Your first camera setup.
You want to get a fancy camera for your son, daughter, husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend but you don’t know what to get. There’s tons of options out there. Do you get a Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus (kidding, never ever get an Olympus), Fuji? I usually send a list to friends who ask me this question followed by a phone call to explain each item on that list. This time I’ve written everything out so I can share it with more people who might be thinking about this very question right now.
So this is one of the questions that I always seem to get asked but never take the time to make a template for. I have templates (prepared answers) for most every question I get repeatedly asked. I’ve in fact put together several Amazon wish lists of what I would suggest. But these lists also have to be explained to people otherwise it seems like a bit much.
So in this blog i’m going to share my Amazon wish list and also break down my choices and reasoning behind each selection. Link will be included with each section so that you can go and purchase whatever your little heart desires. I’ll also include alternate selections that will either be pricier or more affordable, I break it down either way so you can decide which is best. The end of this blog will also include a conclusion that should hopefully make you feel like you’re not making a purchase that you’ll regret. ❤️
Canon rebel t7
CAMERA
The first thing you’ll need to get started is the actual camera body. This particular camera body isn’t going to break the bank. This camera is going to get your feet with having a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflux, i’m totally flexing here with my photography knowledge). One of the main benefits of these cameras is having an internal memory buffer. So instead of the camera writing directly to a memory card it will instead route the photos to an internal memory buffer which then pushes files to the memory card. This means faster photos which turns into you taking more photos, at least thats what studies have said. DSLRs also have the ability to swap out lenses. So you can change the focal length and aspects of your camera which makes it a bit more fun that a fixed lens system.
The Canon Rebel T7 also allows you to shoot in a mode called RAW. This is a setting that most professional photographers use. Instead of a 7mb JPEG file you are shooting a 20 mb RAW file. That means more data to play with on the back end (we’ll get to that later). I’m not going to get too heavy into the specs of this camera beyond these few things that i’ve mentioned. The menu system on this camera is fairly simple to learn and the best thing is how it’s the same on every Canon system. So if you upgrade to another Canon camera someday you won’t feel lost. You’ll also be able to start out on Auto on this camera and move to shoot manually (you decided aperture, iso, shutter speed).
The camera also has what’s called a hotshoe on top of the body. This is for a flash gun (a flash, ignore the gun term). With an external flash you’ll be able to better light your subjects without having it come out looking like a photo from a crime scene. The camera has a built in pop up flash (pop up flashes are garbage, don’t use them unless you have to).
The Canon Rebel T7 also has a screen that tilts away from the body. You can either use this feature for interesting selfies or getting a better angle low or high. It also flips to hide the screen to protect it from scratches (don’t bother trying to protect your camera from scratches, each scratch is feather in your cap). There is also built in WIFI and NFC into the camera so you can download photos directly to your camera while on the go. I use this occasionally just to share photos with friends quickly but rarely post anything straight out of camera.
This is a great starter camera. If you’re serious about getting deeper into photography and looking for something thats a little bit “more” out of a camera then I would suggest the Canon 6D. The Canon 6D is a full frame camera that won’t break the bank. Has a full frame sensor which means you’re pulling more information into your photos like color, saturation, sharpness, contrast, low light shooting. This is the least expensive full frame that Canon currently offers.
Whichever camera you decide on, don’t forget to buy lots of extra batteries. I use genuine and also off brand batteries for my camera. I always have at least two or three extra batteries. You never know when you’re going to leave the screen on or if a battery didn’t properly charge the night before.
The green box in the camera is the actual camera sensor (full frame). You see that it is much larger than the canon rebel t7. better for indoors, low light and professional grade photos.
Amazon: Canon Rebel T7 (Body only) Feel free to buy used or renewed. Most people take care of their equipment and when reselling cameras or most electronics it is tested before being sold again. Just make sure to run the camera through it’s paces in the first weeks in case there is an issue and you need to return it.
