📷 Stepping Beyond Auto: Exploring Picture Styles

Most of us start with our cameras set to “Auto”—and for good reason. It’s convenient and usually gives decent results. But if you’ve ever wondered how to give your photos a different feel straight out of the camera, “Picture Styles” (or “Creative Styles” / “Film Simulations” depending on your brand) are a great place to begin.

These built-in styles subtly change how your camera processes an image—adjusting colour, contrast, and sharpness before the photo is even saved. It’s like having a photo editor quietly working in the background.

Here are a few common examples:

• Standard – balanced colour and contrast, good for everyday use.

• Vivid – adds punch to colours, great for landscapes or flowers.

• Portrait – softens skin tones slightly for more flattering people shots.

• Monochrome – gives you black-and-white images right away.

• Neutral / Flat – low contrast and saturation, useful if you plan to edit later.

Each camera manufacturer has their own spin:

• Canon: Picture Styles

• Nikon: Picture Controls

• Sony: Creative Styles

• Fujifilm: Film Simulations (with lovely nostalgic names like Velvia, Astia, Acros)

• Olympus: Picture Modes

You’ll usually find the setting in your camera’s menu or quick function screen. Google your camera model and the relevant “spin” to find how to set it. If nothing else, why not at least set out to learn how to do it. Or get adventurous and use it to take a picture or 2. For example, try setting your camera to “Monochrome” for a few days—seeing the world without colour might completely change how you compose!

And yes, phones do this too—if you're using Portrait mode or “Rich Contrast” in iPhone or Samsung camera apps, you’re already using styles!

Why Try It?

Exploring Picture Styles is a no-risk way to break free from fully automatic. It doesn’t change how you take the picture—just how the result looks. You stay in full control and can always go back to Auto later.

Why not try a different style this week and upload your results to the club folder? Whether it’s moody black and white or candy-bright colour, let your camera do some of the creative work for you.