But what happens when you’ve opened your aperture as wide as it goes and your shutter is as slow as you can hold it, and the photo is still too dark? Enter ISO. Whether you’re shooting a digital mirrorless or a roll of 35mm film, ISO determines how "loud" your camera hears the light. Here is the no-gatekeeping guide to mastering sensitivity.

If Aperture is the pupil of your eye, Shutter Speed is the eyelid. It’s the duration of time the camera’s sensor (or film) is "looking" at the world. In the digital world, we often use it to keep things sharp, but in the creative world – especially here at KatieKPrintStudio – we use it to play with reality. Whether you’re shooting a fast-moving street scene or a still life in the studio, here is the no-gatekeeping breakdown of how to master time.

Let’s talk about Camera Bar. Located at 75 Asylum Street, if you aren’t looking for it, you might actually miss it. It’s tucked away in that unassuming, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot, but don't let the quiet exterior fool you. This place has been the heartbeat of the Connecticut photo scene for over 60 years. They recently hit their 70th Anniversary, which is basically a century in "creative years."

If you’ve ever looked at a photo and wondered why the background looks like a creamy, out-of-focus dream – or why a landscape looks so sharp you can see every individual leaf – you’re looking at Aperture. Most people call it "the blur button," but it’s actually the most important decision you make before you hit the shutter. Whether you’re shooting on a brand-new mirrorless or a 40-year-old Nikon film SLR, the rules are exactly the same. Let’s get into it.

Multiple cameras and countless rolls of film later, I'm still just as mesmerized. My journey has taken me from instant, plastic cameras to heavy, manual ones, and from quick digital snaps to the patient, rewarding work of developing film (although these days, I go to Camera Bar in Hartford to get my film processed & developed. I will always miss the darkroom...)