The 5 Decisions Every Photograph Is Built On
Most beginners think photography starts with camera settings.
Shutter speed. Aperture. ISO.
Get those right, and the photo should work… right?
But that assumption is why so many photographers feel stuck.
Every photograph—good or bad—is the result of five decisions, and none of them start with your camera. Long before you touch a dial, these decisions have already shaped the outcome.
Here’s the framework most people are never taught.
1. Light
Light is the foundation of everything.
Its direction.
Its quality.
Its contrast.
Light determines mood, shape, and depth before technique ever enters the conversation. Strong light forgives technical imperfection. Weak light exposes every mistake and makes viewers move on quickly.
Most beginners try to fix photos that were already decided by the light.
2. Location
Location isn’t about finding something “cool.”
It’s about control.
Backgrounds.
Working distance.
How the light behaves in that space.
Professionals don’t hunt for pretty locations. They choose locations that support the light and simplify the frame.
3. Concept
This is the missing step for most photographers.
What is the photo about?
What are you trying to show?
What matters—and what doesn’t?
Without concept, even good light produces forgettable images. Concept gives the photograph direction before a single technical choice is made.
4. Technique
Only now does the camera enter the picture.
Shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focus, lens choice—these are tools, not solutions. Technique exists to serve the first three decisions, not replace them.
When technique leads, photos feel random.
When technique follows, photos feel intentional.
5. Expression
This is the human element.
Emotion.
Gesture.
Timing.
Presence.
The X factor in this image that's not in others in the series.
A photo with perfect technique but no expression feels empty. A photo with real expression—even imperfect—feels alive.
This applies to portraits, wildlife, street, sports… everything.
Why This Framework Changes How You Learn
Notice what’s missing from this list:
No camera brand.
No upgrades.
No secret settings.
Those things matter—but only after the decisions are right.
Most photography frustration isn’t caused by a lack of talent or gear. It comes from never being taught how experienced photographers think before they press the button.
This framework is just the surface. Each decision has depth, structure, and repeatable ways to practice it deliberately.
That’s what Lightspeed Training is built around—learning to see and make these decisions instinctively, in the right order, no matter what camera is in your hands.
Photography isn’t about memorizing settings.
It’s about learning how to decide.