PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A Beginner Guide to Choosing the Right Photography Equipment

Photography Equipment

In 2014, there were about 125,000 career photographers. More than half of these professionals were self-employed, while the rest work for companies that provide photographic services, such as custom printing, broadcasting, newspaper publishing, or taking school photos. Although the job outlook in these areas is slow, freelancers, especially wedding photographers, should see strong growth through 2024. That said, photography is a competitive industry. Technology has had an impact on this career field. Everyone seems to have a smartphone these days, and the cameras on those phones are quite good, giving the illusion that everyone is a photographer. Nothing could be further from the truth. A good photographer with training who has worked hard to develop a stellar reputation will be sought-after and successful. But, having a plan before jumping into this career field is vital. For some, this may mean starting out slow and not necessarily investing thousands of dollars in the best professional equipment from the outset. Maybe you start with a simple pocket camera or smartphone and validate your interest and talent. Focus on refining your vision first, and then invest in the technology to enhance your vision, second.

And, like in almost every other art field, when photography becomes a career instead of a hobby, having the right equipment, whether it be computer software, the latest digital camera, two or three lenses, or a tripod, is imperative to ensure your success. The number one most important item to have if embarking on a career as a professional photographer is a camera. Not just any camera…the right camera.

Types of Cameras for Photographers

There are three basic types of cameras; point and shoot, mirrorless, and DSLR.

Point and Shoot Cameras

Point-and-shoot cameras are easy to use; you point the camera at an object and shoot. The advantages of this type of camera are the low cost, it is simple to use, you will get good quality images, and these cameras are very light and compact, making them especially suitable when traveling or when you are unable to tote a heavy bag. There are definite downsides to point-and-shoot cameras; there is little room to grow professionally with this type of camera, and overall image quality is not as good as higher-priced cameras with options to zoom and focus. Point-and-shoot cameras take photos with a lower resolution, which presents issues when printing photos in larger sizes. If shooting at night, pictures may turn out dark or obscured.

Mirrorless Cameras

Also known as a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera or hybrid camera is a digital camera that accepts different lenses. These cameras do not use a mechanical mirror to switch between the optical viewfinder and the image sensor. They are typically smaller and lighter than a DSLR camera, which means you can easily fit more gear, such as an extra lens, into a camera bag. They have excellent image quality, some versatility in lenses (before purchasing a mirrorless camera, find out your lens options), and they produce nice videos. The cons to a mirrorless camera include, again, less room to grow professionally and fewer accessories available as lens selection is limited, there is typically lower functionality in low light, and price – mirrorless cameras can be pricey for what you get.

DSLR Cameras

Also known as digital single-lens reflex cameras offer a wide range of lens options and provide excellent image quality and resolution; much better than the previous two options. The downsides are price, they can be heavy and bulky, and there is a longer learning curve with a DSLR camera. The bottom line is if you are serious about photography as a career, DSLRs are the way to go. You can add a variety of lenses from a variety of manufacturers, there are manual settings to be creative with your photos, and they cost less than many (most) mirrorless cameras.

So, is there a difference between brands of cameras, or are they all created equal? Let’s take a look at Nikon vs. Canon – the most popular DSLR cameras on the market today.

Most experts will tell you there is little difference between the two, and no “best” option, but most professional photographers have their favorites and stubbornly prefer one over the other. Before choosing one over the other, try out each of them to see which one feels right, or which one is most comfortable, offers the most features for your budget, options, etc. Entry-level cameras in either brand are less expensive and provide just the camera body and one lens. They usually cost about ~ $400. Middle-range cameras give you more bang for the buck and have better mechanics for low-light shooting; they offer more pixels, better sensor quality, and fast autofocus. But, again, they can be pricey.

So, what do you do? Buy used! Buying a used one allows you to afford a mid-range camera right away. But, buy from a reputable camera store rather than eBay or Craigslist. Buying ‘sight unseen’ is not recommended when purchasing a camera because so many things can be hidden – like a cracked lens, dented body, broken shutter-release button, etc.

Do your research, be patient, and buy the ideal camera for both your budget and professional goals. Now you have a great camera and a goal for your future, but you’ll never get your career off the ground unless you invest the time and money into learning how to use your camera. Don’t spend a lot of money on something if your intent isn’t to follow through, or your investment could end up as a paperweight.

Types of Camera Lens for Photographers

Although some photographers only ever use the lens that comes with their camera, most professionals agree that having multiple lenses is ideal. But, choosing the right lens can be daunting as dozens of lenses and lens types are from dozens of companies. However, lenses are arguably one of the most important parts of your camera setup and can either make or break a good photo. A quality lens gives you the creative freedom to capture the photos you want.

Basic 18-55mm Lens

This type of lens is usually the lens that comes with your camera and is excellent for just starting out as they offer decent wide-angle as well as zoom capabilities. If not included with your camera body, they usually cost about $100.

