Once I began my career in photography full time, I received an outpouring of support but many questions on how to be a photographer. If you’re reading this, maybe you did a session with me and thought it looked fun! (It definitely is!) Or, there’s a possibility you’ve had a nice camera for a long time and you’d like to learn how to use it. Either way, I’m going to put LOTS of information on this blog just for YOU. I’m definitely an open book and don’t gatekeep my tips and tricks. However, I’m currently not offering mentorships so I’m going to share the depths of my knowledge here!

Keep in mind, there’s more than one way to become a photographer. There’s several genres and niches. It took me about 2 years to figure out what I love (lifestyle and weddings). But, if you’re just starting out, I’d photograph anything and everything that comes your way. I’d also think about what makes you excited and sets you apart from others.

Choosing the Right Equipment

I photograph with all things Canon. I’m not well-versed with any other brands, so I can’t speak for them. But Canon has been wonderful for me and I’ve never been disappointed in their equipment. When choosing a camera, I would opt for mirrorless. Similarly when the world shifted from film to digital, the camera industry is now shifting from digital to mirrorless. That’s exactly what it sounds like, a camera that doesn’t need a mirror to function.

With that being said, photography is 10% gear, and 90% education. I’d suggest taking your budget and investing about 60% of it into a course on how to shoot in manual mode. That’s a blog for another day.

All three of these cameras are great. If you can swing it, I would obviously get the R6, but I understand not everyone has the budget for that in the beginning. The R50 is a great crop sensor camera that still has mirrorless capabilities. And the EOS R just has a few upgrades that make things faster and the resolution a little higher. Once you have your camera selected, you’ll need a lens.

The 50 mm lens is a wonderful lens to start with. The framing is gorgeous. The depth of field with give you those creamy backgrounds that make your photos “pop”. My 50 mm lens spends a LOT of time on my camera when photographing families, portraits and lifestly sessions. When thinking about how to be a photographer, you would be wise to get a 50 mm lens!

Investing in Education

There are several courses out there that promise amazing results for a pretty penny. But if you’re a beginner and want things broken down in a really meaningful, easy to understand way, I can’t recommend Amy and Jordan more. As I said before, education is even more important than the gear in my opinion.

I started with Amy and Jordan Demos’s shooting and editing courses and it got me to a place where I felt incredibly confident photographing in manual mode. Some of their courses are only available for a short time, so make sure you’re paying attention to those dates and get in fast! All of their courses are worth their weight in gold.

Click here to see Amy and Jordan’s store.

This is just the beginning of how I started photographing. There’s so much more as far as investing, becoming an associate photographer, more gear, and business concepts. So, stay tuned for Part 2!

Questions? Feel free to contact me here. I’m happy to help!

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