Maybe you are starting to learn how to use your camera, maybe you just bought one, maybe you are sitting on the fence thinking if you should get one - anyway, this article is for you!
This definitive guide covers the most commonly asked questions regarding getting started in photography as a hobby. It can also be used as a guide for beginner photographers. The following information is designed to give you a balanced view of photography as a hobby, so that you could make a better-informed decision for yourself.
Though the truth is, one of the very reasons why photography is a fun hobby is because you always get surprises! (Both pleasant and nasty ones, of course)
So you should really just dive right in - no point waiting till you have gathered all the information because you won’t be able to anyway. This guide serves to provide the perspective you need.
Photography is a fun hobby for many because it speaks to our innermost desire for beauty in this world we live in; the photography process can be very therapeutic to our dull daily routines. Photography does not have to be expensive although it can if you wish. Photography is not hard to pick up because it has something to offer to any skill level; the fact that many photographers are self-taught testifies to this. To start photography, you will need to find inspiration, get a camera, and start clicking. DSLRs are generally a good place to start the hobby.
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Sharing a bit more about my personal stories as a photographer in this video.
Why is Photography a Good/ Fun Hobby?
Stay in Touch with Inner-Self
We love beautiful things. And we live in a beautiful world.
Photography is like Hamlet - To a thousand photographers, it means a thousand different things, for a thousand different reasons.
Here I can speak for myself only, but my guess is that this is a sentiment shared among many photographers - we see beautiful moments and want to make them stay.
Photographing something is a very personal way of expressing your views and thoughts towards the subject.
Humans have emotions and thus this desire to communicate them to the outside world.
Do you Look Forward to Tomorrow?
Let’s be honest with ourselves - does a new day of life excite you? If so, what is it that you look forward to? If not, why do you wake up every day?
I would liken photography to a life-long education. As with every hobby, there is as much as you want to learn in photography. There are so many genres of photography and types of cameras that I guarantee you, you will never grow tired of it.
And unfortunately (or fortunately), you will never reach the point where you have exhausted all there is to learn about taking photos!
It is also a philosophical exercise to get you thinking about your relationship with the world - it makes life way more interesting than it used to be.
Simply put, it gets you excited about tomorrow.
Is Photography an Expensive Hobby? How Expensive?
This section busts some myths about photography being expensive - while it can be true, there are many caveats that don’t get addressed enough.
In the latter part of this section you will also find a ballpark estimation of what you will realistically spend as you begin the photography hobby based on the your purchase appetite.
Bonus #1: Photography is as Expensive as you Want it to Be
This is probably of the greatest concern to the beginner - are you getting yourself ripped off by pursuing the photography hobby?
No, if you have a solid understanding of what makes a good photographer and what it takes to make a good photograph.
Indeed, it can be expensive. With new gear coming out every quarter and camera manufacturers more and more tactful with their marketing, you surely face the temptation of feeling the need to catch up with the latest gear.
In essence, photography will cost you as much as you are willing to spend on it. There is always something for different budget levels so it boils down to your self-discipline.
I personally take an interest in gear releases - this helps me stay relevant in relation to what is up and coming in the photography world. But I scrutinise every piece of gear I consider so hard that I have never bought stuff that I don’t use.
Having been a freelance photographer for years now, I have consistently added to my gear collection one at a time with a minimalistic approach based on how much I am making both from my day job and client budgets.
It is not photography that makes people go broke; the key lies in healthy spending habits.
Just tell me how Expensive is Photography….?
As a mind reader, you probably think you need to know how much exactly the photography hobby costs. I will try my best to give you a ballpark figure, though please factor in the variations based on your circumstances.
The below is a list of expenses that you would typically incur as a beginner photographer in the digital age, doing photography only for hobby and recording life.
On the side note, instead of looking at those numbers in isolation, compare it to other hobbies - how would photography fare against, say, wine-tasting/ snooker/ horse-riding?
How expensive it is very much depends on your vantage point - what you compare it with.
Camera Body (USD100 - USD1600)
I started photography on my phone, because I mostly shot photos for the purpose of sharing on social media.
Though looking back, I would recommend beginners to start with cameras, to get a better feel of all the commands you can make over this little machine.
