Two kinds of cheat sheets on this page. Printable one-pagers you can save and take into the field, and a full inline quick-reference you can scan right here. Bookmark the page and come back when you need to look something up fast.
Printable Cheat Sheets
These open in your browser in a print-friendly layout. Hit Cmd or Ctrl+P to send them to a printer, or save as PDF.
- Exposure Triangle Cheat Sheet. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on one page with the stops scale and the reciprocal rule.
- Camera Settings Cheat Sheet. Starting settings for portraits, landscapes, sports, low light, and more.
- Composition Cheat Sheet. Rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry, and the other composition principles in one reference.
- Lighting Setup Diagrams. Classic one, two, and three-light setups with diagrams for portraits and product work.
Quick Reference
Everything you need to recall fast, organized below. Each section links to the full lesson if you want to go deeper.
The Exposure Triangle
Every photograph is controlled by three settings that work together: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Changing one requires adjusting at least one other to maintain the same exposure. Mastering the exposure triangle is the single most important technical skill in photography. It determines whether your images are correctly lit, sharp where they need to be, and free of unwanted noise.
| Setting | What It Controls | Low Value | High Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture (f-stop) | Depth of field + light | f/1.4. Wide open, shallow focus, more light | f/22. Narrow, deep focus, less light |
| Shutter Speed | Motion + light | 1/4000s. Freezes fast action, less light | 30s. Blurs motion, more light |
| ISO | Sensor sensitivity + noise | ISO 100. Clean image, less sensitive | ISO 6400+. Grainy image, more sensitive |
How They Work Together
- More light in (wider aperture OR slower shutter OR higher ISO) = brighter image
- Less light in (narrower aperture OR faster shutter OR lower ISO) = darker image
- Key rule: If you increase one setting by one stop, decrease another by one stop to keep the same exposure
- Practical example: You are shooting at f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 200 and want a blurrier background. Open to f/2.8 (2 stops more light), so increase shutter to 1/1000s (2 stops less light) to compensate
Full F-Stop Scale (each step halves or doubles light)
f/1.4 → f/2 → f/2.8 → f/4 → f/5.6 → f/8 → f/11 → f/16 → f/22
Common Shutter Speed Scale
30s → 15s → 8s → 4s → 2s → 1s → 1/2 → 1/4 → 1/8 → 1/15 → 1/30 → 1/60 → 1/125 → 1/250 → 1/500 → 1/1000 → 1/2000 → 1/4000
Common ISO Scale
ISO 100 → 200 → 400 → 800 → 1600 → 3200 → 6400 → 12800
Handheld Minimum Shutter Speed Rule
To avoid camera shake when shooting handheld, use a shutter speed of at least 1/(focal length). Shooting with a 200mm lens? Keep your shutter speed at 1/200s or faster. With a 50mm lens, 1/50s or faster. Image stabilization lets you go 2-4 stops slower, but this rule is a reliable starting point.
Go deeper: Full Exposure Guide | Aperture Explained | Shutter Speed Explained | ISO Explained
Camera Modes
Your camera’s mode dial controls how much the camera decides for you. Understanding when to use each mode is the difference between fighting your camera and working with it.
| Mode | You Set | Camera Sets | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual (M) | Aperture, Shutter, ISO | Nothing | Studio work, consistent lighting, full creative control |
| Aperture Priority (Av/A) | Aperture, ISO | Shutter speed | Portraits, landscapes, street. Control depth of field |
| Shutter Priority (Tv/S) | Shutter speed, ISO | Aperture | Sports, wildlife, moving subjects. Control motion blur |
| Program (P) | ISO, Flash, Exposure comp | Aperture + Shutter | Quick snapshots when speed matters more than precision |
| Auto | Nothing | Everything | Handing your camera to someone else |
Which Mode Should You Use?
- Most photographers live in Aperture Priority (Av/A). It gives you depth of field control while the camera handles shutter speed. This is the most versatile mode for everyday shooting
- Switch to Shutter Priority (Tv/S) when you need to freeze or blur motion. Sports, waterfalls, panning shots, or kids running
- Use Manual (M) when lighting is consistent and you want identical exposure across a series of shots (studio, panoramas, bracketed exposures)
- Tip: Auto ISO lets you shoot in Manual while the camera adjusts sensitivity. Many pros use this as a shortcut to get manual control of aperture and shutter without constantly adjusting ISO
Go deeper: Manual Mode Guide | Metering Modes Explained
Composition Rules
Strong composition turns a snapshot into a photograph. Technical settings get the exposure right, but composition is what makes people stop and look. These are the essential principles to internalize until they become instinct.
| Rule | How to Use It | Works Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Rule of Thirds | Place subjects on the grid lines or at their intersections, not dead center | Almost everything. The default starting point |
| Leading Lines | Use roads, fences, rivers, or shadows to guide the viewer’s eye toward the subject | Landscapes, architecture, street |
| Golden Ratio | Place elements along a spiral or 1:1.618 division for natural visual flow | Portraits, still life, nature |
| Symmetry | Center the frame when the scene has mirror-like balance | Architecture, reflections, patterns |
| Negative Space | Leave large empty areas around the subject to emphasize isolation or scale | Minimalism, portraits, wildlife |
| Framing | Use doorways, windows, branches, or arches to surround the subject | Travel, architecture, portraits |
| Foreground Interest | Include something in the near foreground to add depth and dimension | Landscapes, wide-angle shots |
| Fill the Frame | Get closer. Eliminate distracting backgrounds by making the subject fill the entire image | Portraits, macro, details |
Quick Composition Tips
- Break the rules deliberately. Centering a subject can be powerful when symmetry supports it. Tilting the horizon creates tension. Rules are tools, not laws
- Simplify ruthlessly. If something in the frame does not add to the image, remove it. Change your angle, zoom in, wait for a distraction to pass, or move your feet
- Watch the edges. Check all four edges of the frame for distracting elements before pressing the shutter. A sliver of bright sky, a stray elbow, or a trash can at the edge can ruin an otherwise strong image
- Work the scene. Do not take one photo and move on. Shoot wide, then close. Try low angles and high angles. Walk around the subject. Your best composition is rarely your first attempt
Go deeper: Full Composition Guide | Rule of Thirds | Leading Lines | Negative Space | Golden Ratio
Recommended Camera Settings by Situation
These are starting points. Adjust based on your specific lighting and creative intent. The “right” settings depend on what you want the image to look like, but these will get you in the right ballpark fast.
