Photography Explained Podcast

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 📸 About This Episode 
You’ve just got a new camera. The excitement is real — but most cameras come out of the box in a state that will cause you problems at exactly the moment you most want to take photos. In this episode, Rick walks you through seven quick setup steps — about twenty minutes in total — that get your camera properly ready before you take a single shot. Perfect for anyone who’s just unboxed their first camera, or who wants to start things off the right way. 
✅ The 7 Setup Steps 
1.    Charge the battery fully before your first shoot — and order a spare battery today. One battery is never enough. 
2.    Format the memory card inside the camera using the camera’s own menu — not your computer, not by deleting files. It sets the card up in exactly the right way for your specific camera. 
3.    Set the date and time correctly in the camera settings. Every photo is stamped with the date and time it was taken — that stamp is how you find photos later. 
4.    Set image format to RAW and JPEG. Start working with JPEG files straight away, and have those RAW files ready for when you’re ready to edit them. 
5.    Set image quality to the highest setting your camera offers — Fine, Large, or equivalent. Storage is cheap. Quality matters. 
6.    Spend ten minutes with the first chapter of the manual. Just ten minutes. Know where the controls are before you go out. 
7.    Put it in Auto mode and go and take some photos. Build confidence. Build enthusiasm. That takes you further. 
📝 Full Show Notes and Blog Post 
Read the full episode notes and transcript: Episode 230 — Shiny New Camera? Calm Down and Do This First 
🔗 Related Episodes 
Episode 225 — I Just Got My First Camera — What Do I Do in the First Week? 
Episode 228 — How to Know If You’re Ready to Move from Phone to Camera 
Episode 229 — What Can an Entry Level Camera Really Do? 
🗃️ Next Episode 
Episode 231 — Camera. Check. Something to Photograph. Check. Now How Do You Actually Take the Photo? — publishes Friday 24 April 2026. 
🎦 Support the Podcast 
Get the video version of every episode on Patreon: patreon.com/c/rickphoto 
🌐 Find Rick 
Website: r
 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love  all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
 If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you,  check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send us Fan Mail
📸 Think you need an expensive camera to take great photos? You really don't. In episode 229 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I take my entry level Canon R100 to Mexico for two weeks — kit lens only — and come back with portfolio-worthy images. Under £500 of gear. Real conditions. No tricks. 
In this episode I reveal 7 things an entry level camera can genuinely do brilliantly — and the results might surprise you. 
💡 THE 7 THINGS COVERED: 
1️⃣  It produces genuinely excellent photos — right out of the box 
2️⃣  The kit lens is a much better starting point than you think 
3️⃣  Programme mode is a perfectly valid way to shoot 
4️⃣  It handles low light significantly better than your phone 
5️⃣  A tripod unlocks a whole new level of what's possible 
6️⃣  Auto Exposure Bracketing helps you handle tricky light 
7️⃣  It will make you a better photographer 
 🔗 USEFUL LINKS: 
 📝  Blog Post (Full Episode Text) 
🌄  Mexico Portfolio — Shot on the Canon R100 
🎓  Photography for Beginners Hub Page 
 📖 RELATED EPISODES: 
 •  Episode 228 — How to Know If You're Ready to Move from Phone to Camera 
•  Episode 225 — I Just Got My First Camera, What Do I Do in the First Week? 
•  Episode 106 — Programme Mode: What Is It? Is It OK For Me to Use It? 
•  Episode 160 — What Is Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)? 
•  Episode 60 — What Is a Kit Lens? 
🌐 My Website: https://rickmcevoyphotography.com 
📺 YouTube Channel: Rick McEvoy Photography 
🎓  My courses page 
📚  Resources Page 
💬 GET IN TOUCH: 
 📧  Subscribe to my weekly email at rickmcevoyphotography.com 
💬  Text me directly from the podcast feed 
🔔  Subscribe so you
 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love  all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
 If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you,  check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send us Fan Mail
📸 Is your phone holding your photography back — or is it you? In episode 228 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I’m sharing seven honest signs that tell you whether now is the right time to move from your phone to a camera. And if it isn’t quite the right time yet, I’ll tell you exactly what to do instead. 
In this episode you will learn: 
📱 Sign 1. You keep running into the limits of your phone camera — zooming in that turns to mush, photos that blur in dark rooms, moments you miss because your phone just can’t keep up. 
🌸 Sign 2. You want proper control over blurry backgrounds — not the faked portrait mode version, but real optical depth of field that you actually create yourself by controlling your aperture. 
🌙 Sign 3. Low light photos keep disappointing you — why small sensors are fighting against physics, and what a camera with a larger sensor genuinely gives you. 
💡 Sign 4. You’ve already learned the basics of composition on your phone — because a camera won’t make you a better photographer, only practice does. 
🤔 Sign 5. You’re genuinely curious about how cameras work — and why that curiosity is the best predictor of whether you’ll thrive with a camera or leave it in a drawer. 
⏰ Sign 6. You’re ready to invest time, not just money — the thing that catches most people out. 
🌱 Sign 7. You want to grow as a photographer, not just capture moments — the most important question of all. 
Whether you’re a phone photographer wondering if the time is right, or you’re already sold on a camera and want to know what to do next, this episode will give you a clear, honest answer. 
📝 Find the full episode blog post here: How to Know If You’re Ready to Move from Phone to Camera 
🎙️ Related episodes: 
Episode 7 — What Camera Should I Buy? — the best place to start once you’ve decided you’re ready. 
Episode 212 — Creative Use of Depth of Field: Blurry Backgrounds, Sharp Subjects — if blurry backgrounds are what’s pulling you towards a camera, this is the episode for you. 
Episode 225 — I Just Got My First Camera — What Do I Do in the First Week? — the perfect follow-on episode once you’ve made the move. 
➡️ Next episode: 10 Things to Know Before Buying Your First Camera. Out Friday 27th March 2026. 
🎞️ Want to watch the full podcast video? It’s exclusively available to my Pat
 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love  all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
 If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you,  check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send us Fan Mail
Your photos are sharp and well-exposed — but they look weirdly orange or horribly blue. Here's how white balance works and how to fix it. 📸
This is one of those photography settings that nobody really explains to beginners. But once you understand it — and it really doesn't take long — you'll stop wondering why your photos look a bit off and start knowing exactly what to do about it. 💡

