Equipment History and Upgrades
Anyone with an interest in shooting has likely heard the phrase “The best camera is the one you have” and you may be shocked, but I entirely agree with it!
While equipment DOES play a part in your work, it should not necessarily limit your creativity, or final results.
There are so many ways to make an old dog do new tricks when it comes to shooting. That being said, I’m going to share a bit of insight into my process with basic equipment and how I’ve grown with it.
My first camera, when I started into photography, was a Lumix compact - point and shoot camera. It was amazing. Ridiculously lightweight, easy to use, plenty of settings, AND it was even waterproof! (Peep it here for reference)
As I was just beginning into my photography journey (2010), I didn’t really take advantage of the quality of this point and shoot. I thought I needed something more “professional” to improve.
(Spoiler alert- The photos didn’t magically improve when I upgraded). At the end of high school, I was fortunate enough to do an internship with a local photographer (Shout out to Angela Van Horn) who allowed me to use her camera (Canon) as I started learning more in depth. I shadowed her and assisted with some sessions and weddings, which helped my learning immensely. Below are some of the photos I got with my Lumix point and shoot.
In 2012, I got my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel t2i. This thing is a WORK HORSE. I still have it, fully functioning to this day. I honestly don’t know why-it’s never been repaired, and it’s been dropped and smashed off things countless times (Anyone who knows me knows I’m a little clumsy). But alas, one of the reasons I came to love Canon, is how incredibly long lasting this camera has been for me.
So this was absolutely an upgrade for my camera body - but in order to improve my photos, what was actually needed was learning how to shoot manually. And this required me to understand the concepts behind light, aperture, shutter speed, focusing and the basics behind the camera.
To do this, like I have told countless others on the beginning of their photography journey- Just shoot, as much as you can. Put the camera in manual mode, and figure out what does what when and how. This is my biggest recommendation for anyone learning on any camera- shoot in Manual mode.
So I put in the effort with this first DSLR. My editing may have gone wayward with some funky filters that were trendy at the time, but the shooting itself improved over time. Below are some of the shots I got with my Rebel. Toward the end of this period, I did a dual credit program in photography, which we used a Nikon body for. I got more familiar with their controls and set ups, as well as some basic lighting.
Now I was reading lots in these years, watching webinars, practicing a ton, and getting antsy about upgrading to an even more professional camera. So after doing a lot of research, I opted to purchase a refurbished Canon 5D Mark ii in 2014. I also purchased my first Speedlite.
If the Rebel was a work horse, this camera was a machine. I was so excited about the new opportunities to shoot. The largest change included better low light shooting. But again, knowing how to best use the camera you have is the best way to ensure high quality shots.
So I worked even more on my craft- After learning how to follow the rules, I learned how to manipulate them to achieve the results I wanted with this camera. I still have this camera fully functioning (though it has been serviced by Keh - fun backstory about "#whatsinthebox by my shipper at the time too.. but I’ll share that story another time!
You can see some of my work with this camera below.
Now as I used my 5D Mark ii, I knew I could do a TON with it. Above is such a small snippet, but I would shoot landscapes, macro details, portraits, families, whatever my heart desired. I really seriously LEARNED on this camera. As I continued to use it, I knew I was using it to its full capabilities. I finally felt like I was making the absolute most of my camera. I even attempted a bit of astrophotography with it! So once I was able to, I finally upgraded in June of 2020. Canon had just started releasing some mirrorless options, so after watching their releases, and waiting to see if they’d decrease in price, I grabbed the Canon EOS R in June. I was (and am) so excited about the options on this camera. The difference with a mirrorless body vs a DSLR, in layman’s terms is how the image is viewed. A DSLR uses mirrors to bounce light through the body into the viewfinder for the shooter to frame and capture. The mirrorless version sends directly to the sensor. Here’s a helpful image I found to break it down.
Canon lists the quality benefits of mirrorless as “great low light performance, image detail, and color, as well as shallow depth of field.” In addition, this camera body is super light. So nice for long shooting days! The lenses made for it, however can be heavier. So with my hands on this new body, I played around even more. I am continuing to learn, and frequently break the rules to get my creative shots. This is my current (mid 2021) set up. Below are some of the shots I’ve been able to get so far with this set up.
Along the way I’ve purchased/received new lenses, remote controls, flashes, continuous lighting, backdrops, creative props, and the list goes on. At the end of the day, the way to be the best photographer you can be, is to make the most of your current equipment, until you know you’re using its full capabilities, then upgrade to what you know will impact your shooting - don’t just upgrade to “look more professional.” Knowing your equipment is SO important. And so, with this, I encourage anyone reading this to spend time getting to know the tools on your camera. Play with your settings, and figure out what you like and don’t like. Get comfortable with everything BEFORE shooting paid sessions. And - Keep your photos organized. I thank Facebook so I could go back and find my oldest shots, but even better is when you can compare how far you’ve come from the originals.
Until next time,
Alicia Saenz
