Photo How To

If you’re having trouble nailing exposure and ask a few friends for help, you’re likely to be told, “it’s time you mastered Manual mode.” While that’s certainly an option, there’s another (and often easier) way to consistently achieve perfectly exposed photos.

Justin Laurens is a portrait pro and retouching expert who specializes in quick and simple tutorials for solving common problems. A “correct” exposure” is a subjective matter, and today’s episode explains how using a camera’s EV-Compensation dial while shooting in Aperture Priority will quickly deliver the tonal values you desire.

This technique works with both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, along with many high-end compacts offering exposure-compensation capability. Laurens admits that experimenting with Manual mode is a great way to get your hands dirty and learn the fundamentals of how your camera works.

On the other hand, when it comes to making photos, Laurens put it bluntly: “I’m telling you to NOT use Manual mode, because there’s a better and easier way.” His recommended approach is to shoot in Aperture Priority mode, selecting an f/stop based upon the depth of field you want, and let the camera do most of the rest.

A couple other things to consider: First, he recommends using a large flexible focusing zone and positioning it directly over your subject. This provides a much more targeted area from which your camera determines the appropriate shutter speed for the aperture you select—with a greatly reduced margin of error.

Now the real meat of this lesson begins, as Laruen’s describes how exposure compensation works, and how to use it in tandem with the settings recommended above. As you’ll see, it’s a virtually foolproof method if precise exposure is your goal.

After watching this video head over to Laurens’ YouTube channel, where you’ll find a wealth of shooting and editing tips.

And check out the tutorial we posted from another pro recently, explaining how to use back-button focus for consistently sharp images.