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📸 Think you need an expensive camera to take great photos? You really don't. In episode 229 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I take my entry level Canon R100 to Mexico for two weeks — kit lens only — and come back with portfolio-worthy images. Under £500 of gear. Real conditions. No tricks.

In this episode I reveal 7 things an entry level camera can genuinely do brilliantly — and the results might surprise you.

💡 THE 7 THINGS COVERED:

1️⃣ It produces genuinely excellent photos — right out of the box

2️⃣ The kit lens is a much better starting point than you think

3️⃣ Programme mode is a perfectly valid way to shoot

4️⃣ It handles low light significantly better than your phone

5️⃣ A tripod unlocks a whole new level of what's possible

6️⃣ Auto Exposure Bracketing helps you handle tricky light

7️⃣ It will make you a better photographer

🔗 USEFUL LINKS:

📝 Blog Post (Full Episode Text)

🌄 Mexico Portfolio — Shot on the Canon R100

🎓 Photography for Beginners Hub Page

📖 RELATED EPISODES:

• Episode 228 — How to Know If You're Ready to Move from Phone to Camera

• Episode 225 — I Just Got My First Camera, What Do I Do in the First Week?

• Episode 106 — Programme Mode: What Is It? Is It OK For Me to Use It?

• Episode 160 — What Is Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB)?

• Episode 60 — What Is a Kit Lens?

🌐 My Website: https://rickmcevoyphotography.com

📺 YouTube Channel: Rick McEvoy Photography

🎓 My courses page

📚 Resources Page

💬 GET IN TOUCH:

📧 Subscribe to my weekly email at rickmcevoyphotography.com

💬 Text me directly from the podcast feed

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 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

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Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

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📸 Is your phone holding your photography back — or is it you? In episode 228 of the Photography Explained Podcast, I’m sharing seven honest signs that tell you whether now is the right time to move from your phone to a camera. And if it isn’t quite the right time yet, I’ll tell you exactly what to do instead.

In this episode you will learn:

📱 Sign 1. You keep running into the limits of your phone camera — zooming in that turns to mush, photos that blur in dark rooms, moments you miss because your phone just can’t keep up.

🌸 Sign 2. You want proper control over blurry backgrounds — not the faked portrait mode version, but real optical depth of field that you actually create yourself by controlling your aperture.

🌙 Sign 3. Low light photos keep disappointing you — why small sensors are fighting against physics, and what a camera with a larger sensor genuinely gives you.

💡 Sign 4. You’ve already learned the basics of composition on your phone — because a camera won’t make you a better photographer, only practice does.

🤔 Sign 5. You’re genuinely curious about how cameras work — and why that curiosity is the best predictor of whether you’ll thrive with a camera or leave it in a drawer.

⏰ Sign 6. You’re ready to invest time, not just money — the thing that catches most people out.

🌱 Sign 7. You want to grow as a photographer, not just capture moments — the most important question of all.

Whether you’re a phone photographer wondering if the time is right, or you’re already sold on a camera and want to know what to do next, this episode will give you a clear, honest answer.

📝 Find the full episode blog post here: How to Know If You’re Ready to Move from Phone to Camera

🎙️ Related episodes:

Episode 7 — What Camera Should I Buy? — the best place to start once you’ve decided you’re ready.

Episode 212 — Creative Use of Depth of Field: Blurry Backgrounds, Sharp Subjects — if blurry backgrounds are what’s pulling you towards a camera, this is the episode for you.

Episode 225 — I Just Got My First Camera — What Do I Do in the First Week? — the perfect follow-on episode once you’ve made the move.

➡️ Next episode: 10 Things to Know Before Buying Your First Camera. Out Friday 27th March 2026.