LENSES
So i’m going to be very vocal about this, do not get the 18-55 lens that this camera is often bundled with. The 18-55 is a garbage plastic lens, quality sucks from it and it has what’s called a variable aperture (not going to explain this one, above your pay grade at the moment). It’s what’s called a kit lens (whatever lens is bundled from a company with a camera) and if you’re buying a DSLR to get into photography then I assume you want to be creative and learn about photography, this lens will only allow you to zoom in on things and get mediocre photos. The lenses i’m going to suggest for you are two prime lenses and also a super telephoto lens (zoom). The goal is to get you super excited about photography and I think through these three lenses you’ll get there.
Canon 50mm 1.8
This lens is a must own for any photographer. It's great in low light, for portraits and landscapes. It will get you thinking creatively because you won’t be able to zoom in on subjects, you have to be the zoom, you have to move. With a 1.8 aperture you’ll be able to get professional looking photos with lots of bokeh (the blurry background of a photo when you’re focused on a subject). The bokeh is usually enough to encourage anyone to keep taking photos. This lens is also very light and you can even purchase a lens hood with it. A lens hood helps stop any light leaking into the lens from the side or above. It also makes the lens just a little bit cooler looking.
Amazon: Yongnuo 50mm 1.8 is also a very comparable lens that will get the job done and save you a little bit of $.
Canon 35mm f2
This is great for indoors, portraits, food photography. On a cropped body such as the Canon Rebel T7 this is more so a 50mm in disguise. There’s a small magnification with a cropped sensor cameras such as the T7 and a 35mm is more like a 50mm and a 50mm is closer to an 85mm. Regardless, this lens when you use it is proportioned to what you see from your eyes (you’ll understand once you use it). This lens also has great bokeh and is very solid. I would bring this to a wedding in a heart beat.
Amazon: Yongnuo 35mm 1.8 is a super affordable lens. I’ve bought this for friends who didn’t believe me about how awesome it was.
Canon 75-300 f4.0-5.6
So you still have the need to zoom into things either for portraits or landscapes. This is a great affordable lens that does have a variable aperture but that won’t matter much because the majority of this lenses use will be outside. I’ve used this lens to get photos of sunsets, sunrises and the moon as well as people, places and things.
Amazon: Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3 if you want something that’s a little bit more. The lenses are the things you hold onto with any camera kit. The body is what gets changed out.
FLASH
Yongnuo 600EX RT-II
Having an external flash on your camera verses the built in flash will make a world of difference in your photos. Just using light, even incorrectly will let whoever is seeing the photo know that the photo was taken by someone who has a little bit more knowledge than the average person. You can use this flash which will sit on top of your camera to angle the light to more interesting places such as a wall, ceiling or even put a colored gel (really thin sheet of colored plastic) to get interesting effects.
This particular flash is one of my favorites because it’s a knock off that is identical to the four hundred dollar Canon 600ex-rt II. I own eight of these flashes. You can actually control multiple flashes from a single unit. This means lots of interesting lighting once you get the hang of things. I’m not going to get into how to hook up multiple flashes or off camera lighting in this blog. You can purchase other modifiers for your flash like the MagMod system as well which will allow you to flex a little more.
As you can see they are nearly identical. Both perform excellent and can be used to trigger one another when on the same channel.
Lots of buttons to play with and learn. It’s a lot easier than it looks. Most of the time I shoot on manual power (I always know how the flash is going to fire) and I just change my camera settings from there.
EXTRAS
Now that you have the essentials like the camera and lens we can talk about the extras that are going to make owning a DSLR that much more fun. These are things that I myself have and wouldn’t go without.
Think Tank Airport Commuter
This is one of my favorite purchases ever. I’ve owned many backpacks in regards to camera gear. This is by far one of my favorites. Great for lifting from the side or top. Built in security (has a wire built into the bag that can be used to wrap around objects to prevent your bag from traveling far). Tons of storage for your small things and also very customizable interior. I’m constantly changing my layout for different needs. I also use this as a hiking backpack when I bring equipment because I can compartmentalize my gear very well. This bag also has a waist strap and chest strap to stop any wobble when you’re hiking or moving quickly. It’s $199 but it’s very worth it. Consider that you won’t have to upgrade to a bigger bag as you get more and more accessories for your camera. Highly suggest the Think Tank line of backpacks they offer.