Digital cameras on the market can be grossly divided into these types/ tiers, and here is a brief overview of them:
Digital Compact/ Point and Shoot Cameras
Pocket-sized
Usually comes with all four shooting modes, from fully automatic transitioning into full manual
Usually comes with the smaller sensor types, giving the least image quality
No lens-changing capacity
Absolutely affordable - prices range from roughly USD 100 to USD 1000
Who this is for - you are interested in the notion of being a photographer, but not entirely sure if it is your cup of tea in practice. You want to test the waters with a small budget to get a feeling of photography by making everyday snaps.
Digital Mirrorless Cameras
Usually comes with larger sensors too, usually the crop-frame and full-frame. Simply put, larger sensors give better image quality. But here both give image quality that is more than enough for digital viewing purposes.
Size falls somewhere between compact and DSLR cameras (below), but still too large to fit into pockets. More appropriate to fit them into large bags to avoid scratch and damage.
Crop-frame cameras come with a kit lens, and possible to change lenses down the road. Full-frame cameras mostly require a separate lens purchase.
As of now, there are relatively less lenses and accessories compatible with the mirrorless system in general, though this is going to change in upcoming years.
Crop-frame prices range from USD 480 to USD 1300
Full-frame prices range from USD 1100 to USD 5000
Who this is for - You already know well enough that you like the photography hobby enough to stick around for about a year or so, and that you are willing to spare a higher budget in return for better image quality and usability. The crop-frame product sector will be a great fit.
Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLR)
Comes with larger sensors - commonly known as crop-frame and full-frame.
Bulkier in size and will require a neck strap to carry around. You can’t expect to carry them around in small bags. Usually a backpack will be a good fit.
Crop-frame cameras come with a kit lens, and possible to change lenses down the road. Full-frame cameras mostly require a separate lens purchase.
Crop-frame prices range from USD 400 to USD 1600
Full-frame prices range from USD 1400 to USD 6600
Who this is for - You already know well enough that you like the photography hobby enough to stick around for a timeframe of a few years, and that you have a budget not only for the camera, but you also foresee that you will potentially want to experiment with changing lenses and accessories. The crop-frame product sector speaks well to the needs of this type of hobbyist.
That points you towards the broad type of cameras to go for. In relation to specific features to look for in a beginner camera, read the following articles I wrote earlier on:
In general, the crop-frame tier is good enough for beginner to intermediate hobbyists.
Lenses (USD 135 - USD 2700)
This section is to give you a brief idea of what your expenditure on lenses might look like a few years down the path.
As noted above, most beginner cameras either do not offer lens changeability, or that they come with kit lenses, which is designed to cover most photography situations.
With a kit lens, it will be some time before you have exhausted its capabilities and need an upgrade. So lenses is not an upfront cost in starting photography as a hobby.
Also note that in general, full-frame cameras enjoy a wider selection of compatible lenses. This is also why lenses are seldom an early step in gear upgrades - it makes more sense to upgrade your camera into a full-frame first instead of getting crop-frame lenses.
Listed below are three full-frame mount lenses that photographers typically move onto, right after owning the kit lens. Manufacturers regularly replace lenses with a newer edition with improvements. You can still find older editions in distributors and second hand markets and get them at a lower price.
The prices listed here are of the latest versions as at August 2020.
The ‘nifty-fifty’, otherwise known as the 50mm f1.8 that I have owned till today - it was my first lens upgrade back in 2018.
50mm f/1.8 Standard Prime Lens (USD135 - USD610)
How it complements the kit lens - opens up to a larger aperture, which creates a greater ‘blurred background/ foreground’ effect; usually more compact than the kit lens, as prime lenses contain less glass layers than zooms.
What it is good for - portrait, street/ documentary, food photography, to name a few; generally, any genre of photography requiring a sharp focus on a still subject and blurry surroundings.
Price range of latest versions
Canon - Third generation for DSLR system (USD 140); compatible on mirrorless with an adapter ring (USD 200)
Nikon - for DSLR system (USD 135); compatible on mirrorless with the FTZ adapter ring (USD 250); Nikon also has a crop-frame equivalent of this lens, selling at USD 200.
Sony - for mirrorless system (USD 270); compatible on DSLR with SONY adapters priced at USD 180 to USD 340
70-200mm f/4.0 Telephoto Zoom Lens (USD 1400 - USD 2700)
How it complements the kit lens - with a considerably longer focal length, it enables the photographer to shoot from further away from the subject
What it is good for - landscape, animal and automotive photography; generally, any genre of photography requiring a clear focus on a faraway subject, often involving movement .
