New Camera Body

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Photokid

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Sham
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Hi,

I have been interested in photography for a long time and have been taking picture at family events for a few years now, and I’m thinking up upgrading my camera body and looking in taking my first step in going more professional. I plan to shoot weddings, event and portraits.

Have a Nikon D610, and was thinking of upgrading to a Nikon 780 or the 850, any advice ?

I have built up my lenses over the years so I don’t want to go mirrorless yes, but if thing to pick up then I will review that then.



Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to TP
just a couple of pointers worth thinking about


If your planning to go professional there is a lot more than just getting a camera that is the last thing to think about . Think of how you are going to build up a business -the cost of advertising- printing fliers/cards/ contracts and the legal advise such as third party insurance to cover yourself should something go wrong. then there is release forms for models.. On top of that keeping accounts for the tax man. then is travelling expenses all before making amy sort profit
What happens if you booked for a wedding and your ill and can't make it? do you have a second shooter that c an stand in for you. This is all before even getting a booking . What about processing and presentation of your work to a client and how you are going to do it.. also think of the time you will need re for a wedding shoot, talking to the couple and what they want- getting permission to take photo in say a church from priest or vicar- pe wedding shoot and reception. Just to mention a couple of things.

I know how hard it is having run another type of business. For the first 7 years is the most likely time the busines will collapse, ours nearly did, until you get established and recommended.. There is always local comptiton to be aware of. One upset client can set you back years with bad publicity. Iif you don't intent to give it 110 percent comittment then don't even try
 
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Hi Sham,

If you enjoy photography as a hobby you will find it a different proposition as a business, which will take a lot of joy out of the pursuit.

You say what camera model you have, but don't say which lenses. A lot of people will say lenses are a better investment than a camera body and there is nothing wrong with a D610, but a more modern Nikon body would do a great job with the D610 as a second body (you will always need a spare body, as well as spare cards and batteries.. lot of them).

I grew my wedding and portrait business organically about 25 years ago, before the digital revolution, and I checked out in 2003 because of the investment required in kit (I am a Pentax FB BTW so would have to wait a few more years for a K-mount DSLR) and I was relocating with my main job to Germany. The last 2 weddings were quite stressful (bridezillas) but at least I got a nice juicy cheque from HMRC in 2004, because I still had some outgoings but no income....

Illness and dealing with difficult people will always be something to be aware of, but as I learnt from a friends mishap at one of the weddings he covered 2 things....KNOW YOUR KIT and CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! - apparently there is a switch on the Bronica ETRS than disables the winding mechanism and he started to wonder why he hadn't reached the end of the film yet. He had help (not me!) who didn't know how to focus his AF camera.

Not trying to put you off, but I wouldn't go feet first and buy a D780/D850 thinking you can go and get set up... there will be a lot of challenges...

Whatever goes wrong in the wedding - photographer always gets blamed.....

HTH
Peter
 
@welshwizard645 wrote the post I would have written.
Particularly the bits about 2nd body, being more upfront about what you already have etc.

From a working perspective though, another D610 is better than any other camera you could buy. 2 identical cameras being easier to work with than 2 similar ones.
 
My favourite ever ‘I want to go pro’ post was a guy who’d read every camera review available and bought himself a brand new D850 (about £3k) IIRC.
He’d also already hired a studio space.

The downsides weren’t complicated.
The studio was less than a quarter the size it needed to be.
He literally had ‘no budget left’ for a lens, but had £150 to spend on Pro studio lighting gear.

The advice he got:
Take the camera back
Spend £200 on a camera body, £800 on a lens and the other £2k on lights and modifiers.
Get your money back for the studio rent.

Short answer. The answer is very rarely a camera upgrade
 
Thanks for advise,

It’s all appreciated.

Apologies, I should have been more clearer.

I appreciate going professional has a lot more strategic planning which is involved, also a skill set. but from an equipment perspective what is needed? I think I have the glass, over the years I have obtained Nikon lenses through out 24mm - 200mm f2.8. But if you’re was to invest in a new body should it be Nikon 850 or 780?
 