Lots of room, organize, shift, move it around. The blue bag has a rain cover inside.
Fits tons of gear
The R Strap
There are plenty of cheap knock offs and imitators, but this is absolutely a must buy. This is a great company who i’ve used their products for almost fifteen years now. Instead of your camera dangling around your neck you can have it rest securely at your side. Simply screw the attachment into the baseplate of your camera and tighten it as much as you can. Now while you’re not using your camera it rests under your arm, you’ll have it ready much quicker when the moment arises. When you’re ready to shoot all you have to do is reach down to your camera and it effortlessly slides up the strap to meet your eye. Instead of taking your camera in and out of a bag or worrying that you’ll knock something over when you bend down, this is the answer; R strap. The company offers lots of different options, some can take on two bodies (cameras) and others have a strap that goes under the arm as well for a more secure fit.
Storacell battery holder, AA Eneloop batteries, Titanium 16 bay AA charger
If you’re using an external flash then you’ll need AA batteries. I love these battery holders because you can either sit the battery positive or negative side down to indicate if it’s charged or uncharged. They’re also great to throw indoor pocket when you’re out shooting and need to change batteries quickly. The ENELOOP batteries are awesome for external flashes because of they low discharge rate, it’s meant to go in a flash. I will say that they are pricey but worth it. I never use throw away batteries. Most of my AA batteries I have are over five years old and still hold their charge. I pair these batteries with the Titanium 16 bay charger which charges AA & AAA batteries. Charging takes only a few hours and I own three of these chargers actually. (When you shoot a wedding you end up with a lot of dead batteries afterwards)
Amazon: Storacell AA Battery holder
So I do plan to make a wish list on Amazon so I can include that here at the bottom. But for now you’ll have to click back and fourth to get to Amazon and add everything to your cart. The most important thing is you’re investing in a hobby or profession. You’re not buying something that will be outdated in a few years. My current camera a Canon 5d MKIv is almost five years old and i’m still getting miles out of it. The above selections as far as camera and lenses are to get you excited about shooting. Anyone can pick up a Canon Rebel and put it on Auto and walk around with the kit lens and get okay photos. But if you want to get good then you’re going to play with the prime lenses (35mm & 50mm) and start to play around in manual mode (selecting your aperture, iso, shutter speed). When you take good photos you will be rewarded with compliments from friends, family and strangers which will only encourage you to take more and more photos. The items that I’ve picked out are for kids getting into photographer or people my age getting into photography. I buy used as well, so if you see a deal out there, go for it. Feel free to message me with any questions or give me a call. I’ll eventually add more to this blog and clarify any points you might be curious on.
Please do not buy combos like this. 90% of it is garbage. May seem like an easy choice to make, save money, bundle… no… stop, garbage!
Filters are for the lazy.
Going to be pretty straightforward in saying that filters can ruin weddings. Look in your phone at the photos from a year for two ago at the filters you were using on your photos, some are pretty cringe-worthy. Some photographers use filters as a crutch or use it because they're lazy. Photographers who de-contrast and play with highlights / adding a yellow filter over a photo are a dime a dozen. The goal should be correct color reproduction and using your skill as a photographer to produce compelling images through composition, knowledge and also being in the right place at the right time.
Believe it or not, no filter. This was shot with a Canon 90mm TSE (Tilt shift) lens
WGBH Live on Boylston Street
Government Center MBTA Canon 8-15 Fisheye
I just got this question recently when meeting with a bride and groom.
Why don’t I have black and whites, sepia tones, filters on my photos? This is very simple to answer, look back in your phone a year or two. Do see all the random filters that you were using on your Instagram photos / Facebook posts; they’re awful.
