I own a Nikon D40x that I recently purchased about a year ago.
I am planning on buying a new SLR camera, any tips on what kind of camera I should buy, or lean towards?

I would also like to some studio equipment for taking shots.
Any tips on what I need to get started?
Where can I find equipment at a affordable price?
Can any household items be substituted?

I have also been taking many pictures for people, thing is I would like to put my name, my trademark on photos so people will know who took them.
How would be able to do that?
Any tips on what program I need or should use?

If you have any more tips on taking photos, lighting, editing, cameras, lenses, flashes, etc. I would greatly appreciate it.

Since you have a Nikon D40x, I would stay with Nikon, because you can use your lens or lenses that you already do have with your new camera. You can go with the Nikon D90 or the more expensive ones such as the D300, D700. Don’t buy from Ritz camera! You’ll usually find the best deals online, like Amazon or try MySimon (for comparing prices).

"google: strobist" (I can’t link sights for some reason)
Above is a fantastic website that will help you a lot with taking better pictures and from there, you’ll know what you need to buy as far as lighting and other equipment goes. It also has a huge and helpful community of fellow "strobists" that will answer any of your questions at "flickr.com/groups/strobist/"

For editing, I would just go to youtube and search photoshop editing videos, they’re really helpful and easy to learn.

One last thing. A lens that I think every photographer should own is the 50mm 1.8d. It’s about $90, it’s one of the sharpest lenses, it has beautiful bokeh, amazing in low light situations, great for everyday use and portraits, and it’s cheap!!!

Good luck. A lot of research is needed, but it will all be worth it.

i’d really love to be a photography.
i’m graduating high school in may and i know nothing about photography i’ve never taken a class…but i love doing it so much. i love seeing it aswell.
how can i get a career in photography? what is the best school [ college ] for it? also what careers are there that require a photography degree?

Two years ago I was thinking the same way you are. I am a mature student i qualify in may and have really enjoyed my time at college so much i am going back to do my degree.
I will be qualified in may to become a freelance portrait science or scenes of crime photographer.

Consider an HND before a degree as you can then enter uni on a higher level and be better educated as college tutors have more time for students.

There are so many fields i can go into.

If this is your desire go for it. it is quite an expensive course as you need a good camera films paper and much more but it is great.

Hey guys, I am starting a self run photography business where I go to local businesses (store fronts, tables, bars ect inside and out) shoot images for their promotional use, what ever that may be.

Basically I am going to go shoot the business for 30 minutes to 1 hour and present them with a water marked CD with the images(20-30 best images). I am shooting for free and will only charge should the owner want any images.

Heres my question. Should I sell by the image or for the whole CD of the best images (20-30)? And depending on the answer how much? Should I sell both options? I will not be printing anything, just digital images on a disc.

I am not a pro but have been into photography for a while and have interned at a top tear studio as an editor. Thank you!
Oh and is JPEG the best format to give a business?

You charge what the market will bear… don’t sell yourself cheap! You will get the reputation of being the guy that works for nothing, and that is what you will be offered in the future.

Don’t give the client RAW files.

If you want them to have high quality images, you process the RAW files, and save the edited result as TIFF for the client. May want to save each image twice, actually, a "display" folder with JPG and a TIFF folder with the images ready for whatever the client wants to do with them. That gives them the option of using whichever will best meet their needs, while you maintain the "negative" in the RAW file.

Also, most RAW formats require proprietary viewers, or at least Photoshop, to see. The local bakery probably can’t *see* the RAW format files.

I have heard its a hard business to break into. I am currently in university and will complete with a double major in Spanish and Photography/Digital studio also with a minor in business. I speak English (obviously) Spanish, Arabic, and a bit of Hindi and French. I have a good talent for taking photos and I believe I have the creativity and business savvy to make it to the top.
Does speaking several languages give an edge to a photographer’s portfolio?
I would love to work in Spain and the Middle East(like Dubai)

Wow sounds like you have a lot going on for ya! I would try www.monster.com and look for companies in Spain or what ever country you are looking for to work in and put your resume in. Also go to www.google.com and look for companies in the same countries and get an idea of what they are into and send a resume to the Home Office. Naturally get your portfolio together…..

I am going back to college and am thinking of taking a photography class. I am wondering if it is hard to get a job in photography. I am going to take the class to see if I like it, but I just don’t know about the career possibilities.

its competitive but what isnt, jobs are rare unless you work in a studio for someone or a newspaper, otherwise its freelance

there are trained professionals and wanna be pros and keen ametuers all competing,

if you go for it study marketing as well

i have an ok job but not a "career". I will be in my early 40’s when i obtain this degree if all goes well. I would like to hear from a real life photographer or someone in the business to inform me whether or not getting a degree in digital photography would be a waste of time instead of pursing a more traditional degree such as in business? i have no type of degree now but i desparately want to obtain one. i know that i would gain a lot of knowledge and have a lot of fun at the same time in taking the course because i have a passion for photography, but in the end, would it be worthwhile? how competitive is the business of photography? is there money to be made especially to help pay off my school loans when i’m done? i could really use a older person’s opinion and soon. I begin registration in a couple of days. thanks all. and please, no stupid answers. this is my future i’m asking for help on.

