You don’t have to have a good camera to take good pictures
As a photographer often people say to me: “Wow, you must have a really great camera” which is kinda like saying “Wow, you must have really great scissors” to your favourite hairdresser.
Before starting this 366 project a few people have said “I want to, but I am not that good at taking photos” or “I don’t have a good camera”.
So I wanted to write this post to highlight two points. The first is the title of this post, and it’s true. You don’t have to have a good camera to take good pictures. I keep getting requests from Getty Images to licence images that were taken on my 5 year old point and shoot! Having a beautiful big DSLR does NOT make you a good photographer.
Some of my favourite photos I’ve taken are from my iPhone (and I DO have a big beautiful DSLR sitting under my desk!).
I use instagram on my phone and I love it! (it’s an awesome app if you’re wanting to complete your project on iPhone).
(all from my iPhone – all special memories to me)
Which brings me to the second point I wanted to talk about which is that it really isn’t so much about the quality of the photos when doing this project.
*All* my favourite photos from the project were ones that held special memories. Not the ones with perfect DOF or exposure. It was the grainy night time nursing or a little out of focus smile. That doesn’t mean if you love photography you should’t challenge yourself and produce beautiful images – you should! But if you’re sitting at home thinking you want to do the project but you don’t know if your photos will be ‘good enough’ – let me assure you something: in any form, documenting delight in your life, from your crappy cell phone to a webcam will be ‘good enough’. These are your delightful moments and 20 years from now I highly doubt you’re going to say “man, I wish I coulda nailed that focus”. No, you’re going to be squealing (or crying if you’re me) “I can’t believe you were ever that tiny!” or “I can’t believe how good I looked back then!”. I never pull out my parents old snaps and say “Good god mum why is this in B&W and grainy?” No. I say “Omg mum WHAT IS THAT PERM!?” and “Omg mum, is Pop wearing a DRESS?”.
Don’t let your camera or perceived lack of photography skills get in the way of you doing something wonderful, you’d be cheating yourself out of some incredible memories and experience of really looking for delight in your life.
I was SO self conscious when I started re-reading about photography (I had planned on studying it many years ago but was turned down, so bought some books on it) because I could see all the mistakes I was making as well as just being unhappy with the quality produced by my phone – had a point n shoot but it kept turning itself off!
I bought a ‘nice’ camera and actually cried on the day I bought it – it was so over whelming and I was hormonal! – but it didn’t stop me taking phone pictures, even when I got the hang of my camera. It made me less self conscious and I cared less about the look of photos – like you say, it’s about memories. My parents always had a great camera going up but it’s the crappy ones that are out of focus and tell a story that I love the most!
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Yay!!! the afternoon with me made the cut of your special memories…oh im soooo narcessistic.
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Georgia, my hubby asked me earlier tonight what I wanted for xmas, and I said, “Maybe…a camera upgrade?”, thinking that I don’t really need one, I like the photos I take already, but maybe I’d take better ones on it??? And not really *wanting* to spend that money, when I already just enjoy my iPhone pics (I use the Hisptamatic app). And now after reading your post, I’ve realised I don’t want a new camera. I just want TIME to play with the point and shoot one I have already, plus my iPhone, and just create with these tools. I can TOTALLY do this!! THank you for answering that question for me, so beautifully, with your post. I’m considering doing 366 days…maybe I can
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No one’s ever told me I must have a great camera, although I do get asked what kind of camera I use a lot, but more as a “hmmm… I want to get a dslr, what do you use?” kind of way. Or at least, I interpret it that way. Maybe I’m naive! Or not as great a photographer as I like to think I am
And the thing is, I don’t have a “great” dslr but in my opinion, it takes great photos because *I* take great photos (using my old, perfectly acceptable but not great Sony a200 dslr or my iPod touch).
I have really overly pixalated, small, crappy cell phone pictures I took during my family’s *only* visit to the eiffle tower (3.5 years ago) that are incredibly precious to me, because they’re all I have of that amazing day. They were literally too small to see in the cell phone itself and it took me 3 years to get them onto a computer because I didn’t have texting back then, but now that I have them, I treasure them. Despite their (many) flaws.
I spend some time wishing my dslr shot video but upgrading to an a580 isn’t in the works right now, though, so it is just a daydream. (I think/ hope next year or the year after will be the year I upgrade.) Daydreams are fine, though. As long as they don’t impede us!
But, I do have to say that every time I change my gear, I grow and learn as a photographer, which is important to me. Getting a dslr? Changed me for the better. Getting an iPod touch (and using different apps on it) changed me. I grow from learning new things! Shooting a film slr? Probably the biggest jump I’ve ever seen in terms of learning new camera skills.
So, when my friends ask me about buying a dslr, I always always always encourage them to take the leap! Buy a cheap, used model if that is all you (like me) can afford. You’ll know when it is time to leap to a better model.
Don’t obsess about gear, but do understand that lenses (which are the raison d’etre of buying a slr camera) really do change what you can do, photographically.
That’s my two cents, at least.
I love your instagram shots, they’re so vivid! <3
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Once I got over my issue of ‘oh yuck, this photo is so ordinary, in terms of composition, exposure, etc’ and just kept taking them no matter what they looked like, I was finally able to get on with my 365 project. And once in a while, I actually manage to take a decent one
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I just bought a Canon Powershot, a point and shoot. Though I love photography and have been taking pictures with my Blackberry’s camera for the better part of the year, I ached for a proper camera.
I desired a DSLR but then though again, and decided to buy a normal point and shoot first and learn the ropes with it. Maybe a DSLR in a couple of years.
I love the new Canon. I love photography.
PS – I had lost your blog for a while and I just found it again! God. You can’t imagine how happy I am right now. I love you and your blog. Just makes me happy to spend a little time here. Always.
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I should add, that your beautiful sister took the most beautiful photo on my blog! My Header pic is one she took of my ENORMOUS belly a few months ago – my fave pic of all
xx
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Georgia Reply:
December 22nd, 2011 at 8:02 am
What a gorgeous image! Hailey is fantastic!
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Okay, you might not have to have a good camera, but it takes a keen eye. Your pictures are gorgeous. It’s so lovely to see your wee ones through your artistic eye. Your kids are so lucky their mama beautifully documents their life! Happy Holidays, mama! xoxoxo
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Just wanted to say thanks for this post. It is inspiring. Stumbled across it from somebody else’s blog and feels like you could have been talking to me. I am always one of those “I need a better camera” people when I actually what I need is more time to make the most of the camera and photo opportunities I have already.
Note to self…must try harder!
Note to you…absolutely beautiful pictures.
xx
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Thank you so much for this post! I wanted to do this project the moment I heard about it (yesterday!) but then I started thinking… but I only know how to use the “auto” mode on my mostly point and shoot camera! But I haven’t taught myself how to use photoshop yet! But I’m not a photographer! …. But it won’t be PERFECT!!
This post reminded me that it doesn’t have to be perfect, and that I should just do it anyway! Thank you!
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Georgia Reply:
December 30th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
I am really glad that you got that from this post, it’s so true. Not to see a great camera and skills don’t do great things, but yeah, the real precious stuff has nothing to do with that!
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