🎞️ Want to watch the full podcast video? It’s exclusively availab

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send a text

Your photos are sharp and well-exposed — but they look weirdly orange or horribly blue. Here's how white balance works and how to fix it. 📸

This is one of those photography settings that nobody really explains to beginners. But once you understand it — and it really doesn't take long — you'll stop wondering why your photos look a bit off and start knowing exactly what to do about it. 💡

📚 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

✅ What white balance actually is (and why it matters)

✅ Why your indoor photos look too orange 🟠

✅ Why outdoor photos sometimes look too blue or cold ❄️

✅ When to trust Auto White Balance (and when not to)

✅ How to use white balance presets on your camera

✅ How to fix white balance perfectly when you shoot RAW

✅ The grey card trick that professionals use for perfect colour 🎨

Whether you're using a camera or your phone, this episode will help you understand one of photography's most fundamental settings and fix your colour problems for good. 📱📷

💡 THE 7 TIPS COVERED:

1️⃣ What White Balance Actually Is — and Why It Matters

2️⃣ Why Your Indoor Photos Look Too Orange

3️⃣ Why Outdoor Photos Sometimes Look Too Blue or Too Cold

4️⃣ How to Use Auto White Balance — and When to Trust It

5️⃣ How to Use White Balance Presets on Your Camera

6️⃣ How to Fix White Balance in Editing When You Shoot RAW

7️⃣ The Grey Card Trick — Your Secret Weapon for Perfect White Balance

🔗 USEFUL LINKS:

📝 Blog Post (Full Episode Text)

🎓 Photography for Beginners Hub Page:

📖 RELATED EPISODES

• Episode 226 - Why Are My Photos Too Dark? Understanding Exposure for Beginners

• Episode 4 - What Is The Exposure Triangle?

• Episode 21 - What Does Exposure Mean In Photography?

•

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

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Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send a text

Ever wonder why your photos come out so dark you can barely see what you shot? You take a photo of something brilliant - a stunning sunset, your mate pulling a funny face, your dinner that actually looks restaurant-quality for once - and when you look at the result, it's so dark you might as well have taken it in a cave. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode explains exactly why photos come out dark and gives you seven practical tips to fix it once and for all.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How bright backgrounds fool your camera into making everything dark
✅ Why shooting into the light creates silhouettes (and how to fix it)
✅ How shutter speed, aperture, and ISO affect exposure
✅ The magic of exposure compensation - your "make it brighter" button
✅ Why you need enough light in the first place
✅ How to read your camera's histogram like a pro
✅ When and why to use a tripod for perfect exposure

Whether you're using a camera or your phone, these seven tips will transform your photography. From understanding exposure compensation to reading histograms, you'll have all the tools you need to never take a mysteriously dark photo again.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Tip 1: Your Camera is Being Fooled by Bright Backgrounds

✅ Tip 2: You're Shooting Directly Into the Light

✅ Tip 3: Your Camera Settings are Working Against You

✅ Tip 4: You Need to Use Exposure Compensation

✅ Tip 5: You're Shooting in the Wrong Light

✅ Tip 6: Learn to Read Your Camera's Histogram

✅ Tip 7: Use a Tripod

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything applies to phone cameras too! Tap on your subject before shooting, slide your finger up to make it brighter, and remember that light is still everything. That one tap solves 70% of dark photo problems!

🔗 Related Episodes:

Episode 224, Why Are My Photos Blurry? All the Reasons and How to Fix Them

Episode 225, I Just Got My First Camera - What Do I Do in the First Week?

Episode 11, What Is Exposure Compensation, How Do I Use It? And Why Is It So Useful?

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send a text

You've just unboxed your first proper camera and honestly? It's a bit overwhelming. All those dials, buttons, menu options - where do you even begin? 📸 This episode walks you through exactly what to do in your first week with your new camera. No jargon, no technical overwhelm, just practical, actionable steps that'll have you taking photos you're proud of by next weekend.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How to properly set up your camera from day one
✅ Why reading the quick start guide saves hours of frustration
✅ The correct way to hold your camera for sharper photos
✅ Why Auto mode is your friend when you're starting out
✅ How to review your photos to accelerate learning
✅ The secret to understanding light in photography
✅ Why finding a photography community matters

That first week with your new camera is absolutely crucial. Get it right, and you'll build confidence, develop good habits, and actually enjoy the learning process. These aren't complicated technical exercises - they're simple, enjoyable activities that'll help you understand your camera and start taking photos you actually like.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Tip 1: Charge the Battery and Format Your Memory Card

✅ Tip 2: Read the Manual - or the Quick Start Guide at Least!

