Understanding Shutter Speed: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
- Shawn Eastman
- Jan 8
- 12 min read
Updated: Mar 10
Shutter speed is one of the most crucial settings in photography and makes up one part of the all important Exposure Triangle, though it often puzzles beginners - and understandably so.
Whether you’re capturing fast-moving action, creating dreamy long exposures, or simply trying to avoid blurry images, learning exactly how shutter speed works can revolutionise your photography skills and help take you to the next level.
In fact, it's imperative that you gain a firm understanding of shutter speed if you're leaping into manual photography and trying to take full creative control of the images you capture.
In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about shutter speed: what it is, how it impacts your images, how to use it effectively, and how it ties into the exposure triangle alongside aperture and ISO.
By the end, you’ll feel confident in using shutter speed to achieve stunning creative effects in your photos.
Table of Contents
What Is Shutter Speed?
At its core, shutter speed refers to the amount of time your camera’s shutter remains open to let light hit the sensor. Measured in seconds (or fractions of a second), it determines two key aspects of your photo:
How much light enters the camera (affecting exposure).
How motion appears in the image (frozen or blurred).
Think of your shutter like a curtain in front of a window during daytime.
Open the curtains just a little and for just a split second, and only a little light gets in - the equivalent of a fast shutter speed. Open the curtains wider and for longer, and the room floods with light - the equivalent of a slow shutter speed.
On a camera there are many shutter speeds you can choose from to capture an image as you wish, with most modern models being capable of speeds as fast as 1/4000th or even 1/8000th of a second, or as slow as 30 seconds - some cameras even have a "bulb" mode which allows you to shoot for as long as the shutter button is pressed, though this is best used with a shutter release cable to avoid camera shake.
In the above images, the children running had to be photographed using a fast shutter speed setting to freeze the motion of their movement (1/1000), while the light trails from the cars entering and exiting the city had to be photographed using a slow shutter speed setting to capture the full movement of the motion (30 seconds).
With so many shutter speed settings available it ultimately comes down to selecting the correct shutter speed setting to capture the image in the way you desire, all while keeping in mind the available ambient light and your other camera settings (notably aperture and ISO).
How Shutter Speed Affects Your Images
Shutter speed plays a critical role in both exposure and motion blur:
1. Exposure
A faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/1000 sec) lets in less light, resulting in a darker image. A slower shutter speed (e.g., 1 second) allows more light to enter, brightening the photo.
2. Motion Blur vs. Motion Freeze
Fast Shutter Speeds (e.g., 1/2000 sec): Freeze motion to capture sharp details in fast-moving subjects like sports, wildlife, or vehicles.
Slow Shutter Speeds (e.g., 1 second): Blur motion for creative effects, such as silky waterfalls, light trails, or ghost-like subjects.
Note: If you want to use a slow shutter speed during daylight to create motion blur - such as to create a silky smooth effect from a waterfall or from a choppy sea - then you'll need to use something called a Neutral Density (ND) filter in order to not overexpose the image - but we'll come back to ND filters a little later.
Common Shutter Speeds and Their Uses
Here’s a handy table outlining some common shutter speeds and when to use them:
Now, let's throw a few example images together to see some of these shutter speeds in use, from slow shutter speed through to fast shutter speed:
Shutter Speed = 3 Seconds
Shutter Speed = 1/30 sec
Shutter Speed = 1/125
Shutter Speed = 1/500
Shutter Speed = 1/2000
How Shutter Speed Fits Into the Exposure Triangle
Shutter speed is one leg of the exposure triangle, working alongside aperture and ISO:
Aperture controls how much light enters the lens.
ISO adjusts your camera sensor’s sensitivity to light.
Shutter Speed determines how long light hits the sensor.
To achieve a balanced exposure:
If you lengthen your shutter speed (by using a slow shutter speed) to let in more light, you may need to narrow your aperture or lower your ISO to avoid overexposure - or even use an ND filter if using a long exposure in daylight.
Shorten your shutter speed (by using a faster shutter speed), and you may need to widen the aperture or increase the ISO.
Think of the exposure triangle as a game of give-and-take between these three settings. Marrying them together correctly for the environment your shooting in is what results in the photograph being correctly exposed to your liking.
Achieving Creative Effects with Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is a powerful tool for adding drama, creativity, and professionalism to your photos.
Here are some techniques you can try:
1. Freezing Motion
For tack-sharp images of fast-moving subjects, use a fast shutter speed, such as 1/1000 sec or faster. This is essential for sports, wildlife, or kids in action.
2. Adding Motion Blur
Slow shutter speeds create motion blur, perfect for conveying speed or movement.
For example:
Use 1/30 sec to blur a car in motion while keeping the background sharp.
Experiment with panning to combine a sharp subject with a blurred background.
3. Long Exposure Photography
Use shutter speeds of several seconds or more to create ethereal effects:
Waterfalls: Smooth out water for a silky, dreamy look.
Night Photography: Capture light trails, star trails, or illuminated cityscapes.
Tips for Using Shutter Speed
1. Stabilise Your Camera
Use a tripod for slow shutter speeds (below 1/60 sec).
Enable image stabilisation (IS) if your lens or camera offers it when shooting handheld.
Tip: If you're using any older gear it may help to turn IS off ONLY when using a tripod as the mechanisms can (ironically) cause minor vibrations that could introduce minor movement and cause some degree of blur while the camera is totally static. This can be outdated information for newer cameras and lenses, so consider doing some trial and error with your own gear if in doubt.
