easyexposure said

MHP Mike said

Muneer said
welcome Michael, she is very cute, I like the 1st picture. switch to manual mode and try to capture some fantastic pictures. Oksana's video will help you. waiting some more pictures from you. all the best.

I'm sorry but I completely disagree on manual mode.

If you are new to photography keep it in auto and focus on composition, putting a new shooter in manual mode will be overwhelming and pull their focus away from enjoying to shoot and good composition.

Manual mode is easy to learn once you've been shooting for awhile and run into issues you want to correct that are correctable in manual mode. Composition is a much more important skill to develop than learning manual mode, learning manual IS important but good composition is by far the most important aspect of a photograph.

I think it all depends. I started learning to compose with point and shoot, when I got my first DSLR (Nikon D80), I was getting irritated, because my photos looked sometimes worser then then ones I took with point and shoot, especially while shooting in darker condition. But the moment I discover manual mode and learned how aperture, shutter speed and ISO influents the picture, everything become so clear and it was much easier to active everything I had in mind. 

I would say, if you never used the camera even point and shoot, start with auto. But if you did use any kind of camera before , try to play with setting in Manual Mode. Aperture priority is also a good options for beginner (I use it too). This way you at least can control something. But while doing this, I would still pay attention to your shutter speed (so it is not becoming too slow and created the blur). 

You don't need DSLR to learn composition. You can learn it even with your iPhone. And saw some wonderful photos takes by it. 

It is just my opinion. But different people learn differently. I am very technical and always want to get full advantage from any devise, lol 

If I want to achieve something and it doesn't work, It drives me crazy. I will not go to sleep till I figure it out. 

I agree, he said new to photography so I take that as brand new to photography. Iphones are perfect to learn on since it's all about composition. 

MHP Mike said

Muneer said
welcome Michael, she is very cute, I like the 1st picture. switch to manual mode and try to capture some fantastic pictures. Oksana's video will help you. waiting some more pictures from you. all the best.

I'm sorry but I completely disagree on manual mode.

If you are new to photography keep it in auto and focus on composition, putting a new shooter in manual mode will be overwhelming and pull their focus away from enjoying to shoot and good composition.

Manual mode is easy to learn once you've been shooting for awhile and run into issues you want to correct that are correctable in manual mode. Composition is a much more important skill to develop than learning manual mode, learning manual IS important but good composition is by far the most important aspect of a photograph.

I think it all depends. I started learning to compose with point and shoot, when I got my first DSLR (Nikon D80), I was getting irritated, because my photos looked sometimes worser then then ones I took with point and shoot, especially while shooting in darker condition. But the moment I discover manual mode and learned how aperture, shutter speed and ISO influents the picture, everything become so clear and it was much easier to active everything I had in mind. 

I would say, if you never used the camera even point and shoot, start with auto. But if you did use any kind of camera before , try to play with setting in Manual Mode. Aperture priority is also a good options for beginner (I use it too). This way you at least can control something. But while doing this, I would still pay attention to your shutter speed (so it is not becoming too slow and created the blur). 

You don't need DSLR to learn composition. You can learn it even with your iPhone. And saw some wonderful photos takes by it. 

It is just my opinion. But different people learn differently. I am very technical and always want to get full advantage from any devise, lol 

If I want to achieve something and it doesn't work, It drives me crazy. I will not go to sleep till I figure it out. 

Muneer said
welcome Michael, she is very cute, I like the 1st picture. switch to manual mode and try to capture some fantastic pictures. Oksana's video will help you. waiting some more pictures from you. all the best.

I'm sorry but I completely disagree on manual mode.

If you are new to photography keep it in auto and focus on composition, putting a new shooter in manual mode will be overwhelming and pull their focus away from enjoying to shoot and good composition.

Manual mode is easy to learn once you've been shooting for awhile and run into issues you want to correct that are correctable in manual mode. Composition is a much more important skill to develop than learning manual mode, learning manual IS important but good composition is by far the most important aspect of a photograph.

She's a real cutie!

Welcome to this humble forum from all of us.

I have to agree that #2 caught my attention too.

I would take Oksana's advice and lighten the face up a little

in Lightroom or Photoshop. It's easy to do and can make a 

very pleasing difference when done correctly. Always shoot in

raw so you don't lose the original when experimenting with light

and dark, colour etc in post processing.

Dale.

I love the second photo.. You caught your niece at the perfect moment.
She is looking at you with a lot of love.  

Aperture priority is the best for a learning photographer.
I'm glad you didn't get stuck in Auto.

Good luck and post often.
Mandrake.

She is adorable and the shots are very sharp..

I like the first and the second shot...

Hope to see more shots..

First Picture F 5.6 1/50 second ISO 100 55mm

Second Picture F 5.6 1/200 second ISO 100 34mm

Third Picture F 5.6 1/400 second ISO 100 55mm