Expensive cameras needed for portrait photography?

[Winsonapm]

I haven't met a client who choose or don't choose me because of my gear.

Nowadays, I shoot mostly on 1 body and 50mm for indoor and 135mm for outdoor. So I will bring 2 lenses with me most of the time. It makes it really compact and small.

I use a tiny little bag and no one has said anything to me regarding to my gear and I have never been asked about my gear up when booking my service. Don't ever sell your service by telling people what best camera equipment you use. In another word, you are telling your client, "well, without the gear, there isn't much I can do".

Just use something that you are comfortable with and within your budget.

Camera is a tool and please, it is not an investment as they depreciate rather quickly. Buy something that you can use and make the most out of it.

If it limits you, you can change to other that fits your requirement.

If a camera worth $5000 and it gives you 100,000 shots, they are roughly the same as you send an sms. still cost you money to shoot so camera is a liability not an investment.


Good luck.

Hart

It's a rare occasion where we see things differently. It’s also a fundamental difference with some of the veterans out there.:sweat:
In/for business, a camera is an investment. It’s an asset with wear and tear, depreciations, etc. It’s a liability if there’s an outstanding on hire purchase, nevertheless an investment to start with.

Let’s face it, the one and most important investment that you’ll need is a camera. Get a very good one. Need not be the most expensive or the best, but definitely not entry-level.
If you are charging a fee and faced with more experienced competitors with better gear, having a better camera does matter, a barest minimum.
Let’s see it from another angle. You’re a marksman and you’re going into a battle with a revolver, your enemies are equipped with automatic rifles, some with GPMG. You may not get killed, but you’ll not win!:devil:

It’s a tool, plus a lot more of other tools. An essential, a must have. Everything else is “nice to have”.
It’s true on the skills of the photographer and not the gear, no argument.
It’s also true that you do not get deal because of your high-end gear, but there’s a possibility of not getting a deal because of an entry-level gear too.

A professional or freelancer cannot be seen as charging a fee for half the value of a camera, 10% of the value of a camera? Is there a formula? :think:

 

[Agetan]

Yes yes... camera is essential tool. Without it, there won't be any photos right?

But fundamentally in people photography, what make or break the shot is rarely the depends on the ability of the photographer, it is the "space" between the photographer and the subject.

Regards,

Hart

 

[focusHeart]

Interesting point....

alternatively, TS might want to get a battery grip.... regardless what dslr you are using...imo...at least the camera looks more professional with a battery grip than those dslr (without battery grip) in the hands of the amateur... cheaper option.... and useful too...take a lot more photos.... trigger button for vertical portraits shots....

of course... at the end of the day when your client look at the photos you have taken....an expensive camera does not matter if the photos taken are below their expectations...

at least during the time when you are doing your work....dress, think and act professionally, with a professionally looking dslr (with battery grip of course) will help to make people around you during your shoot to be more willing to cooperate with you.....things may go more smoothly during the shoot...thus better photos....

PS. D40 res might be a bit low if your client want to print in large formats....
PPS. Seriously most people won't know how much your camera cost...unless they are into this hobby. You want to paste an expensive price tag on your expensive camera???

i see... thanks for sharing...yeah looking at D90

 

[focusHeart]

Just to sharing my personal thought...

I am into portrait as well, though no intention to earn a living out of that.
I started with D40, and move pretty fast to D90.

Few points that prompted me to get D90 is:

1. D40 3 points AF is way too limiting for me, esp for portrait where i prefer shallow DOF and 'Focus & Re-compose' just doesnt achieve the kind of sharpness i desire. D90 11 points AF is way better, at least for my style of shooting. While Dx00 offer 52 point, i dont find that as useful, as the points are cramp into the center frame, instead of spreading out more to the edge. But i do like the Micro AF Calibration feature of the Dx00.

2. D90 commander mode which allow more flexible lighting options without investing in a delicate commander unit.

Other things that i personally find it more superior to D4 after using D90:

1. The grip fit my hands much better than D40.(Of course this is very personal)
2. The delicate buttons, esp the front & rear command dial, once you use it, you just dont want to go back to the menu.

My 2 cts, of course your mileage and requirement may differ.

thanks for sharing...yeah basically i want the functions you mentioned...but the most important for me is the use of AF lenses as the 50mm f1.8 is my favourite. Both portraits and for things like street photography. Secondly is having the buttons to change things such as the white balance...haha....