As stated before, age isn’t a limitation. If this is something you want to do, then do it. However…

Photography is a widely growing industry. Unfortunately every schmuck out there believes they can be a photographer even when they truly suck. So not only are you competing with professionals you are competing with people who put less effor and time into the business.

Location is another thing to concider. What’s the market like in your area? Do you have 10 other photographers who’ve been established in that area for years? If so, then you are going to have a hard time getting into the market in that area. Even if you are cheaper, people will 90% of the time pay more to go with the bigger names.

Also, not everyone can be a photographer. You can only learn so much. A lot of it is natural ability. Some people just can’t see light or composition no matter how hard they try. To test yourself, take some photos with a disposable camera that you think are good and post them to get a professional opinion. It’s a start.

Also, photography does involve a start up cost. A good DSLR will cost you at least $800. Additional DSLR lenses will start at $400 and go up as you decide to purchase better lenses. An additional flash (that is of good quality) will cost you a minimum of $150 which you will need because the on camera flash won’t work. Next you need media cards for your camera. It’s always good to have at least 2. You don’t want the generic Wal-Mart brand as they are 75% more likely to have problems then a pro grade media card. a 1GB media card starts at $79.99. Those costs alone bring you close to $1000.

Also, depending on the type of photography you get into, there is insurance, albums, cost of printing, organization membership, frames, mattes, sprays, framing supplies, album supplies and much more depding on the route you go. Again, all of that costs money.

Photography can be a very rewarding career to get into. It can also be a very, very slow startup as you first get your feet wet. However, once all that is past, it’s quite fun.

I have recently setup a portrait photography studio in my home. I was using a Pentax ist DL 6.1MP Digital SLR to take them. I decided to purcahse a canon rebel 400 Xti 10MP Digital SLR. I seem to get batter pics with my Pentax. I am considering selling my Canon – but I want to give this camera a chance. Any experiences on these two cameras would be helpful. Any suggestions on how to take good portraits with this camera or my Pentax would also be appreciated as well. I should add that I have been using my Pentax film camera for years and switched over to digital media last year. I have taken both cameras to do wedding photography and still my Pentax outshines the Canon when comparing the photos taken by both.. Funny thing is I am using a SunPak mount flash on my Pentax and a Canon Speedlite 400 or 430 on the Canon and the Pentax still does better. Help!!!

I strongly suggest investigating
non-film cameras. ( digital)

I have to write a paper on photography careers and I can’t find any information. So if you know anything about it or any websites I could use. that would be great.

Go to these websites …

http://www.artcenter.edu

http://www.brooks.edu

http://www.rit.edu

You will find industrial/scientific, editorial, sports, photojournalism, medical, etc.

I have a photography business currently but my name is a mouthful (Dimension Digital Imaging) and the word Dimension doesn’t really have anything to do with what I do. I want to somehow incorporate my name, first or last or even both, and what I do… but I want the name to be short and easy to say.

I do portraits, weddings, restoration/hand coloring/retouching.

The only idea I have so far is Crystal Photographics or Crystal Images.
Umm forgot to put in my last name, it is Chalmers. Not a very great name so I think my business name might end up only using my first name.

Shutter Priority

I have to do a career report for school and I chose studio photography. Part of the report is an interveiw, so i was wondering if there were any photographers out there (preferably studio, but any photographer will help.) would would be willing to answer some questions? Well, here are the questions and i would be very grateful to anyone who took the time to answer. Thanks in advance!

Questions:

What kind of photographer are you?

How many hours do you put in a week on average?

How important do you think having the right equipment is?

How much money is about right to spend on equipment?

What is a good way to go about getting started in this profession?

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

When do you wish you had chosen another profession?

how long have you been working for a good reputation/ do you have one and does it help?

Do you prefer digital photography or normal?

How important do you think it is to have a photo editing system?

hello, and i would like to answer ur questions,

What kind of photographer are you?
I do advertising photography

How many hours do you put in a week on average?
45 hours

How important do you think having the right equipment is?
very very important, u can not do high-end photographs without high-end equipments, u need prime lenses which r expensive, u need a professional lighting, professional light-meter, grip, professional team, etc… in addition to a very good camera body.

How much money is about right to spend on equipment?
for the advertising photography u need to spend more, $250,000 will be a good start.

What is a good way to go about getting started in this profession?
registering in a good school of photography.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?
hearing " You R the star Eyad!" from my client.

Do you prefer digital photography or normal?
for the advertising work i will go for digital.

how long have you been working for a good reputation/ do you have one and does it help?
some times it helps, but the quality of the work it self is more important to me

How important do you think it is to have a photo editing system?
very very important