Hi, I am starting a children's photography shop and also want to complete a course myself. I want a course that is going to offer me a recognised qualification/certificate and something that covers everything. I was going to enrol on the city and guilds progression certificate level 2 but they are no longer running photography courses and I would like something in this location or near by. Does anyone know of any where?

Also any tips on a good first camera would be helpful as I will need one to start the course. Thanks

I have several questions for you:
1. What helped you decide to be a photographer specializing in children?
2. Do you have any photography experience at all?
3. What is your budget for the camera?

I have some other questions too, but I wanted to get an idea of your situation before I offer any advice.

Hi, Thanks for your response.

I decided on child photography because I have to girls and we have been visiting a studio ourselves for shots of the kids and I believe I could offer a better service. Also the area in which I plan to be based in there isn't anything prominent like this. Also I love children and believe that although possibly being quite temperamentle to work with they would also personally be the most rewarding.

I don't have any specific photographic experience although I was a make-up artist for a number of years so do have sound knowledge of a studio environment etc. I am starting a beginners course at the City Lit college in Covent Garden which is for 2 full days and covers the basics on shutter speeds and all the different camera functions and photoshop. Then once I have completed this I would like to find a certificated course as explained. However, the company will not be relying on me as a photographer. I will be employing experienced photographers to do the work to begin with. Which will also give me the opportunity to gain work experince at the same time.

With regard to my budget, for now, I don't want to spend a fortune - in fact my auntie has offerred me her second hand canon slr to start on for courses etc. Once I have a better knowledge then I will spend whatever I need to spend on what suits my requirements if it is my source of income. Please feel free to tell me if I am wrong here!

Look forward to your comments, thanks!

As in any profession, having the best tools that you can afford is always the best choice to make. My opinion is that a Canon EOS digital SLR is a good choice as a first camera for the following reasons.
1. Canon makes the best rated digital cameras on the market, especially the pro SLRs. (SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex)
2. Digital is a bigger initial investment, but being able to shoot 100's of images without buying film allows you to really get comfortable with the camera and try out the features without the expense of processing film and buying prints. Also, you get results instantly when you try out new lighting techniques.

I will follow up on this soon, but I suggest that you walk into a nice camera store and talk to a knowledgeable person about a digital SLR. Try different lenses. Get it into your hands and get the feel of it. Ask about a 20D, 30D or 40D model as a 'prosumer' model. These give you many advanced features, but are well under $1,000 for a good used model.

Talk with you later.

Dad,

Are you a professional photographer?