Set up and use custom modes to access preconfigured settings
Most advanced modern cameras have custom modes that allow you to preconfigure settings tailored to different shooting scenarios, subjects, locations or lighting setups. That way, you can quickly access your favourite settings combinations with just one twist of the mode dial. Custom modes are often overlooked, even by pros, but they’re easy to configure, will speed up your workflow, and will help you to maintain consistency across shoots.
Wedding photographers might configure one custom mode for indoor ceremonies with controlled lighting and another for outdoor portraits with changing conditions, saving time during a fastpaced event. If you work in the same studio with controlled lighting setups, storing your preferred settings will give you the same results across sessions. Even landscape pros, who often encounter varying weather, can benefit from using custom modes. They might set aperture priority and a narrow aperture for maximum depth of field, and use specific ISO settings and white balance adjustments for the environment.
WHAT ABOUT VIDEO?
Where to set the mode dial for video
Many pro hybrid cameras have a dedicated video mode, such as Panasonic’s ‘Manual Video mode’, where you can manually set the shutter speed, aperture value and ISO for recording. A general rule is to use a specific shutter speed around double the frame rate you’re film
