Updated October 13, 2026
Shutter speed determines how long your camera’s shutter opens and closes and thus, lets light in. A fast shutter speed freezes movement, and a slow one lets in more light but can blur. I’m Katie Donnelly, a Paris photographer, and here is how to choose your shutter speed.
What You’ll Find in This Blog:
What Is Shutter Speed?
Your camera has a curtain (called a camera shutter) which opens and closes when you press the button.
You can leave this curtain open for full seconds, which we could consider “long” exposures and use for nighttime photography (make sure you use a tripod for these). Mostly we use fractions of a second though. For example, if you’re not using a tripod, from about 1/125 you’ll be able to get sharp photos while handholding your camera. Your shutter speed choice all depends on the light conditions you have at that moment.
So, the brighter the light for your photos, the quicker you are going to have your shutter speed. The darker the light you have for your photos, the slower you’re going to have your shutter speed.
1/250 sec at f / 2.0, ISO 640
1/250 sec at f / 2.0, ISO 640
Shutter Speeds for Hand-Held Photos
Slower shutter speeds for hand holding: 1/60, 1/125, 1/250.
1/1250 sec at f / 1.4, ISO 640
1/800 sec at f / 1.8, ISO 640
Quicker shutter speeds for hand holding: 1/500, 1/1000, 1/2000.
If you have kids running around, 1/500th or 1/1000th of a second will freeze the action. Read my 3 tips for easily capturing motion.
Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO Work Together
Shutter speed is used along with aperture and ISO to take a photo on manual mode.
Read the other two lessons: what is aperture and what is ISO.
This lesson is part of The Authentic Portrait: A Parent’s Guide to Documenting Childhood, my photography guide for parents who want to learn the basics and take better photos of their kids, without spending hours and hours taking classes. I am working on a new edition of the guide. Until it is ready, you can read every lesson in The Authentic Portrait series.
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Shutter Speed Questions
Shutter speed is how long your camera’s shutter stays open to let light in. It is usually measured in fractions of a second, such as 1/125.
If you are not using a tripod, from about 1/125 you will get sharp photos while hand-holding your camera. For moving kids, use 1/500 or 1/1000.
In low light and for nighttime photography, where you can leave the shutter open for full seconds. Use a tripod for these.
The brighter the light, the quicker your shutter speed can be. The darker the light, the slower it needs to be.
About the author
Katie Donnelly, Paris Photographer
Katie Donnelly is an American photographer who opened her Paris studio in 2013 and was voted Best Portrait Photographer in Paris in 2017. She and her English-speaking team photograph families, couples and solo travelers at sunrise, so visitors go home with relaxed, real portraits instead of rushed selfies. Meet Katie and the team.
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