Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Asking what camera to buy for a starter is great... following it up with the words "client" and "business" and then getting upset because people tell you that there is more too being a pro than owning a camera is just lacking common sense and idiotic at best.

The OP can hang out with all the other craptastic photographers that think it's that easy but sorry I won't be one of them and honestly neither should you. You are investing in yourself everytime you google something, purchase a book or even just spend time with your camera and taking pictures of a flower in the garden. You should be insulted that someone thinks all that time and money you have spent has been wasted.

If they want to see what their future looks like if they don't want to invest in themselves, take their time and LEARN about photography they can look here:

http://youarenotaphotographer.com/

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

And it is photographers like you that open up the market for those like the OP that are wanting to get into the game also!! There is room for all since not everyone out there wants to help build the ego of some!! Those who can't produce will be weeded out and those who DO produce, will survive!! Some will go crazy with pricing and others will not!! To each their own!!

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

like I said buy a d3200 and a 35mm or a 50mm len's for a total cost of around $600 and you will be able to learn and take some great photos . you don't need those $3000 cameras and $1200 to $1600 lenses at least not yet ,
there will be a learning curve to get there , but at least you will be within your budget for now . and your pic will be just as good as something shot with a $3000 camera when you know what your doing .

j.collinst

Yeagerfamily, Photography is about your eye and your skills. It is not about equipment.I started with a Nikon D40X 10mp camera and a kit lens and never had unsatisfied clients.

You can find almost new cameras on Craigslist or EBay being sold by someone who paid big bucks for a camera they never learned to use. They become disillusioned because the equipment didn't magically transform them into a great photographer and sell to clean out their closet.

With technology progressing as it has, a 14MP - 24MP camera can be owned for less than your $500 budget, but you really don't need more than about 6MP unless you plan to sell enlargements.

Enjoy the process, build your creativity, develop your vision and don't get caught up in the equipment hoopla.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Like Me? umm care to explain how photographers like me open up the market to people that know NOTHING about photography expect how to open a facebook account and upload snap shots open the market to those like the OP?

Umm let me go to walmart buy a black friday special and the next day call myself a professional, come on, this crap has to stop. Learn how to use your camera, learn about white blance, learn about posing and composition, learn how to get an image in focus before you start taking on clients. Getting a business license and a federal tax id would also be a great place to start, lol

Rob Mulligan

The camera doesn't matter. Really. Any entry level major (CNPS) company dSLR today is better than 99% of the photogs shooting them. Save the camera money and buy a couple of f1.8 (35/50/85) primes. "Good" fast zooms cost an arm and a leg and are big and heavy. F1.8 primes are relatively inexpensive, or in the case of a 50mm f1.8 VERY inexpensive, shoot excellent +++, and teach you how to compose) and some lighting and umbrellas. Three inexpensive speed lights (key, fill, hair), triggers, umbrellas and a stands won't cost much, and will pay you back in spades. Then go to Strobist.com and or any of a zillion websites and learn to light. Oh yeah... Learn to shoot Aperture Priority and Manual.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

you might as well throw in the D3 , that is only twice the cost of the D800 . you have to be a little more realistic some people have limited funds . he has already said what he has to spend on a camera $600 . I think that leaves the
d800 and the mark 111 canon out .

Lynn L Loc: Northern IL

First off; there are NO absolutely perfect answers to your question. I'm certainly no better than anyone else. Here are some thoughts. For a camera, I'm not sure a dslr is the best tool. I fought slr viewing for 50 years. I hated them because I've always had to wear glasses & always had to press my glasses against the eye pad & then press hard enough to press my glasses back against my face so I could see the whole frame. About a year & a half ago I picked up a Nex 7. Number 2 daughter & grandson were coming into town. I set up a couple cheap studio strobes & received a revelation. On the Nex 7, I could see the whole field, using both eyes open and I could see lens openings change of depth of field. What a revelation! I was so impressed that about 6 weeks ago I sold both my dslr outfits and am waiting for a Sony a7r to arrive. I can't say my choice is right for you; but it's worthy of consideration. Now for lenses. I don't want to distort my portrait subjects, so I use only 35mm f1.8--50mm f1.8--85 mm f1.8. Why? Because a group of people might require a mild wide angle to cover them. A group of 2 might look better with a normal length lens. A single subject is good with an 85mm. Why f1.8 in a studio? You don't need lens speed shooting strobes in a studio, but, you can work miracles with proper depth of field control in your environmentals. Yes, you could do all your shooting with one intermed zoom lens. It's up to you. If you are serious about a real studio, then sign up for LR5 and PSCC right away. You'll get both programs for $9.99 a month; if you sign up by the end of this month. And they will keep that price for you. If you sign up after January 1st. you won't get the special deal. Next observation; you'll never have many complaints from beautiful ladies if they look just a wee bit thinner or their wrinkles are just a wee bit less prominent! Sooo, set up Anthropic Portrait Professional to work inside your PSCC. Yes, I know you could get by without this program and YES I'm NAPP member; but I'm also practical. Even if you can operate well with layers & layer masks & all that good stuff; Port. Pro will do in a minute or two what it would take me a LOT longer to do myself. Time is money for a working professional; so work efficiently; work smart! now about MP; depends on your business & clients. If you deal in small prints, 12 mp will do it. If your clients will pay for 40x60 prints you'll be more confortable with 36 mp files.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

it is a very cheap buesness to get into . compared to truck driver with a rig driving coast to coast . his fuel bill is that much in a month , a dentist just the cost of being one , never mind the gear he has to buy . a fisherman boat , nets , trap's fuel . a car wash , cabinet maker, the list goes on . a photographer is one of the cheapest trades to get into , also the cheapest paying if your not a good one ,

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Better get some real experience under your belt before attempting to start a portraiture business! It's as if you're saying, "I plan to become a professional race car driver; what race car should I buy?"

I won't comment on brand of camera but will on lens. If you get a zoom lens for portraiture, it is very important that it be a fixed aperture zoom. Otherwise you will find it difficult or impossible to get consistent exposures with studio strobes, and also find it difficult or impossible to get consistent exposures in other lighting situations.

BigGWells Loc: Olympia, WA

You need to go back into your quiet room and think this over. Just a good piece of glass can cost way over 500.00. What your talking about here is a point n shoot.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

That just isn't true!

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

no pepper in fact he's about the only one here that's making any sense at all
and if you want to see who is offering nonsense " well" I would not look to far from home

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

sure a zoom will work but if you want the best and your pixel peeping . then
it's a expensive prime all the way . bar none .

Rob Mulligan

I shoot Nikon, so I don't know the others, but here's a Nikon suggestion based on your budget:
Nikon D90 (because it has the screw drive to AF all AF lenses, the other budget bodies don't) - $300 on Ebay
Nikon 50mm f1.8 D - $109 at B&H
Umbrella / trigger / lightstand combo - $75 on Ebay
Yongnuo YN 560II speedlight - $60 on ebay

Total under $600.
Start with this and add a second or third speed light and umbrellas etc. once you've mastered using just one.

This is a one light shot using a soft box:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/robmulliganphotography/7203064062/