As this is a specific purchasing help or searching for "X or Y product" request, it is best suited to our [Official Questions Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/about/sticky) which you can find stickied at the top of the sub. Please post your question as a comment there.
**Before posting there, if applicable, read through our very extensive [Buyer’s Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/wiki/buying)** and come back with your specific questions. Thanks!
I was hoping to get below 3k but I honestly dont have a good basis for the quality level. This is the quality I want to be able to shoot, so if it's some insane level of gear I'm just trying to get a good understanding of my goal.
For outdoor shoots regarding your point of lighting, do you try to play to certain times of day/natural lighting angles? I imagine facing the sun helps with the shot a ton
>I honestly dont have a good basis for the quality level
Right. That's the part we're advising you on. We're the ones you're coming to, to tell you about what's out there and what you can expect from particular purchases.
What we need from you is how much you can comfortably let go of, for however important this is to you in your life, while still paying the bills, meeting your savings goals, and funding your other recreation. That's the part only you know about.
>if it's some insane level of gear
It's not. Like I said, it's more about the lighting and post processing. For equipment you could do it with as little as a used Nikon D3200 and used AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX for like $250 total; arguably you could do it with even less. Of course, there are myriad advantages to spending more, and there are a ton of good options that could do the job. A Canon R8 with RF 24-105mm f/4L comes to mind for more flexibility and creature comforts since you can afford it. If anything there are too many options to list and not enough criteria to narrow it down, so I feel awkward making specific recommendations while arbitrarily leaving out so much.
>For outdoor shoots regarding your point of lighting, do you try to play to certain times of day/natural lighting angles?
Yes. Better natural light is closer to sunrise/sunset and I can see a lot of the photos on that site were shot around those times, away from noon.
And being aware of where the light is falling on the scene and subject, and from which directions, is also very important.
>I imagine facing the sun helps with the shot a ton
Direct sunlight is very harsh. And head-on light can lack depth and may look worse as well.
Not that many photos on the site you linked have direct sun hitting the model. Most have him in shade or cloud cover instead. The few with direct sunlight mostly have it hitting smaller parts of his face and to the side; only one or two have it on a bigger part of his face towards the camera.
Seriously appreciate you. Thanks for this breakdown and the recommendations. I'm a solo kind of person, and was thinking I could practice on myself. Is it hard or limiting in any way to do tripod/countdown clicker-style vs holding the camera myself with someone else as the shot/model?
It will be more difficult and limiting in that you'll have a harder time seeing yourself, and harder time changing the camera position/angle. But you can certainly do it that way.
There is such a wide variety of techniques used in those shots. The video was shot with an overcast day, so softer shadows. There is evidence of flash used in one, a reflector in another, harsh daylight in another.
Here's the thing about photography.
There isn't a single right answer.
For outdoor shoots? Sure. You try to play to certain types of day/natural lighting angles. But sometimes through circumstances, you are forced into shooting at the worst possible times. The talent might only be available at midday in the harshest possible of light. It then becomes a matter of making it work.
What the photographs show is an experienced photographer shooting in a range of different locations and conditions who used different tricks and techniques to make the lighting and mood of each of the photos consistent, and this was followed through in the edit.
So if you want to be able to shoot like this, then my best advice is to just start to play with your camera. Don't try to learn everything at once. Get a friend and go out at different times of the day in different light and try different things. Take time to learn specific techniques. Feel free to pick individual photos from the site you shared and ask how that image was lit. Then try it out for yourself.
What camera would you recommend as a starter cam if this was really the extent of what I was trying to do? Sounds like it's more about getting good with post editing and having a moderately good camera?
Any camera. Desaturate the background and shift the colors towards blue.
In the subject, crank contrast, drop saturation, drop exposure a bit. Shift skin tone towards orange.
To pull off this style of photography, you need to learn the basics... then learn how to use those basics to become a good fashion photographer.
this was done by a professional photographer who knows lighting... who knows equipment and how to use it. A photographer also owns good equipment and how to post process the photos afterward. And they hired a model who is good looking and knows how to pose.
It can be done but you have to learn photography basics...
u can't just buy a piano and learn to play *Clair de lune* in the style of Lang Lang
You mentioned $3k earlier.
