500 Wedding Ideas - What camera should I buy to shoot weddings professionally?

What camera should I buy to shoot weddings professionally?

I want to become a photogragher and shoot weddings, families, and babies. But I want to buy a camera before I take classes.

Public Comments

canon digital rebel xti
The Canon Rebel XTi is a good entry level DSLR. I've had mine for 2 1/2 years and I definately recommend it.
You need to learn how to do photography first. If you have no idea what you are doing, any advice regarding a camera would be useless to you. The camera is a tool only. It is the photographer's knowledge and skills that make for great photography. The camera will not make you a professional photographer. Take a couple of intro classes, often they will give you advice on starting out with a camera for learning on. No need at this time to spend the huge amounts of money that you could end up spending once you have acquired the skills and knowledge you need. First the learning, then the better tools.
Canon EOS-1 Mark III Ds or Hasselblad 500 C/M.
You are going about this backward. First of all, once you learn how a camera functions with respect to film and also digital medium, you will have a better idea of which direction you want to go. There are professionals with film cameras, digital cameras and some also with both. Regardless of that decision, you will not only want a camera, but also a selection of lenses. Which lenses, will be determined by the medium you choose. Most digital lenses have a 35mm equivalent. But then you might choose film and then the format will dictate that choice. In any case you will probably want a moderate wide angle, your "normal" lens, a "portrait" lens and perhaps a moderate telephoto. The focal lengths of these lenses will vary with format and the type of photography you wish to specialize in. Additionally you will purchase one or more strobe units. Most of those that are built into the camera were at best made for snapshots, and are in no way suitable for professional photography. Now for the kicker, have you ever taken an art course? Do you have an eye for composition? You can be taught technique, creativity must come from within. I am really not aware of the current pricing of equipment, but I can tell you that when I was shooting back in the late 70's, I carried 3 large cases that contained 4 camera bodies, 12 lenses, and 3 different strobe units, 2 of the cameras were motor equipped and would run 6 frames per second. That was just part of my "field" gear. Studio equipment was another 2 cameras, an assortment of lenses for each, lighting equipment, and of course a large array of filters. My field equipment was easily valued at $25,000 and the studio setup at $50,000. Remember that was in the 70's. Professional photography is a serious endeavor.
Sign up for some classes and ask the teacher what kind of camera you weill need. Some have specific requirements(like film SLR). Learn al lyou can about photography, and once you've done that you will know what gear you need.
At least you mentioned classes. For a beginner any of the entry level dSLR's would work, although you probably want to stay with Nikon or Canon for the large array of lenses and accessories. Your classes might call for a film camera rather than digital. In that case, your lenses would work on a digital body later on. At this point, you are probably several years away from shooting for pay. Go ahead and get prepared for class, ask your instructor for some camera recommendations. With digital, the camera body you start out your learning with will most likely not be the same one you'll use in your business several years down the road. So first things first.
I agree with the others that you should not be too concerned with buying a camera now. Get into the classes first. Most likely, the instructor will want you to use a 35mm film SLR. You can find very good used cameras like this with a lens for under $200. So just take it a step at a time, and in the correct order! Start learning first, and you will have a much better idea of what you will need / want to use for future weddings or whatever. As an example of what a really great camera would be to learn with, here is one from B-H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800570610-USE/Canon__EOS_Rebel_2000_35mm.html steve