Modern cameras offer a range of shooting modes designed to give photographers different levels of control over exposure and creative style. One of the most commonly used is Auto Mode, which lets the camera make all decisions about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance. This is useful for beginners or quick snapshots but offers little flexibility. Program Mode (P) is a step up, still automating most settings while allowing the photographer to adjust certain parameters like ISO, white balance, or exposure compensation. It provides more creative input while keeping the process simple.

For more control, cameras include Aperture Priority (A or Av) and Shutter Priority (S or Tv) modes. Aperture Priority allows the photographer to set the lens opening (f-stop) while the camera automatically selects a suitable shutter speed. This is ideal for controlling depth of field, such as creating a blurred background in portraits or ensuring everything is sharp in landscapes. Shutter Priority, on the other hand, lets the photographer control motion by choosing the shutter speed—use a fast shutter to freeze action or a slow shutter to create motion blur in waterfalls or light trails.