Tastes change, styles adapt and people move on from trends. These are some of the most important photos that you’ll have of yourself, why would I put a trendy filter on and especially one that is so overused by Pinterest focused wedding photographers. De-contrast, playing with the highlights and adjusting the color temperature to be a bit more yellow doesn’t make a classic photo in my mind. I’ve also seen a lot of photographers use this as a crutch when a photo is mediocre or missing something.
Sometimes converting a photo to black and white looks great provided you do it the correct way and know what you’re doing with levels, curves and also saturation of colors and a number of other things. But here’s what we photographers know, this doesn’t make any photo a classic or immortalized image. Being honest, the only time i’ve actually made a photo black and white in recent history is when I absolutely couldn’t do what I wanted with the photo due to a number of reasons. I reluctantly changed it and adapted it because it was a moment that I did not want to throw away. I will never myself change a color photo to black and white though just to wow someone. One more example, white or black vignetting on photos… cringe.
Now here’s the part where i’m a dick and say mean things about other photographers. I really do try to be positive, like way too much.. usually. I know a great number of photographers that are shooting the exact material they were two or three years ago. Most photographers that I know get better every few months, years or just plainly have breakthroughs of creativity that make me very jealous. But I see some wedding photographers that never try new things, never purchase new equipment or develop their post game (editing). Wedding photography is simply put a gym for photographers, you’re regularly pushed to adapt, learn and get better, faster, stronger at your photography. I can look back every year and see my deficits or where i’ve made improvements. So here’s where I tie that back into what i’m saying, filters are a huge crutch for someone trying to hide the fact that they aren’t developing themselves. For the sake of the bride and groom you should be taking the payment and rolling a good portion back into your own development and/or equipment. This is your one chance to capture someone’s wedding and why would you put an ugly filter on such a beautiful day.
What I try to accomplish with my wedding photography is creating accurate representations of what the scene actually looked like. I use different lenses and compositions to showcase different moments. I’m trying to achieve as close to as possible correct color profiles, your flowers are rarely neon or muted colors; it’s somewhere in-between I hope. It would be too easy to add filters to my photos and claim that I’m an artist and that this is my art. What I do is document and record moments as beautifully as I can. I don’t have a particular unique skill that no other photographer could ever attain. What I bring to the table is knowledge, personality, skill and a pretty good amount of equipment to back it up. I do use some creative editing techniques that highlight certain aspects of a scene or cast a cold blue morning as a more warn and sunny one. The best editing in my opinion is the kind you can’t detect.
If you want to add a filter on your photos you’re always welcome to do so but as I started out saying, look at your images with filters and effects from a year or two ago.. cringe. :) Imagine your parents wedding photos and imagine what it would look like with correct color or your grandparents images if it wasn’t shot in black and white (yes, I know that may have been all that was available at the time).
I shoot weddings and would love to shoot your wedding.
Click here to see my website and learn more.
Moore State Park, Canon 200mm 1.8
My cafe mocha. Shot with Canon 35mm 1.4
Canon Professional Services
CPS is an awesome program where you pay a little and get a lot back. Very very good idea to have if you make money doing photography.
So i've invested a little bit of money this past year in my infrastructure, one of those being Canon Professional Services.
I've belonged to Canon Professional Services for a few years but relying on the free or basic service. Mostly it's been nice to keep adding gear and watching my points go up. This year I upgraded to platinum which comes with a lot of benefits. So you need to be an employee of a photography business or have your own and have at least fifty points in your CPS account. You get points by the amount of gear you own. So if you own a Canon Rebel with an 18-55 lens and a third party flash you're probably not going to cut it. Own a 5D mkIII with a 50mm 1.8, you're getting warmer. Basically you have to be committed to photography and Canon to belong. If you have a basic rebel and kit lens and drop it, just buy a new one. I have seven L lenses and two bodies and three flashes so I'm well above the mark for getting in. So when you join for the low fee of $300 you get the following:
- New Member Welcome Kit: Welcome Letter, Exclusive CPS Platinum Gift, CPS Member Card, 2 CPS Pro Straps, 2 Rear Lens Caps, and 2 Camera Body Caps (contents subject to change)
I received a Thinktank Laptop bag which has been really useful and the extra lens caps and body caps have been nice to stash away fro a rainy day. I don't really have any use for the two CPS Pro straps (You're welcome to buy them from me). I have Black Rapid and Spider holsters.
