Help.... Total beginner

L

Lucyhix

Messages
7
Name
Lucy
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,

I am looking to get into photography specialising in maternity, kids and families and I have absolutely no idea where or how to even begin going about this, my local college doesnt have a photography course and tere are no clubs as this is such a small town,

Any help will be very much appreciated

Lucy x
 
For example, what camera should I look into buying for this field? I am looking at the canon 550d atm but as it stands I have no idea what I'm looking for so to speak, and also in this field do you need specific qualifications? If so us there an online course you could recommend?
 
What you are asking is too big to go into here, but first of all try out several different camera in a shop to see what your happy with. When you eventually decide on one the learning curve really starts finding out what the camera is capable of and the relationship between shutter speed-aperture-ISO etc just for starters. When you consider that a Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera (DSLR) manual can go to well over 300 pages of instructions you get some idea of what you are embarking on.
With all due respect until you get a grasp of photography and how a camera can be employed to its best advantage, specialising in your interest is well into the future.
Apart from that there is on top of that what different lenses are for and just as a bonus there is editing-lighting - composition-filters etc etc, so you can hopefully see the size of the question your asking.

I would suggest having a look in photographic magazines as a start.
Realspeed
 
Last edited:
i suppose when you put it like that, it really is quite a question.

is there any books etc or courses you could recommend?
 
Are you a total beginner in that you have never taken a picture, or a total beginner in terms of setting up a business. I read your OP as wanting to set up a business.
 
I have taken photos with a normal digital camera but not with a DSLR...
Yes that is my plan for the future but i know that the business side will definately be a good while off...

Im a beginner in the sense that i have never used a DSLR so therefore unsure on what one to get.. and i dont know where to start etc
 
As I said earlier try out several in a camera shop, each make has a different way of achieving the same result. I personally am used to Nikon and yet my manageress prefers Canon. What you also should look at is the price of comparable lenses between makes although third party lens ( not camera manufactures make) are about the same price.

As for courses it really depends on what standard you want to achieve, there are excellent photographers who have never been on a course. The whole thing about photography is not how expensive the camera outfit is especially if the person behind it doesn't have a clue. Courses can and do help but they are just guides on how to do things its the photographer that makes the difference.
Going out and taking lots of photos, discovering where you went wrong, and practise. Honest self criticism is one of the best teaching aids in ones armoury

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
Lucyhix said:
Hi,

I am looking to get into photography specialising in maternity, kids and families and I have absolutely no idea where or how to even begin going about this, my local college doesnt have a photography course and tere are no clubs as this is such a small town,

Any help will be very much appreciated

Lucy x
Click to expand...

If you are located as your details say you are in Elgin, then there is a camera club in your town:

http://www.moraycameraclub.co.uk/
 
Courses, camera clubs, reading up on it and teaching yourself. Lots of different ways to learn. Posting photos up on here for others to critique and give you pointers on is a good starting point too.
It really depends on your learning style and the amount of time that you have to commit to it.

I'd also echo one of Bazza's other points from above. To start out with just get to grips with the camera and don't worry about specialising in a particular field - practice as much and as often as you can and learn from what works well and what doesn't.

To start with, static items may be the easiest to shoot. Mainly because they don't move around on you and they don't get impatient being in one place for hours while you experiment on them :lol:
There's a lot that you can learn about your camera settings and lighting from simple still life set ups (or just shooting things around the house / garden) that you'll be able to apply to portraits later on.
 
Last edited:
Don't be sacred of trial and error as well you learn a lot from that as well don't be sacred me that as well
 
Don't be put off Lucy. We all started off just like you and at least you have some idea what you're ambarking on. Which is more than can be said for some people that come on here and want to know what camera they can get for three hundred quid and how to use it in three sentences, because they're shooting a wedding next week and are going to make their fortune.

I would say the advice you have got above is good. Lots learn, and it's fun all the way, and the starting point is a decent DLSR like the 550D you suggested (with standard kit zoom). Get any Nikon or Canon (they have the best systems) that suits your budget and you like the feel of. They are all much of a muchness, pound for pound. I would say that the last thing you want is masses of kit and a huge pile of books - take it one thing at a time.

Then just use it. Read the tutorials on here. Shoot some more. Ask questions (there's a business section too) and take it from there.
 
Last edited:
Have to say I also hadn't got a clue about digital photography a few years ago and didn't want to spend loads of cash to find out. My first digital camera was a Kodak 2 megpix point and shoot compact very very basic ( try finding a 2 meg pixel camera now). previously I used a Voitlander VitoCL 35mm film camera which I still have.

I had the kodak compact for almost a year before I felt I was outgrowing its capabilities and dived into a proper DSLR camera, a Nikon D70s, to be exact and that was after considerable research into different makes. From there to a Nikon D200 and then to my present camera a Nikon D300 which I am at last totally happy with.

As already said we all have to start somewhere and my D70s photos were absolutely terrible ,I think a monkey could have done better, even now I am not happy with every picture taken but improved a bit on my first efforts.

One of the things about photography is that the word "new" comes up virtually every week on some bit of kit or other with a tweak here and a tweak there as an upgrade.

One of the big problems is deciding to stick with a budget and not exceed it which is so very easy to do, I think we have all fallen at some time or another in going for something just above what we intended to spend.

magazines often include a free tutoral disc so worth looking out for.

link

http://www.photoanswers.co.uk/

there are some very good video tutorials on this site if you care to have a look. the authors are very good with " how to do"

Realspeed
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top