✅ Tip 3: Get Comfortable Holding Your Camera

✅ Tip 4: Shoot in Auto Mode and Explore Your Environment

✅ Tip 5: Review Your Photos and Learn From Them

✅ Tip 6: Take Photos at Different Times of Day

✅ Tip 7: Join a Photography Community or Find a Friend

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Well this is aimed at people taking photos with their phones. So let's move on from this one ok?

🔗 Related Episodes:

Episode 9, How Can I Learn To Use My New Camera?

Episode 17, What Time Of Day Is Best To Take Photos?

Episode 104, 10 Camera Settings For Beginners

Episode 152, How My One Photo Rule Will Help You Take Better Photos

⭐️ Next Episode:
Episode 226 - Why Are My Photos Too Dark? Understanding Exposure for Beginners

🎯 Your Action Step:
Choose one location and over the course of a week, take twenty different photos there. Try different angles, different subjects within that space, experiment with different settings. By week's end, pick your five fav

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send a text

You've taken what you thought was the perfect shot, but when you look at it later, it's blurry. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode breaks down all seven main reasons your photos might be blurry and gives you practical fixes for each one.

In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How camera shake ruins photos (and the proper technique to eliminate it)
✅ The reciprocal rule for shutter speed that prevents blur
✅ Why your focus might be off and how to manually control it
✅ How to handle motion blur in your subjects
✅ When shallow depth of field becomes a problem
✅ Why a dirty lens makes everything soft (and how to keep yours clean)
✅ How high ISO affects apparent sharpness (and when to use a tripod)

Whether you're using a camera or your phone, these seven fixes will transform your photography. From the breathing technique that stops camera shake to the simple habit of cleaning your lens after every shoot, you'll get actionable advice you can use immediately.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Tip 1: Camera Shake - You're Moving When You Press the Button
Learn the proper holding technique, breathing method, and when to use a tripod.

✅ Tip 2: Wrong Shutter Speed for Your Focal Length
The reciprocal rule prevents blur. Using a 100mm lens? Minimum 1/100th second.

✅ Tip 3: Your Focus Is Off - You've Focused on the Wrong Thing
Manually select the focus point and always check your shots.

✅ Tip 4: Your Subject Is Moving - Motion Blur
Learn exactly what shutter speeds you need for different subjects.

✅ Tip 5: Shallow Depth of Field - Not Enough Is in Focus
When to close down your aperture to keep everything sharp.

✅ Tip 6: Dirty or Smudged Lens
Clean your gear after every shoot - takes 30 seconds, makes a massive difference!

✅ Tip 7: Low Light and High ISO - Noise Disguising as Blur
Use a tripod to stick to ISO 100 for the highest quality.

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything applies to phone cameras too! Hold with both hands, use the volume button to shoot, tap to focus on the right spot, and clean that lens regularly!

🔗 Related Episodes:

Episode 222, The Best of The Photography Explained Podcast: 29 Essential Photography Tips That Actually Matter

Episode 220, The Photographer's Eye: See a Great Photo Before You Take It

Episode 152,

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send a text

Want to take better photos in 2026 than you did in 2025? 📸 This episode gives you five simple, practical things you can start doing today that will genuinely improve your photography.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ How to properly clean your camera gear and why it matters for sharp photos
✅ The smart way to learn camera settings without getting overwhelmed
✅ Why shooting in different lighting conditions makes you a better photographer
✅ How to critically review your work before sharing it
✅ Why trying uncomfortable photography genres helps you grow

These tips work for everyone - whether you're using a phone 📱, an entry-level camera, or professional gear. No jargon, just practical advice you can use today.

📸 What You'll Learn:

✅ Thing 1: Clean Your Gear Properly and Keep It Clean
Get yourself a proper cleaning kit with a blower brush, microfibre cloths, and lens cleaning solution. Make cleaning a habit before every shoot. Clean lenses make sharp photos - it's that simple!

