A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Into Photography: What You Really Need to Know
🛒 Absolute Essentials: Where to Begin
Starting photography doesn’t mean you need to break the bank. The absolute essentials are:
A camera body (DSLR or mirrorless)
At least one reliable lens
A memory card
A sturdy tripod
A camera bag for protection
💡 Pro Tip: Start simple. Many beginners think they need multiple lenses right away, but one good lens can cover 80% of your needs when learning.
💰 Budget Breakdown: What You’ll Likely Spend
Photography gear can be intimidating, but here’s a realistic budget range:
Entry-level DSLR/Mirrorless Camera: $500–$900
Beginner Lens (50mm prime or kit lens): $100–$250
Tripod & Bag: $100–$200
Memory Cards & Extras: $50–$100
Estimated Starter Budget: $750–$1,400
🔍 Understanding Lenses & Focal Lengths
Lenses matter more than the camera body when it comes to image quality and creativity.
Wide-Angle (16–35mm): Great for landscapes, architecture, and capturing more of the scene.
Standard Prime (50mm): Known as the "nifty fifty," perfect for portraits and all-around shooting.
Telephoto (70–200mm): Ideal for sports, wildlife, and anything far away.
Macro (90–105mm): For extreme close-ups like flowers, textures, or products.
💡 Rule of Thumb: Shorter focal lengths capture more of the scene, while longer ones zoom in closer.
🌐 Trusted Websites for Camera Gear
When shopping online, stick to trusted sources:
B&H Photo Video
Adorama
KEH (great for used gear)
🏬 Why I Recommend Best Buy for Gear
In my personal experience, Best Buy is the best retail store for beginners to purchase camera gear. Why?
Their warranty system gives peace of mind when investing in expensive equipment.
Return Policy: If something doesn’t work for you, Best Buy has one of the most hassle-free returns in the industry.
The ability to see and test gear in person helps when making your first purchase.
🎥 Learning Without School: YouTube Is Your Teacher
You don’t need to spend thousands on photography school. YouTube is a free classroom with tutorials on:
Camera basics
Manual settings
Lighting techniques
Post-processing
💡 Pro Tip: Hands-on practice + YouTube tutorials = the fastest way to grow as a photographer.
🖥️ Editing Programs: Why Adobe Rules the Game
Once you’ve captured your shots, editing is where the magic happens. My top recommendations:
Adobe Photoshop – The gold standard for detailed edits, retouching, and composites.
Lightroom Classic – The best for organizing and batch-editing entire collections of photos.
While subscriptions suck, Adobe’s Photography Plan unlocks:
AI Enhancements (smart masking, subject detection)
AI Remove Tool for erasing distractions seamlessly
Cloud syncing across devices
Mini Spreadsheet – Adobe Subscription Pros & Cons
Pros Cons Industry-standard tools Ongoing monthly cost Powerful AI features Can be expensive long-term Regular updates Requires strong computer Lightroom + Photoshop bundled No one-time purchase option
💻 Computer Requirements for Editing
Editing in Photoshop and Lightroom Classic requires more than just a basic laptop. To run them smoothly, here’s what I recommend:
Minimum Requirements (barely gets by):
Processor: Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Graphics: 2GB dedicated GPU
Recommended for Smooth Performance:
Processor: Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 (or better)
RAM: 16GB–32GB (sweet spot for editing speed)
Storage: 512GB–1TB SSD (fast load & save times)
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1660 / RTX 3060 or higher
Monitor: Calibrated, IPS display for accurate colors
💡 Pro Tip: Editing software eats RAM. If you’re stuck between upgrading storage or RAM, always pick more RAM first.
📌 Final Thoughts
Getting into photography doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start with the essentials, buy from trusted sources, learn from free resources, and invest in software and hardware that support your growth.
When done right, your photography journey will be both exciting and sustainable.