 

[focusHeart]

After that use this to impress them more:

hahaha...enough la with the impression thing...i now wish i hadn't type that...:bsmilie:

 

[focusHeart]

i don't know abt others, but generally i find that CSers (not all course) and my frens don't care much abt cameras , but the photos.

but somehow i think those who don't know much abt photography will often ask what equipment is used to produced such a work. before i bought my first camera, i am like that too... as long as i see a dslr, i think.. ha pro... camera leh...

i remember one day i was in Mount faber , using my cheapo Tianya gnd, a chinese toruist comment : " wa a pro .... " i feel like digging a hole and hide... so damn malu....

i agree...but there are limitations on certain things for example my D40 body can't autofocus with AF lenses, etc. That's why i thought get a good body and use it for a long time. Then as for singapore, really a lot of people have DSLR. It's more of an expensive "PnS" camera to them. It's not for serious photography. So it's like if the client got the same mentality then it's harder to get the deal...and the cs members who commented really shared a lot of points that helped me change my thinking...

 

[bengchiat]

Anson: Are you sure you can change settings at the same speed with a XXXd vs a Xd ? The Xd with the pre-customised shortcuts would always be faster IMHO. Not to say xxxD is hard, it's just unbelievable if you can do it at roughly the same speed for all settings. But speed is not of the essence typically, unless you're talking event photography. Then comes the customised setting dial. The xxxd would be a little more fumbly if you were to be changing lighting conditions occasionally.

XD, i'll take it to refer to the 1D series, not including the 5s & 7D.

always mange to change setting faster with the lower end cams as
higher end cams tends to hv the 2 fingers adjustment method
to prevent accidental switch.

maybe bro anson like to share how he did it to get the same speed?

 

[catchlights]

i agree...but there are limitations on certain things for example my D40 body can't autofocus with AF lenses, etc. That's why i thought get a good body and use it for a long time. Then as for singapore, really a lot of people have DSLR. It's more of an expensive "PnS" camera to them. It's not for serious photography. So it's like if the client got the same mentality then it's harder to get the deal...and the cs members who commented really shared a lot of points that helped me change my thinking...

to be in the business, you need to work very hard for at least three years to see some results, most people gave up after one year.

so spending on heavily on gears at the beginning stage is not a wise decision, improve your craft first, your gears will follow.

beside your skills, there are many things to learn in doing photography business, set your priority right, you will go a long way. don't believe, go library to borrow any portrait photography business books, you will see no books spend more than 5 pages talking about equipments.

impress people with your works, your professionalism, not your gears.

 

[focusHeart]

to be in the business, you need to work very hard for at least three years to see some results, most people gave up after one year.

so spending on heavily on gears at the beginning stage is not a wise decision, improve your craft first, your gears will follow.

beside your skills, there are many things to learn in doing photography business, set your priority right, you will go a long way. don't believe, go library to borrow any portrait photography business books, you will see no books spend more than 5 pages talking about equipments.

impress people with your works, your professionalism, not your gears.

wise words...thanks bro...

 

[Agetan]

to be in the business, you need to work very hard for at least three years to see some results, most people gave up after one year.

so spending on heavily on gears at the beginning stage is not a wise decision, improve your craft first, your gears will follow.

beside your skills, there are many things to learn in doing photography business, set your priority right, you will go a long way. don't believe, go library to borrow any portrait photography business books, you will see no books spend more than 5 pages talking about equipments.

impress people with your works, your professionalism, not your gears.

way to go bro...

Hart

 

[tongki]

After that use this to impress them more:

Look at the the arm, his triceps, biceps, etc, wakakaka :bsmilie:

Need some kind of Arnold to do that :bsmilie:

 

[Anson]

maybe bro anson like to share how he did it to get the same speed?

The most important is to be familiar with the buttons, dial and knots. After that it would be second nature to you.

 

[wheresmycheese]

As for me the D40 is a fantastic camera but the problem with not being able to use the AF lenses is a let down. Then D90 being able to use old lenses, if not wrong and having more commands on the button then menu plus the larger megapixel for the print size makes it ideal to use it for portrait business. haha...

ya right!! a nikon FM + 50mm f1.8 can do a perfect job! Film you scan big around 20MP leh. more impressive right?

frankly D40 is fine.. get a nice 70-200mm VR lens and voila you are ready for action. btw i started with a D40 as well. I am using a Fujifilm S5pro now and every tom dicky and harry will tell you its the s5pro is slowest camera they ever used. but hey it works for me. so don't let the equipment bother you.

 

[adamdewilde]

All of the world current greatest photographers, highest paid photographers etc etc.. Have all shot with film cameras, you're current camera can take better shots, shots that'll sell..