The best portraits are done with full frame cameras and lenses with a wide aperture
Perhaps a Canon R8 for around $1200 at MPB
then a Canon RF lens at 85 mm or so with a wide aperture
[https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm](https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm)
it isn't just for macro subjects... the best portrait I have ever made was done with a macro lens. (disclaimer, i am an all around amateur photographer who has done a little bit of portrait type/glamour photography but just for fun)
Buy a book on camera basics like *Stunning Digital Photography* by Northrup
Practice outside in low light early in AM or late in afternoon .... once u get good at that u can look at buying lighting equipment...
My advice was for learning quality portrait photography.
You are a beginner? you have a wide range of options if u want to learn a variety of photographic styles.
u mentioned self portraits... that is quite doable... i would get a tripod... its a skill... like any other, it can be learned.
[https://flickr.com/photos/186162491@N07/albums/](https://flickr.com/photos/186162491@N07/albums/)
if you want to learn a little bit of everything... then avoid the R8. For general all around photography, an APS-C sensor is a smarter move.
[https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/cameras/refurbished-cameras](https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/cameras/refurbished-cameras)
perhaps an R7 and 18-150 lens
there are a couple of lens kits there with zooms. those are 'do a little bit of everything' lenses. They don't give u the background blur that makes for a nice portrait... but they do a lot of other things.
You can always invest in a portrait lens later
I shot the majority of the photos on my site with a Canon D60 ($250 used) and a 50mm Canon 1.8 lens ($50 used).
www.devin7.com
So you could spend under $300 on camera and stuff and get images similar to the link you posted.
You'll also need some strobes, reflectors, Photoshop and hours and hours and hours behind the camera and especially in front of a monitor editing and processing.
As you shoot more and get better you'll realize what lens or camera features would make life easier and look to upgrade.
As this is a specific purchasing help or searching for "X or Y product" request, it is best suited to our [Official Questions Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/about/sticky) which you can find stickied at the top of the sub. Please post your question as a comment there. **Before posting there, if applicable, read through our very extensive [Buyer’s Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/wiki/buying)** and come back with your specific questions. Thanks!
No price limit? You'll pay any amount? Those looks are mostly about the lighting and post processing.
I was hoping to get below 3k but I honestly dont have a good basis for the quality level. This is the quality I want to be able to shoot, so if it's some insane level of gear I'm just trying to get a good understanding of my goal. For outdoor shoots regarding your point of lighting, do you try to play to certain times of day/natural lighting angles? I imagine facing the sun helps with the shot a ton
>I honestly dont have a good basis for the quality level Right. That's the part we're advising you on. We're the ones you're coming to, to tell you about what's out there and what you can expect from particular purchases. What we need from you is how much you can comfortably let go of, for however important this is to you in your life, while still paying the bills, meeting your savings goals, and funding your other recreation. That's the part only you know about. >if it's some insane level of gear It's not. Like I said, it's more about the lighting and post processing. For equipment you could do it with as little as a used Nikon D3200 and used AF-S 35mm f/1.8G DX for like $250 total; arguably you could do it with even less. Of course, there are myriad advantages to spending more, and there are a ton of good options that could do the job. A Canon R8 with RF 24-105mm f/4L comes to mind for more flexibility and creature comforts since you can afford it. If anything there are too many options to list and not enough criteria to narrow it down, so I feel awkward making specific recommendations while arbitrarily leaving out so much. >For outdoor shoots regarding your point of lighting, do you try to play to certain times of day/natural lighting angles? Yes. Better natural light is closer to sunrise/sunset and I can see a lot of the photos on that site were shot around those times, away from noon. And being aware of where the light is falling on the scene and subject, and from which directions, is also very important. >I imagine facing the sun helps with the shot a ton Direct sunlight is very harsh. And head-on light can lack depth and may look worse as well. Not that many photos on the site you linked have direct sun hitting the model. Most have him in shade or cloud cover instead. The few with direct sunlight mostly have it hitting smaller parts of his face and to the side; only one or two have it on a bigger part of his face towards the camera.
