Camera

My camera broke recently, which led me to a long journey of what kind of camera to buy next. Let's face it, what we do is temporary so the photos are priceless. All the photography majors I know I have said that I really need to buy a DSLR camera. Problem is, they are around $500. I am wanting to get really high quality photos so I can start doing prenatal photo shoots as one of my packages, but do I really have to have that high tech of a camera to be able to do it? I want my photos to come out with the comparable quality of the ones you see at www.heatherslivingart.com. I've seen a lot of painters just do the paintings, but I would really like to be able to add the photography into my package. Let me know what you think. Also, what about those expensive photo editing programs? Do I really have to have one of those too?

I really do recommend getting a DSLR if you want to be selling photography. You can get a used one for not so much money... the expensive part is the lenses more than the camera body itself.

As for the software... you can do ALMOST as much with GIMP (which is free) as you can with Photoshop if you are willing to spend some serious time learning how to work with layers, filters, channels, etc. Photoshop is a little more user friendly, but GIMP can do almost the same things. Photoshop Elements is another option slightly cheaper that can do quite a lot. Getting into photography at all though, is very expensive with a huge learning curve... you'll probably need a least a couple different lenses and have to learn about all the f stops, etc. that I never really bothered getting into.

A DSLR camera is a good start. And minimum one reflector. A flash (or actually as many as you can afford) is great when you don't have the perfect light outside (lightly clouded). A 18-55 lens is fine with both face- and bodypaint.

I like GIMP, since I can't afford Photoshop ;-)

Get a lot of photo books, maybe from your library and practice practice practice. That is what I am doing at the moment. I am tired of not having photos of my work, since there is not always photographers at events.

Your local community college or university may offer adult ed classes in photography that aren't too expensive. Some of them are like independent study.
I love my DSLR that I bought 5 years ago. I mostly use the lens that came with it, although I bought another, and almost always use natural light and the automatic settings. I took a photography class many years ago and learned some of the basics, but that was in the film days! Now I can experiment a little and not worry about the cost of developing film.
I have Photoshop Elements, but it is far from elementary! Earlier versions were more intuitive, I find the most recent one more powerful, but more cumbersome. I think I paid $89 at Sams Club for the first version I bought - much cheaper that the full version.
Good luck - photography is a whole 'nother animal!

Lyn

So I have 2 cousins and 2 friends who have these "high quality" cameras b/c its either their hobby or work/business. I ask them to do the shoot b/c they have all the lighting, backdrops, software, etc.. to accomplish what I want. It's a partnership b/c I paint and they "shoot". It's a win win b/c we both get our names on the pic.

I own a DSLR/flash/lenses, and if you would like to work with me, I would love to do that... and I'm in town
I've worked for a wedding photographer for the past 3 years and before that I was a graphic designer- so I have all the editing programs (lightroom-DPI- photoshop) as well.

I should add that while I have a DSLR and Gimp.... I much prefer to have my photographer friend do that stuff for me. She's just better at it, she gives me a deal on the work, full rights to the pictures and I put her name out there (It's all over my website).

I have DSLR - It cost me a packet... about $1500 not including professional flash, different lenses etc..... and honestly it's not the thing I want to take on gigs with me, it's bulky ( like we don't have enough to carry) and I feel like I can't take my eyes off it in case it goes missing. Also it needs to be 'set' everytime you want to use it, takeing in to consideration lighting, distance, etc etc.... I'm actually looking at buying a small automatic digital that fits in my pocket.
At home and for body painting and anytime you have time for mucking about with a camera, then yes it gives the best most professional shots, but you still need to edit them through software to bring out the best in the photos..... so to me DSLR's are hard work.
My man got me photography for dummies on the computer, 200 pages later I can't be bothered - honestly- I know I really should learn to use it properly but it's so bloody technical!

The key to great photography is LIGHTING!!! You can have a great camera, and take crap pics...photography is an art form in of itself...just like face painting. The investments are a lot more expensive with software, etc, but be prepared to study lighting. That's what really sells! (My hubby & I are pro photogs, have our own studio. check out www.trademanphoto.com)

The key to great photography is LIGHTING!!! You can have a great camera, and take crap pics...photography is an art form in of itself...just like face painting. The investments are a lot more expensive with software, etc, but be prepared to study lighting. That's what really sells! (My hubby & I are pro photogs, have our own studio. check out www.trademanphoto.com)