Just Got a Canon T6? A Beginner’s Tutorial to Your First 5 Shots

Congratulations on your new Canon Rebel T6! You’ve just taken your first step into a larger world of creative photography. But looking at all the buttons, dials, and menu options can be incredibly intimidating. Where do you even begin?

The best way to learn is by doing. This simple guide will walk you through the most important settings and give you five easy “assignments” to help you take your first creative photos and start understanding what your new camera can do.

For these exercises, we’ll use the “Mode Dial” on top of your camera. Let’s get started!

First, The Essential Setting: Image Quality

Before you do anything else, go into your camera’s menu. Find the “Image quality” setting. Make sure it is set to “L” (Large) and the icon looks like a smooth quarter-circle, not a jagged one. This ensures you are shooting in the highest possible JPEG quality.

Shot #1: The Blurry Background Portrait (Aperture Priority Mode)

The #1 thing new photographers want is that professional-looking “blurry background” (called “bokeh”). Here’s how to get it.

1. Turn the Mode Dial to “Av” (Aperture Priority). This mode lets you control the background blur, and the camera handles the rest.
2. Look at your screen or through the viewfinder. Turn the small black dial near your thumb (the “Main Dial”). You will see the “F” number change.
3. Set the F-number as LOW as it will go. On the 18-55mm kit lens, this will be around f/3.5 or f/5.6 depending on your zoom. A lower F-number equals a blurrier background.
4. Get close to your subject (a person, a pet, a flower) and make sure the background is far away.
5. Take the picture. You’ll be amazed at the difference!

Shot #2: Freezing Motion (Shutter Priority Mode)

Want to capture a crisp, clear shot of something moving fast, like a running dog or a splashing fountain? You need a fast “shutter speed.”

1. Turn the Mode Dial to “Tv” (Shutter Priority). This mode lets you control motion, and the camera handles the rest.
2. Look at your screen. Use the Main Dial to change the shutter speed. It will look like a fraction (e.g., 1/60) or a number (e.g., 250).
3. Set the shutter speed to a high number, like 1/500 or 1/1000. A higher number freezes motion more effectively.
4. Find a moving subject and take the shot. Notice how the motion is frozen in time, with no blur.

Shot #3: Creating Motion Blur (Shutter Priority Mode)

Now let’s do the opposite! We can use a slow shutter speed to create artistic blur from things like flowing water or passing cars at night.

1. Keep the Mode Dial on “Tv”.
2. Set your camera on a steady surface. This is very important. A tripod is best, but a table or wall will work. You cannot hand-hold this shot.
3. Use the Main Dial to set the shutter speed to a low number, like 1″ or 5″ (the ” symbol means whole seconds).
4. Find a subject with continuous motion, like a waterfall or cars on a street at dusk.
5. Take the picture. You’ll see the moving parts of the image blur into beautiful, silky streaks.

Shot #4: The Sweeping Landscape (Scene Mode)

Sometimes you just want the camera to do the work. Scene modes are optimized for specific situations.

1. Turn the Mode Dial to “SCN” (Scene).
2. Use the touch screen or buttons to select the “Landscape” scene. It usually looks like a mountain icon.
3. Find a beautiful view.
4. Take the picture. The Landscape mode will automatically use settings that make everything sharp and colors (like blues and greens) more vibrant.

Shot #5: The No-Flash Indoor Shot (Creative Auto Mode)

Tired of harsh, ugly flash photos indoors? Let’s turn it off for good and use the available light.

1. Turn the Mode Dial to the green “A+” (Scene Intelligent Auto) or “CA” (Creative Auto).
2. Press the button on the side of the camera with the lightning bolt icon. This will pop up the flash.
3. Gently push the flash back down until it clicks into place. The camera now knows you don’t want to use it.
4. Find a person or object near a window.
5. Take the picture. The camera will automatically adjust its settings to use the natural light, creating a much softer and more pleasing image.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! The best part about digital photography is that you can take thousands of pictures for free. Keep practicing with these modes, and you’ll be on your way to mastering your Canon T6.