Price range of latest versions
Canon - Second generation for DLSR (USD 1400); first generation for mirrorless (USD 2700)
Nikon - Third generation for DSLR (USD 1400); mirrorless (USD 2600)
Sony - for mirrorless system (USD 1500); compatible on DSLR with SONY adapters priced at USD 180 to USD 340
16-35mm f/4.0 Wide Angle Zoom Lens (USD1000 - USD1800)
How it complements the kit lens - with a wider angle of vision, the camera could capture a large space at a given distance from it, as compared to the kit lens
What it is good for - architectural and lifestyle photography; any genre of photography requiring a demonstration of scale and perspective
Price range of latest versions
Canon - for DSLR (USD 1100); mirrorless equivalent at f/2.8 (USD 2300)
Nikon - for DSLR (USD 1000); compatible on mirrorless with the FTZ adapter ring (USD 250); crop-sensor equivalent also available (USD 300)
Sony - for mirrorless system (USD1400), compatible on DSLR with SONY adapters priced at USD 180 to USD 340
Honestly, you wouldn’t have to be concerned about this because strictly speaking, lenses is not really a beginner issue.
Plus, lenses are a long-term investment, so you should amortise it over your entire photography lifetime - we are talking about the timeframe of a few decades here.
So the list above is for your reference!
Editing Softwares (USD 10/ month)
As important as it is to get things right in camera, photo editing is a practice that reveals a lot about photography to the young photographer.
You can’t have a feedback system without the feedback; editing your photos is like seeing how exactly your photography falls short, and the creative direction you want to bring your photos in.
This part of the feedback cycle is very much necessary in order to grow the next time you pick up your camera and shoot.
So here are the softwares that I have previously edited in
Phone Apps
Examples - Snapseed, VSCO, Lightroom Mobile etc.
How it helped me grow - These built my basic understanding of various sliders and metrics that immensely sped up my process in picking up more complex editing logics.
Price - free
Adobe Lightroom Desktop
How it helped me grow - it gave me more control over my images and opened up the possibility of partial editing; its catalogue system was how I first realised that photographers need a ‘workflow’ (indeed, organisation is such an integral part of a photographer’s work, whatever your skill level may be. Refer to ‘Professional Photographer’s Guide to Organising Photos’)
Price - basic subscription (USD 10/ month)
Below are photos that I edited using phone apps for your reference. (the fact that they are all square got me really nostalgic - this is how far we photographers have come - from the Square-IG era to today!)
Accessories
Brand new cameras typically come with a spare battery and charger, as well as cleaning equipment and SD cards.
That has you covered - at least that was all I had as I started.
With a camera in hand, nothing could stop you from shooting! Considering only hobbyist photography, not commercial photography, we have covered all that you need, and will need in the foreseeable future.
Total Expenditures
Realistically, taking a yearly view, here is how you can do the math:
First year - Camera (USD 100 - 1600) + Editing (USD 10 x 12 = 120) = USD (1300 - 3000)
Second year - Addition of new lens (USD 135 - USD 2700) + Editing (USD 1200) = USD (1335 - 3900)
Third year - Editing = USD 1200
Of course, this is rather arbitrary - the photography hobby certainly doesn’t follow a fixed track in terms of upgrading gear.
But what this shows you is that 1), the range of price points is extremely wide and therefore your budget will reasonably fall somewhere in between, and 2) this is already quite a non-minimalistic approach to gear. I was much more austere when I grew my gear collection.
My approach can sound harsh - never add gear until what you have is virtually impossible to achieve a definite goal you have in mind - but it has pushed me to fully utilise the potential in my gear.
Is Photography Hard?
This is a relative world we live in and therefore one thing is hard only when compared to a less hard thing.
But I can tell you what I find the most hard about photography, and you can decide for yourself it how hard it is on your own scale.
Technical Challenges
The first, and fortunately the least hard challenge that a beginner photographer usually faces, is the technical aspect of photography. In other words, how to work this machine, otherwise known as a camera.
When I started, I had a strange experience of seeing a scene of interest, then developing one picture in my head but getting a totally different one in my camera.