- Priority access (over Gold members) to Equipment Evaluation Loans (Try Before You Buy Program)*
I fell in love with the Canon 200mm f2. Thanks Canon for enabling me!
- Expedited 2 business day service turnaround** on CPS PLATINUM REPAIR LIST products
Dropped my 580ex II & 5d MKIII. Had it fixed before the following weekend's wedding. It was a damn good excuse to buy the Canon 600RT. The repair actually got back to me faster than the new lens, but regardless my accident enabled me to buy new toys.
- 30% discount on repairs on CPS PLATINUM REPAIR LIST products on up to 15 items per membership term
I have plans to ship out some lenses with a tiny bit of dust in them.
- Repair Coverage Loans***
- Free shipping both ways on CPS PLATINUM REPAIR LIST products sent in for service
I still have to find out more about this.
- Complimentary Product Maintenance Service**** on up to 10 Pieces per membership term
I will be shipping out some of my gear very soon before the wedding season starts! You could spend around $15 plus $40-60 for a cleaning for a single piece of equipment, why not get a bargain on this and sign up!
- Onsite event and show support, as listed on the events calendar
- 24/7 CPS Support Hotline (domestic and international)*****
- Discounted admission to select Canon Live Learning seminars and workshops
Anyways it's a good deal and you should give it a try. If you're a professional and want to know that someone is in your corner backing you up in the event of an emergency then this is the program for you.
This is also a good program for you to get to know lenses better. Sure you can watch Youtube (DigitalRev has some of the best reviews in my opinion) or you can read reviews on FredMiranda. But signing up for CPS and getting to use those lenses for a week and then paying the $15 to mail it back to Canon is even better. I've "evaluated" four lenses so far. One of those being the canon 200-400 f4. It was amazing and the looks you get from everyone is even better, priceless.
So my first lens rental from CPS was the Canon 200mm f2. I figured what better way to showcase this beast than putting it on the Canon EOS M3. Let me tell you, it was amazing. The image was creamy in the bokeh and tack sharp. I was able to shoot handheld in NYC at ISO 200 at night. (Photo Below)
Sharon & Jon's engagement session at Arnold Arboretum
Here's a sneak peak at Sharon & Jon's engagement shoot. More will be shared on www.IShotYourWedding.com
Today we spent the afternoon at Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts. Turns out it's right down the road from my best friend's apartment and i've actually driven past this place a dozen times. We wandered and got some great shots and got to know each other a bit better. Here's some of the photos from the shoot.
#engagement #boston #arnoldarboretum #arboretum #bostonweddingphotographer #worcesterweddingphotographer #session #photoshoot #photography #macro #canon #ring #weddingring #inlove #couples #unitymikeweddingphotography #worcesterweddingphotographer
LB Wheaton, Sigma 150-500
So if you're thinking about buying a lens or want to check out some cool equipment then head down to LB Wheaton. I stopped in and had no idea that I would be walking out with a super telephoto lens. Being able to hold it in my hands and experience it was enough to put me over the edge. Great experience at LB Wheaton.
So i've been eyeing the Sigma 150-500 lens for quite some time. I always talk myself out of buying it. I have to wait a few days and buyers remorse and not being able to test it prior to buying it, easy to talk myself out of it.
Two weeks ago I wandered into LB Wheaton just killing some time before a wedding meeting (I landed it.) I saw the gigantic lens sitting on the shelf and asked if I could check it out. I was quickly handed this heavy lens and a Canon T5i. I paired them together and set it to manual and f/10 at 1/30th of a second and shot a few shots out the window. I wanted to see what this lens was made out of. 2 out of 3 photos were crispy and clear and the stabilization held true. I changed the settings to something a bit more relaxed and shot thru the windows a bit more at local shops and urban landscapes to see how invasive I could be with this new zoom. The answer is, very invasive; this lens is friggin awesome! I found out from the gentlemen behind the counter that this lens had an instant rebate, I didn't need much more twisting of my arm. I told LB Wheaton that I was heading to a meeting and if I did good at the meeting I would be back to purchase the lens. One hour later I came back and pulled out my money and now I can't put this very heavy lens down.
