I'd love to get a recommendation on a couple DSLRs in the lower price ranges. I'd like to step-up from a point-n-shoot and have experience with a nice film SLR. I don't need a super professional DSLR, but want something where I can manually control f-stops and apertures, etc.

My husband and I are trying to start a photography business focusing on a niche in sports photography. We both have limited experience with both photography and business, but we're doing a LOT of homework. Any tips are helpful here, but what type of camera and lenses would you suggest? Also, what is one of the best ways to advertise?

When taking pictures in the daytime without a flash - they come out all grainy! Any tips? Thanks!!

I just ordered my first DSLR on Amazon today (yay!) It's a Canon Rebel T1i, and I can't wait to receive it. I got the body only with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. What other (relatively inexpensive) lenses would you recommend to a DSLR newbie? What is YOUR favorite lens?

I'd second the lens question -- I've been working with a 50mm f/1.8 for about 2 years and generally loving it but am frustrated that I can't back up from my subjects enough indoors to fit them in the frame. Is there a wider angle lens that still has a low aperture to let in tons of light, because my apartment gets so little natural light!

one of my questions is the same as baumgak, but I also have another question. When taking photos indoors, is there a certain trick that I can use to make my photos look like they came out of a magazine? Does it depend on which lens I use? And do I really need to buy an external flash?

I'd like to learn more about taking a picture using the flash in the right way - and what kind of flash to use. Also, I'd like to know what would be involved in an inexpensive set up of lights for indoor use of product photography or portraits.

My question! What is the best way to get shots of kids, good positions, etc.

Any recommendations on a non-DSLR camera? I have the same problem taking pictures indoors and at night - graininess, bluriness. The old, basic film camera that I used from ages 10-20 NEVER had this problem. I feel like cameras now try to do too much? Or am I using my camera wrong?

Family portraits on a budget... ie Do it yourself family portraits... Recomendations for what should we all wear ... same colors, all black, all white... how to choose the background and what to do for lighting when you don't have pro lamps? Any hints for getting as close to pro as possible!

If you had to choose one lens to have with you at all times, which would it be? Oh...and this one lens takes mostly pictures of a 3-year old, 20-month old, and 2-week old...

Oh...and yes, I've tried all the different "settings" to no real avail (except the aquarium setting, which takes great pictures indoors, but everything comes out slightly yellow). There are no manual controls on my camera.

Are there some simple post-production steps for the amateur to improve photos (other than cropping)? Is iPhoto enough, or do you recommend Photoshop, or something else?

How do photographers get that real color saturated look? I have Photoshop Elements.

I would also love to hear thoughts on lenses - all my questions have been asked above.

Thank you!

How can I best photograph an infant? How do photographers achieve the directly-overhead shot (stand on a chair?) so often seen in infant portraits?

I would love lens advice too! Particularly, I would love to know what lens to use to get a photo in which the subject is clear but everything right behind the subject is blurry.

I would love some tips on photographing many kids at once - Seriously to get all our kids looking at anything at once let alone a camera... and twenty shots later there will always be someone with their eyes closed or crawling off or just distracted... help... Group shots with many kids!!!

Kids move all the time, how do you ensure focus on the eys, especially my camera only have one cross type focus point. I end up with my daughter always in the center of the picture and sometime off focus, which doesnt even worth to sharp it.
I like kids with bright eyes in pictures, is there any quick ways we can retouch picture to make it like a HD version? :)

My pictures **cough, cough** suck in the winter, they are either indoors and blah, or outdoors and too bright, or too dark. Is it because I'm unwilling to keep my gloves off long enough to set-up a shot well? Or because of some trick I don't know? I'm, generally, trying to document everyday life, so am on the run, spur of the moment.

What is a good lens for low lighting? Or any low lighting tips would be helpful.

Love the focus (no pun intended) on photography! Of course, this is coming from a photographer! :)

I bought a Canon XSi and have been using a 50mm with it. I've been thinking about upgrading my lens to 24-105mm IS. Is that just too much lens for my "entry level" DSLR???

I'm seconding the question on grainy photos. I have a Nikon D90 that i won in a raffle and have been using with moderate success outside of Automode. When I shoot in "A" which is what I've been told to shoot in for every day photos -- I find that my pics aren't crisp or brilliant even if I have my ISO adjusted correctly. (By that I mean I've had it lower and it's super blown out and higher and it's too grainy). Essentially....with a basic lens set, how do you take crisp, brilliant pics of your kids?

As a professional child photographer, I too, love this post, hehehehe.

