We use Canon 40D and 50D's and shoot thousands of portrait shots. All are edited with Picasa 3 (a free download from Google). Try it, we and our clients are very happy with the results.
Focus on knowing your camera, shoot, shoot and find the pictures that please you. So much is also seeing the lighting and composition that works for your eye and at first let you camera's automatic features help you learn. Then take the jump and start to use the creative and manual features. Experimenting and learning will not hurt your camera and is the only way to learn. Have fun and be pleased with your creativity.
Go to my Peter Grieves facebook "Pictures" to see some of our Bear Hug Photography.
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