7 Basic photography terms Moms should study

Are you a new mom with a camera, or a mom with a new camera? Either way, the first subject of your photography is going to be your kid (or kids).

But before you start clicking pictures of your children, here are seven basic photography terms which you must be aware of. This will not only help you grow as a photographer, it will give you a better understanding of how your camera works in certain conditions.

#1. Aperture or f-stop

Aperture is the opening in the lens through which light enters. F-stop is the term used to refer to the aperture size.

#2. Depth of field

When you see a picture where the subject is in sharp focus, but the background is hazy and blurry, that gives you an idea of the depth of field of the lens. It can range to extremely narrow to infinite (in which everything in a picture is in focus).

#3. Exposure

It is the amount of light recorded on the sensor. If you shoot during the day with too much light hitting a sensor for too long, you'll end up with an overly glaring photo.

#4. ISO

It is the measure of light sensitivity, the standards for which have been set by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), hence the name.

#5. Shutter speed

It refers to how long the shutter remains open to allow light through. If not enough light enters, then the photo will look blurry. Shutter speeds are usually measured in fractions of a second.

#6. White balance

Adjusting white balance helps force the camera to compensate for the fact that most lighting conditions aren't perfectly white. While the human eye can process this information, a camera cannot.  You can take test shots after adjusting white balance manually to see which one looks natural. Alternatively, you can aim the camera at a white plain surface, like a sheet of paper, and then let the camera automatically adjust according to the lighting.

#7. Post-processing

Photo editing software and tools allow you to modify the look of your photo. You can brighten it up, crop, adjust contrast and change texture of a picture using these tools, so download and practice it well.