@ivydrm the mm's of the lens having nothing to do with the quality. it's the aperture that does. a 50mm is a prime lens and is fixed, and the 24-105 is a zoom lens. depending on which 50mm lens you have, the 24-105mm f/4 is probably better quality but will not fare as well in low light conditions (assuming you are using natural lighting only).

the #1 tip i have as a pro photographer is to NOT USE THE POP UP FLASH, EVER!!

What is the cheapest but high quality lens out there. My camera takes okay pics but I would love to have that professional look but not pay an arm and a leg. Thanks!

Judging from the other questions I've read so far, it sounds like we need a few posts explaining the basic process of photography. What is in the body of the camera, and how does it function? What does the lens do? How do they work together? How do I chose a model (of each) that works the best for me (and each part works best with each other)? What is the sensor and what does it do? What is exposure? What is aperture? What is "f-stop"? What do these numbers on my lens mean? What is ISO? Does shutter speed matter, and how do I control it? What are all these settings on my camera (portrait, sports, nighttime, auto, aperture priority, etc.), and how do I use them? If it's dark/dim, how do I take good pictures that aren't too grainy? Why does my kid look like a flat, shiny deer-in-headlights when I take pictures, and professionals make kids look soft and their eyes sparkly (proper use of flash/lighting)? What kind of photo processing program is good for a regular mom on a tight budget (and how do I use it)? How do I pick a good point-and-shoot to keep in the diaper bag? Is a point-and-shoot enough, or do I really need to get a DSLR if I want great photos? Etc.

I was a photographer for a national children's portrait studio several years ago, so I have enough knowledge to understand how a camera works, how to set up basic lighting, and some classic poses for a variety of ages (however, these topics would be helpful for others I'm sure). But now that I'm a mom-to-be, I'm worried that my number one struggle as a photographer is going to haunt me once my baby is born: Cutting down the zillions of photos I take to just the choice few.

I don't want to be one of those moms who posts a Facebook album of 100 pictures of my baby during tummy time one afternoon, and each photo is just slightly different than the last. Yes, each one will be precious to me and I'll find each expression unique, but by photo number 10 my album will be boring to everyone else (and someday me too, once I'm out of the babymoon stage). How to I train myself to see "these photos are all basically the same" and just pick the best one? How do I put together an album (on FB or in a real paper album) where each photo is unique and precious, no matter who looks at them?

Also, please teach that it's the photographer, not the camera, that makes great photos. Buying a new lens or a new camera isn't going to make your pictures better. It's learning how to control the camera you have (read the manual!) and applying photography skills (which you can learn for free on the Web) when taking pictures. A great photographer can take very good pictures with a disposable camera, and an awful photographer will still take crappy photos with state-of-the-art equipment.

I'd like to have color-saturated photos too, like one commenter above. My problem is most pics are blurry in that setting (I use a Lumix). Any tips on making the colors pop without the use of Photoshop?

I am going to second (or third, or fourth) the "what kind of camera should I buy" question. We are about to have our first baby. We have a Panasonic Lumix which is awesome as a point-and-shoot (though it lacks zoom). But we're thinking about moving up to an SLR since our first baby is due and we hope to take some amazing photos of the little dude. What cameras would you recommend to someone who loves photography but is a novice? What lenses? Thanks so much!

What type of film (yes, old-fashioned film) is best for highly saturated color photos? And what is the best all-purpose lens for a Nikon SLR film camera?

I have a Canon Rebel XSi and use a 50mm lens a ton. I struggle with the autofocus not focusing on what I want to be focused. My understanding is that the red dot that shows when pushing the button half way down is for designating what to focus on. But I have a hard time moving the red dot to the subject I want focused. Any suggestions?

When I see really good photos, I'm often impressed more by the setting: the quality of the light, the sparseness of the background, and the cute clothes/accessories on the kid! I'd love some tutorials on setting up photos indoors and out.

Also tutorials on post-processing. Using the simple Edit tools I can bring some of my photos back from the brink of terrible, but I want to really make them pop!

I would love to know more about getting images web-ready! If I want my pictures to look really nice and crisp on blogs, Facebook, etc? They always look great just viewing them on the computer, but uploaded they never look as good. How can I make them live up to their potential on the internet?

I would love some tips on taking pictures indoors without using the flash. Sometimes I get them right, but often they are blurry and underexposed.

Just going to hop back in here to say I have a camera recommendation for those moms who want to have great photos of their kids, but have never used a DSLR before (and are not sure if they have to have one in order to get great photos).

I have a Canon PowerShot SD780IS. I like it because it's small and lightweight, so I can take it with me everywhere and catch those spontaneous moments. I only ever pull out my DSLR (Nikon D40) when I'm in "photo shoot" mode since it's big and heavy.

