Something you may not know is that I am not only a photographer, but I am also an educator! Yes! I have taught a class at UC Berkeley on beginner photography for a year now, and it has absolutely changed me as an artist.
I have recommended gear to my students, and overtime I think I have the perfect list for photographer’s beginning their portrait journey ❤️ One thing to note: a good camera is an investment (really! it is!). Not having to pay a photographer every time you want a good photo of your fam can help save you a lot of money and give you a lot of joy! (not to say you should never hire a professional, but sometimes photo-worthy moments happen at breakfast). So, let’s get into te good good stuff…
1. You need a camera! duh!
Now comes the age-old Canon vs. Nikon debate … here’s the thing… they are virtually the same camera.
What you need to do is go to a camera store (yes a physical store) and test out how the interface of each camera feels. Personally, my Canons fit my tiny hands and button preferences perfectly.
Regardless I am gonna give you a few suggestions…
- Canon 6D (link)
This is 100% the camera I recommend starting with for Canon… why not the rebel? The 6D has an EF mount that fits Canon’s higher-end lenses, so if you move to more serious work, this guy will serve you well for a long time.
2. Nikon D3500 (link)
For credit, Nikon mounts fit a lot more of their lenses than Canons. I shot on this camera when I took photography in high school, and it has all the things you need to master manual shooting.
3.FujiFilm X100F (link)
The truth is I have never tried this camera, but I’ve read about it extensively. This is the only one of the three that does not have exchangeable lenses – i.e you are stuck with the 23mm f/2. The simulation of film and feel of an analog camera is wonderful and serves a beginner photographer looking to take their camera on adventures.
2. Lenses ahh
The type of lens you need will depend on what kind of photography you wanna do. Since I only do portraits Imma give you my bestest recs
- 85mm
This is the secret to those buttery, blurry, luscious backgrounds in all of my senior photos. I started with a $300 canon 85mm 1.8 – I have since upgraded to lower f-stop capabilities but this baby stays in my bag when I need a lightweight and portable lens. Other good options are the Sigma 85mm 1.4 and the Nikon 85mm (Sigma lenses will mount to most cameras just check first)
The milky background in question:
2. 50mm
This lens is always always on my camera. It gives similar buttery backgrounds while being more versatile than the high zoom levels of an 85mm. If you’re looking to splurge on a go-to lens I recommend Canon EF 50mm 1.2, BUT the 50mm 1.8 is a $1,000 cheaper and is a powerful lens for beginners.
The 50mm being a one-size-fits-all for all locations:
3. 24-70mm
Now this one is great for those starting out in portrait and event photography because it is the most versatile little baby in my whole collection. The Canon one is way too pricy for a beginner so I recommend heading back to Sigma for there 24-79 f/2.8 (link). This is really the only non-prime (prime meaning only one focal length) lens I recommend. Lot’s of kits come with a camera body and a 18-55mm, but I truly think it’s worth spending the extra money to get the body and the lens separately so you can get exactly what you want.
The 24-70 not making me have to risk being hit by a car to get this shot (thank you wide angle):
3. The boring stuff
So you’ve got your camera and lens ready. Here’s a few things to look into to add some spice to your work:
– a reflector (wonderful to fill shadows for portraits) (link)
– a bag or carrier for your gear (gotta protect it)
I hope you all had the bestest time learning about some great newbie gear and that this is helpful for you! While you’re here…
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