This list includes 55 Photography words that start with M, from “Macro” to “Multiple exposure”. They cover camera settings, composition techniques, lighting terms, and post-processing concepts used in still and motion work.
Photography words that start with M are concise terms covering equipment, techniques, and edits you encounter in photography. Many trace back to film-era practice, like “Monochrome” and “Multiple exposure”.
Below you’ll find the table with Term, Definition, and Usage.
Term: The word or phrase itself, so you can quickly find the exact concept or feature you need.
Definition: A brief plain-language meaning that explains the term and helps you understand usage in practice.
Usage: Notes on where and when the term applies, with examples to help you apply it in projects.
Photography words that start with M
| Term | Abbreviation/Alt spelling | Category | Typical units/values |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macro | Technique | magnification ratios 1:1, 1:2 | |
| Macro lens | Equipment | focal lengths 35–200 mm, 1:1 magnification | |
| Magnification | Metric | ratios e.g., 1:1, 1:2 | |
| Manual | Mode | exposure set by user (aperture, shutter, ISO) | |
| Manual focus | MF | Technique | distance, focus ring rotation |
| Manual mode | M | Mode | exposure values set by user |
| Manual white balance | MWB | Setting | temperature in K e.g., 2,500–10,000 K |
| Matrix metering | Metering | multi-zone weighting values | |
| Meter | Light meter | Equipment | lux, EV readings |
| Metering | Concept | modes: matrix, spot, center-weighted | |
| Megapixel | MP | Metric | 1,000,000 pixels |
| Metadata | Concept | EXIF, IPTC, XMP tags | |
| Merge to HDR | HDR merge | Technique | bracketed exposures e.g., −2, 0, +2 EV |
| Micro Four Thirds | MFT | Format | sensor ~17.3×13.0 mm |
| Microcontrast | Concept | local contrast levels | |
| Microlens array | Microlens | Equipment | lenslet size in µm |
| Midtones | Concept | values around middle gray | |
| Mirror | reflex mirror | Equipment | flipping mirror in DSLR |
| Mirror lockup | Technique | delay seconds | |
| Mirrorless | Equipment | sensor sizes: full-frame, APS-C, MFT | |
| Monochrome | B&W | Format | 8-bit, 16-bit grayscale |
| Monochrome sensor | Equipment | no color filter array | |
| Monopod | Equipment | heights ~1–2 m | |
| Monolight | Equipment | power in Ws e.g., 300 Ws | |
| Modelling light | Modelling lamp | Equipment | bulb watts e.g., 100–300 W |
| Moiré | Moire pattern | Artifact | visible colored bands or ripples |
| Motion blur | Technique | shutter speed e.g., 1/30 s, 1 s | |
| Motion tracking | Technique | tracking area sizes | |
| Multiple exposure | Technique | counts e.g., 2–10 frames | |
| Multi-point AF | Setting | AF points e.g., 9–693 | |
| Multi-segment metering | Metering | segments vary by camera | |
| Multi-shot | Technique | image stacks e.g., 4–16 frames | |
| Multi-flash | Technique | number of flash units | |
| Mask | Layer mask | Concept | feather %, opacity % |
| Masking | Technique | feather, density settings | |
| Matte | Matte finish | Finish | gloss vs matte |
| Matte box | Equipment | filter sizes 4×5.65″, 4×4″ | |
| Medium format | Format | sensor sizes ~44×33 mm to 53×40 mm | |
| Median stacking | Technique | stack counts e.g., 10–100 | |
| Memory card | Equipment | GB sizes e.g., 32, 64, 256 GB | |
| Metering lock | AE lock | Setting | lock until release |
| Minimum focus distance | MFD | Metric | e.g., 0.15–0.50 m |
| Mode dial | Equipment | P, A, S, M labels | |
| Modifier | Light modifier | Equipment | softbox, umbrella, grid, snoot |
| Mobile photography | Concept | smartphone sensors mm², apps | |
| Monochrome conversion | Technique | bit depth e.g., 8, 16-bit | |
| Manual flash | Setting | power fractions e.g., 1/1–1/128 | |
| Manual ISO | Setting | ISO values e.g., 100–12,800 | |
| Manual lens | Equipment | no electronic contacts | |
| Macro mode | Setting | close focus distance | |
| Macro stacking | Technique | stack counts e.g., 5–200 | |
| Maximum aperture | Metric | f/1.2, f/2.8, f/22 | |
| Maximum sync speed | Sync speed | Metric | e.g., 1/200 s, 1/250 s |
| Makernote | Maker note | Metadata | camera model-specific tags |
| Model release | Format | signed form |
Descriptions
Macro
Close-up photography of small subjects where the subject is life-size or larger on the sensor, showing fine detail.
Macro lens
Lens designed for close focusing and high magnification, used for detailed shots of insects, flowers, and small objects.
Magnification
Ratio of subject size on the sensor to real life; used to describe how large a subject appears in macro photography.
Manual
Camera exposure setting where the photographer controls aperture, shutter speed and ISO for full control.