55-200mm Len:

Telephoto zoom lens brings subjects much closer and offers an excellent way to take close-up pictures from far away. This lens is indispensable if you are shooting outdoors, such as wildlife or other objects where you are unable to get close. You can pick up a good zoom lens for about $120 to $250, although a high-quality zoom lens can cost much more (this would be a great birthday or Christmas gift for the budding photographer).

Portrait Lens: F/1.8 50 mm:

Great when used in low-light settings and are typically used for portraits, as they have the ideal length to be utilized in a studio or outside.

Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens (10-20/22/24mm)

An ultra wide-angle zoom lens allows photographers to shoot at wider angles. These lenses are great when shooting architecture and landscapes, and are the ‘go-to’ lens for many professional photographers. One type of wide-angle lens is called the ‘fish-eye’ lens, which is used to create a distorted view of the world. Although not commonly used, it can be fun to use when experimenting. The macro lens is most often used to shoot small subjects, such as bugs and flowers, and when you need incredible sharpness and close-up resolution. For example, when shooting a ladybug sitting on the leaf of a plant, a macro lens can show details not easily seen by the naked eye.

Besides a lens, another valuable piece of equipment is the tripod. You may think you don’t need one, but you will probably be surprised at the times you wish you had one. There are inexpensive tripods and very expensive tripods, and there are very large differences between the two. Although when just starting out, you may not want to pay the money to get an expensive model, do your research because the last thing you need is your expensive camera hitting the ground because the tripod is unstable. That said, don’t overlook the importance of having one in your photography arsenal. A good tripod reduces camera shake, allows you to take great video, long-exposure shots, time-lapse photos, and much, much more. So, how do you choose the right one? One consideration is height. Check out the minimum and maximum height, weight, head attachment, and leg-locking mechanism. You should choose a height that allows you to shoot the type of photos you want. You should also purchase a tripod that meets your needs. Will you be shooting in a studio, or do you need one that’s light and portable? Find a tripod that has a head attachment that fits your camera. A pan-and-tilt head is less expensive but also less flexible, while a ball-and-socket head is more expensive and a lot more versatile. You want to be sure too that you have a leg-locking option, either twisting and screwing or flip-lock, and choose the one you’re comfortable using.

Photography Editing Software

Once you purchase the right camera, you still need to edit your photos properly. There are many, maybe dozens, of software programs and apps that you can use, or you can simply download free trials to test out and find the best ones for you first prior to purchasing any software. Remember, some software is much more complicated than others, so testing them first will allow you to find one that meets your needs now, as you can always upgrade or change software once you’ve learned the basics.

If you’re just starting out, you probably don’t want editing software that is overly complicated or difficult to learn. After all, the idea is to spend more time behind the camera and less time behind a computer. Besides, as you gain experience and knowledge within the field, you can always upgrade to software that’s more powerful.

Entry Level Editing Software

Google Photos is rather simple to use and it’s free, but it lacks powerful editing tools. It is the right choice, however, for organizing all your photos no matter what device they’re on – smartphone or digital camera.

Apple Photos comes standard on the Mac. Like Google Photos, it will help keep a growing library of photos accessible and organized, and with its intuitive, yet semi-impressive editing tools, you can adjust red-eye, add a filter, make color adjustments, erase a blemish, and more. Saving your images to the iCloud Photo Library will let you store photos and videos in iCloud and view them on your Mac, iOS device, Apple TV, and PC.

Microsoft Photos is a free photo editor and viewer that comes with Windows 10 (replacing Windows Photo Gallery app). Since its update, the image editing capabilities have been enhanced with additional filters and a simple interface. It also offers a selection of image-correction tools, lets you trim video clips, and automatically creates albums.

There are dozens of software available to download for free off the web. Not all are as user-friendly as they claim, but many offer just enough bells and whistles to make your photos shine. A couple worth mentioning are BeFunky and Paint. NET.

BeFunky, is a photo editor, collage maker, and graphic designer, available as a free download or paid subscription that can be used on Mac, Linux, and PC. Unlike some of the other free software available to download, BeFunky offers cartooning, oil painting, and pop art effects. You can add photo frames and graphic overlays to your pictures, as well as customized text. Although the website claims it’s easy to use, there is a learning curve, but it is still much less complicated than expensive software, and you don’t have to be tech-savvy.

Paint.NET should not be confused with Microsoft’s Paint. With layers, plugins, and filters, Paint.NET is simple to use, which is one of its key selling points. It’s fast and makes editing your photos fun with dozens of filters, a 3D rotate/zoom function, layers, undo history, and much more.

You might also want to check out the other recommended free editing software available for download. Some are more complicated than others, and each offers different tools and features. But, until you master editing your own photos or want to upgrade to more powerful software, these should do the trick.

If you don’t want to download software, and you have a reliable internet connection, there are also a number of web-based programs that do a decent job at photo editing, such as:

Enthusiast Level Editing Software

Most photographers will agree that Photoshop Elements is the best choice for enthusiasts. ($70 on Adobe’s website, but you can find it for less money elsewhere). It is intuitive and has an easy learning curve, but it also boasts amazing editing tools. It can be used on both PCs and Macs and won’t cost you an arm and leg like most professional software. Although it is easy to learn and use, it is also appropriate for mid-level photographers and business users.

