Photography Explained Podcast

Rick McEvoy
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  • TWICE MONTHLY

Photography stuff explained in plain English by me, Rick, in less than 27(ish) minutes without the irrelevant details. I explain one photographic thing per episode, providing just enough information to help you understand it, improve your photography and take better photos, all without delving into endless, irrelevant details. I am a professionally qualified photographer based in the UK and amongst other things I help photographers take better photos. If you want me to answer your question, head to rickmcevoyphotography.com/podcast. How utterly splendid.

  1. 5 HR AGO

    How to Know If You're Ready to Move from Phone to Camera

    Send a text 📸 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

    19 min

  2. 27 FEB

    White Balance Explained: Why Your Photos Look Too Orange or Blue

    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. The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. 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

    25 min

  3. 13 FEB

    📷 Why Are My Photos Too Dark? Understanding Exposure for Beginners

    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. The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. 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

    27 min

  4. 30 JAN

    📷 I Just Got My First Camera - What Do I Do in the First Week?

    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

    22 min

  5. 16 JAN

    📷 Why Are My Photos Blurry? All the Reasons and How to Fix Them

    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

    21 min

  6. 2 JAN

    📸 5 Things We All Need to Do in 2026 to Take Better Photos

    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

    22 min

  7. 19/12/2025

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

    Send a text 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  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. The Fresh Patch Podcast - Where Good Pets Get It. 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

    52 min

  8. 05/12/2025

    Composition Made Simple: The Rule of Thirds for Beginners

    Send a text 📸 Photography Explained Podcast - Episode 221🎯 Composition Made Simple: The Rule of Thirds for Beginners Host: Rick McEvoy 🇬🇧 | Duration: ⏱️ 23 minutes ⚡ What Is This? The Rule of Thirds is a cheat code 🎮 that instantly makes your photos more interesting. Divide your frame into 9 equal parts (like noughts and crosses), place your subject on the lines or intersection points, and watch your photos transform. Works for cameras 📷 and phones 📱. No jargon. Just results. 🎓 The 7 Essential Tips 📍 1. Position Your Subject Put eyes on intersection points for portraits. Near the line is fine. 🏔️ 2. Landscape Horizons Interesting sky? → Horizon on lower third  Interesting foreground? → Horizon on upper third 🏃 3. Action & Movement Give moving subjects space to move into the frame. ⚠️ 4. Avoid These Mistakes Don't obsess over pixel-perfect alignmentDon't forget about your backgroundDon't use it mindlessly🔓 5. When to Break the Rule Symmetry, patterns, and tight portraits often work better centered. 🔗 6. Combine with Other Techniques Use with leading lines, negative space, and framing. 🏛️ 7. Architectural Photography Position buildings on vertical lines. Keep verticals vertical. 📋 Quick Recap The Grid: 2 horizontal + 2 vertical lines = 9 equal parts The Power Points: 4 intersection points where lines cross The Default: Use it for everything until you know when to break it 🎬 Your Challenge 1️⃣ Turn on your grid (Settings → Camera → Grid)  2️⃣ Take 3 photos using the Rule of Thirds  3️⃣ Take the same 3 photos centered  4️⃣ Compare and see the difference 📱 Phone Users iPhone: Settings → Camera → Grid ✅ Android: Camera app → ⚙️ → Grid Lines ✅ Pro Tip: Tap to focus on intersection points = perfect focus + composition! 🎯 🔗 More Episodes 📻 220: The Photographer's Eye - See Great Photos Before You Take Them 📻 218: Train Your Eye - Master Photography Right Where You Are 📻 217: The Art of Light - From Harsh to Heavenly 🚀 Next Week: Episode 222 The Best of The Photography Explained Podcast: 20 Essential Tips Rick's going through 220+ episodes to pull out the absolute best. Can't wait! 🤩 🔗 Connec  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

    22 min
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Photography stuff explained in plain English by me, Rick, in less than 27(ish) minutes without the irrelevant details. I explain one photographic thing per episode, providing just enough information to help you understand it, improve your photography and take better photos, all without delving into endless, irrelevant details. I am a professionally qualified photographer based in the UK and amongst other things I help photographers take better photos. If you want me to answer your question, head to rickmcevoyphotography.com/podcast. How utterly splendid.

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