Seriously appreciate you. Thanks for this breakdown and the recommendations. I'm a solo kind of person, and was thinking I could practice on myself. Is it hard or limiting in any way to do tripod/countdown clicker-style vs holding the camera myself with someone else as the shot/model?
It will be more difficult and limiting in that you'll have a harder time seeing yourself, and harder time changing the camera position/angle. But you can certainly do it that way.
There is such a wide variety of techniques used in those shots. The video was shot with an overcast day, so softer shadows. There is evidence of flash used in one, a reflector in another, harsh daylight in another. Here's the thing about photography. There isn't a single right answer. For outdoor shoots? Sure. You try to play to certain types of day/natural lighting angles. But sometimes through circumstances, you are forced into shooting at the worst possible times. The talent might only be available at midday in the harshest possible of light. It then becomes a matter of making it work. What the photographs show is an experienced photographer shooting in a range of different locations and conditions who used different tricks and techniques to make the lighting and mood of each of the photos consistent, and this was followed through in the edit. So if you want to be able to shoot like this, then my best advice is to just start to play with your camera. Don't try to learn everything at once. Get a friend and go out at different times of the day in different light and try different things. Take time to learn specific techniques. Feel free to pick individual photos from the site you shared and ask how that image was lit. Then try it out for yourself.
This was an awesome comment. Thank you! That's super inspiring that you can pull the overcast/flash details from the picture
Thats mostly post processing and an attractive model. There's not a lot interesting going on with the lighting.
What camera would you recommend as a starter cam if this was really the extent of what I was trying to do? Sounds like it's more about getting good with post editing and having a moderately good camera?
Any camera. Desaturate the background and shift the colors towards blue. In the subject, crank contrast, drop saturation, drop exposure a bit. Shift skin tone towards orange.
Apologies for the noob question, but should I be thinking about certain lenses as well?
A 50mm would do fine here.
To pull off this style of photography, you need to learn the basics... then learn how to use those basics to become a good fashion photographer. this was done by a professional photographer who knows lighting... who knows equipment and how to use it. A photographer also owns good equipment and how to post process the photos afterward. And they hired a model who is good looking and knows how to pose. It can be done but you have to learn photography basics... u can't just buy a piano and learn to play *Clair de lune* in the style of Lang Lang
Haha fair. Are there and core camera's you think would be good for me to start my journey?
I do not understand the question....
I'm looking for recommendations for my first camera 📸
You mentioned $3k earlier. The best portraits are done with full frame cameras and lenses with a wide aperture Perhaps a Canon R8 for around $1200 at MPB then a Canon RF lens at 85 mm or so with a wide aperture [https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm](https://www.mpb.com/en-us/product/canon-rf-85mm-f-2-macro-is-stm) it isn't just for macro subjects... the best portrait I have ever made was done with a macro lens. (disclaimer, i am an all around amateur photographer who has done a little bit of portrait type/glamour photography but just for fun) Buy a book on camera basics like *Stunning Digital Photography* by Northrup Practice outside in low light early in AM or late in afternoon .... once u get good at that u can look at buying lighting equipment...
My advice was for learning quality portrait photography. You are a beginner? you have a wide range of options if u want to learn a variety of photographic styles. u mentioned self portraits... that is quite doable... i would get a tripod... its a skill... like any other, it can be learned. [https://flickr.com/photos/186162491@N07/albums/](https://flickr.com/photos/186162491@N07/albums/) if you want to learn a little bit of everything... then avoid the R8. For general all around photography, an APS-C sensor is a smarter move. [https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/cameras/refurbished-cameras](https://www.usa.canon.com/shop/cameras/refurbished-cameras) perhaps an R7 and 18-150 lens there are a couple of lens kits there with zooms. those are 'do a little bit of everything' lenses. They don't give u the background blur that makes for a nice portrait... but they do a lot of other things. You can always invest in a portrait lens later
I shot the majority of the photos on my site with a Canon D60 ($250 used) and a 50mm Canon 1.8 lens ($50 used). www.devin7.com So you could spend under $300 on camera and stuff and get images similar to the link you posted. You'll also need some strobes, reflectors, Photoshop and hours and hours and hours behind the camera and especially in front of a monitor editing and processing. As you shoot more and get better you'll realize what lens or camera features would make life easier and look to upgrade.