Photography help needed, I'm a noob

Question

Hiya

I really want to take up photography, and am willing to spend the time and money to get good. However, I'm really not sure how I should go about starting.

What should I do? Sign up for a course? Buy a book?

How much should I spend on a camera initially?

Answer 1

About 1 year ago I got on Flickr.com with some of my own pictures. But the key is looking at others and seeing what catches your eye, then try to imitate them. With digital photography you can just take lots of pictures. Put them out there for others to see,

Try to objectively compare yours to the ones you like.

One thing that has struck me about some of the pictures that I think are really great is that they were taken with a point and shoot.

Answer 2

I'd suggest a beginning photography course- in most cases those require you to own a camera which allows fully manual operation- I'd wait until finding out what's acceptable (or recommended) before purchasing.

Depending upon the course, you might initially be working with a film or digital camera...

Answer 3

The foremost important component is your skill set. In other words, you can not be a photographer if you don't know how to take, compose and make photos.

Here is my item list based on my own personal experience:

a) Get a Digital SLR. I recommend the Canon 40D sold at Costco for about $1300 with a single lens. Once you become familiar with the Camera you will begin making a list of the lenses to add later on depending on your style

b) Get a set of external light modifiers. I recommend the Sigma 500 series flash at about $210 is cheaper than Canon's, the Adorama Budget Studio Monolight Flash with a snoot and soft box for about $100, Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson for about $20

c) Print a nice photoalbum of the best pictures you have taken to show you work

d) If you have taken pictures of other people print their best pictures in 5x7 or 8x10 and give them away so they see how good photographer you are. They might hang them on their walls and their friends ask who took the picture

e) Get a domain name of your own (not a free one from yahoo or else) something like www.kntmendoza.net to showcase your photography and for people to see their proofs and place their orders

f) Make it a point to take one picture a day that would be a 'money-shot': a picture someone might be willing to pay for it

g) Become so good that people will come to you and work around your personal schedule. That works for me

h) Become familiar with Photoshop at least to be able to offer the same shot in Color, B/W, Sephia and learn to crop the pictures or create collages

Got any questions?

Answer 4

Links for beginners

http://www.squidoo.com/photografr#module...

Answer 5

if you are using  a digital camera you can find support from their web site that will get you stared

Answer 6

i would start a course buy a cheap camara and when u get good buy an expensive camara