Manual focus
Focusing method where the photographer adjusts the lens focus by hand instead of using autofocus.
Manual mode
Camera shooting mode that gives full manual control over aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
Manual white balance
White balance set by the user with a reference or Kelvin value to produce accurate colors under specific light.
Matrix metering
Multi-zone metering system that evaluates the whole scene to determine exposure, also called evaluative or multi-zone metering.
Meter
Device or camera function that measures scene brightness to help calculate the correct exposure.
Metering
Process of measuring light in a scene to determine exposure; different modes prioritize different parts of the frame.
Megapixel
Unit equal to one million pixels; sensor and image resolution is commonly described in megapixels.
Metadata
Information stored with an image file about camera settings, date, location and copyright.
Merge to HDR
Combining multiple exposures with different brightness into a single image to increase dynamic range.
Micro Four Thirds
Mirrorless camera system and sensor format known for compact bodies and lenses with a smaller, standardized sensor size.
Microcontrast
Small-scale contrast between adjacent tones that affects perceived sharpness and texture in an image.
Microlens array
Tiny lenses placed over sensor pixels to improve light collection and enable some autofocus or metering features.
Midtones
Image tones between shadows and highlights; adjusting midtones changes overall perceived brightness without crushing blacks or blowing highlights.
Mirror
The moving mirror in a DSLR that reflects light to the optical viewfinder and flips up when the picture is taken.
Mirror lockup
Feature that locks the DSLR mirror in the up position before exposure to reduce vibration and improve sharpness at slow shutter speeds.
Mirrorless
Camera design without a reflex mirror, using electronic viewfinders or the rear screen for composing images.
Monochrome
Black-and-white or single-channel image mode that emphasizes tone, texture and contrast rather than color.
Monochrome sensor
Sensor without a color filter array that captures luminance only, offering higher sharpness and sensitivity for B&W imaging.
Monopod
Single-leg support that stabilizes the camera while allowing greater mobility than a tripod.
Monolight
Standalone studio strobe with built-in power supply and controls, used for portable studio lighting.
Modelling light
Continuous lamp on a studio flash that previews how the light will fall on the subject for composition and posing.
Moiré
Interference pattern that appears when fine repeating details exceed sensor resolution or interact with the demosaic algorithm.
Motion blur
Blur caused by subject or camera movement during exposure; used creatively or avoided to maintain sharpness.
Motion tracking
Autofocus mode that follows moving subjects across the frame to keep them in focus while they move.
Multiple exposure
Combining two or more exposures in-camera or in editing to create layered or artistic composite images.
Multi-point AF
Autofocus mode using several focus points to detect and track subjects across the frame.
Multi-segment metering
Metering method dividing the frame into many zones to calculate exposure by weighing information across the scene.
Multi-shot
Using multiple images taken in succession for purposes like noise reduction, high-resolution stacking, or motion composites.
Multi-flash
Using multiple flash units to shape light, control shadows, and add dimensionality to a scene.
Mask
Editing tool used to hide or reveal parts of an image for selective adjustments or seamless composites.
Masking
Creating and refining masks to isolate areas for exposure, color or retouching changes.
Matte
Non-reflective print or screen finish that reduces glare and often produces softer contrast.
Matte box
Accessory that holds filters and blocks stray light/flaring, commonly used in video and large-format lens setups.
Medium format
Larger sensor format that delivers higher resolution and tonal range than typical full-frame sensors.
Median stacking
Combining multiple images using the median of pixels to reduce noise or remove moving objects from a sequence.
Memory card
Removable storage media for images and video; common formats include SD, microSD and CFexpress.
Metering lock
Feature that locks an exposure reading from a selected area while you recompose the shot.
Minimum focus distance
Closest distance at which a lens can focus clearly on a subject.
Mode dial
A camera control that selects shooting modes such as Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual.
Modifier
Accessory used to change the quality, spread or direction of light from a flash or continuous source.
Mobile photography
Photography using smartphones, often relying on compact optics and computational processing via apps.
Monochrome conversion
Process of turning a color image into black-and-white while adjusting tones and contrast for a desired look.
Manual flash
Flash mode where output is set manually rather than controlled automatically by TTL systems.
Manual ISO
Setting the camera’s sensitivity to light manually to control noise and exposure consistently.
Manual lens
Lens that requires manual focusing and often manual aperture control, commonly used for simplicity or legacy glass.
Macro mode
Camera scene mode optimized for close-up focusing and exposure adjustments when photographing small subjects.
Macro stacking
Taking many images at different focus distances in macro photography and combining them to increase depth of field.
Maximum aperture
Largest possible aperture of a lens; lower f-number means a wider opening, more light and shallower depth of field.
Maximum sync speed
Fastest shutter speed at which a camera can synchronize with a flash without causing partial exposure or black bands.
Makernote
Manufacturer-specific metadata embedded in image files that contains detailed camera and lens information.
Model release
Legal document signed by a person giving the photographer permission to use their likeness for commercial purposes.