The hard part is, finding someone who's will pay.. And I don't mean pay for the quality your camera offers, but pay for your dog and pony show, pay for your final product, and most importantly someone who will pay WELL...

The problem isn't your camera, it's getting people to part with there money.


Though if you just want an answer to your question, get yourself a good portrait lens (crop camera lens would be a 50mm or 85mm). Something f/2 or under, and something thats sharp or decently sharp by f/2... Then since most people would want indoor portraits, invest in a cheap background support and at least one background, and get yourself a light, doesn't have to be expensive, get a 285HV vivatar flash and a cheap light stand and an umbrella for now, later pick yourself up a monoblock and octabox.. Really you can even start with a reflector and window, but it's a bit risky if they don't have good light.

For the camera, your current one will do (a better lens would be more beneficial), and I really don't know nikon. But I would suggest you get yourself nikons equivalent of the 5D or 7D if you're really serious, as it'll probably give you that extra boost in MP and color accuracy over your last model.


Hope this helps,

 

[daredevil123]

tks alot...

i'm really curious how the photo will appear if you use ff and good lens...

i approach a wedding photographer recently, and he told me that it is ok to use crop body for wedding photo, but kit lens is NOT OK! he said the image quality differs alot....

:dunno:

Weddings nowadays are mostly held indoors, with more and more mood lighting. Meaning it is dark. A kit lens would be a little crippled here, being a lens that is slower. That is why many wedding photographers are mostly equipped with multiple bodies with large aperture prime lenses if they intend to use ambient light. For flash photography, kit lens is fine.

haha...i dun think i'm sucked into BBB virus as i have this D40 for 2 years maybe. The reason why i want to upgrade is becoz of not being able to use lens without motor and also sick of going to menu and change settings such as white balance etc. Since i want to venture into portrait photography business i might as well get a good decent body...

The AF motor thing is not as big a deal as you think. I wonder how you have out-grown a D40.

This is shot with a D40x and a 50mm/1.8. Cheapo set up.

 

[daredevil123]

ya right!! a nikon FM + 50mm f1.8 can do a perfect job! Film you scan big around 20MP leh. more impressive right?

frankly D40 is fine.. get a nice 70-200mm VR lens and voila you are ready for action. btw i started with a D40 as well. I am using a Fujifilm S5pro now and every tom dicky and harry will tell you its the s5pro is slowest camera they ever used. but hey it works for me. so don't let the equipment bother you.

Slowest yes. But the skin tones and the rounded curves of the S5 is unmatched... Step aside Canon.

 

[daredevil123]

And TS,

I forgot to mention that to succeed in the photography business, you need to be more of a businessman than a photographer. You should focus on the business more than the gear.

 

[daredevil123]

thanks for sharing...yeah basically i want the functions you mentioned...but the most important for me is the use of AF lenses as the 50mm f1.8 is my favourite. Both portraits and for things like street photography. Secondly is having the buttons to change things such as the white balance...haha....

If you are serious about making money out of this, I suggest you starting thinking 50mm/1.4G, 85mm/1.4D instead.

AFS 50mm/1.4G on your D40 may yield better pics than your 50/1.8 on a D90. Food for thought...

But please reserve more budget for good glass. Changing a body will not have that much of an impact compared to good glass.

 

[Chris Lim]

Of Cos Expensive Camera is needed for Portrait Photography. The more expensive the better! Not forgetting the latest, the most number of Megapixels too! The newer and the more megapixels the better :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup: . Thats why i feel getting the latest H3dII or maybe even the PhaseOne 645 DF is a MUST for everyone. Because with the Latest Camera and Highest Megapixel count, Every single photo will be a sure winner. :thumbsup:

Isn't that what alot of photographers ask their clients to believe in these day? And also Isnt that what customers are buying these days too because we the photographers tell them that?

Damn, i should have gone into selling cameras instead.

 

[focusHeart]

ya right!! a nikon FM + 50mm f1.8 can do a perfect job! Film you scan big around 20MP leh. more impressive right?

frankly D40 is fine.. get a nice 70-200mm VR lens and voila you are ready for action. btw i started with a D40 as well. I am using a Fujifilm S5pro now and every tom dicky and harry will tell you its the s5pro is slowest camera they ever used. but hey it works for me. so don't let the equipment bother you.

haha...one reason why i want the D90 is the use of AF lens which is cheaper than the AFS version. I believe i can save alot. Maybe next time if i have lots of cash i might get AFS lenses...but seriously i've not seen a person using Fujifilm S5pro on the streets..