A lot of people are turning photography into their personal hobbies these days. The photography hype has hit a lot of yuppies or young professionals because perhaps of the many social networking sites that promote photo sharing with friends and simply because of the many ways of which to showcase ones photography or art through the World Wide Web. Thus, a lot has turned into buying their professional cameras as well as photography equipment to make their own photo studio at home. So here, you will learn the basic photography equipment needed in a photo studio of your own.

Note: If you want to setup a professional studio, skip this section and read the next. 

When creating your own photo studio, keep in mind the basic components of such a room. You’ll need the basic photography equipment such as the camera, the film if you are not using a digital camera, the lights, props, and of course materials for the background. Let’s look at the details for each of these components one by one.

1. Let’s start with the camera. It all depends on what kind of quality you want to get out of the camera. You can get a manual camera with at least a good 35mm. This will allow you to set your exposure easily. On the other hand, you may opt for a digital camera too. Now what you are probably wondering right now is what resolution and pixels to get? The answer depends on you. What are you going to do with the photo? Are you printing a 3R or 4R picture? Or are you printing a poster? If you’re not planning to print a billboard sign that has to have high quality settings, then you don’t need the highest resolution and pixels available in the market today. If you are printing only the size of a long bond paper at the most, then most of the digital cameras below a thousand dollars can do the trick.

2. Of course, if you are using a manual camera, you will also need film. To get the natural skin tone and proper contrast in colors, you may opt for either the Fuji NPS film or the Kodak Portra NC.

3. Now let’s go over to the background. A photography studio won’t be complete with this. It greatly affects the subject by either complimenting or detracting from it. If you don’t know what background to use, a simple plain background will do. You’ll need a background stand and a seamless paper to go with it. The most common colors that photographers use are white, gray, black, and blue. Now if you’ve been to a photography studio, you’ve probably seen the dyed backgrounds. Those are called muslins and can be draped because of its lightweight material.

4. The lights are very important photography equipment. You can’t do without one. Remember, photography is all about lighting. To create your own photography studio, you’ll need at least your fill light and a main light. The use of umbrellas gives it a nice and soft quality. You can also use a third light at the back to get rid of the shadows. For more advance photography, you can add a fourth light that serves the purpose of a hair light.

Equipment To Setup a Professional Studio

Are you ready to take photography to the next level? Are you ready to take photography as your career? Are you ready to set up your own photography studio? If so, one of the things you have to prepare is your photography studio lighting equipment. Without the correct lighting, your skills won’t matter. One can say that lighting is the most important aspect of photography. After all, photography is the capture or light and its reflection. The proper lighting holds a very important role to the success of your photos or shots. So continue reading below to learn more about setting up photography studio lighting equipment on your own.

In reality, photography lighting equipment is so important not only in the studio but on location or outdoors too. It is so essential to photography. If you have already witnessed a photo shoot, you might have noticed how many lighting equipment is used just to take a photo of one model. That’s how important lighting equipments are. But it’s not just your usual light. Let’s take a look at the various times of lighting equipment you can use.

Some of the most popular photography studio lighting equipment used today includes tungsten, AC- and DC-powered strobes or studio lights, battery-powered location strobes, daylight-balanced fluorescents, HMI and LED lights. Each of these types of lights is suited for various types of applications. That’s why you should be able to choose the lights that you will need. So let’s take a look at some of the types of lighting equipment available.

1. If you are considering getting studio strobes, know that they are instantaneous, heat-free, and bright. It is perfect if you need to use a very minimum aperture setting in your camera. You’ll get a really sharp focus on your subject if you use this in you photography studio. Studio strobes can deliver instantaneous output. It can accommodate flash durations of about 1/15,000^th of a second. If you are taking shots of little kids, it would be the perfect lighting equipment to use. What’s even great about it is that it is generally cool unlike other lighting that heats up. Kids won’t sweat under this lighting.

2. Now let’s move on to the hot lights. The tungsten or the quartz halogen lights are used for stills and video. This allows you to add finesse to the direction and quality of lighting. It’s great lighting equipment for neophytes. They are lighter and less expensive than strobe lights. You will have more opportunity to study your subject and create a high quality photo with these.

BONUS – Upgrading Your Digital Camera Lens

One of the many ways to upgrade your digital camera is through digital camera lenses. While some digital SLR’s already have kits that include lenses with them, sometimes they may not be enough later on. If you constantly look for more digital photography techniques in your photos, and if you want your digital SLR do be able to do much more, then upgrading lenses or having multiple digital photography lenses will be needed. Here are a couple of tips on buying digital photography lenses.

