He emphasizes that following these simple rules will help capture better, more meaningful images and deliver consistent results.

According to Brady Shearer, there are six essential and easy-to-follow rules that every church photographer should know. They include:
1. Wear Dark Clothing
Shearer explains that photographing in church requires not drawing attention to yourself. “You never want to be an obtrusive presence. Dark shirts, pants, and even shoes are especially useful if your church has a darker sanctuary.”

2. Shoot With a Long Lens
“The easiest way to capture organic interactions at church is with a telephoto lens. A 70mm–200mm will be your best friend. This way, you can physically keep your distance but still get close to your subject.”

3. Use Burst Mode
He reminds photographers that in group conversations, a single photo may catch someone in an unflattering pose. “Burst mode will give you more options just fractions of seconds apart to hopefully find that shot where everyone looks their best.”

4. Take Plenty of Photos
Shearer notes that great church photographers don’t rely on every shot they take. “Some of the best church photographers I know discard 80% or more of what they shoot on Sunday. The more you shoot, the more bangers you’ll have once you get into editing.”

5. Never Ask for Poses
“A group of people are chatting in the lobby, and you approach saying, ‘Just taking a few photos—act natural!’ Well, I can guarantee you we’re not going to look natural now. The best photos come from capturing people as they are, not when they’re posed.”

6. Use Presets
Finally, Shearer highlights the importance of presets in editing. “Presets help you develop a consistent aesthetic and dramatically speed up your editing workflow. I’ve got four free presets to share—just comment ‘Presets’ on my post and I’ll send you the link.”

Brady Shearer concludes by underscoring his mission: to help churches navigate the most significant communication shift in the last 500 years. He states: “I’m Brady Shearer. I help churches navigate the biggest communication shift in 500 years. If this post was helpful, give it a like and make sure you save it for future reference.”

These rules highlight how intentionality and professionalism in photography can strengthen the bond between photographers and the church community, ensuring that moments of worship are preserved with excellence and authenticity.

He frequently shares practical, high-quality content—like the “Rules For Church Photographers”—to support church creatives. In that post, he outlines six simple but powerful guidelines (e.g., wearing dark clothing, using telephoto lenses, employing burst mode, and leveraging presets) to help photographers capture authentic, polished images in church settings