Have you been thinking about picking up photography as a hobby, or turning it into a career? You might be asking yourself, “how does one become a photographer?” Take pictures. That’s it. If you take pictures, you are a photographer.
No, but really, if you want to be a photographer, get yourself a camera and start shooting. Some photographers might tell you you need the best equipment, you need a client list, you need the hottest models, or the best locations. That isn’t always true, I have seen lots of people who call themselves photographers because they own the latest camera, whose photos are just so so. Many of the best photographers I know were gifted a camera and started fiddling around with it and found a passion.
So, where do you get a camera? And what’s the best for beginners? I guess this depends on what medium you want to use first, digital or film. There are perks and downsides to both, let’s discuss.
Digital:
Instant gratification. You get to look at a photo on your camera and adjust your settings or adjust your subject as needed.
You have the ability to manipulate photos in software like Lightroom or Photoshop with less rigidity than film.
You have virtually unlimited space (depending on your SD or CF card) to take photos during a shoot. They are small, and take up very little space so you can easily carry more than one.
Weight, digital cameras are often lightweight and easy to travel with.
Cost, these bad boys can be pricey! My most recent camera purchase was a used in good condition Canon Mark IV, and I spent about $2000. Digital cameras can range from between $150-$6000. (But again you don’t need a $6000 camera to start.) Lenses are a whole other story, also insanely expensive, but absolutely worth the investment when you can make it
You need multiple batteries, there’s nothing worse than arriving to a shoot and an hour in, your camera battery dies.
Film:
I will admit, I am a little biased as a film shooter myself. So forgive me while I rant about why you should also become a film photographer.
A roll of film is usually limited to 24-36 frames if you are shooting 35mm or up to 15 frames if you are shooting 120 Film. I personally believe that shooting film encourages you to be more thoughtful when creating images. Depending on your viewpoint, this could be viewed as an advantage or a disadvantage.
Shooting manual on a film camera is so much easier to learn, again a personal opinion. You really have to learn your aperture, and shutter speed, in conjunction with the ISO speed of your film. Something about learning how those things work on a film camera was so much more simplistic than trying to decipher it on my digital.
Film has a higher dynamic range (look this up) than most digital cameras which means your black and whites are going to be crispy AF.
Cost, the average 35mm film camera (body + lens) is going to be less than a digital camera. Cameras get more expensive when you are looking into shooting 120. What you don’t pay for in a camera, you will be paying in film. Film has become so expensive, the cost is split between buying the film and having it processed and scanned.
The waiting!!! Ugh the waiting! Unless I am on assignment, I will fully wait around to have my film developed (who knows maybe I will start processing at home) and I will go months, most times I wait so long that I forget what’s on the roll and have a happy little surprise at my own photos.
Lastly, film storage. Film takes up space, it’s not as compact as your SD and CF cards. And, you have to keep it at a certain temperature. Film is best when you treat it beer, keep it cold and crack it open when needed.
So you picked a medium, now what? Find a camera.
Many photographers, including myself, agree that Canon is amazing! You can pick yourself up a refurbished Canon Rebel T7i via their website, and it works and looks like new. This is a great option for new photographers looking to save some coin. You can also find refurbished cameras via Adorama if you want a Nikon or Sony option. If you want a film camera, EBay baby! Don’t get conned, if you are spending over $200 for a 35mm film camera body and lens you are spending too much. Make sure the listing confirms that the camera has been film tested so you know it works and doesn’t have light leaks.
Now you have a camera, what do you shoot? ANYTHING, AND EVERYTHING. Shoot things that make you happy, shoot things that make you sad, shoot on the street, in your house, with your friends! Take pictures from far away and really close up. Find inspiration through Pinterest and go try to recreate them, experiment with angles, and exposures, and depth of field.
In all seriousness, have fun! Photography is a creative outlet, and not to be cliché or anything but a picture is worth a thousand words. The thing you should remember while creating images, whether you are recreating and pulling inspiration from someone else or creating something completely new, no one has your perspective. Your perspective is worth sharing!
Last lil bit of advice: find your community. It. Isn’t easy, nothing about photography really is. Find community through classes, meet up groups, friends with common interests, tinder, social media! You need support, we all do. We are all more successful when we uplift one another, so share your work and start building community. You can start with me, tag me in your photos on Instagram and Twitter and I will happily, like, comment, and share with my community too!
God speed my little photo babies! If you are a new photographer stay tuned for more tips and tricks coming soon. If you are a veteran and want to share some of your own tips and tricks please comment them below!