Want to do portraits

[chiyeung]

I am interested in getting a camera for portraits. I am thinking of a dslr but do not know what to buy. I don't want to buy a super expensive camera because i am new at it.

Just some questions:

what should i look for in a camera
what should i learn?
should i read any guides or books?
any programs?
any necessary or important equipment?
im assuming i need a tripod, how much is a decent one?

what should i get to get me started before i seriously continue my path.

Thank you.

What makes me want to do portraits are Yousuf Karsh's B and W portraits. I even considered just simply doing B & W portraits.

I also really wish to do something similar to Ian Phillips-McLaren Tel +44 (0) 7889 861654

Thank you !

 

[Josh66]

I also really wish to do something similar to Ian Phillips-McLaren Tel +44 (0) 7889 861654

He sort of has a theme of cutting the top of the head off ... not sure if I like that... It works on some of them, but not so much on others...

 

[reznap]

Wow OP... you asked an extremely broad bunch of questions... but they're all good things to consider. There's really no single answer for any of them though. I'd try to pick up a used DSLR and some decent fixed focal length (primes) lenses with large maximum apertures (small numbers -like f/1.4 = big apertures).

My opinion: The most important equipment for studio portraiture is your lighting. Second is the backdrops and props (my opinion - this is what makes for a good studio). Third is your camera.

There are tons of guides and books... but there is also a crapload of good information for free just sitting on web pages. Read a lot, soak it all up and spend your money after you know what you want and why you need it. Your sig says you're 16 so there's really no need to rush, but that's a great age to really get into what may turn out to be a lifetime hobby or fulfilling career.

He sort of has a theme of cutting the top of the head off ... not sure if I like that... It works on some of them, but not so much on others...

I think it's a common framing used, for closeups anyway. Really nothing interesting about the top of the hair. Just my opinion. I would have framed them the same way

 

[chiyeung]

decent fixed focal length (primes) lenses with large maximum apertures (small numbers -like f/1.4 = big apertures).

what is that.. sorry i am a complete beginner. ive been using point and shoots all my life.
i intended to start earlier but i had some monetary issues. so if i wanted to do portraits in a home or something, i would use lighting equipment?

 

[reznap]

what is that.. sorry i am a complete beginner. ive been using point and shoots all my life.

No worries.
Simply put, they are lenses that don't zoom. They usually are optically better and have the ability to let light pour into them faster than lenses that zoom.

so if i wanted to do portraits in a home or something, i would use lighting equipment?

Depends... you can do great work with window light if you have a nice open and clean area, along with a good-sized window.

Don't get too ahead of yourself though, maybe grab a camera first and a 35mm or 50mm lens and get comfortable with setting up an exposure manually. You can get into strobes/flashes after you get to the point where you know you need them.

 

[Derrel]

Budget determines what you can afford. Honestly, I would say that for **portraiture**, the "best" affordable camera would be a used, Canon 5D, the original model, with an 85mm f/1.8 Canon EF lens. To me, the working distance, the background rendering, the depth of field, and the image size and background angle of view of a full-frame d-slr is unmatched when the sensor is a 24x36mm one. These cameras are available for around $1,000 these days, with careful shopping, and maybe a bit of bargaining.

Failing that, a lower-cost body would be okay. You do not mention your budget, but budget ultimately determines, exactly, what you can buy. There are lots of books about people photography in the library. I'd suggest looking at some books for an overview of the field, so that you learn from people with years' worth of experience and not self-taught people who make awful Youtube videos and do not know anything about the art, just the science. Karsh on a bad, bad,bad day with a massive head cold could out-shoot a dozen Youtube snappers.

 

[chiyeung]

thing is.. as a beginner, i have no idea how much i should shell out.. but i will find a book and read up on it as well

i feel 1000 for a camera may be too much for me starting out

 

[chiyeung]

Best budget and entry-level DSLRs | Cameralabs Buyer's Guide

Looking at some budget ones, don''t know if they'll be that great. but would be nice to learn how to use them and perhaps upgrade

Newegg.com - Canon EOS Rebel T1i Black 15.10 MP 3.0" 920K LCD Full HD Movie Digital SLR Camera w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

 

[reznap]

I'd pick up a used one on the immense New York craigslist...

 

[chiyeung]

I am looking at the Canon EOS 1000D which is fairly decently priced and cheap. craiglist doesnt seem to have it and the one that is used and being sold is in the same price range. this should cost around 400-500 dollars.

Now i'm going to look at some books. I have been reading about tripods, filters.. and now you mentioned those lenses. would it be possible to start with the kit lenses? do you have any specific fixed focal prime lenses?

sorry for all these questions!

 

[ghpham]

You need to learn the basics. "Understanding Exposure" by Brian Peterson is a good first step. Portraiture is alot about posing and lighting so you will need to study these as well. Strobists.org is a good site about lighting. If you plan to take portrait indoor, then you will need to save up money for some good lighting kits. Portraits outdoor would be the cheapest way to go. As for lens, you could pick up a 50mm/F1.8 lens. The lens is cheap (around $100) and is decent for portrait.

 

[mark2kumar]

I'd pick up a used one on the immense New York craigslist...

Just saw your MM port. looks great!

 

[Infidel]

mark2kumar, welcome to the forum! Glad to see you're using the search function and reading up, but this thread died of natural causes almost 2 years ago!