I get this question a LOT!
I want to step up my game and buy a “real” camera, but what should I get?

It’s a great question, but to answer it, you have to ask yourself a few questions first!

How am I going to use the camera?

Is this for travel? Or is it to try and capture shots of your kids and family? Or do you love nature and want to capture some beautiful landscapes? This will effect the size, speed and lens choice that you need to make.

What do I need the camera to do best?

Is it important to shoot fast to catch those instant moments of your kids? Or not be too obtrusive for street photography? Do you need a long range lens so you can capture things far away? Are you planning to do some heavy editing and you want the ability to adjust your images after the fact? Is video important? Will you be shooting in dark situations?

How much control do I want?

Does the idea of manual mode scare you or excite you? If you want to learn how to make the camera do you what you want, you want to be able to adjust those controls. If the thought of constantly adjusting aperture, ISO and shutter speed makes your head spin, you want a good automatic camera to make the right choice for you in the moment.

What am I going to do with the photos?

Do you have a ton of storage space for your photos and you plan on editing each one? Or no computer at all? Or do you want to just download the photos and be done? Or to they need to wirelessly transfer to your phone?

How much am I willing to spend?

This is the big question, as the sky is the limit and that price can snowball very fast! Understanding your budget and what is possible within that budget is good to know as you start researching! With photography, you do get what you pay for. There are ways to stay budget friendly, but also know that good quality does not come cheap and equipment is an investment!

Have you thought about your answers and need direction? Shoot me an email and I’d be happy to help provide some direction!