Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC

First, many of these questions have been asked before so do a search on the site and secondly you must understand the whole concept and how to use them for every photographic situation is different. People are not trying to be rude and we value you as a beginner, however your question cannot be answered without a lengthy discussion about photography which is what courses in photography are designed for.

LRG

I agree. 10,000 hours is a pretty well recognized "apprenticeship" for many things. Think Doctor, millwright, musician, professional engineer, and on and on. There is no real shortcut for beginners. For photography, I had the good fortune to get my early hours on a film SLR, so each photo took a lot more thinking about aperture for depth of field, exposure, lighting, flash vs real slow or open shutter for extended lengths, focal length to use, and on and on. Get started and learn how each setting can be important in different situations. And stop looking for easy answers.

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Ma'am, the first thing I was taught when I started school was to read the lesson, then ask questions. Not to ask questions without reading the lesson first. If the OP had asked a specific question the responses would not have been quite so as you put it "rude".

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

A fine, well constructed and very gentlemanly response, Sir. Nicely done!

Plus, the OP has a two year history of similar behavior while clearly knowing more than is implied in the question as presented.

Jim Bob

Depends on the shooting mode. If you choose P, for example, you don't select settings.

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

PhotoCoe

I think it's important to answer the question honestly like so many of the above have done I'll just add my two cents. YouTube a variety of people on the same subject somebody will explain it to you where you'll comprehend it. You need to learn ISO shutter speed aperture. You also need to learn how to pose people if you're going to do portraits you also need to learn how to understand your backgrounds you also need to learn composition. There's so much if you YouTube photography for beginners you're going to get a plethora of valuable information. Keep going keep learning keep practicing that's all I got have a great day

PhotoCoe

I think it's important to answer the question honestly like so many of the above have done I'll just add my two cents. YouTube a variety of people on the same subject somebody will explain it to you where you'll comprehend it. You need to learn ISO shutter speed aperture. You also need to learn how to pose people if you're going to do portraits you also need to learn how to understand your backgrounds you also need to learn composition. There's so much if you YouTube photography for beginners you're going to get a plethora of valuable information. Keep going keep learning keep practicing that's all I got have a great day

Tondorf

thanks Ginny - you echo my sentiments exactly. I'm new to this site but have been "practicing" for many years and still find my self wondering about beginning questions that probably sound stupid to a professional photographer. i think it's important that everyone feels comfortable asking any kind of question. If it's too basic for you, then move onto a different question. Really like this site - let's not turn off new people. thanks

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Besides "reading the manual," the best suggestion that I could give would be to play with the camera. Go through "settings," for instance, and discover what they're for (sorry, but prepositions work so easily at the end of sentences!!).

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Don't shoot Raw unless you have thousands of dollars to spend on computers and light room , photo shop, etc.😀😂😆

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

#1. Take the lens cap off.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Focus.

snfapm1983

Kind of a curious question to begin with, and then add to that the OP has upgraded cameras within the last year. There's been some of the OPs photos posted as well.

I can understand beginners asking questions, as it's always easier to ask people with experience rather than learn the "hard way". I'd never put a number on what are important steps when shooting, because it's a moving target. As others have said, do your homework, read, watch videos, take classes, and above all...get out there and shoot. Learn by your own experience, successes, and mistakes.

Jcmarino

Lol, sorry Im laughing but this is the most asked question by beginners including me 40 yrs ago. It is not a bad question to ask because the settings are what make the photo the way you want it and so it is something you have to learn. Now settings have no magic #. There are rules of course like the "sunny 16" rule but Im one of those rouge photographers that never pay attention to rules. So what do you do? Read your manual and get to know where everything is on the camera. Find a buddy to mentor you. Walk beside them to learn the settings used for each situation you are in. Buy Brian Peterson's book on Learning Exposure. ISO, Aperture and Shutter speed are your 3 keys to proper exposure. If you do not have a mentor, shoot in Program, the camera will pick the exposure, look at the settings, write them down, then play with those settings, what happens when you change the ISO, take some shots, set the ISO back to the original setting and change the Aperture, again what happens? Do the same with the shutter speed. Which photo did you like best? What were those settings? How did they differ from the original? Write those settings down. Watch your light meter in the camera. If you move the Aperture to get that nice blurry background you want but the shot is way to bright, then change your shutter speed to bring the light meter back to 0. Next time you are in that same situation, start with those new settings and tweek from there. It takes practice, and lots of it. Shoot anything just to get used to the camera. Join a local photo club and most of all have fun.