But the best things about the PowerShot 780 are:
- there's a large screen in the back so I can see my photos easily
- there are settings to use when I want every to be auto (portrait, landscape, macro/flower mode, etc.)
- there are settings that let me take it partially into manual so I can have more control (white balance, exposure, f-stop, etc.)
- it has a decent zoom
- it's a high megapixel camera so I can print my pictures at 8x10 or even 10x13 if I wanted to and have them come out crisp
- it has image stabilization (what the IS stands for) so most of my photos come out clear even when my subject is running around
- it can take wide angle photos (a must for big group shots or to take a picture of a room)
- it's easy to use

There are other great things too, but those are my favorites. I've owned this camera (the red version) for over a year and I just love it.

Oh, and it takes video! Forgot to mention that.

Anyway, I think this is all the average mom needs to get excellent photos of her kids, and it's a much better price than a DSLR and lens will cost.

I am looking for a decent external flash for my Canon 10D. I am looking for one that works like the Canon brand but not with the price and where I can find one? Thanks!

If you want to take photos inside without the flash the lens must stay open longer. To avoid blurriness, put the camera on a tripod and use the timer function to take the picture. That way you push the button to take the photo but you're not touching the camera when the actual photo is shot. No movement means no blur.

^ Or the ISO must be higher, or the aperture must be lower so that the lens will open "wider". I wouldn't advise trying to shoot anything that normally moves at a shutter speed slower than 1/60. I normally don't shoot below 1/100.

I live in a VERY sunny place (360+ days of bright sunlight). I know some people recommend dawn & dusk, but dawn is WAY too early for kids (4:30-5:30am) and dusk is often blazing hot. Any recommendations for shooting in BRIGHT light without getting everyone squinty? I guess what are recommendations for shooting outside but in shadows without everyone being dark.

Please recommend a flash for a Nikon 3100D DSLR having in mind I'll be mainly taking pictures of my children indoors as our place is quite dark with insufficient natural light. Also please recommend lens good for children portraits taken indoors and outdoors. What is the difference between a Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D and 50 mm f/1.4G else than the price. Do you know a good source for free Photoshop actions? Thank you!

I hear people say that the best way to use a dslr is to use it in manual mode. What is the best way to learn how to do that?

@hotwheels

Read the manual so you know what it can do, and then try it out! Practice makes perfect. :)

What is the technique for photographing someone with a blackened background. How do you set up exposure on the camera? is there post processing to blacken out a background if you don't have a dark backdrop to start? i love the look of seeing a baby "floating" in a photo but am not sure how it is accomplished.

And one more question - what are the features/qualities to evaluate in shopping for a lens & flash. I have a Canon T1i DSLR and have no idea of the specs to seek for important accessories.

What SLR lens and settings would you recommend to take indoor photos of toddlers without using flash? I have a 55mm f/1.4 and I'm still learning to use it. The auto-focus using this lens seems a little slow. Any advice?

I second the comment by avnnyc. I am attempting the same (indoor/toddler/no flash) and so many of my photos look 'soft' to me. Not blurry, but not that super crisp look either. I don't think it's the lens because sometimes they are super crisp. I just can't figure out what I'm doing as it seems like I do the same thing each time though sometimes the photos are 'soft' and sometimes they are really sharp. I know it's operator error. :) Oh, I have a Canon Xsi with a 50mm f/1.8 that I usually use indoors.

If you are using no flash indoors, it really depends on the available light. I'd set your ISO to 800 as a start, aperture to no lower than 2.8 (but generally the lower the better as it lets in more light without extending shutter speed) and shutter speed as no slower than 1/60 (bare minimum) but no slower than 1/100 is preferred. Adjust your shutter speed to slower to make photos brighter, or shorter to make them less bright.

Do you have tips on getting perfectly focused pictures indoors? I have my camera set to focus on the middle red dot (canon rebel). I am constantly trying to focus on the eyes with the button halfway down, then recompose and take, but my 8 month old moves around so much! Thanks!

I think i need more lights in my room. I often have ISO set to 1600, even with aperture to 2.8 still no good. Well, weekend is better, since i will be home during the day. And its hard to me to shoot my daughter with a speed slower than 200 or 250, since she is always moving! I am getting a external flash, hope that helps!

Why do my pictures(film) come out grainy? I have tried using different speeds (400.800) but with no luck.... my camera pretty new but recently I have been having this problem

I realize this is past the submission post, but perhaps someone on Ohdeedoh can answer. I'm curious what resources the professionals use to print their prints and books. I presume they don't resort to Snapfish.

I have a professional lab that I use. You will need a sales tax id / federal tax id number to be able to print there. I have heard that on a more high end consumer level mpix.com is good quality but I have not tested them myself.