Bloggers Gonna Blog: Best Camera and Lens Advice for Newbie Bloggers

When Melissa and I started this blog, we had no idea how to use a camera, which one to buy, which lens would be useful and on top of that how to use all of it! I’ve always been a big fan of photography though, so I was super excited to learn and took on the research like it was my day job. I’m here to share with you what we’ve learned in the past 6 months of blogging with our current camera, what we did and what we would do differently camera wise if we had the chance to go back! We’re still figuring out how to get the best photos so this post will be more about your actual camera and lens than how to get the best photos. That post is still in progress lol!

What did we buy?

Ok, so first things first, Mel and I pitched our idea to my dad and he was kind enough to back us for a proper camera and lens which was awesome. For us, photos and photo quality is everything, it speaks to the professionalism of our brand and to the quality of product we hold ourselves to producing, because after all our blog posts and images are the finished product of all our hard work and creative energy. This being said, we were prepared to spend (with in reason) on this purchase because it was going to affect how our viewers saw us, like really really saw us or didn’t see us at all you know? Which is why we ended up going with a DSLR Nikon D5300 and the standard kit lens 18mm-140mm from Precision Camera, using this lens for about the first three months of blogging exclusively (except on the posts where photographers provided the photos). The whole shebang ran around $1200 with all the accessories like a camera bag, lens cleaner, tripod (which we don’t really use that much), memory card and such.

Why this was a bit over kill:

We choose this camera because the screen on the back flips open, rotates and swivels and we thought we would use this for when we shot ourselves on the tripod. Truth is we’re very lucky to have each other because shoots on the tripod aren’t awesome, especially when we stepped up our lens game. More on that later, but for now, we really don’t use this too often except when we shoot very strange angles of ourselves or each other. Now if you’re blogging on your own and anticipate shooting yourself mostly (you don’t have a photography hunger friend, spouse, sibling, parent who would be willing to help you or that you would be able to bribe) this feature could be actually worth it to you! We also thought we would use the wifi feature, which allows you to immediately upload photos on a shoot site (provided you have wifi access) to your phone and post to where ever asap. This was super cool, but the next truth is when Mel and I are shooting we’re on a mission and aren’t thinking too much about posting to social media in the moment and if I am waiting for her to change or something most likely I’ll just snap something on my iphone and post it that way. Cool feature, but not necessary! The D5300 is a bit bigger and clunkier, especially when I consider traveling to Italy and taking the cambam, and in hindsight we would have been just as happy with one of the D3200 or D3300 options. We would have saved a bit of dough too but don’t get it twisted; we don’t regret buying the D5300 , even though it was more expensive, about $400-$500 more than the D3200 or D3300 . It’s a great camera, just a little overkill and expensive.

Digital vs. Point and Shoot

We do TOTALLY recommend though going with a DSLR of any type and not doing a point and shoot if you want your photos to look as professional as possible. If this is just a hobbie, for fun, not that serious to you and might not even last that long, do the point and shoot though. Just keep in mind, and that point and shoot quality photos convey those things, that it’s just a hobbie and you’re not that serious about it. People will spend most of their time on your blog looking at the images and the web design before they even start to look at what you wrote which is why Melissa and I felt this was SUCH an important investment and would really set the tone of our blog in a strong way from the start. It’s out advice to save, save, save until you can get a starter DSLR camera if you want to do this blog thing for realz.

Nikon vs. Canon

They’re both great. Really, just go to a camera shop and play around for about an hour or so with both a Nikon and Canon and see which user experience you like more. They differ in little way, but are both incredible options no matter which you choose. And as far as photo quality, we can’t see the difference and none of our readers have mentioned it either ha!

Lens, Lens and Lens

Keep in mind Mel and I are still burgeoning photogs and continue to learn SO much about photography every time we shoot each other and your lens has A LOT to do with how your photos will come out (this seems obvious but it wasn’t to us at first!). When we first started with just the 18mm-140mm we got some really beautiful photos BUT we weren’t getting that impactful BOOM there it is moment in our shots that we really wanted. And it’s because the 18mm-140mm isn’t built to give us that photo where you get that really pretty blurry background. Around month 3, we dropped about $350 on a used but wonderful condition 50 mm f/1.4 from Precision Camera. And I have to say after this our photos really stepped up their game which in turn helped boost our blog 10 fold. Melissa and I often get asked if we shoot each other and people are surprised to hear yes! I think this is really because the 50 mm f/1.4 lens does such a beautiful job and gives a little boost of professional touch.

Here’s a difference between the two:
18mm-140mm on the left and 50 mm f/1.4 on the right

If you’re wondering what settings we shoot on, and some tips/tricks to using the 50 mm f/1.4 which can take a while to get used to when going from the standard lens zoom lens that comes with your camera ( 18mm-140mm ) to a prime lens ( 50 mm f/1.4 ), then you’ll have to check back with us soon for that post! Last but not least, BE PATIENT with yourself, especially if you’re not a pro which we aren’t ha! No one becomes an expert overnight, don’t compare your work to other more experienced bloggers because you don’t how much experience they have or if they even shoot themselves. For the first couple of months, take your camera with you to family events, outings around town, daily stuff for practice at composing photos and getting familiar with all the gadgets, bells and whistles. Make an effort to do this at all different times of the day too, because light has been one of the HARDEST things for Mel and me to learn and we continue to wrestle with it ALL THE TIME. I think we will for as long as we live ha! And google is your best friend

WHEW! That was long y’all but I hope that was really helpful for anyone who is thinking about starting a blog or is a newbie blogger like us and wished that other newbie bloggers shared more about their experience, what they buy, how they do it and that kind of stuff! If you have ANY questions, ask away and I promise to share what we’ve experienced with you. This is a community and we love when others support and share their knowledge info with us which is why it’s so important to both Melissa and me that we do the same by sharing our knowledge and experiences too!

UPDATE: shop our exact camera and blurry lens from the image below!

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”- Henri Cartier-Bresson