Expert: Don Wood - 5/27/2008

Question
Hi Don,
I am considering purchasing a new Digital camera to be used anywhere from sports to portrait/wedding Photography. I looked at the Nikon camera model D80. My major concern is, will this be enough camera for this broad aspect of Photography. I have also looked at the D200 model. Do you have any input on these models or a totally different camera suggestion? My budget is anything under $1500.00.  I have a business degree in HR and I am working with a internet based company. We are looking to branch out in this direction with photography and run it out of our custom framing business. My plans are to first get the camera and learn as much as possible about it while practicing on friends and family. Then I plan attend some seminars and tradeshows to learn more about lighting and studio set-up.  I will appreciate any advice on the camera and any other information I receive. Thanks again Jared

Answer
I would Google the Internet for Photo Schools in these areas. What you need to do is to get a feel for the field. Learn what people expect of you as a wedding/portrait photographer. You will need to be very computer-savvy with either Photoshop or Jasc Paint Shop Pro. You will need a good printer that is fast enough to churn out the pictures you need to make your sales and fullfill them after being ordered. You should probably also have a few business courses in your background. In addition to the seminars and tradeshows I would also reccommend that you study the books in the library, both in Photography and Art. When you look at a beautiful picture do you examine it as to how it was done, the angle, the shutter-speed, the lighting, etc. You will be training your eyes to see beyond the scene and the best was to reproduce it. Notice that I am making no recommendation as to the camera, get the best you can, with the best mega-pixel you can afford. You will probably find that your usual picture will be an 8x10, occasionally 11X14 or smaller. Your goal will be to ensure that the image you get will enlarge to these sizes without it showing pixelation in the image. I think both would do nicely. You should also get the biggest card you can for capturing the image and holding it. You will find that the camera you get might have a 8 or 16 meg card, you will want to get a larger card(s). This is an exciting time in photography but it is difficult. The cameras have gotten so much easier to use that almost anybody can get a decent picture, you must work to have that much better a picture than they. Get as much training as possible and keep up the training. You will be doing this the rest of your life in Photography.
The purpose of suggest a school such as New York Institute of Photography is to acquaint you with the principles of your endeavor and what to expect.
I wish you well, please keep in touch.
LOL, PS, are you the Jared of Subway fame?