This particular post is geared toward individuals who are brand new to the photography world. If you have never picked up a DSLR camera in your life this post is for you!
Much like you I dreamt of taking professional awesome photos with out of focus blurry backgrounds, and had no idea how to start. I had never even held a DSLR camera in my hands before so making that first move to go to Best Buy and get my camera seemed very daunting.
I had read some camera reviews between Nikon and Canon. From what I heard I decided to go with an entry level Canon T3i and I have never regretted my decision.
There are many camera brands out there so do your research and go with a brand that feels comfortable to you. You don't need to buy the most expensive camera out there either. The camera I use cost just under $400 and it can hang with the best of them.
Now what do you want to photograph? People, cars, landscapes? Or all of the above? Do you just want to do it as a hobby and take some really cool pictures, or do you want to go pro and make some money with your photography skills?
If you want to take pictures of people, most do, here is a photo from a photo shoot I had today with very popular model Noley Ryan from Tempe Arizona.
As you can see she is very beautiful and a great model! She is wearing a hoodie made by Zippy Girl Clothing, a new and upcoming clothing line popular amongst fashion minded girls with a Zippy attitude!
This photo was taken at the Peoria Library in Arizona. I used a single shoot through umbrella with a Yongnuo YN-560 II speed light, "off camera flash unit" triggered by Cowboy Studio FM Radio Trigger model NPT-04.
The lens I used was a 50mm 1.8 Canon lens. The sunlight was too bright to open it up to 1.8 so I dialed it in at around f4 and still maintained a relatively shallow depth of field. If the sun was bright why did I feel the need to use a flash you probably wonder? It was because the sun was to her back leaving the front of her and her face underexposed without the flash used for "fill light."
Okay, if all of what I just said sounds like total rubbish to you then you are not alone. What the heck is this guy talking about? Some might say, losing you talking about depth of field and blah, blah, blah.
I am going to start with the very basics covering camera functions and settings. Since I own a Canon t3i I will show you how to use one. You can implement many of the features I show you with whatever brand of camera you choose.
The AV on the dial stands for Aperture Value, The TV stands for time value and the P is program mode. The little camera on the tripod symbol is for recording video. I will teach video functions later on, let's learn how to take pictures first.
So turn on your camera. Now you will need to flip out your display screen if you have not done that already. Now the rear of your camera will be your focus. Make sure your battery and memory card are inserted in the camera. The screen prompt will ask for setting the date and time so do that. You will need to navigate with the directional pad on the back of the camera. Here is a picture.
The five way pad the says, WB, AF and Set is what you will use. Just look at the direction of the arrows on the pad and that is the direction the cursor will move when you press it. Use the Set button to select, sort of like pressing Enter on a computer keyboard.
Let's start from the very top left and work our way to the right and down. The Menu button is self explanatory, it takes you to a menu of various settings and features. The info button will toggle the screen display, the button with the camera icon and red dot next to its upper left is the video record button. The two round buttons with the magnifying glasses underneath them are for zooming in and out in view finder. Not the same as zooming in and out with your lens. The AV button is for adjusting your aperture and the Q button is for selecting individual items to adjust on your display screen. The right facing triangle in a box is for displaying photos or videos you have taken. The little trash can icon is for deleting photos or videos you have taken that are on your memory card.
In fact here is a cheat sheet made by Julie Adair King, hopefully you find it helpful.
The Canon Rebel T3i/600D Digital Camera Layout
Here's a guide to the buttons, dials, and other external controls
on your Digital Rebel T3i/600D. The lens shown in this digital camera
is the Canon EF-S 18–55mm IS (Image Stabilization) model sold with the
Rebel; other lenses may vary.
Exposure Mode Quick Guide for Your Canon Rebel T3i/600D Digital Camera
Your T3i/600D offers the following exposure modes, which you select via the Mode dial on top of the camera. Your choice is important because it determines how much control you have over picture-taking settings.Note: Modes described as automatic scene modes in the table offer fully automatic photography but enable you to alter color and exposure slightly through the Shoot by Ambience and Shoot by Lighting or Scene Type features.
As you can see everything is clearly labeled and all program modes explained very well.
Like I said before I don't consider myself a full pro photographer, I am still learning just as you are. I have learned my knowledge from photographers such as Matt Granger, 'That Nikon Guy', Snapchick, Micheal Zelbel, Jared Polin, Photographers on Utube, and Tony Northrup. To get the best price on a Canon T3i Click Here To Buy Now.
I highly recommend purchasing Jared Polin's photography guide to get you out of trying to use only the automatic mode on your new camera. If you only want to use auto mode you are better off just getting a much cheaper point and shoot camera because your photos are never going to look as good as they can that way. Separate yourself from the rest and make your photos look absolutely superb! Here is the link to buy his 3 hour guide of never before seen video footage, he will show you everything you need to become a pro photographer, or just take much better pictures and fully understand how your camera works. Click Here To Buy Now
Jared Polin is an accomplished photographer whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine and countless other international publications. He has recently pointed his talents to the business world and established himself as an entrepreneur with incredible vision and impressive results. In 2010, Jared launched FroKnowsPhoto.com, a fun and informative website for photographers that provides guidance in the art, process, equipment and experience of capturing moments in photos. Jared’s unique style and media savvy helped him grow the site’s audience The popularity of his “I Shoot Raw” brand of merchandise has catapulted Jared and FroKnowsPhoto to worldwide recognition, creating a legion of fans and photographers of all skill levels who flock to the site for education and assistance.
In addition to being a renowned photographer and online superstar, Jared is a trusted advisor and consultant to brands and companies looking to expand their online visibility.A recognizable personality at social media business and photo conferences around the United States, Jared is a sought-after speaker and a leading expert on photography and the use of content development and marketing.
This is Martin Maven, thank all very much for reading my first photography blog. I hope that you have found it useful and I wish you all good luck with your photography. Please comment and let me know what you think. Feel free to share this post with your friends and family.
