Are you on the search to purchase a new camera or lens? Here are my top recommendations on the Best Cameras for Moms and Beginner Photographers in 2021.
How My Beginner Photography Journey Began
I have loved photography since my first polaroid camera was given to me when I was 9 years old. When I was in college, I rediscovered my favorite pastime while studying abroad in Europe. Upon graduation being the nerd that I am, I missed going to school, so I signed up for a Photography certificate class at the local University. The year was 2006 and digital photography was just becoming available to the average person. I continued to take courses online and learn from trial and error. This was the beginning of my first “side hustle” and how I turned into a professional photographer.
After photographing many families, babies, and weddings, in 2012 I created my in-person photography class for moms to learn how to use their DSLR Cameras. Everyone always messages me wanting to know what kind of a camera a beginner photographer should purchase so I compiled this list to share with my readers and friends. Whether you want to use it to capture family photography, family vacations, or for sports moms, below are my top suggestions for the best DSLR cameras.
Type of Cameras
Entry-Level DSLR Cameras (Price range $500 and Up)
I started with a *Canon EOS RebelSeries. This is the base Canon DSLR model that has the most affordable price tag and is the best beginner camera. It is a great choice for a first beginner camera. I started my business with this camera and achieved some amazing photos with it. They even have a new version that has wifi capabilities to transfer your images straight to your phone!
Once you are ready to upgrade the Canon EOS 250D is a great option. The clarity will be a little sharper and the other advanced options include expanded focus points and increased ISO ability.
Full Frame Camera (Price range $2000 and up)
The professional camera I now use is the *Canon EOS 5D Mark iv. This is Canon’s premier full-frame digital camera body and most expensive high-end camera. This camera is magical and worth the cost! I initially purchased it because of its ability to handle low-light situations for me at weddings.
Mirrorless Camera (Price range $600 and up)
Mirrorless cameras tend to be more compact and lighter, on account of not having a bulky mirror inside, while DSLRs typically have more lenses to pick from. In a mirrorless camera, light passes through the lens and right onto the image sensor, which captures a preview of the image to display on the rear screen — just as a smartphone camera does. The Canon EOS M50 is the best ranked Mirrorless camera and perfect for moms who want to start a vlog as it has amazing video quality! You can learn more about becoming a vlogger from my interview with Meredith Marsh.
What Kind of Camera Lens do I need to use?
This is the part new photographers find amazing….the lens is much much more important than the camera body. Any seasoned photographer will tell you to upgrade your lens arsenal before the camera. Don’t get me wrong, once the photography bug hits you, you will want to upgrade your camera every time Canon or Nikon comes out with something new! If you don’t know why the lens is so important and you don’t know what Aperture means I suggest you sign up for my Beginner’s Photography Course! It is a fun way to learn the basics of photography- you can even do it with your children and use an iPhone.
Kit Lens
The kit lens that comes as a package deal (the 18-55mm) with your camera, isn’t good for much other than snapshots or landscape photography as it is a wide-angle lens. The good news, if you also purchased a *75-300mm as a kit lens, this telephoto lens can do you some good! It is a great lens for moms who want to get better photos during their children’s athletic events or on stage as it is a zoom lens. Also, this lens, when shot from a distance and zoomed in on the subject, can create beautiful bokeh (UGH OH another one of those photography terms you need to learn from my beginner’s photography course!)
Prime Lens
My next lens recommendation is the *50MM lens. If portrait photography is what you plan to create, the bokeh produced by this lens is outstanding, especially for the cost! As a beginner, you can achieve professional-looking pictures with this lens for a fraction of the money. Keep in mind with a fixed lens such as this you have to move your body not twist the lens like with the zoom lens. These lenses are affordable yet produce amazing professional high-quality images. There are two options, a less expensive version made of plastic and a hardier version that costs more, both produce great images.
WorkHorse Lens
Now once you are ready to step up your game from amateur to true professional, my go-to lens is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens. I have used this lens for portraits, low light events, and landscapes, and it has never failed to deliver. The focus is spot on and the sharpness will make you want to jump for joy! If your budget can’t afford the Canon version there are generic brands such as Tameron that will produce similar quality.
Off-Brand Lens
Just because you purchase a name-brand camera does not mean you have to purchase a name-brand lens. There are a few generic brands such as Tameron or Sigma. They are able to produce a less expensive lens because they use fewer parts and have a less focal length range. I own the Tameron 24-70 which is more than half the cost of the Canon counterpart.
Additional Photography Essentials you will need
Memory Cards
A great set of memory cards is a must! And not just one but several! If you photograph in RAW mode, the images will fill up a card rather quickly. If you are in JPEG mode, you can get by with lots of images on one card. I never purchase less than 16GB, and I always have several on hand. Keep in mind these can corrupt so make sure to have backups. One of the great things about the Canon Mark series is there is a place for two memory cards should one corrupt while you are photographing.
Flashes
The next item to add to your wish list is an *external flash! If you take my Amateur Photography course, you will hear me discuss how awful the pop-up flash is and why you should never use this! Red eyes and straightforward flash is just yuck- yuck! The flash is essential and a little tricky to learn, but with trial and error, you will find how useful the external flash is for your photographs. Here are some starter options all the way to the most expensive version I use.
Camera Bag
Of course, you will need a cute bag to carry all of this fun equipment! Check out this trendy camera backpack that is perfect for a budding new photographer.
Best Online Places to Purchase or Rent Camera Equipment
So now that your mind is spinning and your wishlist is forever long how are you going to pay for all of this equipment as a beginner?!
Amazon
Amazon has a fabulous credit card offer. If you have great credit AND you will have the diligence to make the monthly payments, Amazon has a great Credit Card offer to purchase equipment with 0% interest for 12 months! I used Amazon credit several times to upgrade my equipment.
Rent Your Camera Equipment
Finally, there is a website called lensrentals.com You can rent the camera, lens, and flash of your dreams to try it before you buy it! How amazing is that?! I have used their service before and it is top-notch and has saved me in a pinch during some wedding events!
Photography Courses
In 2020 during the Corona Quarantine, my 9-year-old son helped me to create a Beginner’s Photography Course that you can do with your children and your iPhone! This is a fun activity to get the children off of the video games and learn a skill that they can use for years to come!
I also have an Amateur DSLR course that teaches you how to use the equipment discussed above and speed up the learning curve. It includes video recordings of me teaching you where the buttons are on the camera and what they do just as I did in my in-person classes. You will be photographing in manual mode in no time!
Smartphone Photography
I have updated this blog post since I first wrote it as the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 12 have come on the market with an exceptional cell phone camera. While it most certainly won’t replace the DSLR camera it does make for an incredible accessory. If you would like to learn more about how to use your iPhone camera you will want to check out my Beginner’s Photography course which only requires a CellPhone camera!
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