Get The Most Out Of Your Camera. (Part 1).
It's no secret that the camera is one of the most important aspects of modern day photography. Your camera is a big part of what makes your pictures unique- without it, you're limited to shooting with your phone and sharing them on social media which, for some people, has become a way of life. The best cameras these days are packed with features that can change the look and feel of your photos in an instant as well as giving you creative control over how they're lit. You'll probably find that most of the cameras you're looking at now aren't worth all the hype, but this is where you want to get it right.
When you may need a new camera:
-When you're looking to upgrade or replace your old camera for a new one with more features.
What brand should I buy:
There are so many different brands out there! In the past, my advice would be to buy a Canon because they were the best but nowadays there are so many great options including Sony, Nikon and Olympus. I also really like Fuji cameras from Japan because they have been on top of their game for a long time and they actually make very high quality products with great design. You can find some really cool cameras online such as the Fuji Instax Pocket camera.
How to get the most out of your camera:
1. Know your settings (I'll explain this more below)
2. Check for any known technical faults that keep appearing on forums and message boards all over the internet from people who have already had problems with their new cameras. You never know there could be a problem with your camera you don't know about until after you've bought it or it breaks. I generally check whether my camera's battery is charged and turn it on and off again, as well as check for any visible dust or damage from where they were shipped from China to the US. If you're not sure what the settings are then go to the manual and read it. Here's a link to my camera's manual .
3. Learn what all those buttons and dials do by reading the manual aloud. Practice makes perfect!
4. Learn how to use all the features of your camera by using them everyday so you'll be ready for an emergency (I'll explain this more below)
5. Keep in mind that your camera probably won't be worth much money after a few years, so buy it while it's still new, as opposed to getting something new that's already worn through with second-hand treatment (I'll explain this more below)
6. Take care of your camera because a broken camera is like a broken heart.
7. In the name of good karma from Buddha or Shiva or whatever you believe in, never criticize anybody's work in public unless it actually offends you for some reason.
8. Wipe down your camera before using it the first time, especially if it's a new model that hasn't been used before, as this will prevent dust and other small particles from accumulating on your lens and baffling up the sensor which can cause your pictures to look blurry.
9. The more you use your camera the longer it will last. If you're not used to using it then your pictures will probably look blurry and grainy.
10. Be kind to your camera....it's just a tool after all. Just like a car, you wouldn't walk around chewing on/kicking/spitting on your car while it was parked in the driveway would you?
11. Never think about getting rid of your camera because: you'll never get another one, don't waste money buying one when there are so many others on the market for sale now, or if something happens to this one then there's nothing left to fall back on (I'll explain this more below)
12. Buy a smaller anything.....a smaller printer, small speakers, a small camera, etc.
Small cameras are better than big ones:
The reason why you should buy a small camera is because they're easy to carry around and the cost of replacing things like bigger lenses/camera bodies/batteries/etc is way more expensive than buying a new camera or lens. If you have your eye on one specific camera right now, but you're not sure if it will look good on your shelf or not with all those other cameras, then just keep it in your mind that in the future it might be worth more than that new camera that's for sale now...in the future, you might be able to sell it for a nice profit and buy that new non-shiny one you've been wanting for a while.
Making money off your camera:
If you're not sure what this means then it means that taking better pictures makes you money. If people can't tell that your pictures are better than other people's, then they'll start paying more for your work to make up for it and in the long run, this could make up more than buying a new camera. Just making better pictures won't get you rich though...you have to learn how to do all the technical stuff first.
How to get better at photography:
Practice, practice, practice....this will improve your photos 100% guaranteed! The more you take pictures the better you'll become. Your friends have cameras too, so why not invite them over and do a photo shoot? This way you can all learn from one another. Usually I just let my camera do its thing then go back later and look through the pictures to see which ones I like best. The reason I keep doing this is because if there's something wrong with my picture that needs correcting then I need to figure out what it is before it's too late and before someone else sees it.
I know this is pretty much a one-sided post but I'm pretty sure that some of you already knew all of this stuff and have been doing all of it for years. If I didn't know any of this, then I would definitely still be making a living off of my photography as opposed to just trying to make ends meet by selling my stuff and buying another camera from time to time.
A lot has changed since the days when Galen Rowell published his book about how to make money with your photographs, so make sure you read it if you haven't done so already ( link here ). His book has got everything you need in there even if he's not talking about any specific camera or model.
Conclusion:
I'm not saying that this is the best possible idea in the whole wide world, but if you're willing to put in the time and effort to get the hang of it than I say go for it. If you need more advice just send me a message and I'll try to help you out as best as I can. I'm constantly buying cameras and lenses, so if there's something new that has just come out then I'll pass along whenever I get my hands on it. Though if you don't want stuff like that, then this post will probably be no use for you. Good luck to all!
Pretty much everything: www.Fstoppers.