This boils down to not knowing your camera well enough - aka seeing things as your eyes do, instead of your camera. For a cure to this specific issue, read my earlier article “Why Beginner Photographers Lose Motivation”
Working out what the buttons do and the fundamentals (like aperture, shutter, ISO, focus etc) can be overwhelming. To get a feel of what it takes to fully grasp and apply these concepts, read my earlier article “Guide to Manual Exposure in Street Photography”
And since cameras nowadays are so powerful and are equipped with many fancy functions, this makes mastering your camera all the more complex.
But the technical ability to operate a camera comes with time and practice, and it mostly happened in my early years as a photographer. Plus, because of the vibrant community of photographers kindly sharing their skills over the Internet, self-learning has brought me through struggles with hardware.
I will share on self-learning photography in the section below.
Inspirational Ruts
Photography runs on an inspiration cycle:
Stage 1 - drawing inspiration in something, you feel excited about this new idea and can’t wait to execute it
Stage 2 - having gathered the resources you need, you go on to actualise that idea through a shoot and develop the final images
Stage 3 - making final touches to your production series, you wonder ‘what’s next?’ and find your mind as void as a vacuum
This inspiration cycle to photography is like the menstrual cycle to women - it is very necessary, yet it can be painful.
This cycle must keep going on in order for photography to be meaningful. You make new attempts and get better every time to close one cycle and move on to the next.
But if it jams up at one stage - say, the menstrual period fails to conclude - the body loses excessive volume of blood and dies (well maybe not as bad as that, but you get the point).
Inspiration is 50% the universe talking to us, and another 50% you responding to your surroundings. It is not entirely in your control, and so you can’t really know how long stage 3 will be in a particular instance.
Simply put, pushing yourself through Stage 3 over and over again is what builds up your character and philosophy as a photographer, but it is a hard place to navigate. The days when you know you should be shooting but not finding inspiration can feel excruciating.
The cure to this issue is to make sure you are doing your full 50%. Keep looking for new ways of looking at things, and you will pick up the motivation to shoot again.
It is just a matter of time. One of the biggest lessons I have learnt from photography is this: it is unwise to rush through things that have to be built with time.
Artistic Direction
This is probably the hardest part as a photographer.
In my opinion, this is the ultimate goal as a photographer - to come up with your own set of philosophy in how to photograph. Every new attempt you make evolves around finding out what you like your work to look like.
And figuring out what you like (and who you are as a person) is a hell of a difficult task. This is something that you cannot plan. Your shooting style is constantly work in progress, so technically you won’t really know where you are in respect to the goal of finding a style.
This sets a great photographer apart from the rest - the former has a rationale behind shooting a particular photo and communicating something beyond the fact that it ‘looks nice’.
Bonus #2: If a Hobby is Enjoyable, it is Never Hard
Objectively speaking there can be challenges in picking up photography as a hobby, but if it is something sufficiently enjoyable, it sounds quite odd to think of it as hardship.
Again, whether or not photography is hard is relative to what it means to you.
Photography is such a pleasurable presence in my life that I would hardly (no pun intended) think of it as being hard, while it might be so in reality.
Can you Self-Learn Photography?
Absolutely! I can totally testify to this!
There are photography schools around the world for those who take an academic interest in the art, but for the purposes of taking up photography as a hobby, the shared resources online already contains way more than you need.
Look at the prevalence of cameras around you, and the professional looking photos all over social media.
While not everyone can achieve mastery in photography (of course, like many things in life it feels lonely up there), what the average joe can do with his camera is a reference as to what you can reasonably expect of yourself.
This is such a frequently asked question which deserves a separate detailed answer to it, so if you haven’t already, first read my article on this “5 Fast and Free Ways to Learn Photography Yourself”. This article fleshes out the absolute essential learning eco-systems every beginner photographer must set up for themselves.
On top of the basics, here are another few things that I feel also accelerated my growth as a photographer, while they might not speak directly to the needs of the absolute beginner.
Entering into Regular Photo Challenges
This speaks mainly to the difficulties in relation to defining your own artistic direction in your photography.
As we discussed above, one of the greatest struggles in photography is to discover what your style is.
You can only take yourself so far in this respect - at some point, you need a second (better even with the 3rd and 4th…) opinion on where you currently stand, and where you seem to be heading.
