Your top three things before pressing the shutter...

Hi all,

Just as a matter of interest, and as a way of perhaps collecting ideas/hints/tips/etc., what three things do you always think/check before you press the shutter? For example:

1. Check ISO
2. Make sure head in a clean spot
3. Get subject to say 'cheese'

Or something like that!

David

1) Am I feeling something in what I am looking at?

No - don't press the shutter
Yes - press the shutter

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15451607
1) Am I feeling something in what I am looking at?

No - don't press the shutter
Yes - press the shutter

Woooooow, that IS clever ! Awesome, wll dobe on that post sir.

1. Treat cameras as if they are loaded.
2. Point the lens away from non-subjects.
3. Keep fingers off the shutter.
4. Be sure of your subject is and of what is beyond it.

Check Meter
Check Focus(I use a MF lens 90% of the time)
Frame the shot(although I suck at composition)

Ha Ha

Make sure the cards are in the camera and they are formatted-- Dont ask:o

umphotography wrote in post #15452122
Ha Ha

Make sure the cards are in the camera and they are formatted-- Dont ask:o

I solve this one by setting up the camera so it won't fire without a card.

Will the client want to make a 40x60 for their wall?
Yes = fire!

Removing the lens cap has got to be up there somewhere

EOS_Fan wrote in post #15452852
Removing the lens cap has got to be up there somewhere

I'm surprised it took up to post #8

What's a lens cap?

Most of what I do takes place before I ever push the shutter so the only things I think about as I'm pushing it are: is the image even (not tilted) and are everyone's eyes open and looking my way (if that's what I'm going for at the time).

1. check focus

2. double check focus

3. there is no #3

Seriously, everything else from ISO to metering to removing lens caps took place long before.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #15451607
1) Am I feeling something in what I am looking at?

No - don't press the shutter
Yes - press the shutter

Love that answer - I always try to feel something in what I'm about to shoot.

My other is "is it straight?" I sometimes wonder if one of my legs is longer than the other!

EOS_Fan wrote in post #15452852
Removing the lens cap has got to be up there somewhere

I call that ISO 6400 mode...

1) remove hot pink post it note reminding me to make sure i put a battery and card in the camera. (Before I leave for the shoot)
2) remove lens cap
3) look over all the settings to make sure they are appropriate for what I'm shooting.

umphotography wrote in post #15452122
Ha Ha

Make sure the cards are in the camera and they are formatted-- Dont ask:o

I once drove from Ottawa to Toronto the day after a wedding... just outside of Toronto, I was meeting a couple for their engagement shoot at a very popular waterfall...
after roughly 7 hours of driving, I arrived a bit tired, but ready to go... or so I thought...
slapped my dual strap on... hooked up the cameras, locked the truck and headed down a whole bunch of stairs, down a long-ish path, climbed over some rocks, and when it was finally time to shoot I realized all cards are locked in the truck...
Future groom was nice enough to run up and get them - he figured he would get there a lot faster than I would with all this gear!