2. Watch for Camera Shake
A general rule of thumb: Use a shutter speed that matches or exceeds your lens’s focal length (e.g., 1/50 sec for a 50mm lens).
3. Experiment with Shutter Priority Mode
If you’re new to manual settings, try Shutter Priority Mode (S/Tv). You select the shutter speed, and the camera adjusts aperture and ISO automatically.
4. Pair with Filters for Long Exposures
In bright conditions, use an ND filter (see below) to reduce light and allow for slower shutter speeds.
Using ND Filters and Tripods for Long Exposure Photography
When working with slow shutter speeds to capture motion - such as the silky flow of a waterfall, the streaks of car headlights, or the blur of a race car - photographers often encounter a significant challenge: overexposure.
The Challenge of Slow Shutter Speeds in Daylight
A slow shutter speed allows more light to enter the camera sensor, which is perfect for creating stunning motion effects. However, during bright daylight conditions, this results in too much light entering the camera, causing overexposed images. You might find your photos turning into a glaring white mess, no matter how carefully you compose the shot.
To overcome this, photographers turn to Neutral Density (ND) filters.
What Are ND Filters?
ND filters are like sunglasses for your camera lens. They reduce the amount of light entering the camera without affecting the colours of the scene. This allows you to use slower shutter speeds during the daytime without overexposing your image.
ND filters come in varying strengths - measured in stops of light reduction - such as ND4, ND8, ND64, or even ND1000, allowing you to choose the right level of light reduction for your desired exposure.
For example:
ND8 filter: Reduces light by 3 stops, great for slightly longer exposures.
ND1000 filter: Reduces light by 10 stops, ideal for capturing ultra-long exposures during daylight.
The Role of Slow Shutter Speeds in Low Light
Conversely, in low-light conditions - such as early morning or late evening - a slow shutter speed is often necessary to let in more light and achieve proper exposure. This helps ensure your images aren’t underexposed or too dark. But using a slower shutter speed introduces the risk of unwanted blur caused by camera shake.
Why a Tripod Is Essential
When using slow shutter speeds, even the slightest hand movement can result in a blurry image. To prevent this, it’s crucial to use a tripod to stabilise your camera. A sturdy tripod ensures the camera remains completely still during the exposure, resulting in sharp, detailed images.
If you notice unwanted blur despite using a slow shutter speed, correct focus, and suitable aperture, the issue is likely due to camera shake. Adding a tripod to your setup can instantly resolve this problem.
A Personal Story
When I was just starting out in photography, I vividly remember trying to capture the mesmerising motion of a small local waterfall on a bright, sunny day. I set my shutter speed to around 5 seconds like all the articles I'd read were telling me to do, eager to achieve that dreamy, silky effect.
To my surprise (and frustration), my images continually came out completely white - just an overexposed mess. I tweaked the aperture, then tried the ISO - nothing helped.
I first got around this problem by figuring out that I could shoot later in the day when the sun was setting as I could then get away with slightly longer exposures compared to during broad daylight.
I was still flabbergasted as to how these professional photographers were managing to capture long exposures during the day time.
Was it all just photoshop? Was it basically impossible to do in-camera? Was it magic?
It wasn’t until much later in my photography journey that I discovered the non-magic of ND filters.
Once I understood how they work and incorporated them into my daytime long-exposure photography, everything changed.
With the right filter and proper technique, I was finally able to capture a long exposure of the stunning flowing water effect I had envisioned without overexposing the image.
I'm pretty sure this is a true tale that many other beginner photographers can tell as well.
Key Takeaways
Use ND filters for slow shutter speeds in bright daylight to avoid overexposure.
Experiment with different ND filter strengths to find the right balance for your scene.
Use a tripod when working with slow shutter speeds to eliminate unwanted blur caused by hand movement.
Always consider the exposure triangle - balancing shutter speed, aperture, and ISO - to achieve the correct exposure for your image.
This combination of tools and techniques ensures you can master long-exposure photography under any lighting condition.
Tired of your daytime long exposure shots with slow shutter speeds resulting in grossly overexposed images like the one on the left? If so, the use of an ND filter can help you achieve the correctly exposed result on the right.
Practice Makes Perfect
Mastering shutter speed takes practice. Start by experimenting with different settings in various conditions. Try capturing fast action, blurring motion, and shooting long exposures to understand the creative possibilities shutter speed offers.
It can help to make sure your trial and error also touches on what doesn't work to help with your knowledge and understanding - during your practice shoots find the shutter speed that results in the correct exposure, then increase the speed of the shutter to find out at what point the image becomes too underexposed. Then do the same by decreasing the shutter speed to find out at what point the image becomes too overexposed.
My Final Thoughts
Shutter speed is more than just a technical setting - it’s a gateway to creative storytelling in photography. By learning how to control it, you can freeze fleeting moments, add dynamic motion, or craft breath-taking long exposures. Whether you're a beginner or refining your skills, understanding shutter speed will unlock new dimensions of your photographic potential.
FAQs About Shutter Speed in Photography
What is shutter speed in photography?
Shutter speed is the length of time your camera’s shutter is open, allowing light to hit the sensor. It’s measured in seconds or fractions of a second (e.g., 1/1000, 1/60). Faster speeds freeze motion, while slower speeds create motion blur. Think of it as the rhythm of your photo - it dictates how time is captured.