Digital photography lenses are fundamental to good photography. There are so many types of lenses out there that will probably confuse you. Everyone who started from scratch knows this for a fact. Sometimes, without the right guidance, you end up buying what you really wanted just because you don’t know the different types of digital photography lenses and their main features or functionalities. There are the wide-angle lenses, the telephoto lenses, there are various focal lengths of lenses, and they have different speeds. Plus, there are so many brands out there. So how do you know which one is for you? It is quite overwhelming to hear the many types of lenses in the market today. So this little help will surely take you a long way.

1. Choose the focal length that you like. It is one of the most important factors, if not the most, that you should think about when buying your digital photography lens. It determines the field-of-view that you can successfully take with your digital SLR. There are two main types namely the wide-angle and the telephoto.

   1. Telephoto lenses – are great at taking portraits and close-ups.

   2. Wide-angle lenses – as the name implies, they are wider and great for landscapes and indoor photography such as taking a photo of a room.

2. Speed is also important. The terms slow and fast lenses refer to the maximum aperture of the lens. This is the maximum amount of light that a lens lets in. So the fast lens is the type of lens that allows more light and the slow lens is the opposite. The speed helps in defining the results of your shots. The f/stop numbers are the measurements referring to the maximum aperture. This is the ratio of the size of the aperture and the focal length. More light gets in when the f/stop number is smaller. So in this case, the f/2.0 lets in lesser light than an f/1.4. Just remember, for darker lighting conditions, you are better off with fast lenses. If you have a well lighted subject, then you may opt for the slower lenses.

3. Zoom lens is not your fixed-focal-length lens. This is great if you need to take different shots where you have to zoom in and out. However, the problem with zoom lenses is that they don’t have a consistent maximum aperture. But there are some which are really larger and more expensive.

Canon is one of the most recognized and reputable names in the camera business. To be honest, they are one of the most revered and respected camera companies in the world today. They’ve come a long way since the advent of point and shoot cameras and SLRs and now work almost exclusively in the digital realm. Competing directly with companies like Nikon in the SLR and digital SLR (DSLR) camera market, Canon has made a name for themselves by making some of the highest quality products around.

Canon SLR cameras are miles above a standard point and shoot camera that you can get for family vacations. They are designed to last for the long term and with the use of additional lenses and equipment, they can be used for almost any and all camera needs you may have.

Canon has digital cameras for almost anyone’s budget range, and if you’re in the market for a new digital camera, check out some of the information below to get a better feel for what they have to offer in their digital camera range these days. Whether you’re looking for a simple point and shoot to take with you when you go out on Friday nights, or a DSLR to start your own wedding photography business, Canon has what you’re looking for.

Damn! I already sound like a Canon salesman. Rest assured, I am not being paid for this review, though it would have been nice.

What is “SLR?”

The acronym SLR stands for single lens-reflex. In layman’s terms, that means that the camera uses a mirror to allow the photographer to see what it was he or she has taken a photo of almost instantly after the shot has been taken. This is in comparison to previous cameras that used a view finder to determine what the picture was. Viewfinders were often inaccurate and didn’t always match up to what the photo actually was. SLRs have been phased out in favor of DSLR cameras that use a typically use an LCD to display the image of the photograph taken instantly.

Canon EOS Rebel

If nothing else, the EOS rebel makes making the transition between point and shoot camera and a DSLR extremely easy. The EOS comes with a guide that details exactly what everything on the camera does, so you’re not left wondering what little symbols and pictures mean all over the camera. The Rebel also comes with a 3” LCD that allows you to check out your photos right after you take them to make sure that you got the shot that you want. The EOS Rebel is an 18 megapixel camera, taking photos at stunning resolutions of 5184×3456, allowing you to blow them up almost as large as you could want.

There are also a multitude of ISO settings to be able to take photos in any setting you could imagine. While the camera has many perks in terms of its ability to take photos, the price tag is what keeps most buyers attracted. While not cheap compared to a standard point and shoot camera, this canon SLR camera generally comes at a price of less than $1,000. A truly small price to pay for a quality DSLR.

Canon Rebel XS

Very similar to the EOS model, the Rebel XS is a 10.1 megapixel camera from the same line that lives up to the same reputation as its more expensive and feature rich cousin. The main difference between the Rebel XS and the EOS is that the Rebel XS is typically geared more towards a starting photographer, whereas the EOS is for those that know what they’re getting into. The XS features a 2.5” LCD as opposed to the 3” one in the EOS, and the same DIGIC III image processor provides the same quality images across both cameras.

