Im the beginner of all beginners, i do not even know what half the buttons on my camera are!! .. im looking for advice on HOW to learn!! .. Basically i would love to learn how to take great family pics, maybe someday in the future to make a little money out of taking family portraits .. but for now im happy practicing and doing it as a hobby untill i get better. So my question is this - i am a stay at home mum and money isn't easy to come buy, i can either afford to do an online photography course (going to school or tafe is simply not an option for me), or buy a snazzy camera and rely on the internet and practice to teach me all i need to know .. what would you suggest, camera or course??
If you want to head into photography as a hobby or professionally, go for the best you can afford. Buy books and study everything you can about your camera and then practice. If you can take a class, then do that. The only thing to keep in mind is a larger camera is harder to carry. A point-and-shoot is much easier but again if you want to head into professional photography then start with that in mind and invest in something that will help you get there.
If you can afford a DSLR, do so. Using caution, you can check out sites such as Craigslist, just make sure you go try the camera out. A lot of people will upgrade their cameras and sell the old bodies. There is nothing wrong with them for the price, but you have to go try them out to make sure they work properly. It can be a relatively inexpensive way to get into a dslr. Your main cost will be lenses. As far as learning how to use it, there is so much free stuff on the internet and so many books out there. Tutorials, tutorials, tutorials! Also, iof you see a cool picture on a site such as this, ask them how they did it and what their gear was. Good luck!
I started here..... http://www.digital-photography-school.com/. Its free and will at least get the wheels spinning. I didn't last long on it, however, and quickly started on here! Now I'm obsessed and live on here ;) Oh and first things first...read the manual.
My advice would be is read the manual and get to know your camera, all the settings and how it works. I am in a club and you do pick up a lot and I have seen great shots from p&s, and slrs alike. There are a lot of tutoriels on line and one i use is http://www.digital-photography-school.com/ and I get a news letter each week and you can upgrade and pay if you want to use the forum etc, but there is great tips on it. But from experience I can only repeat, have your camera and manual in hand and read it and try lots of shots. good luck.
I have learned by books, and taking tons of photos ALL THE TIME! Bryan Peterson's books have helped me; especially his field guide to photography. I set my camera to manual, and I have never taken it off. Good luck! This site has helped me immensely, as well. Any questions I have always get answered by these awesome people.
I'm with @laceyjogautreau I have a point & shoot camera WITH manual controls. When I first started this project I had no idea what any of that information was for. From looking at other photos on this site, reading through the forums I began to learn. My mom bought me a copy of Bryan Petersons Field Guide to Photography and it has helped to explain A LOT. It's written mostly for a dslr user, but translates well down to a p&s w/manual controls. Good luck!
We have lots in common, stay home mom, want to learn photography and see where it takes you. I am just a little further into it than you. I bought my first dslr last summer. I got a few books but I think internet is better resource and all the tutorials are great. Have learned tons from this site. I also joined a local photography club and am taking a 10 week intro. to digi photography class at the art museum in a nearby city. Community Colleges cont. education dept. usually have affordable classes as well. What some people in my class did (and I kinda wish I had) was borrow a camera from someone to take the class, because you will learn what type of camera you would like to buy. I would have been a much more knowledgeable consumer had I waited to purchase until after my class. Good luck!!
If you're going to take a class, you're going to need a dslr. Get that first and then PLAY PLAY PLAY! I have had mine for two years and am still learning the camera concept by concept. The nice thing about a dslr is that you can add to it as you go. Get it, learn how to care for it. Then slowly add lens etc. Being a stay at home mom you have a lot of fun subjects that you can shoot. Just remember to have fun and don't get frustrated. It's a long road, but man, is it fun!
I am also learning right now... So what I bought a refurbish camera (directly from canon) and some refurbish lenses. And I am trying to read everything I can about photography, also doing 365 project , I join flirk and I get ideas from there and I try to do something similar. I also join a photography club but I think the best advise is just to take picture move all the buttons and look the differences in the pictures. Good luck
If you're saving up for a better camera, don't stop taking pictures w/ what you have either. The photo is as good as the photographer's eye as much as it depends on the camera. Take your time, and well follow all the excellent advice preceding me! :)
The public library can be a great source of information - even though some folks find it 'old fashioned'. I say play around with settings and whatnot - sometimes the best way to learn is through trial and error! The camera isn't what makes a great photo - it's the person behind it! Some of my best images have been on my blackberry or my point and shoot! Have fun, and enjoy what you're doing - it makes learning SO much easier!
Well, I started earlier this year, any questions? ask here or Google it.
There is such a wealth of good advice out there I don't personally go for the idea you have to spend MORE money and get a book/do a course. Just take it one button/function at a time experement and learn the capabilities of your camera.
Learn as much as you can then with what you've got, then in a while you will know if you NEED to take a course. As far as equipment goes take time reserch the options and WAIT until you can afford what you want!
I didn't = two cameras in two months :-(
Most important HAVE FUN. :-)
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I actually was going to post the link to there until I saw her post. There's loads of information on there.
There is such a wealth of good advice out there I don't personally go for the idea you have to spend MORE money and get a book/do a course. Just take it one button/function at a time experement and learn the capabilities of your camera.
Learn as much as you can then with what you've got, then in a while you will know if you NEED to take a course. As far as equipment goes take time reserch the options and WAIT until you can afford what you want!
I didn't = two cameras in two months :-(
Most important HAVE FUN. :-)