Point-and-Shoot 101

This Idea stemmed from the realization that most people don't have time to read their entire camera manual, especially when the device works just fine with Power, Autoflash, and the Automatic setting. But making the most of your technology is the only way to make the most of your memories.... So let's dive into a few tips for you Photography Newbies.


When I worked in the service industry and people would ask me to take their picture I'd chuckle and give them (and their camera) the once-over before saying Yes. Not because I thought to say No, but because a select few were open for a lesson, and some weren't. Without being sexist, I'll stop there; but suffice it to say most people don't read their instruction manual and yet it's such a powerful tool.

You're probably one of those people whose camera takes amazing pictures MOST of the time. But occasionally it just doesn't and you don't know why. You set the dial to that green "Automatic" box and let your sexy-small Point-and-Shoot do its thing. You never look at what those other symbols on that dial mean, and there are a couple more settings you should use.

For most of you, there's a selection called SCN, or Scene, that has multiple options for beach and snow, indoor, fireworks, and sometimes up to a dozen more. There's letters on that dial which, unless you're a little more serious about learning the basics of photography, you CAN ignore (M for Manual, TV and AV for aperture and shutter speed functions, C for Custom, or P for Program.

And you might already use some of the image settings on that dial; there's usually a face, a runner, a black square with a star (night), and a mountain for starters, sometimes a flower as well. You might already use these, and you should. For obvious reasons, the manufacturers have set these settings to be the best they can be for landscape, portraits and sports photography for various reasons. Use them. The sports option might even give you "speed shutter," or multiple shots while holding the shutter button, which give you the best chance at shooting an object/human in motion.

But back to SCN, which I still think is the Point-and-Shoot camera's best feature. And the "Indoor" selection, especially.

When my customers would ask for a picture, that topic was always my first question: "Is it on Indoor?" If they said "What's that?", they got the simple, brief lesson that involved me showing them where that option was. As easy as that, your Indoor setting will not only set the lighting to register the indoor florescent lighting in the best brightness and color balance, but it usually also prevents camera shake that happens when the shutter speed is low, as well as allowing you to avoid the flash if possible, which often creates a bright center and dark background in these small cameras because the flashes are small, fixed into the camera itself, and the least beneficial part of the Point-and-Shoot camera.

Similarly, the Snow and Beach setting will make the humans in the picture stand out more by bringing the lighting into more of a balance without washing out (lightening too much) the snow or sand and without making the faces and clothing of your subjects too dark.

If those are the ONLY two settings you use, you're that much closer to making the most of your camera.

Bottom line is whether you spend $100 or $1000 on a new camera, you should know it's strengths and use them. Even the free Samsung Omnia cell phone we just got has a 5 megapixel camera on it that has SCN ( though a rarity as of yet in camera phones), portrait, and sport settings to name just a few.


Now I leave the floor open to you- I welcome any questions you have regarding your Point-and-Shoot if you don't have, understand, or read your manual!