As we’re sure you’ll be taking a lot of photos, it’s important to remember to pick up an SD or SDHC card to store all of the images that you take. High resolution DSLR cameras use quite a bit of space to store their high resolution photos, so having a memory card that has enough space for all of your photos is important so that you’re not left deleting things in exchange for being able to take new photos. You can also buy an EOS Rebel book from the “Dummy” book series so that you can learn everything there is about either camera before heading out into the field.

For Those Who Want a Fun Camera – The Canon Powershot S95

The Canon Powershot S95 is a camera that will have you wanting to take a second look at your existing digital camera as you walk out the door in the morning. It’s not that your current digital point and shoot camera isn’t good, it’s that the Powershot S95 has taken everything that’s good about standard point and shoot cameras and made it even better.

There are a few notable new features in the Canon Powershot S95 that makes taking perfect photos a breeze, no matter what type of environment you’re in.

HS System

Canon has developed a revolutionary system called the Canon HS System. In conjunction with the 10 megapixel sensor and the DIGIC 4 image processor, the Powershot S95 is capable of taking low light photographs that have almost no noticeable noise and stabilizing them so that they aren’t blurry from afar. The S95 has a maximum ISO setting of 12,800, meaning the camera is capable of letting in just the right amount of light so that your low light photographs aren’t blown out or overexposed.

Intuitive Control

While not an “advancement” per se, Canon has decided to move some of their features to a maneuverable ring around the lens. Many users find menus difficult to navigate through, so instead of using the two button menu system like before, things like exposure, zoom, and white balance can all be controlled by twisting the lens back and forth. In conjunction with menu functions, it makes it easier than ever to use the camera.

Zoom

The Powershot S95 has a 3.8x optical zoom and a wide angle lens. The wide angle lens ensures that when you’re trying to squeeze everyone into a photo, they all make it in. And if you want to focus on one particular person rather than the group with the wide angle lens, you can easily zoom in and with the aid of image stabilization, the photos will have almost no noticeable blur to them.

Video

If the camera portion wasn’t enough, you also get the ability to record 720P HD video with the Canon Powershot S95. The 720P HD video is recorded in stereo sound and can easily be played on your TV or monitor with an HDMI cable. Unfortunately, you don’t get an HDMI cable in the box with the Powershot, instead a standard 480p connector, but HDMI cables are so cheap these days that it wouldn’t be difficult to pick one up.

Overall

It’s difficult to find anything negative to say about this camera, considering the standard sales pitch that Canon gave for the camera is an accurate description of how awesome it actually is. One noticeable downside is the size of the camera. While some people with dainty hands may be able to manage the buttons and controls with ease, those with large hands may find it tough to nimbly work their way through the controls. Also, because the screen isn’t recessed back into the camera, but is instead flush with the back of the camera, you’ll have to be careful not to place the camera screen side down onto anything that could damage it. You can buy protective plastic covers for the camera, but having to constantly worry about scratches is a little off putting.

Again, we’re just being nitpicky about this fantastic camera. “Too small” isn’t really a downside for this amazing point and shoot camera. And considering the camera can be purchased for right around $450, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t already have it in your arsenal right next to your DSLR (who, by the way, is probably jealous you’ll be using the Powershot S95 more often now).

Where Canon Really Excels

Image Processing: One of the main problems that digital cameras face is taking photographs in low light settings. Canon digital cameras now feature a very good solution to this problem. With a customized CMOS sensor, Canon digital cameras can adjust the light receiving surface to different situations so that the right amount of light is let in at the right location within the lens. This ensures that parts of the low light photograph aren’t over or underexposed. In addition to the custom CMOS sensor, Canon also utilizes an image processor dubbed the DIGIC 4. The DIGIC 4 processor actively reduces noise found in photographs, and stabilizes images that use zoom to get closer to the subject. Both of these features come together in what’s known as the HS system to deliver almost unparalleled image quality in Canon’s digital cameras.

Point and Shoots: Canon’s flagship point and shoot camera line is the Powershot series (look above). There are a plethora of cameras within the Powershot series, but some of the most notable are the Powershot S95, the Powershot S90, and the SD1300 or SD1400. All of these cameras utilize the HS system mentioned above and deliver exceptional photographs for each of their respective price ranges. The Powershot S90 and S95 are on the higher end of the price bracket in terms of point and shoot cameras, coming in at about $400 for either of them, but the quality of photograph is well worth it. Although you may get a higher megapixel count in other cameras, the addition of the DIGIC 4 processor ensures that for standard photography, noise reduction and stabilization mean a whole lot more than a few extra pixels.