If not for LB Wheaton, I don't think I would have such a cool toy. Two weeks prior I stopped in and also bought a small collapsable tripod. This is such a great place to try out equipment and ask questions. You can also buy backdrop paper rolls here as well as lenses, bags, lighting and anything in-between. Very happy to have such a great store a few miles away.
Here's a few photos that I've taken over the past week or two. I also have some wedding photos that I shot with this lens which came out amazing. Being able to zoom in instead of cropping in post would be so amazing.
Make sure to LIKE LB Wheaton Camera Shop Facebook page.
Europe, me, camera, car
Mike, camera, car, Europe, 2 weeks. What could go wrong.
Traveling alone everywhere I can via car in Europe. Exploring and taking photos. I'll be documenting as much as I can via Iphone, Canon 5d and regular uploads to my blog. 12 countries in under 2 weeks sounds pretty damn awesome to me for a vacation.
I bought a plane ticket.
Flying to Italy (July 28th)
Picking up a car.
Driving all over Europe. (Italy, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Germany, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Slovakia and any other place I can squeeze in.
Taking photos everywhere. (I'm even tempted with a Ukraine selfie)
Flying home (August 11th).
So now the logistics of what I'm going to do. Everyone keeps saying that this is a bit mental. But what better way to showcase that I'm a destination wedding photographer than to visit all the places I want to shoot at. How can I visit so many places in such a short amount of time.. and alone! I'm planning on doing a bit of driving and enjoying some alone time. Some places in Europe only take an hour or several to get to, Amsterdam to Brussels is under an hour and you can drive from Paris to Germany in under 5 hours. I've been researching a route to take and I plan on make a small route of my trip before I go so everyone can follow me on here. Some places are 5-7 hours apart which sounds like a lot, but consider this. Imagine driving from Worcester to Boston, not bad right. Now drive to Providence, not the worse right; hop out and explore a bit for a few hours. Next would be Hartford CT. So you arrive and now you've been driving for a few hours and the end of the world didn't happen. Even though the places are many hours apart that won't mean that I have to stay in the car and on route. This trip is all about stops, detours and taking it in.
I've also been to Europe before, several times. I rock.
I plan to blog everything while i'm there, videos, pictures and audio. Unlocking my AT&T Iphone to be a bit more compatible with VodaPhone and purchasing a prepaid card. I also plan on visiting many Starbucks and internet cafes. I'll have my MacBook with me and be uploading photos and videos daily.
So I can't possibly enjoy my time because it's going to take so long driving and finding hostels, hotels or bed and breakfasts. I found an easier way and much more economical way to explore Europe. By sleeping in the backseat of my rental i'll be able to cut out many hours of checking in and out and making sure I didn't lose anything. I do plan on staying a few nights in a hotel (A man's gotta shower). By not doing a hotel it will also save me countless dollars which can better be spent on gas and delicious meals.
If I find that I love Portugal or Slovakia and i'm having a blast there then i'll stay longer. My goal though is to experience as much as I can in a short amount of time. (My part time job is being awesome and allowing me to take 2 weeks off this summer for this trip as well as 17 dates for weddings and other shoots).
I'll be traveling with two Pelican cases. One will be full of camera equipment, planning on bringing my Canon 16-35 and 24-70, 70-200 and a 50mm to compliment my 5d MKII. I'll also have my Canon EOS M in tow. I've actually already started to assemble some of what i'm bringing. I famously get sick before any big trip because I worry about mis-packing equipment. I'll be using a power inverter so I can charge everything that I need to in the car and negate any power adapters or need to stop moving.
