a scene. Shooting in Manual allows me to decide where those priorities lie. I can live with the end result—good or bad—when I control the narrative. And when I make mistakes in exposure, I learn from them because the responsibility is mine alone.
The second reason is the experience. Most photographers are tech enthusiasts to some degree, and modern cameras are remarkable pieces of technology. I genuinely enjoy dialing in the settings I want to use and seeing those decisions result in a successful image. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from taking a good photo—especially when everything was intentional—is a really cool feeling.
At the end of the day, all that really matters is that you are happy with the final image. Very few photographers look back at photos they’re proud of and celebrate the shooting mode they used to capture them.
A Beginner-Friendly Way to Practice
If you’re just starting out, try this approach:
Use Aperture Priority as your main mode
Switch to Shutter Priority when motion becomes important
Experiment with Manual in calm, predictable light
Use Auto without guilt when photography isn’t the main focus
Over time, choosing the right shooting mode becomes instinctive rather than stressful.
The ultimate goal isn’t that you must shoot in full Manual mode. The goal is understanding how Manual works—even if you never use it regularly. That understanding means you’re making creative decisions with intent, rather than simply pressing the shutter and hoping for the best.
Photography isn’t about proving you can shoot in Manual—it’s about making intentional choices that support your creative vision. Understanding what each shooting mode does, and when to use it, is one of the first big steps toward becoming a more confident photographer. Over time, these decisions start to feel less like technical hurdles and more like second nature. The settings fade into the background, and your focus shifts to the scene, the light, and the story you want to tell. That’s where photography becomes both more enjoyable and more rewarding.