DSLRs: Where Canon excels, just like most camera companies, is in their lineup of DSLR cameras. The premier DSLR camera in the Canon lineup is known as the “Rebel.” With many iterations designed to suit any level of photographer, the Rebel has made a name for itself in the camera market place by being the perfect balance of functionality and price for someone looking to take their photography to the next level. If you’re just starting out, the Rebel XS has 10.1MPs and an automatic light optimizer to give you perfect lighting almost wherever you are. This lets you focus on taking photos rather than fumbling with settings when you’re just getting started. And for those above the beginner range, the Canon Rebel EOS cameras are a force to be reckoned with. The EOS series has higher ISO settings (up to 12800), and full HD (1080P) recording capabilities.

All of the DSLR cameras can be expanded with additional lenses and SD cards to add an entirely new range of possibilities in terms of photography, and an expanded memory bank to store them all. It’s important to note that all of the cameras will need an additional SD card of some sort. While there is internal memory in most cameras, it is by no means enough to hold photographs. In some cases, you’ll only be able to hold a half dozen or so before needing the extra space. Do yourself a favor and buy an SD card from the get go.

If you’re a photographer of any capacity, we’re sure that you’ve come across situations in which you had a way to control the amount of light that happened in a particular scene or appeared on a particular object. Light tents are designed primarily for product photography in that they’re enclosed housings that evenly distribute different shades of white light on a product 360 degrees around. Putting a product in a light tent ensures that the product is evenly lit the entire way around, so no matter what angle you decide to shoot the product from, often through openings in the side of the light tents, you’ll get an evenly distributed source of light with minimal shadows, really allowing you to focus on the product and not the distractions of the background scenery.

Backdrops

Light tent kits generally come with backdrops that are typically white, but sometimes other pastel colors. These backdrops usually have to be ironed when they’re taken out of the box so that they don’t look like a piece of fabric, but instead a solid color background. Backdrops are used to give the illusion that a product inside of the light tent is “floating in air” without being able to see the nylon light tent crumpling behind the product.

Stands

Light tent kits also typically come with stands to hold the products on. These stands are made out of clear plastic so that as you’re resting the product on top of them and taking photographs of it, you won’t see the stands in the shot. Stands are useful if you want to give the impression that the product is floating in air and that it isn’t sitting within a light tent, but rather amidst an aura of light. Stands can’t hold huge amounts of weight, but for standard consumer products like cameras and cell phones, these stands do the job perfectly.

Tripod

If you’re purchasing your first light tent, it may be a good idea to purchase a table top tripod at the same time. The reason for this is that as your light tent is sitting on the kitchen table or on a flat surface of any kind, you want to be able to keep your camera still in order to properly balance the light. As you adjust the light tent for an even distribution of light, if you’re unsure of how your final shot is actually going to look, it may be hard to get things set up in the tent. That’s why it’s important that your camera is always in the same position so you can look through the viewfinder and ensure that the shot is exactly how you want it, with the product floating in white light.

Lights

The term “day light” is thrown around in light tent advertisements all the time and often confuses newcomers. Day light is not the same thing as the light you find outside during the day. Day lights are white fluorescent lights that are used to simulate daylight in an inside environment. Day lights can be bought pretty cheaply, usually for about $50 for a pair, and can be placed around a light tent for different amounts of light shining through the nylon. The nylon of the light tent diffuses the light evenly over the product and helps give the illusion of natural sunlight hitting the product.

Light tents are a great investment for amateur photographers, or even people looking to sell their products online in a more professional way. They’re inexpensive to purchase and beginner light tent kits can be had for about $50 and can always be upgraded as your needs increase.

The one downfall of almost every electronic device is water. Water has an uncanny ability to destroy a piece of electronic equipment, cameras included, so that you’re out of pocket a few hundred dollars and without the device for a few days. If you’re the type that’s thinking of getting close to water with a digital camera, think about investing in a waterproof digital camera so that you’re not stuck chasing after your DSLR that’s fallen in the ocean on the family vacation. Waterproof digital cameras aren’t too expensive, and if you’re serious about photography, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have one already to keep your photos safe and your wallet safer.

Canon Powershot D10

Canon goes all out with this addition to their ever popular Powershot line. The Powershot D10 is not only a waterproof camera, it also seems to be an everything-proof camera. The Powershot D10 is capable of protecting against any water damage you want to throw at it for up to 33 feet, as well as keep the cold weather out all the way past freezing point to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Did we also mention that it’s shock proof? That means that as the hurricane winds are blowing in the Arctic and you’re trying to get one last photo before rushing back to the safety of your igloo, if the winds swoosh by and take your camera from your hands, even as it hits the ground, your camera will still be OK.

