Photography Resources & Educators I Wish I Had When I Was Starting Out
When I first started out in photography, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed. There was so much to learn, so many options for gear, editing techniques, business strategies — and honestly, not enough resources that spoke directly to me. It felt like I was stumbling in the dark at times. I bet many of you have felt the same way!
Today, though, it’s a whole different world. The internet is full of photography resources, online educators, and communities where you can ask questions and get advice. So Whether you’re a mama wanting to capture beautiful moments of your little ones, someone looking for a fun new hobby, or you’re ready to take your passion for photography to the next level, it’s my hope that this blog post will make your journey just a little bit easier.
So here are some of my favorite photography resources!
Online Photography Courses & Educators
No matter where you are on your journey. Youtube is your best friend. Seriously. I feel like in 2020, photography resources on youtube BLEW up and that is just amazing.
Here are a few of my favorite channels that give good solid content for FREE.
–Katelyn James. I may be one of her biggest fan girls. I follow her on every platform. She gives incredibly good and practical content, education and she’s just the sweetest.
–Chelsea Nicole. She has some great videos on the technical side of things especially when it comes to different programs.
–Vanessa Joy. She’s so down to earth and has some great stuff on gear, programs, and fun techniques. Especially if you are wanting to learn flash.
–Mastin Labs. I use Mastin Lab presets to get a really timeless, film look on all my images and I just love how easy they make it. They have dozens of videos on how to best use their preset and their infamous 3 step process. Definitely worth looking into.
The next stop, Facebook. I mean, what else is there to say. You can just do a quick search up at the top for photography groups and see what comes up. But this is a great way to get questions answered and find community.
–CreativeLive offers a huge range of classes from photographers like Sue Bryce, Jasmine Star, and Sal Cincotta. There are free live classes as well as paid courses, so you can definitely find something that fits your budget. I remember I used to schedule shoots around their live classes so that I could learn for free and it was incredible.
– Katelyn James Courses. I know I mentioned her above for her youtube channel and that’s a great FREE resource. But if you’re really wanting to get down to the nitty gritty and learn some stuff about light, location, composition, editing and so much more. Go check out her courses. Their not free, but they are PACKED full of valuable information that is worth every penny.
What I use to edit
So I feel like everyone has heard of photoshop at some point and when I started out, that’s what I used.
But now that I am a little further along in my business, my style has shifted and so has my workflow. When I finally figured out the awesome tool that Adobe Lightroom was, I never looked back.
It has changed my workflow for the better and I love that I can manipulate the lighting scenarios in my photos and keep them looking natural and timeless. And it’s pretty affordable. You no longer have to spend $1,500.00 on one program (like I did when I first started out) but you just pay a small price monthly. So if you decide you don’t like it, just cancel it.
And I know I mentioned above that I use Mastin Labs Presets, But I just think they are the best. I have spent some money on other preset only to be disappointed… So when I found Mastin Labs and they have the education to go with.. I was sold. I love how simple they are to use and my images still have a timeless feel.
WHAT’S IN MY BAG
I shoot with the Canon R6 Mark II and I absolutely LOVE it! Truly, this camera was much needed shift and breathe of fresh air. It’s so much lighter than My 5D Mark III and at first the feel and size bothered me, almost like I was shooting with a toy, but now I just can’t imagine going back. So lets talk about why I love it.
– It’s so FAST. I mean, as a family photographer chasing after littles, the speed just impressed me and really felt like a step up.
– It is incredibly accurate with focus and SHARP! Now, if you haven’t been shooting with an EOS camera, this may not mean much to you, but for my fellow photogs out there that have shot with a 5D Mark III, you know that there were times that you needed to take those “just in case” shots because sometimes… Not always… But often enough that it mattered, there would be missed focus. I really didn’t even think to much about it honestly until I got my hands on this thing and HOT DANG! The accuracy of it is just incredible!! Even after nearly 2 years of shooting with it, I am still impressed when I’m culling through my images.
– It’s pretty user friendly. The manual is pretty straight forward and of course youtube is full of incredible videos and resources on how to set it up to best fit your needs. Here is a playlist of some of my favorites.
Now, there are a few things I want to touch on, I know this is pricey and if you’re just starting out, this might not be for you. I get it. I started nearly 14 years ago with a Canon rebel and worked my way up as business demanded and my knowledge expanded. But if you’ve been photographing for a while now and are ready to make an upgrade, this is an incredible option especially if you’re working a business with it. If not, there are other awesome mirrorless cameras out there that will suffice. But this is what’s in my bag.
Lenses. This is fun and I love sharing this because one of my all time favorite lenses is super basic and one if the cheapest ones on the market.
The Canon RF 50mm 1.8 is such a beautiful, lightweight, versatile lens that just lends to so many different photography types and at 1.8 Fstop, it makes for some yummy bokeh (creamy background!) and lets it plenty of light for lowlight situations like indoor pictures of your kiddos (wink, wink, mamas out there!)
And the best part is, it’s under $200!! I mean, come on. Here are a couple pictures that I’ve taken with it.
My next favorite lens.. (Please don’t have a heart attack on me!) Is the Canon RF 28-70 2.0!
Now, the price tag on this baby is not for the faint of heart. I get it. But for me, this lens CHANGED the way I feel about shooting with a zoom lens. Typically I feel like it’s a lot harder to get nice crisp, sharp images with a zoom lens of any kind, but this one… Wow! It rose up to the occasion. And the fact that it’s a 2.0 Fstop… I’m in LOVE. Great for lower light situations and tack sharp.
Here’s a few pictures I took with it that just sold me one the versatility and incredible functionality of this lens.
The most important thing I wish I knew when I first started out? It’s okay to feel uncertain and even a little lost at times. Every photographer starts somewhere. Just keep learning, experimenting, and refining your craft. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or lean on others for advice — there’s no one right way to do this.
If you’re still here, thank you for hanging with me and I hope this helps you on your journey!
If you have any questions, I’m an open book and would love to answer any comments.
This post has no affiliate links. This is just my personal thoughts and favorite items.
