this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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Photography

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Hello! I've been taking photos my whole life- starting with a DSi. I started taking it more seriously, getting a DSLR in highschool, then upgrading to full frame mirrorless. I've worked small events and as an in house food photographer, have done some grad shoots, etc, but I really want to get into the influencer market and portraits if possible. Is my full frame mirrorless+nifty fifty+ 24-240 lens ok to start? Are there expectations beyond what I can produce with that combo when doing content for Instagram?

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[–] KidElder@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

For social media, expectation is are your photos unique, else you're not going to influence anyone, no matter what gear you have.

Just something to keep in mind. "Why would anyone follow you" should be your question to yourself.

[–] bearwoodgoxers@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I would invest in a basic lighting kit + backdrops and some reflectors. Since you're planning to do portraits these will be very useful for you and you'll need to get used to using them anyway if you plan on doing this for a long time. It's also a relatively smaller investment than buying new lenses, etc.

I was a hobbyist as well and the biggest learning curve for me when I started freelancing was learning how to use my own lights correctly/creatively.

I'd also suggest renting out gear now and then and using it on your own time to get a feel for more "pro" stuff so you get a realistic sense of what you actually need.

[–] Battle_Fish@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

For portrait work I recommend at least an 85mm 1.4.

But lighting equipment is very important if you want to do indoor shoots. You need multiple lights, light stands, and backdrops.

Maybe start out with a reflector and do outdoor shoots first. Honestly, I like outdoor shoots more. If you're doing Instagram then that's the path.