It's one of the questions I get asked the most:

“I want to buy a nice camera that takes great pictures. Which one should I buy?”

There are MANY great options on the market- but I have to say- you're asking the wrong question....because my answer is:

It really doesn't matter.

As long as you buy a new-ish (made in the past 5 years or so) DSLR (one that can change lenses) camera made by a major brand (i.e. Canon or Nikon), you're good. Any camera that has been made that recently will be more than capable of taking the photos you desire.

Trust me, I know- my first real, professional Nikon was a 2 megapixel camera. TWO MEGAPIXELS. I made HUGE prints from those image files...and now my iPhone shoots images triple that size!

In fact, if you are eBay savvy, you can get some great deals buying cameras used! That's right- I buy most all of my equipment used or refurbished. Of course, I do have my equipment serviced yearly by the Nikon factory to be sure it is in great working shape.

You can also rent a camera from places like The Lens Depot or Borrow Lenses so that you can have a test drive before you buy.

If you still need to be told the EXACT camera you should buy, check out Recommended Cameras on KenRockwell.com. I have loved Ken's reviews and found them to be accurate throughout my career.

What DOES matter- is the lens you're putting on that camera.

Your lens is essentially the "eye" of your camera, and your camera body is the brain. If your eyes can't see well, they won't be able to help the brain create a very good image.

So, if you're the average DSLR hobbyist or just starting out- get a good camera body- and then choose to really invest in great lenses.

More info in this video, and some helpful links for you below:

P.S. This is the lens I recommend for your first lens purchase! It doesn't do everything, but it packs a punch for it's small size and price! ----> Nikon Canon

Here's a great article on a crop sensor vs. full frame sensor.

PHOTO WORKSHOPS

Lissa Anglin loves to teach beginners how to use their DSLR cameras. She offers e-courses, free tips and tricks on how to shoot better photos from a Mom and a professional photographer's perspective.

The new How To Work It Workshop! (Pre-Registration now LIVE)

November 3, 2016PHOTOGRAPHYlissa-anglinComment

So, I finally just went for it. Here's a quick video about it:

Ya'll- I am about to BURST with overwhelmed excitement (and truthfully some holy-moly-is-this-really-happening-anxiety) right now! This has been something I have been dreaming of and working on for so long now and I can't believe we are just about to DO THIS THING. But, it's time! So here goes!

For several years now, I've been teaching in-person workshops for beginners who want to learn to really harness their DSLR camera and shoot in manual mode. In other words, I LOVE teaching people how to work their fancy cameras! Time and distance have made it difficult for me to put more workshops together and for a long time I've dreamed about putting the whole workshop online.

This camera course is for the beginner- people who were given a nice camera or chose to invest in one and just have not had the time to learn to shoot it. I've designed this course to be flexible, easily understood, and interactive.

How To Workshop Attendees will receive:

• Access for 1 month to a private website where you'll be able to watch 5 video teaching lessons. Each lesson covers one or more important functions of your camera you'll need to understand in order to make a perfect exposure.

• Printable PDF notes for each lesson.

• Access to our private Facebook group where we will share our photo assignments, give/get feedback, and have a couple of Live group sessions.

One of the best things about the new online format is that you will be able to do it at your own pace. You could potentially finish the entire course in 1 weekend, or you could do 1 or 2 lessons a week and draw it out a bit. If you feel you'd like to go over a lesson again, you can!

It's important to me that all attendees are able to really harness the camera and equipment they already have and make the best use of it.

Pre-registration is NOW OPEN until November 9th!

Our first workshop will begin in just a couple of weeks- November 15, 2016. If you pre-register between now and that date, you will receive $25 OFF!

I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about the workshop- feel free to leave a comment here on this blog post.

Can't wait to see you there!

HOW TO WORK IT • a beginner's photography workshop

June 15, 2015lissa-anglin2 Comments

I'm so excited to announce I'll be hosting another HOW TO WORK IT camera workshop on July 25! It's been over a year since I've done one and it is about time!

This workshop will be held at my home in Lubbock, TX

This is a BEGINNER, one-day class that will cover:

• Equipment basics

• Exposure (Aperture, Shutter Speed, White Balance, & ISO)

• Lighting

• Photographic Style

....and a little bit of everything in-between!

You will need:

• A DSLR Camera (one that is able to change lenses)

• Your camera's manual

• A laptop is optional

There will also be some sweet gifts, discounts and coupons for attendees!

This workshop is from 10 am to 5 pm with a one-hour break in between for lunch. The class is limited to 8 attendees, and it is first-come, first-served!

Click the button below to reserve your spot:

how to work it • dslr camera workshop • lubbock, tx

July 1, 2013lissa-anglinComment

I'm pretty excited about this post! Next month, I'll be hosting a small workshop for all my Mama friends (and non-Mama friends with cameras) that want to learn how to work their DSLR camera. And if you're a guy, I guess you can come, too. :)