A Camera Guide for the Momtographer

PERSONAL

My mom has been searching to upgrade from her camera phone to an actual camera, but to more than just her point and shoot. I had given her my camera to use for Peter’s baptism to see what she thought about going to such “heavy machinery”. It made me think of all the other mom’s out there that want to take better quality photos of their little ones just on a day to day basis and how sometime they have NO IDEA what to get and end up paying more than they really have to for what they want. So if you are in this situation keep reading!

1) Isn’t it gonna cost me an arm and a leg? Answer: Yes, you get what you pay for. BUT also just pay for what you need. If you aren’t going to be printing anything super big you don’t need the highest megapixel count cameras have to offer!

2) How user friendly are DSLR’s? Answer: I know for a fact that Canon has some GREAT starting cameras that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that you won’t need or even know how to use. It has basic funtions and even some set photo modes; such as Sports and Portraits. It’s pretty fool proof!

3) Do I need an extra flash? Answer: Pffft! Pop up flash may be all you need! If you learn, like really really learn, how to use your camera you may not even need the flash!

4) What lense is best for me? Answer: This one is a little harder to say, but for a good all around general lens I would say go with a zoom lens. My very first camera came with an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. 5)

5) Don’t I need lots of editing software to make the background all blurry? Answer: NO WAY! That’s more in your lens. If you pick the one above, for example, the Fstop is 3.5-5.6. Now the low Fstop you have the blurrier the background can be. You will pay more for lenses that can do that. The photos below have different Fstops. The left photo is f/1.4 and the right is f/3.5. You can see the difference in the backgrounds. 2014-06-03_0001.jpg You can also always ask to use someone else’s camera just to give it a whirl for an hour to see how you like it. The next momtographer could be you! 2014-05-14_0002.jpg Photo above taken by my mom of my dad and daughter.