Hello! So you've been thinking about buying a DSLR? Or you might already have one -- perfect! I want to share some wisdom that I've learned about DSLR cameras over the past five months. But first, I want to start by saying that I wish I had never been so wrapped up in the idea that you need a nice camera to be a photographer. The quality of camera does not determine your talent -- it's all about your eye and how you interpret the world. Which is why I don't want to tell you to go out and buy a DSLR camera right now. BUT let's just say it was one of the best investments I ever made.
Do Your Research
Most people think there are two options when it comes to DSLR camera brands - Canon and Nikon. When really there are countless options. It just so happens that those two seem to be the most popular. I chose to go with Canon because that was what my boss had been using and she said it was the best starter camera.
Invest in Different Lenses
When I bought my Canon Rebel t6i I was a little shellshocked at how much the actual body cost -- let alone the lenses. But I figured it would be best to invest in a 50mm lens. I really like using the 50mm for when I shoot with bloggers. It's great for detail shots and creating that blurred background effect (bokeh). Each lens is used for a different type of shot so it's important to be aware of what shots you think you'll shoot most.
Take the Time to Learn Manual Settings
I was really looking forward to using the manual settings on my camera when I first started out, only when I went to shoot they turned out terrible. They were either too dark or the subject was out of focus -- this was extremely discouraging. So I started to Google every DLSR YouTube tutorial out there. My advice to you is to start by learning the basics: aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
Shoot in RAW
If you're a still a little knew to the lingo most photos online are in a JPEG format. When you shoot in JPEG the image gets compressed and a lot of the data is lost. As opposed to when you shoot in RAW, where you have all of the images data and therefore you're able to manipulate the photo easier.
*RAW photos take up a lot of more memory so be sure to keep your files saved on external hard drive so you don't run out of room on your computer.*
Invest in Lightroom
If there's one thing I will stress it's that you should definitely invest in Lightroom. It's probably the best way to edit photos -- it can dramatically change the feel of your photos and make they look 10 times more professional.
Take Your Camera Everywhere
If you've read any article on DLSR cameras the reoccurring advice is to just go out and shoot. And it's true -- you will only get better with practice. The photos in this post are significantly better than the one's I first shot. That's the beauty of it -- there's always room for improvement.
Are you thinking about buying a DSLR camera? Do you have any questions about which camera to buy? I'll try answer any questions!
Feel free to check out some of my photos here!