You don’t need a ton of camera Stuff!
The most exciting thing about photography is all the super cool gear you get to buy! Every year, Nikon, Canon, and Sony release fancy new DSLR cameras, lenses, and gadgets to make your photo-taking easier.
But if you’re just starting out, all you need is a camera body and a good lens. And unlike when I was making my first DSLR purchase almost 15 years ago (it was the second generation Canon Rebel, btw), cameras and lenses today are all generally pretty good. I also recommend buying better equipment that is used (and therefore cheaper) over brand new. Most lenses last several decades, and the ones that are sold used tend to be in great shape still. Buy from a reputable place, like B&H, to make sure you get a quality product.
One other tip is to not be swayed by fancy new features that tend to be useless for a majority of people. Nobody needs wi-fi enabled cameras (battery drain), huge megapixel counts (unless you’re also upgrading your storage and editing hardware), super high ISOs (useless), and 4K video (unless you’re also investing in a stabilization rig).
Recommended gear for starting out: A good camera body by Nikon or Canon and a 50mm or 35mm fixed lens. Read no-nonsense gear reviews by Ken Rockwell before buying.
Invest in Education
Having a camera is the first step.. knowing how to actually use that camera is going to take some learning. It’s easy to get overwhelmed once the thrill of a new camera passes. It can be frustrating to see beautiful images online and not be able to achieve them. The truth is, all cameras are pretty much the same. The difference in the final image comes from knowledge of the person taking the picture. Figure out how you best learn new information: do you prefer self-paced video tutorials, in-person classes, or reading a book? And start learning! This is one of the best aspects of having photography as a hobby – you get to learn new things all the time, discover detailed information, and see results pretty much immediately when you try things out with your camera.
Recommended for learning: CreativeLive (free classes when you watch live) and Click Photo School (affordable online courses). Also, try asking a local photographer you admire to sit down with you and teach you the basics!
