What is Shutter Speed? In very simple terms, shutter speed is the time it takes for the shutter on the camera to open and close. When the shutter is open, light is let in to the sensor and when it is closed, no light gets in.

The longer the shutter is open, the greater the amount of light that is let in. The more light, the brighter your image will be.

Conversely, the shorter the shutter is open, the less light that is let in.

Shutter speeds are typically recorded in fractions of a second: