Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I'm in business and here is what I typically carry in my bag, just to give you an idea.

Canon 5D MKiii $2,900 (just ordered yesterday)
Canon 7d x2 - 1,400 (2,800 total just in camera bodies)
35mm - $1,500
50mm - $400 (I like the 1.4 over the 1.2, lol)
85mm - $1,200
135mm - $1,100
200mm - $850

total invested just in camera and lenses $11,650 BEFORE taxes, I might sell one of my 7Ds but I think I just might retire the older one and keep it for emergencies).

This is not including my 3 speedlites, studio lights, backdrops, props, studio itself, on-going education, etc.

The max end of your budget might (might with the cyber Monday deals) get you a entry level kit DSLR to learn on but it will not be satisfactory enough to start a business with you will be hard pressed to find a body and a lens at your low end of your budget.

I don't want to crush your dreams but I do want you to understand what is involved in starting a photography business, it isn't cheap and it is not a fast and easy way to earn extra money.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

more like squashed...don't forget the liability insurance and camera gear insurance.

Yeagerfamily Loc: Pa

I understand it's not a cheap field to be in I just don't plan on putting a bunch of money into it til I get better at taking pictures and I know about the ins and liabilities involved . Money isn't an issue and remember it's the photographer too not to run out and buy the most expensive camera because that's not gonna make me a better photographer.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

ANNIE Honey, NO....., say it ain't so.
Annie, what?, you must be serious about being a pro.
You DO realize when you ordered, that it's a real and genuine FULL FRAME camera!!
Now you won't even have to press up against the wall to use that very fine 85 1.2 of yours.
I mean, what's next, a 1Dx(yes, yes, yes) ?

On that 7d, get rid of both of them and get a 5dll as your back-up.
Annie, welcome to the real world of pro photography. ;-)

PS, we all know, that Yeager could start with a Costco Rebel kit and two 5 in 1's. One can start at the bottom, and not the top.
SS

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Even one of the better "bridge" cameras from Canon/Sony/Panasonic/etc would do a pretty good job of portraits to get you started.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Ya I made the switch, I couldn't fight it anymore. The B&H sale is pretty good, and my accountant said I need to spend some money before the end of the year. I'm hoping it's all it's cracked up to be, I'm so use to my crop sensors, it's going to be a little of an adjustment for me. There will be a little of a learning curve in the studio for sure.

The Rebel kit is a great starter camera/kit, I started out with one but it isn't suitable for the business side of photography, neither are the kit lenses but of course we both know that, I just don't think it's fair to lead new photographers on and tell them that is all they need ... let's be honest with them.

and while we are at it, the OP might be setting themselves up for failure if they think that business side of photography is as easy as running to Costco, buying an entry level DSLR and getting a fan page on facebook. There is soooo much more to this industry, let’s try to stop the flood of photographers that think it’s a quick way to make some money.

georgevedwards Loc: Essex, Maryland.

The more megapixels you have the more you can crop and enlarge, probably more important in taking pictures of people than other types. I like my 24 megapixel Nikon for being able to crop off a whole body for a facial closeup and still see individual eyelashes. The photography books say 85mm is the ideal focal length, using less than that makes the nose look big, (being too close with the camera gives a kind of distortion where you can't see around the sides, for instance the ears are sort of hidden, cheekbones bigger, sort of of a fisheye lens effect) also you can get some distance that doesn't get in the subject's face and make them uncomfortable. Of course, if you can afford to just buy the flagship of the line camera you won't be disappointed. I just found that my D5200 has a facial recognition feature that really helps focus on the face. I had been having trouble focusing manually to get the focus spot over the face. You should check to see if the camera has that feature, it can be a godsend and save time and trouble, and makes sure the face stays in focus. Auto focus can tend to jump around, even if you aim manually it can go off, learning how to use back button focus to freeze the focus on the face is also a must know trick for portraits. You don't have to spend $10,000 to start taking portraits, people already in the business try to discourage having more competition! You can do fine with $1000. 24 megapixels and all.

Hank821

I would recommend getting a camera in your budget and go shoot. It's not the gear its the photographer. Started my business doing portraits on a Nikon D40 with a kit lens and worked my way up to better gear.

Bobbee

Agree, the long lens helps on the picture by not compressing. If you look up on Google you will see this mentioned

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

Blaster, thanks for the info. It is good but confusing. How can I use long zoom lens if I want to blur the background? Long zoom means small opening. can you please explain little bit more?

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

$500 is a pretty thrifty allowance but you can do it if you don't waste your money on equipment. Stop reading camera reviews and get some books on portrait photography and lighting.

What is most important is your personal rapport with the subject and knowing how to get them to pose and respond to the camera. Second comes lighting and the camera and lens are third.

Then get a camera (6 MP is enough) and a lens that lets you stand from about 7 to 15 feet from the subject to avoid distorting facial features.

You will also need software to retouch images to remove blemishes. Just don't overdo the retouching.

If you can manage to pay for all of this within a year you might be on your way.

TimS Loc: GA

Don't settle for anything less than 60 megapixels. Start with an entry level phase one body and back end paired with an 85mm prime and you should be all set....................

lalezo Loc: Gainesville, FL

I like to do candid portraiture ... mostly available light .. I use the NIKON D5100 because of its articulated LCD Screen which allows me "not to point he camera at the subject", but also allows a slightly lower angle. I carry with me, most of the time, the Canon G12, which also has an articulated LCD Screen ... just in case. My favorite lens is the 18-200 Zoom ... just be aware that it "creeps" a bit ... I've learned to manage this issue ... Occasionally I do some studio portraiture and then I use either the D700 or D600 with the 24-85mm zoom or the 24-120mm zoom ... mostly available light .. using 'window light' ... I might add .. just take lots of images ... I set my shutter to continuous mode to hopefully catch the right image. Good luck !

Lloyd

cthahn

Megapixels has very little to do with anything. A zoom lens is of no value. A prime lens, 80mm to 105mm is a good choice. The camera does not take the picture. The photographer does. The photographer makes all the choices when taking a portrait, not the camera. Take the most expensive camera you can purchase, and it will not take a better than a less expensive one.
You do not become a portrait photographer over night. Taking portraits has everything to do with the subject make up, posing, lighting, shadows, background, exposure, timing, patience, processing, and printing. All of these together are required to make a portrait.

waykee7 Loc: Cortez, Colorado

My preference in the old film days was a 105mm and a 135 mm lens. These focal lengths seem flattering to the human face. The shorter focal lengths, say 50mm, are fine, but require you to get closer, and on some level seem to require a level of intimacy with your subject. . . that intimacy MAY be transferred to the photograph (Yay!) or may not. The 50mm focal length however is super useful for group portraits. I agree that it may be worth shopping the used market for something in the $500 price range. What one finds with portraiture is that social skill, an ability to connect with people quickly, to put them at their ease, and to elicit their humanity, is just as important, if not MORE important, than the equipment you use.