The First Things You Should Do With a New Camera (Before Taking a Single Photo)
So you just bought a new camera. Awesome.
Before you head outside and start firing away, take five minutes and check these settings first. They’re simple, beginner-friendly, and they’ll save you headaches later.
No jargon. No tech overload. Just the stuff that actually matters.
1. Set the Date and Time (Future You Will Thank You)
This one feels boring, but it’s important.
Every photo your camera takes gets tagged with the date and time. That’s how your computer knows which photos came first, what day you took them, and how to organize them.
If this is wrong:
Photos show up out of order
Trips get mixed together
Finding anything later becomes a mess
Set it once. Forget about it forever.
2. Choose JPEG or RAW (Don’t Overthink This)
This setting controls how your camera saves photos.
Here’s the simple version:
JPEG
Smaller files
Ready to share immediately
Perfect if you don’t plan to edit
RAW
Bigger files
More flexibility if you edit later
Best when you want the highest quality
My advice for beginners:
Start with JPEG. Learn your camera. Learn composition. You can switch to RAW anytime—no upgrade required.
3. Pick the Drive Mode (What Happens When You Press the Button)
This tells the camera how many photos to take when you press the shutter.
Single Shot – One photo per press
This is where most beginners should live
Burst Mode – Lots of photos fast
Great for kids, pets, sports, or anything that won’t sit still
Self-Timer – Photo after a delay
Handy for group shots or tripod photos
If you’re not sure, choose Single Shot and move on.
4. Set the Focus Area (Tell the Camera What You Care About)
Your camera is smart—but it’s not a mind reader.
If you let it focus on everything, it might choose the background instead of your subject.
For best results:
Pick one focus point or a small focus box
Put it on what matters (usually a face or eyes)
Press halfway to focus, then take the photo
This one change alone can instantly improve your photos.
Bottom Line
These are not advanced settings.
They’re day-one basics that help you stay organized, get sharper photos, and avoid frustration.
Once these are set, stop digging through menus and start shooting.
