Cameras come in all shapes and sizes, from film to digital storage devices, large and small, from cheap to expensive and everything in between. They even alter in pretty colors (black is the best of course) so the user definitely has choice. However, like with most things in life, you get what you pay for. So, going the most affordable route may end up getting lesser results. Not that this always the case but it tends to generally be the case. The cameras that cost more usually provide more features, conveniences and more control over the photographs we capture. But, everybody is different. Their needs are different. Their desired outcomes are different. Some modern motion pictures are actually shot on cheaper film just so the director can acquire that “grainy,” low-tech look that is hard to duplicate in more perfect image capturing cameras.

For our photography purposes, we will be shooting with the Nikon D3300 (packed with features and functionality – so many features and so much functionality in fact that we need a guide just to figure out all that’s involved with it. There are things to consider like how to focus (manually or automatically) the lens, how to enable/disable the flash, set the Aperture, Shutter Speed, Exposure, perform Single or Burst shooting, etc. There is a lot to learn.

Shutter Speed
Shutter Speed is the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second, when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow more light into the camera sensor and are used for low-light and night photography, while fast shutter speeds help to freeze motion.
Examples of shutter speeds: 1/15 (1/15th of a second), 1/30, 1/60, 1/125.

*This statement was stolen from this website! - beause the author presents the content like they actually know what they're talking about).

Aperature
Aperature is the length of time a camera shutter is open to expose light into the camera sensor. Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second, when they are under a second. Slow shutter speeds allow more light into the camera sensor and are used for low-light and night photography, while fast shutter speeds help to freeze motion.
Examples of shutter speeds: 1/15 (1/15th of a second), 1/30, 1/60, 1/125.

*I would love to claim credit for this entry, but I actually stole it from this website

ISO (Brigtness/Darkness)
ISO is a way to brighten your photos if you can’t use a longer shutter speed or a wider aperture. It is typically measured in numbers, a lower number representing a darker image, while higher numbers mean a brighter image. However, raising your ISO comes at a cost. As the ISO rises, so does the visibility of graininess/noise in your images.
Examples of ISO: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600.

*And, yet again, I am honest enough to tell you that I stole this from this website!

Exposure
In photography, exposure is the amount of light which reaches your camera sensor or film. It is a crucial part of how bright or dark your pictures appear.

You can read all about Exposure here!

• If your camera has been sitting out in the cold, when it is brought inside you should let the camera sit until it reaches room temperature before operating it. The camera produces some heat and can cause the lense to fog up due to condensation.
  
  
• You can use your camera strap as a form of stabilizer (when a tripod is not available). Wrap the strap around your arm and tighten it up so that it's not super tight, but tight enough so that the camer feels like it will not move as long as your hold your arm steady.
  
  
• Use multiple SD cards for different purposes. Professionals will employ one SD card for wedding photos and another for Family photos, etc. 
  
  
• Always keep your lens cap on when not in use (even if you're simply moving to a different location). Accidentally bumping the lens against a wall, a door, a seet of keys in someone's hands, a metal railing, etc., can damage the lens and make it unusable. 
  
  
• Never remove the lens and touch the inside of the camera lens opening itself. This is a highly sensitive area of the camera and  dust, oils from your skin, moisture, etc can cause the camera to stop functioning properly. If this is the case, the camera must be sent to a lab for proper cleaning and recalibration. 
  
  
• Never be afraid to experiment. Using stock settings on a camera is perfectly fine. But, to really understand this tool, try different things. Research and set your ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperature to different settings to find out how they interact.