Do you know how to shoot in Manual Mode, or are you shooting in one of the Auto modes because you’re trying to learn how to use your DSLR (or mirrorless) camera, but just don’t understand how anything works in Manual Mode?

More importantly, when is it okay to shoot in Auto mode on your camera?

Well, that’s exactly what Kortney Johnson was wondering when she asked this question:

“I am just starting to get into photography ive had my camera for a little under a year now, and I am not comfortable shooting in Manual mode, I usually shoot in Programmable mode. Is that a bad thing? should I try to get comfortable with Manual mode, or should I keep using programmable mode until I am a little bit better and understand photography more?”

The short answer is that it is okay to shoot in Auto mode when you’re learning, especially when you have to get decent photos.

It’s flat out pointless to shoot in Manual Mode when it’s critical for you to get decent, usable photos if you don’t know how to use Manual Mode.

What you should do regularly though is give yourself play time to practice and shoot in manual mode when it isn’t critical so you can learn and grow as a photographer and learn how your camera works.