Having the ability to create beautiful and meaningful artwork through photography is such a joy! I remember when I first started with a digital SLR. I feel as if I got lost in the magic of it all for years. There was the ever-present thrill of learning new things and challenging myself to create. It is also fun to have such supportive feedback from sharing something you are proud of! Most importantly- there is such invaluable power of stopping time. My friend Christy calls me the “memory keeper.” I can’t even begin to tell you how many thankful e-mails I have received regarding images that I have taken at events and weddings. Emails highlight simple candids of happy people- which unknowingly were the last photographs of their time on Earth with loved ones. It is such an honor to create something so special for so many people- and have fun while doing it!

What started as an enjoyable hobby quickly became an all-consuming obsession. I would skip class most days to get lost in Flickr forums. I learned about digital vs film, photoshop techniques, double exposures and fell in love with photojournalism. Apart from conferences and workshops years and years down the road, the entirety of my photography foundation I learned online… for free! It was a shock when people began to ask me if they could pay me for something I loved so much I would do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My expensive hobby began to pay for itself and I was afforded a world of new possibilities for advancement in something I genuinely lived for.

This is why it is so exciting when friends ask me about how they can begin a journey that is so near to my heart. I love it! So let’s talk equipment. I am often asked about what starter dSLR cameras I recommend. Since I’m never shopping in the entry level camera market, I had zero clue about what was the latest and greatest. This weekend I took some time to really do some research for myself so that I can be more helpful to you guys! Let’s break a few things down together… and feel free to ask me anything. I am an open book!

Things to Consider

1. What do I want to shoot?
2. Do I want a camera to document the world and people around me for fun, or possibly move towards photography for profit?
3. How much time and money am I willing to invest to learn my equipment and improve my craft?

First, I have to clear up an unfortunate misconception. Having a “nice camera” will not make you a good photographer. Expensive equipment does not equal brilliant photos. In fact, some of my most favorite photographers shoot with film cameras from the 70’s that they got for $30 from a yard sale. Seriously! They shoot magazine editorials with them and create some of the most beautiful photos I have ever seen.

I’ll post some of my film photos below… and if you’re interested in learning more about film equipment check out this blog post.

The secret is knowing your equipment, exposure and lighting basics. That’s it! My suggestion is to buy equipment well suited for your photography end goals and start from there.

Will I invest time and possibly additional funds learning my equipment and photography skills? (Another way to ask this question is if you foresee yourself taking your camera off of the “Auto” mode)

NO: Don’t judge me for what I am about to say. But I think the iPhone is the way to go! It’s always with you and you’d be surprised by how much you can do with your iPhone. I recently upgraded to the 7+ because it has an incredible camera. Paired with the new Portrait Mode and 12 Megapixels, it’s actually more advanced than the dSLR I started with! I would do some reading up on lighting, posing techniques, etc. I would also download the VSCO app for editing. Below I have included some images I shot with the 7+. I have only had it a few days, but look for an iPhone only post this week for more examples!

YES: So you are wanting to dig a little deeper to learn how to use your equipment! Woohoo! See ya later, Auto mode- we didn’t need you anyways ????. From here we will start with financial investment to determine what camera body is best for you. I will also make some lens suggestions because believe it or not the lens impacts image quality more than the camera body itself. I could (and should!) write an entire lengthy blog post about lenses. But for now, here’s the short of it. Make note if you are buying a full frame camera you need FX lenses, and if you are buying a cropped sensor camera you will need a DX lens. I have linked to the specific one you need with each camera recommendation below. There’s the focal length- The lower the “mm” number the wider the lens. Be aware that there is some image distortion at wider angles. Most of the best portrait lenses range are 85mm, 105mm, 135mm, 200mm. The last factor to consider when choosing a lens is the aperture range. An incredibly simplified way to state it is that the lower the f/# the more light it is able to let in, making it a bit faster. Lenses with with lower f/# tend to be higher quality.

KIT LENS: These are the lenses bundled in to packages with cameras. It should be no surprise that they are bundled into the package because it’s a cost effective way to provide you with a lens. It will do just fine, but the quality tends to leave something to be desired. Really the only time I recommend buying a bundled camera + kit lens is if you are wanting to shoot sports/your child at ballet or something where the subject is isolated from far away. I would start with that lens and then decide if you want to invest in some higher quality zoom lenses. They can be pricey, especially if you want a great one for low light shooting like a football field at night.

PRIME LENS: They have a fixed focus but are excellent in low light and for creating that painterly effect where one thing is in focus and the background is beautifully blurred. Be prepared to do some moving around to frame photos… but I thoroughly recommend them. I only shoot with prime lenses! Mostly a 35mm, 50mm, 85mm.

If you are just wanting to make a minimal investment to see if photography is something that you would like to pursue… I recommend getting a Nikon d80 (about $150). THIS WAS MY FIRST DIGITAL CAMERA! YAY NOSTALGIA! It’s an older model, but performs beautifully. The main reason I recommend this one is because the aperture and shutter speed is set by two separate command dials, which makes learning very intuitive. I would pair the d80 with a 35mm lens for about $170 or 50mm lens for about the same price. The 35mm lens is a little wider than the 50mm. The 50mm is my personal favorite between the two, but I have heard some of my friends who are mothers say that they desire a 35mm focal length to capture running children/people in tighter spaces a little better.

If you are wanting a nicer camera for personal photography , I recommend sticking with a cropped sensor camera, like the Nikon D5300 and pair that with two lenses. I recommend the 35mm lens ($170) first, then the 50mm lens. These are both prime lenses.

If you want to spend a little more, I have to great options for about $500. The Canon Rebel T6  and Nikon D3400 are both cheap and current. I personally prefer Nikon because I have found that especially in the entry level market- ISO capability (image quality in low light) are better with the Nikon models. Many of my photographer friends have switched from Canon to Nikon in recent years for this reason!

If you are considering spending $500-$1000 I have some great suggestions for you.

I LOVE THE NIKON d700! It was my first professional dSLR. I recommend starting here if you are wanting to not only shoot incredible images but expand upon this hobby and possibly move towards profiting from photography. I would buy the Nikon d700 body ($700) and pair it with a prime lens. I would recommend starting with a 50mm lens ($180). This combination is simply the best because the d700 is a full frame camera (FX) opposed to a cropped sensor (DX) body. These cameras are more advanced. You can learn more about full frame and cropped sensors from my friend Pye Jirsa here: https://www.slrlounge.com/workshop/crop-vs-full-frame-cameras/. You should definitely check out SLR Lounge. It is an INCREDIBLE resource for photographers. I so wish I had found it when I was learning photography.

If you are looking for a high end option and have some money to spend- I recommend a Nikon d750. This is what I shoot with! It totals to about $1800 with body only. It boasts of the most incredible ISO capabilities and performs beautifully.

Additional recommendations: 

Don’t forget to stock up on memory cards! Check to see if the camera uses CF or SD cards. Either way, I highly recommend using Sandisk cards.

For editing, hands down the best software is Adobe Lightroom. I use their Creative Cloud option which is less than $10 a month and includes Photoshop and Lightroom.

Final Thoughts:

As you are swimming in all of this information I want to reiterate one important thing- it is not about the equipment! It’s about how you push yourself to learn how to use what you have to create something beautiful and meaningful. It’s okay to start small and invest in your equipment as your needs grow with your skillset and goals. Have grace with yourself in the process- like anything it comes with practice. If you are like me and learn best with one-on-one direction I am happy to discuss mentoring or workshop opportunities. Shoot me an email to callie.beale@gmail.com and I am happy to help with mentorship or any questions you may have!