Complete with 12.1 megapixels, 3x zoom, and a built in flash, the Powershot D10 should be one to consider if you’re looking for a waterproof camera.

Fujifilm FinePix XP10

The Fujifilm FinePix XP10 is less than half the price of the Canon Powershot D10 and doesn’t lose much in terms of quality for the big drop in price. The FinePix XP10 is also water and weatherproof and comes with some extra features. Although the XP10 is only waterproof up to 10 feet, it makes up for it with an HD video record mode that records at a resolution of 720P. In addition to video functionality, the FinePix is also capable of uploading to your favorite social media sites while you’re on the go. Take an awesome picture while scuba diving in Fiji? Upload it to Facebook as soon as the camera is connected to a computer. You can even edit the photos while you’re underwater!

Battery life is a little iffy with this 12.1 megapixel camera. You may only be able to get 100 photos out of a single charge, but if you packed your bags with extra batteries, that shouldn’t be an issue.

Waterproof Housing

If you already have a camera that you’re happy with and aren’t really looking to buy a whole new camera just for the sake of being able to take some photos in the rain or underwater, you may want to consider waterproof housing. Waterproof housing is a protective cover you can get for your existing camera that simply slips over the camera and protects it from the elements. You don’t get the added protection of being weatherproof and shock proof if you’re vacationing in the arctic, but a good piece of waterproof housing should be able to protect your photos from even the nastiest of storms.

Waterproof housing generally isn’t a universal, one size fits all, type product. You’ll have to shop around for a housing that fits your camera specifically to ensure that no water gets in. Universal waterproof housing covers generally don’t protect a camera exactly the way they should.

With more and more people looking to get into photography these days, it’s easy to see why the demand for sub $100 point and shoot cameras has risen dramatically. Professional DSLRs aren’t exactly accessible to everybody, which is why simple point and shoots are a good place to get into the world of photography without spending a whole lot of cash. Below you’ll find a list of a few of our favorite point and shoot cameras that are perfect for beginners in the photography world. All of the cameras are below $100, meaning that they’re not much of an investment at all for someone looking to just easily take some photographs.

Nikon Coolpix 12 MP Digital Camera

Starting with what will probably be the best on the list, the Nikon Coolpix is one hell of a force to be reckoned with in terms of entry-level point and shoot cameras. It comes with a whopping 12 megapixels and a 3.6x optical zoom. Apart from the very good picture quality that the Coolpix boasts, its best selling feature is how easy it is to use. Most users recommend the camera simply because of how easy it is to turn on and shoot. Instead of messing with settings to try and get everything just right, the Coolpix takes “point and shoot” to an almost literal meaning.

On the downside, the camera is a little on the small side. While that may be good for getting it to slip into your purse or pocket for a night on the town, small form factor means difficulty when pressing buttons. While button size isn’t a huge issue, it can be annoying when you’re trying to navigate the camera in low light areas or with big fingers. Overall, the Coolpix 12MP is definitely a great buy for less than $100.

Panasonic Lumix 12.1 MP Digital Camera

With almost the exact same megapixel count as the Coolpix above, the Lumix beats the Nikon by having a 5x optical zoom. There’s a very large 2.7” LCD screen that makes taking photos and browsing through menus a breeze. Also great about the camera is that it has a “wide angle” lens, eaning you can fit a bit more into the shot without having to move your body. There’s a shake detection software built into the camera, making even the wobbliest of hands steady when trying to capture the perfect family moment.

Where the camera fails to live up to expectations is in low light situations. Unfortunately, point and shoot cameras just aren’t that good at taking photos in low light situations. The lenses aren’t built for those situations, so if you’re looking to take shots while out at the club or at a bar, you might want to look elsewhere. The flash will help you out a bit, but the photos won’t look “natural.” With a bit of hunting, this camera can be found for around $90.

Kodak Easyshare 9.2MP Digital Camera

Instead of rehashing the same features as before (The Easyshare has about the same zoom and resolution as the cameras above), we’ll jump straight to what’s different. The Easyshare does much better in low light situations than the cameras above. And while the Lumix requires a lithium ion battery to run, the Easyshare is easy to pop in some AA batteries into and head out. The batteries may not last as long as a lithium ion, but the ability to buy batteries anywhere you go is definitely a plus.

The Kodak comes with EasyShare software, making it easy to simply press a button on your camera and share the photos with your printer or email to print out quickly later on. The best part of all about the Easyshare is its price. These little cameras can be found for around $50-$60 these days, making them a great addition to your purse or pocket for everyday shooting.