I started organising creative photo shoots with the aim of submitting those photos to fashion magazines. (See my published work in my “Editorial Portfolio”)
I also take part in PhotoVogue’s weekly photo submission. The photos on there are of a level that is slightly out of reach for me, but not entirely unachievable. (See my public portfolio on PhotoVogue.)
Finding a platform that is comfortably challenging for your skill level can really jumpstart your craft as you see where you could potentially take your photography to.
Building an Inspiration Library
This mainly addresses the inspiration question - this is one of they ways I use to get myself out of creative ruts.
A sneak peak into part of my Inspiration Library
I invest a significant amount of time and thought into cultivating a reservoir from which I can drink from when my inspiration levels are low.
Examples of these include curating my Instagram feed - reviewing who I follow, because your will take shape of the work you expose yourself to.
Also, I create Instagram albums and save photos that I find stunning, and categorise them according to the exact inspirational element. I expanded on greater detail how I do this regularly in my earlier article “Collaborate with Brands as a Photographer with Real Example Part I”.
This also indirectly facilitates the process of finding your style. It is hard to look at your own work and get an unbiased understanding of what is the central idea behind.
But it is easier to do so from other people’s work, which is exactly what this process achieves - you find out what you think looks nice from other’s work, which is a window into your own philosophy.
Venture into Different Photography Genres
This is mostly about maintaining your technical skills as a photographer.
Indeed, you can’t forget how to use a camera, just like how you can’t forget how to exercise. But this skill needs up-keeping, just like your muscles require regular flexing.
And certain commands are more often used in certain types of photography, just like some muscle groups are more often used in a particular sport.
By switching between various genres of photography, you are maintaining your ‘muscle activity’ across the board - just like how it’s not leg day every day.
I started shooting streets, then venturing onto architecture, then portraits, and recently started shooting events, food and automotive also. Alongside I have always shot documentary.
I shall not go into detail what technical command each genre drills, but just appreciate how shooting a wider subject matter keeps your ability to operate the camera under different conditions alive.
Should I get a DSLR?
As an owner of both DSLR and mirrorless cameras, I am of the opinion that it doesn’t matter.
The debate between the two types of cameras have been ongoing for quite a while, and that deserves a separate article on its own. But I foresee that in a few years out, the debate should subside with mirrorless being the clear win.
Here are the most relevant factors that concern photographers:
Weight and size - mirrorless is the clear win because the absence of the mirror saves space and mass
View finder - mirrorless only comes with electronic view finders (EVFs), whereas DSLRs can offer optical view finder; this is a matter of personal preference
Compatible lenses and accessories - as of now, DSLR has a wider selection of gear and accessories, but mirrorless systems would catch up with this sooner or later
Budget - mirrorless cameras are generally cheaper, though there are exceptions with certain manufacturers
Shutter sound - mirrorless cameras can shoot almost soundless, which is very helpful in certain occasions
This is a brief comparison and you can see that the analysis points towards getting a mirrorless, especially if you are a beginner.
Most photographers sit on the fence because they get tied up in all the DSLR-era gear that they already have, which would go to waste (kinda) if they made a switch to mirrorless systems. But if you are brand new looking to start the photography hobby, this is less of a concern.
How to Start Photography as a Hobby?
To give a comprehensive answer to this question, let’s sum up what we have covered so far.
Firstly, decide if photography would be a hobby you are potentially interested in. Look at the reasons I gave to explain why photography is so much fun to me; do they make sense to you?
Secondly, address reservations you might have, especially on the spending aspect. Based on the very rudimentary breakdown of the costs above, are you comfortable with a yearly spending of USD1000 on average?
If you have analysed your situation and decided that you can give it a shot, congrats! Get yourself a decent camera and start shooting.
As you start the photography hobby, you first figure out the technical details and learn how to work the camera’s magic. You then go on to find inspiration and shoot things that interest you. And when you hit a bottleneck, keep yourself inspired and seek critiques from fellow photographers.
This is pretty much how you get the ball rolling for you and before you know it, you are no longer a beginner!
Summary
In this article, we talked about:
Whether photography is a fun hobby,
How expensive is photography as a hobby,
The common challenges photographers face,
How you can self-learn photography,
Whether you should start with a DSLR, and
How to start photography as a hobby.
More sharing coming soon!
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