Corel Paintshop Pro X9, with an average price of about $70,has many of the same features as Photoshop Elements, but is only available for Windows, which limits its appeal. Even so, the newest version has a new set of templates, quick fixes, like crop, clone, and retouch, a screenshot tool featuring Smart Capture, gradient fill controls, and enhanced text tools.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is intuitive and fast, and many professional photographers also use it along with Photoshop to enhance all of their photos. You can efficiently find and organize all your photos, perfect your shots with one-click adjustments, have amazing control over tonal qualities that can make or break a black and white image, and it has an advanced healing brush to take out unwanted objects and flaws. You can sync between your computer, tablet, and phone, punch up colors, and make dull-looking photos vibrant. Listed for less than $10/month on the Adobe website.

CyberLink’s PhotoDirector 8 offers simplified layer editing, lets you capture images from your videos to create panoramics or multi-exposure images, has easy-to-use retouching tools, filters, blurs, and other effects, plus 40-plus overlay templates. For the more advanced photographer, PhotoDirector also offers extensive support for commercial lenses, bodies, and RAW formats. The full version costs about $170 (but you can often find it on sale).

DxO OpticsPro, which sells for just about $130, has best-in-class noise reduction, a clear interface, excellent auto-correction, and haze removal, and you can seamlessly export your photos to Flickr, Facebook, or other apps. Unlike some other software, DxO OpticsPro automatically corrects your images by taking your camera model and lens into consideration. One downside, however, is some of the newer models of cameras are not supported by this feature, and overall, it’s a bit less intuitive than other enthusiast level software.

ACDSee Ultimate (around $150 everywhere) is said to be Lightroom and Photoshop all rolled into one, with advanced layer editing and pixel-level photo manipulations. There is even a good selection of tools, like the landscape and portrait collage feature, masking effects, inserting text and watermarks, blending modes, and opacity adjustments. Ultimate runs of Windows, but Mac users can get ACDSee Mac Pro 3 for a bit less ($99.99), with the same features and tools. As this software offers so many amazing tools and editing features, it is a bit difficult to learn and trails the competition in usability. But, many professional photographers have added it to their arsenal of editing software because it is so powerful.

Pro Level Editing Software

Adobe Photoshop is by far the most popular photo editing software on the market today. It is PC Mags Editor’s Choice for professional photo editing software and the ‘absolute best for photo correction and manipulation’. It has a slick interface, which can be overwhelming at times, and allows video editing as well as photo editing. It can sync your library and offers outstanding layered image editing, 3D modeling, and drawing features not found elsewhere. No longer available as a one-time license, you now have to buy a monthly plan ($9.99), and you need a Creative Cloud subscription. But, Photoshop Lightroom is included in the plan.

Phase One Capture One Pro provides professionals with a solid solution for editing any supported RAW file. You have full control of all editing tools, which allows you to preserve, edit, recover, and optimize your RAW files. It allows precise skin tone editing, color enhancing and balancing, copy adjustments, graphics acceleration, layers, filters, and much more. There are some usability quirks that make this software difficult to learn and out of reach for most novices. But for the pro, it offers some of the best detail from RAW camera files, and that is why it is so highly rated by professional photographers.

Gimp is a solid alternative to Photoshop, but it may be harder to learn than some other downloads as the interface is a bit cluttered. However, it is ideal for photo retouching, image composition, and authoring. And it’s open-source and free, which makes it very popular among the pros. GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It comes with a huge collection of professional-quality functions for tweaking photos and creating artwork from scratch. It even comes with an animation package.

Other Accessories

Besides cameras, lenses, tripods, and software, all photographers need many accessories like a camera bag. There are hundreds of options available. But, don’t just go out and buy a $50 bag from a camera store. Find a used one online that will meet your needs, or get a backpack instead. As you buy more lenses and other gear, you can find one that will handle everything you need to carry. You might even look into the different kinds of filters that can enhance color and tone perception, and change the way your camera sees and treats light. Get a case to store your filters, as they can crack or break easily. At some point, you may want to invest in an external flash or diffuser, which provides a more refined alternative to the built-in flash on your DSLR. Invest in backup batteries to avoid running out when you’re not close to a power source, as well as a cleaning kit, memory cards, and an external hard drive for backup storage. And depending on your specialization, you may need other gadgets, such as a reversing ring (about $15) to be used in macro photography that lets you put your regular lens on backward, transforming it into a macro lens. Extension tubes (about $15 and up) are little gadgets that act as spacers between your camera and a regular lens, also creating a macro effect. 

What kinds of tools do underwater photographers need? An underwater camera, or a waterproof housing for your current camera. Strobes for lighting are also necessary to work as an underwater photographer. 

Keep in mind as you are exploring a career in photography that there are some specializations to delve into, including:

  • Cinematography
  • Commercial Photography
  • Fine Art Photographer
  • Nature Photography
  • Photojournalism
  • Portraiture
  • Travel Photography
  • Product Photography