✅ Thing 2: Learn One Camera Setting Really Well
Don't try to master everything at once. Pick one setting - maybe exposure compensation, aperture priority, or even manual mode - and become properly competent with it. Master it, then move on to the next one.

✅ Thing 3: Take Photos in Different Light
Deliberately seek out different lighting conditions. Harsh midday sun, soft overcast light, golden hour, indoor window light - each type teaches you different skills. Photography is drawing with light, so this stuff is pretty important!

✅ Thing 4: Review Your Photos Critically Before Sharing Them
Stop sharing every photo you take. Review your photos twice - once immediately, then again with fresh eyes after waiting overnight. Quality over quantity, always.

✅ Thing 5: Shoot Something Uncomfortable
Try a photography genre outside your comfort zone. Love landscapes? Try portraits. Always shoot people? Try architecture. Uncomfortable equals growth, and growth equals better photography.

📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything in this episode applies to phone photography too! Clean your phone lens, learn exposure compensation in your camera app, photograph in different light, review before posting, and try different types of photography with your phone.

🔗 Related Episodes:

If you're enjoying this New Year focus on improving your photography, you might want to check out the previous episode - episode 222, The Best of The Photography Explained Podcast: 29 Essential Photog

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick

Send us Fan Mail

Over 221 episodes, thousands of tips, and hundreds of hours of content. Today, I've distilled everything down to the most important photography tips I've ever shared. This is the episode you'll want to bookmark. 🔖

Here's the thing about doing a podcast for over 221 episodes: you accumulate a lot of advice. Some of it's specific—how to photograph buildings 🏛️, how to use a polarizing filter, how to set up your Lightroom catalog. But some tips? They're universal. ✨ They work for everyone, regardless of what you photograph or what gear you use. 📷

Today's episode is different. Instead of diving deep into one topic, we're going wide. 🌍 I've gone back through every single episode and pulled out the most essential, most powerful, most immediately useful tips I've ever shared. These are the tips that listeners tell me changed their photography. 🚀 The ones that work whether you're using a professional camera or your phone. 📱 The ones that apply to landscapes 🏞️, portraits 👤, street photography 🏙️, and everything in between.

If you're new to the podcast, this is your crash course. 🎓 If you've been listening from the start, this is your refresher. 🔄 Either way, by the end of this episode, you'll have actionable tips that will immediately improve your photography. No fluff, no filler—just the best of the best. 🏆

THE 29 TIPS COVERED: 💡

1. 📸 Use My One Photo Rule
2. ✂️ Take Fewer Photos Overall
3. 🚶‍♂️👀🧠 My Photography Superpowers – Walking, Looking, and Thinking
4. 🤔 Think Before You Take a Photo
5. 🚫⚙️ No One Cares About Your Gear or Settings
6. 🔺 Forget the Exposure Triangle
7. 📉 Use the Lowest ISO for the Sharpest Photos
8. 🎛️ Learn How to Use Manual Mode
9. 🖼️ Get a Portfolio of Your Best Twelve Photos
10. 💬 Get a Critique of Your Photos (Not from Friends or Family)
11. 📚 Learn from Other Photographers (and Yourself)
12. #️⃣ Use the Rule of Thirds
13. ➡️ Use Leading Lines
14. 🏔️ Create Depth in Your Photos
15. 🧹 Simplify by Removing Distractions
16. 📁 Shoot in RAW Format
17. ⚪ Use a Grey Card for Accurate Colors
18. 📊 Use Your Histogram
19. 🎯 Find Your Lens Sweet Spot
20. ❤️ Photograph Things You're Actually Interested In
21. ✏️ Only Edit Photos You're Going to Use
22. 🗑️ Delete Rubbish Photos
23. 💾 Backup Your Photos in Three Places
24. 🛡️ Look After Your Gear
25. 🔄 Keep Practicing a

 My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.

Welcome to the Fresh Patch Podcast where we talk about everything, from dog...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts

Support the show

Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.

Thanks very much for listening

Cheers from me Rick