Kbose

Hi!
I just stumbled upon this group by googling cameras for beginners.
I'm a hair stylist wanting to step up my picture game.
The husband & I looked at cameras this evening. He's for the DSLRs.... I'm not.... To me they seem really needy.... Lol.
I want to be able to take pictures of hair with a ring light & reduce shadows when inside. I've been finding that with my Samsung Galaxy 7 & taking pics inside even with a ring light, there are shadows. I want to take some creative pics of myself, others, & products that look better than my phone pics.
We looked Canon T7I & Canon EOS M50.
As a beginner who wants to get away from just using camera phone what are your suggestions?
Any tips on what to look for?
Thank you so much for taking the time to educate me!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

Just don't get something that doesn't feel comfortable to use as you probably won't use it a lot.

Personally, I myself would opt for the T7i.
(I'm not worked up about mirrorless.)

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Welcome, and good luck wading through all of the advice you are about to get.

What you want is more a matter of technique than it is which camera you use. Only you know your budget and how much time you want to put in to this.

Check out the Professional and Advanced Portraiture section here. There are experts there.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-127-1.html

You mention products, so you might find the Commercial and Industrial Photography section valuable, as well.

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-126-1.html

See what the experts are doing, and how they are doing it, ask questions and then make your decision.

By the way, lots of people have advice to offer. Listen to the advice from people who have actually done what you are trying to do. Clicking on their username takes you to a list of the posts they have made, and many users have a link to their online galleries in their signature field.

Mike

Kbose

Thank you so much! I can't wait to dive in & learn!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Buy a Nikon! Whatever you buy, make sure it's comfortable in you hands. There is a whole world of cameras out there. If you can find a brick and mortar camera store check a whole bunch of them out. Not only will it be fun but it will be very educational. Have fun! If you are lucky you will look at several and your hands will all of a sudden say "This is the one!" Nikon D500 did that to me.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, everyone is different, that's why a friend of mine purchased a Sony. He liked what it did and how it felt

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Welcome to UHH. I can't give you any advice as to which of the 2 cameras you are looking at is better, as I am a Nikon shooter and am not familiar with either of those Canon models. I am with your husband and say go for the DSLR, the T7i over the M50.

I am a little confused though when you say about DSLR's that "I'm not.... To me they seem really needy.... Lol". Not quite sure what you mean, unless its that you don't like the fact that there are more knobs, buttons, settings, and things to adjust using a DSLR versus using the cell phone that you are accustomed to using right now. The T7i should have a fully auto setting on it so all you have to do is point, focus, and press the shutter, much the same as your cell phone. But it will also give you the option of taking more control of what you are photographing as you become a better photographer and more proficient.

Good luck.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Shadow are the other side of light.
More light in the front gives more shadow to the sides and back.
Make sure there's some light from the back (hair light!) and from the sides. Then the face and hair will be fully lit without shadows. I've used silver reflective auto dash covers as, well, reflectors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_O6pbT7Ovw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p13FqFdgDc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJWNQv01VtI
https://youtu.be/zBiOJCrak88
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zM2LZln24

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Welcome!

Kbose

Thank you
When I said DSLRs seem needy... It's all the lenses, knobs, & settings. I've always been under the impression if I go the DSLR route I will need to take classes.
Can you point & shoot with DSLRs? Am I making them much more complicated than they are?

Kbose

Kbose

Thank you for these videos! They are very helpful! Ive got some lighting ideas that could help now!
I have a couple of questions after I explain my current set up at work. I work in a salon & medspa in a 2 story 115+ yr old house that's on the historical site. The salon is split into 2 rooms. One room being the actual salon where we do the hairs, the other room being the shampoo room with our color bar & color closet. The shampoo room is darker with blue lights. The salon room is big enough for 4 stations with a window, lights in the ceiling, & track lighting on the ceiling specifically placed by salon color experts for hair color. But parts of the room are darker. And in the winter when it gets dark at 5ish the whole room its self darkens a lot. I have 2 soft umbrella lights (idk if that's what they are called). We don't have a lot of room in either room for a big ol set up. But I'm thinking I could move some things around in the shampoo room and set the lights up there. Would the blue lights in this room make all my hair color clients look color? I don't want my golden blondes looking like a cool/ashy blonde. Or would the umbrella lights counter be bright enough that the blue lights would not matter? All the walls are white.
.
In the salon there's a white wall that's got nothing on it. 3 problems are it's by the door & we have lots of people walking in & out (not a big deal), the 2nd problem is it's darker on that way. The ceiling lights don't go around the whole room. The 3rd problem is I can't keep the lights set up all the time there. They will take up too much space.
I could move some things around & be under more light with lights above, but I don't want the lights above to make the top of the hair look super bright.
.
What's a quick & easy setup? That's probably the worst question to ask.
I don't usually have the time to set up a whole light area. I'd like to be able to come in on the am, unfold the umbrella lights (but keep them close to the walls so they aren't in the way when not on use), do the hairs, & then move the lights around real fast like to take the pics.
I know I'm probably asking for something I can't have.
.
The good news is the owner of the business recently bought the building and some land with it and will be expanding... I am going to make sure we have a nice photo area.
Thank you again for the videos & all your feedback! I really appreciate it!

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome to the forum.

Kbose

Thank you so much!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

The good news is that whatever you buy will work just fine.

https://www.creativebloq.com/buying-guides/best-cameras-for-beginners
https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-camera-for-beginners-best-entry-level-dslr-mirrorless-and-compact-cameras
https://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/best-camera-for-beginners/
https://www.techradar.com/news/best-entry-level-dslr-camera