Photography isn’t just about capturing beautiful images. It’s about solving a series of small problems every time you press the shutter. Whether it’s choosing the right orientation, framing your subject, or balancing exposure, each decision you make affects the outcome.

Coming to you from e6 | Craig Roberts, this insightful video breaks down photography into manageable pieces, encouraging you to approach each shot like a puzzle. Roberts starts with composition, asking whether you should frame the shot horizontally or vertically. While horizontal framing feels like a natural choice, especially for landscapes, vertical shots offer unique opportunities by emphasizing foreground elements. He explains how your choice impacts how the viewer’s eye moves through the image, with vertical framing encouraging upward scanning and horizontal framing supporting left-to-right flow.

Roberts also discusses focal points, urging you to consider exactly what you want viewers to notice and why it belongs in that part of the frame. Placing subjects on the rule of thirds might work in some cases, but he encourages you to break those rules if it suits the image better. If you can’t explain why your subject works in a certain position, Roberts suggests holding off on pressing the shutter until you can.

Lens choice plays a key role in shaping your composition. Wide angle lenses capture more of the scene but can result in cluttered compositions if you aren’t careful. Telephoto lenses, on the other hand, tighten the frame and focus on specific details.

Exposure is another problem to solve. Roberts explains how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO interact and stresses that you need to prioritize one depending on the shot. Do you want a shallow depth of field to isolate your subject? Or do you need everything sharp from front to back? Each setting choice affects the others, and Roberts emphasizes the importance of balancing these factors, especially when lighting conditions are less than ideal. He points out that getting the exposure technically correct isn’t enough—you need to decide how much shadow and highlight detail to retain based on the mood you want to convey.

Beyond technical settings, Roberts encourages you to consider the emotional impact of your images. A shot isn’t just about light and composition—it’s also about what you want the viewer to feel. Whether you choose vibrant color or black and white, each decision adds to the story you’re telling. Roberts emphasizes that understanding these layers helps you create photographs with greater meaning and depth. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Roberts.