This is one of my favorite modes on my DSLR camera as it allows me to make my manual settings quicker than in manual mode. You might be wondering why understanding aperture priority mode is important…but it really comes in handy!

In this blog post you will learn everything you need to know about understanding aperture priority – and why it’s a really great tool to use during your photoshoots. 

I’ve written several other blogs about photography – I encourage you to check those out here.

I also encourage you to check out my recent blog “Camera Settings For Beginners: Understanding the Exposure Triangle” which is the perfect precursor to understanding aperture priority mode.

With that being said…let’s get to it!

What is Aperture Priority Mode?

Aperture Priority (often represented as “A” or “Av” on the dial) is when you manually set your ISO and aperture while the shutter speed is automatically determined based on your aperture.

In this case, I will be using my Canon 5D Mark IV to show you where to locate these settings.

So why is this useful?

Once your aperture is set correctly, the rest will follow. This mode is fast, and it allows you to reach your settings faster than manual mode. This is extremely important if your subject is fast-moving and you don’t have time to switch up your settings. 

The genius thing about this is let’s say you’re photographing birds. They’re flying in the sky quickly, and you want to catch them – there’s no time to waste here.

With your camera in aperture priority mode, this allows you to shoot in one particular area, and then you can pan to the right to catch another bird that is flying toward you.

The key takeaway here is that bird number 2 will have different lighting than when you were shooting bird number 1, so now the camera is automatically selecting your shutter speed based on how much light is entering the lens.

In this photo, you’ll see that I have my ISO set at 250, and my aperture is set at f/4.0. After gently holding down the shutter button, my shutter speed is automatically selected by the camera at 320.

You can also set a minimum shutter speed so that it doesn’t go below 1/500 for example if you’re trying to photograph fast subjects.

To do this, you’ll need to go to Menu → Set shutter speed range → Then set your desired minimum. See below pictures as a visual guide:

There are many other great scenarios where understanding aperture priority mode is useful, practical, and preferred over using manual mode. 

When to Avoid Using Aperture Priority Mode

Even though aperture priority mode is great, it’s not ideal for all applications.

Let’s say you’re trying to shoot long exposure, or even focus stacking for example.

These are often applications where you will need the same settings for each photo, and you won’t be able to achieve that with Av mode. 

This is where you will need to switch over to manual mode, and ideally you should have more time to adjust your settings and won’t be in a rush to catch your subject.

It’s important to understand when it’s the right time and the wrong time to be using Av mode. This will drastically change the outcome of your photos, and something as simple as understanding the difference will help you take even better photos.

Also keep in mind that Av mode isn’t meant to be a shortcut for those of you who don’t understand manual mode…it’s extremely important to understand the exposure triangle and manual mode, and why they all work together.

This is because understanding the exposure triangle will help you better understand aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, and manual mode.

Once you know your stuff, you’ll create better results even faster – and that’s the goal!

Wrapping Up

Hopefully you were able to learn something new from this blog! If you want to learn more photography tips, be sure to check out more of my photography blogs here. 

I also post quick video tips on my TikTok @taylordencer if you want to see video tutorials.

I’ve also created a FREE Photography Checklist for you all – this is the perfect tool to ensure you have everything you need before, during, and after your shoot; as well as what you’ll need to plan for your next shoot!

You can get access to my FREE checklist here:

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Thank you all for reading – share your thoughts in the comments below! Are you new to photography? Do you enjoy using aperture priority mode?