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welshwizard645 said:
Hi Sham,

If you enjoy photography as a hobby you will find it a different proposition as a business, which will take a lot of joy out of the pursuit.

You say what camera model you have, but don't say which lenses. A lot of people will say lenses are a better investment than a camera body and there is nothing wrong with a D610, but a more modern Nikon body would do a great job with the D610 as a second body (you will always need a spare body, as well as spare cards and batteries.. lot of them).

I grew my wedding and portrait business organically about 25 years ago, before the digital revolution, and I checked out in 2003 because of the investment required in kit (I am a Pentax FB BTW so would have to wait a few more years for a K-mount DSLR) and I was relocating with my main job to Germany. The last 2 weddings were quite stressful (bridezillas) but at least I got a nice juicy cheque from HMRC in 2004, because I still had some outgoings but no income....

Illness and dealing with difficult people will always be something to be aware of, but as I learnt from a friends mishap at one of the weddings he covered 2 things....KNOW YOUR KIT and CHECK! CHECK! CHECK! - apparently there is a switch on the Bronica ETRS than disables the winding mechanism and he started to wonder why he hadn't reached the end of the film yet. He had help (not me!) who didn't know how to focus his AF camera.

Not trying to put you off, but I wouldn't go feet first and buy a D780/D850 thinking you can go and get set up... there will be a lot of challenges...

Whatever goes wrong in the wedding - photographer always gets blamed.....

HTH
Peter
Click to expand...
I appreciate you advising, but im looking for a creative perspective . D850 is a sharp image, 780 is a better focus system? Better dslr v mirrorless?
 
realspeed said:
Welcome to TP
just a couple of poiters worth thinking about


If your planning to go professional there is a lot more than just getting a camera that is the last thing to think about . Think of how you are going to build up a business -the cost of advertising- printing fliers/cards/ contracts and the legal advise such as third party insurance to cover yourself should something go wrong. then there is release forms for models.. On top of that keeping accounts for the tax man. then is travelling expenses all before making amy sort profit
What happens if you booked for a wedding and your ill and can't make it? do you have a second shooter that c an stand in for you. This is all before even getting a booking . What about processing and presentation of your work to a client and how you are going to do it.. also think of the time you will need re for a wedding shoot, talking to the couple and what they want- getting permission to take photo in say a church from priest or vicar- pe wedding shoot and reception. Just to mention a couple of things.

I know how hard it is having run another type of business. For the first 7 years is the most likely time the busines will collapse, ours nearly did, until you get established and recommended.. There is always local comptiton to be aware of. One upset client can set you back years with bad publicity. Iif you don't intent to give it 110 percent comittment then don't even try
Click to expand...
Thanks and I appreciate all the advice above
 
Photokid said:
But if you’re was to invest in a new body should it be Nikon 850 or 780?
Click to expand...
A new camera to a pro photographer is not an investment it’s a tool.

None of them are bad cameras, including the one you own. None of them are not ‘sharp’ or have ‘bad’ focus systems.

And if you’re planning to ‘work’ with them the best advice anyone will give is that having 2 the same is much better than 2 different. It makes both working and processing easier. :)
 
Just some thoughts......not withstanding all the very sage advice above

You mentioned photographing family events etc. has your only feedback, so far, been from your family & friends as to the quality of your photographic skill? If so can I suggest that that is not the best basis to judge yourself as (almost) 'market ready' perhaps share some here for constructive criticism from strangers who already work in social photography.

You acknowledge the need to understand and work on strategic (business) skills but how good a salesman are you? The ability to sell yourself as well as promote your work is also a key skill in any business perhaps more so in social photography.

Re: cameras ~ in what way, specifically, is your current one holding you back/missing shots etc that you see the need for different/higher spec'ed bodies?

Lastly, best of luck with your plans and success :)
 
I have attached some pictures u have recently taken, please fell free to give any comments or advice
 
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