| Situation | Mode | Aperture | Shutter Speed | ISO | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portraits (outdoors) | Av/A | f/1.8 – f/4 | 1/125+ | 100 – 400 | Wide aperture blurs background. Focus on the near eye. |
| Group photos | Av/A | f/5.6 – f/8 | 1/125+ | 200 – 800 | Narrow enough to keep everyone sharp. Have the group stand in one plane if possible. |
| Landscapes | Av/A or M | f/8 – f/13 | Varies | 100 | Use a tripod. F/8-f/11 is the sharpest range for most lenses. Consider hyperfocal focusing. |
| Sports / Action | Tv/S | Auto | 1/500 – 1/2000 | Auto | Continuous AF, burst mode. Faster shutter for faster action. |
| Street | Av/A or M | f/5.6 – f/8 | 1/125+ | Auto | Pre-focus to a zone. Small aperture for deep focus. Stay alert and shoot fast. |
| Night / Stars | M | Widest (f/1.4 – f/2.8) | 15 – 25s | 1600 – 6400 | Tripod required. 500 rule: 500 / focal length = max seconds before star trails. |
| Golden Hour | Av/A | f/8 – f/11 | Varies | 100 – 400 | Warm light changes fast. Keep shooting and adjust frequently. Shoot into the sun for dramatic flare. |
| Macro | Av/A or M | f/8 – f/16 | 1/200+ | 200 – 800 | Depth of field is razor thin at close distances. Use a tripod or flash. |
| Indoor / Low Light | Av/A | Widest | 1/60+ | 800 – 3200 | Brace against a wall if no tripod. Watch for noise at high ISO. |
| Long Exposure | M | f/11 – f/22 | 1s – 30s+ | 100 | Tripod + remote shutter. Use ND filters for daylight long exposures. Try our exposure calculator. |
| Wildlife | Tv/S or Av/A | f/4 – f/5.6 | 1/500+ | Auto | Long lens, fast shutter. Continuous AF with tracking. Patience matters more than gear. |
| Architecture | Av/A or M | f/8 – f/11 | Varies | 100 – 400 | Keep the camera level to avoid converging verticals. Tripod for interiors. |
Go deeper: Exposure Guide | Depth of Field Guide | Photography Calculators
Essential Photography Terms
Quick definitions for the terms you will encounter most often. See our full photography glossary for 150+ definitions with detailed explanations.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Aperture | The opening in the lens that controls how much light reaches the sensor. Measured in f-stops. Smaller number means wider opening. |
| Bokeh | The aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in an image, created by shooting at wide apertures. Good bokeh appears smooth and creamy. |
| Burst Mode | Continuous shooting. The camera takes multiple frames per second while the shutter button is held down. Essential for action photography. |
| Color Temperature | How warm (orange) or cool (blue) light appears, measured in Kelvin (K). Daylight is roughly 5500K, tungsten bulbs are about 3200K. |
| Depth of Field | The range of distance in a scene that appears acceptably sharp. Controlled by aperture, subject distance, and focal length. |
| Dynamic Range | The range between the darkest and brightest tones a camera can capture in a single exposure. |
| Exposure | The total amount of light reaching the sensor, determined by aperture, shutter speed, and ISO together. |
| Exposure Compensation | A +/- dial that tells the camera to make the image brighter or darker than its meter suggests. Use it to override the camera’s judgment. |
| Focal Length | The distance (in mm) from the lens to the sensor when focused at infinity. Determines field of view. Shorter is wider, longer is more telephoto. |
| Histogram | A graph showing the distribution of tones in an image from shadows (left) to highlights (right). Use it to check exposure in the field. |
| ISO | The sensor’s sensitivity to light. Higher ISO = brighter image but more noise (grain). Start low and increase only when needed. |
| Metering | How the camera measures light in a scene to calculate exposure. Common modes: matrix/evaluative (full scene), center-weighted, and spot (single point). |
| Noise | Grain-like artifacts that appear in images, especially at high ISO settings or in underexposed shadow areas pushed in post. |
| RAW | An unprocessed image file containing all sensor data. Provides maximum editing flexibility compared to JPEG, which is compressed and processed in-camera. |
| Shutter Speed | How long the sensor is exposed to light. Fast speeds freeze motion; slow speeds blur it. Measured in seconds or fractions of a second. |
| Stop | A unit of exposure. One stop doubles or halves the light reaching the sensor. Applies equally to aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. |
| White Balance | A camera setting that adjusts colors so white objects look neutral white under different light sources (daylight, shade, tungsten, fluorescent). |
Go deeper: Full Photography Glossary (150+ terms)
Keep Learning
These cheatsheets cover the essentials, but photography rewards deeper understanding. Here is where to go next:
- New to photography? Start with Photography Fundamentals. Our free 14-lesson beginner course
- Ready for more? Continue with Intermediate Photography (14 lessons) or the Applied Photography Masterclass (12 lessons)
- Need a specific tool? Try our Depth of Field, Hyperfocal Distance, Crop Factor, Print Size, or Exposure calculators
- Looking for something specific? Browse all photography topics