How to Become a Photographer Without an Expensive Camera

Select a film or digital camera that will allow you to shoot in manual mode. Most single lens reflex (SLR) cameras will give you the ability to shoot manually where you control the shutter speed and lens aperture. Look in online classifieds and you should be able to find used film cameras for less than $100 and older digital SLRs for less than $200.

Study or teach yourself the basics of exposure. Correct exposure is the balance between shutter speed and lens opening that allows the correct amount of light into the camera to create a picture. If you open up the aperture to allow more light in, you will need to increase the shutter speed to retain the correct exposure. Understanding these basic rules of photography will allow you to become a photographer who knows how to take pictures and not just follow what the camera says.

Experiment by shooting in different lighting conditions and in different situations. Early morning and late in the day are ideal for outdoor photography. The Sun is low in the sky creating a warm scene with long shadows, however you may not be able to shoot at this time of day for every job you do. To be a good photographer, you need to know how to shoot at different times of day and at different events. Move around the scene you are shooting and try different shooting position with your camera. If you are using a digital camera, you will be able to see the results on the back of the camera right away and this will allow you to make changes to get the correct exposure.