📚 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
✅ What white balance actually is (and why it matters)
✅ Why your indoor photos look too orange 🟠
✅ Why outdoor photos sometimes look too blue or cold ❄️
✅ When to trust Auto White Balance (and when not to)
✅ How to use white balance presets on your camera
✅ How to fix white balance perfectly when you shoot RAW
✅ The grey card trick that professionals use for perfect colour 🎨
Whether you're using a camera or your phone, this episode will help you understand one of photography's most fundamental settings and fix your colour problems for good. 📱📷

💡 THE 7 TIPS COVERED:
1️⃣ What White Balance Actually Is — and Why It Matters
2️⃣ Why Your Indoor Photos Look Too Orange
3️⃣ Why Outdoor Photos Sometimes Look Too Blue or Too Cold
4️⃣ How to Use Auto White Balance — and When to Trust It
5️⃣ How to Use White Balance Presets on Your Camera
6️⃣ How to Fix White Balance in Editing When You Shoot RAW
7️⃣ The Grey Card Trick — Your Secret Weapon for Perfect White Balance

🔗 USEFUL LINKS:
📝 Blog Post (Full Episode Text)
 🎓 Photography for Beginners Hub Page:

📖 RELATED EPISODES
• Episode 226 - Why Are My Photos Too Dark? Understanding Exposure for Beginners
• Episode 4 - What Is The Exposure Triangle?
• Episode 21 - What Does Exposure Mean In Photography?
• Episode 225 - I Just Got My First Camera - What Do I Do in the First Week?
🌐 My Website: https://rickmcevoyphotography.com
📺 YouTube Channel: Rick McEvoy Photography
🎓 My courses page
📚
 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love  all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
 If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you,  check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send us Fan Mail
Ever wonder why your photos come out so dark you can barely see what you shot? You take a photo of something brilliant - a stunning sunset, your mate pulling a funny face, your dinner that actually looks restaurant-quality for once - and when you look at the result, it's so dark you might as well have taken it in a cave. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode explains exactly why photos come out dark and gives you seven practical tips to fix it once and for all.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How bright backgrounds fool your camera into making everything dark
✅ Why shooting into the light creates silhouettes (and how to fix it)
✅ How shutter speed, aperture, and ISO affect exposure
✅ The magic of exposure compensation - your "make it brighter" button
✅ Why you need enough light in the first place
✅ How to read your camera's histogram like a pro
✅ When and why to use a tripod for perfect exposure

Whether you're using a camera or your phone, these seven tips will transform your photography. From understanding exposure compensation to reading histograms, you'll have all the tools you need to never take a mysteriously dark photo again.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Tip 1: Your Camera is Being Fooled by Bright Backgrounds

✅ Tip 2: You're Shooting Directly Into the Light

✅ Tip 3: Your Camera Settings are Working Against You

✅ Tip 4: You Need to Use Exposure Compensation

✅ Tip 5: You're Shooting in the Wrong Light

✅ Tip 6: Learn to Read Your Camera's Histogram

✅ Tip 7: Use a Tripod

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything applies to phone cameras too! Tap on your subject before shooting, slide your finger up to make it brighter, and remember that light is still everything. That one tap solves 70% of dark photo problems!

🔗 Related Episodes:

Episode 224, Why Are My Photos Blurry? All the Reasons and How to Fix Them

Episode 225, I Just Got My First Camera - What Do I Do in the First Week?

Episode 11, What Is Exposure Compensation, How Do I Use It? And Why Is It So Useful?

Episode 164, Understanding Histograms In Photography

⭐️ Next Episode:
Episode 227 - Why Are My Photos the Wrong Colour? Understanding White Balance

🎯 Your Action Step:
This weekend, deliberately photog
 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love  all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
 If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you,  check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick