new hobby but am I too old

how old is too old to start in this field? I am pushing 40 and starting over since getting disabled at work and looking for a field i enjoy . I have been shooting since the AE-1 days of the 80’s and have grown from the first canon rebel digital to the 30d,7d,and now the 5dmkII one day up to the mark units..just because I love to shoot and document my families growth I have 9 kids from 2 to 22 and love shooting them , landscapes , macros . fish and corals and flowers and bugs. I just got the 24-104L,85l,70-200f.2 L and looking to get the 50mm ..now with all this gear and the grips ,tripods and the 580exII what else should I get to get me to the next level ..I know the equipment doesn't make the photog but would love to get into this as a job ..I love the human body especially the woman ..explains my wife and the 25 years married and all our kids huh every curve and dimple is an experience of beauty to me ..but I don’t want to shoot porn stuff just creative nice pieces even animals. back to my first effort at hand shooting portraits and graduations shots what would you say I need to tackle this project..if this isn’t the right forum please move it to the appropriate one ..also what is the oldest photographer you have heard that started doing this to the youngest ..and made it a success? Or am I just dreaming and too old to learn this new field?
what classes should I take and where I am in Michigan and tired of being disabled and not using my body like I used to I can handle the camera and the gear and want to pass this on to my sons and daughters so any help or intel would be appreciated ..how does one find a photo camp in michigan or group where people get together to do shoots and help out ..I would love to hold the light for another photog just to learn and get exp.
Roger

Ill tell you when you are too old - when you are in a bed and cant lift a camera. You are never too old for this. EVERYONE can learn. Just shoot. Dont worry about your age. JUST SHOOT!

pushing 40 OLD????

Just so you know, I started with a DSLR 3 years ago to get on the field and shoot my son's HS football team. Deal was, I had to shoot basketball during winter to 'earn my way' onto the football field. Long story short, first time shooting basketball netted 2 shots out of about 100 with a ball, a face and focus! Definition of a total 'noob!'

I was 48 at the time. Yes, you can learn the DSLR world and be good enough at it to make money.

Suggestion: Since you have kids who will be in school for the foreseeable future, I'd focus your efforts there. Everything from sports shooting to senior pics, school events, younger kids / family shoots around the 'hood, etc. Get to know your kids' friends and families. There are sites like Smugmug where you can post images and hopefully generate sales from sports shooting. The other opportunities like senior pics and kids and/or family portraits will require studio and location work.

Gear: Spec your gear wisely so it does double duty on both sports and portraits. When I was shooting both, I had a 7D (sports body) and a 5D (portraits) and three lenses that did both--70-200 f/2.8L IS (football/portraits); an 85mm f/1.8 (basketball/portraits)​; and a 50mm f/1.4 (portrait/basketball). Not saying buy these lenses, but put a lot of thought into a versatile lens lineup that works in more than one situation.

Good luck!

dave

this ain't sports or rap music. 40 is NOT old... you're never too old for photography!!!

I agree with all of the above.

And "old" being "pushing 40" is quite an insult to some of our members...

You need to read my "How I Got Into This Business ..." see my .sig!

I'm older than you, and I had to do some re-education when I converted to digital from film because some things dont translate as well as you would think. As long as you have the drive, you can make it happen.

Jeezus dude, I am pushing 40 and am disabled from injuries sustained in Iraq and I don't think I am too old. I am doing it and I got a hole in my head and a spine like a jinga game gone wrong. I am sure you will be just fine.

"I would love to hold the light for another photog just to learn and get exp." I'm not sure that would help much. Most amateurs wrongly believe the following: If I had a better camera (or lens) I could shoot just like the pros do. If I just had five flash units and five light modifiers like the pros do I could shoot just like the pros do. Taking nice portraits outdoors is easy, just tell them to stand over there in that beautiful sunshine and shoot away. If the face is in shadow simply stick a silver reflector in front of their face like the experts on POTN say and all your lighting problems are cured with this one single piece of equipment. Don't have a silver reflector? No problem, I can completely overpower it with my 580EX! I've seen the experts on POTN describe how to do it hundreds of times and they still get beautiful images. Posing isn't important, the experts on POTN tell me to just tell them to "stand over there" and they will look fine, posing people is old skool.

If you are serious about your photography PM me.

Benji

While it is true that assisting someone who is only marginally better than you is only marginal, seeing how more experienced togs (not necessarily great ones) work can be very beneficial. And while it is most certainly true that better equipment doesn't magically make better pictures (I have everything [See gear list] and my work is only fair) it certainly allows more flexibility. I have gotten some very good images having people "stand over there" in open shade. And it is true that one can take some excellent one light portraits, but that certainly limits your variety.

So, I'm wondering just what you are secretively offering by way of a PM? If it is all about posing then there are certainly many excellent tutorials if one chooses to seek them out. And, assisting a really good tog is worth its weight in gold.

Benji wrote in post #12521864
"I would love to hold the light for another photog just to learn and get exp." I'm not sure that would help much. Most amateurs wrongly believe the following: If I had a better camera (or lens) I could shoot just like the pros do. If I just had five flash units and five light modifiers like the pros do I could shoot just like the pros do. Taking nice portraits outdoors is easy, just tell them to stand over there in that beautiful sunshine and shoot away. If the face is in shadow simply stick a silver reflector in front of their face like the experts on POTN say and all your lighting problems are cured with this one single piece of equipment. Don't have a silver reflector? No problem, I can completely overpower it with my 580EX! I've seen the experts on POTN describe how to do it hundreds of times and they still get beautiful images. Posing isn't important, the experts on POTN tell me to just tell them to "stand over there" and they will look fine, posing people is old skool.

If you are serious about your photography PM me.

Benji

if you hands are shaking so bad that IS is useless...you're too old for this.

keyframe14 wrote in post #12521983
if you hands are shaking so bad that IS is useless...you're too old for this.

NO! Just use a tripod!

DwightMcCann wrote in post #12521998
NO! Just use a tripod!

... and a remote

ps. the poll selections make no sense. Neither answers the question you raised.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #12521959
So, I'm wondering just what you are secretively offering by way of a PM? If it is all about posing then there are certainly many excellent tutorials if one chooses to seek them out. And, assisting a really good tog is worth its weight in gold.

I have a DVD on posing and lighting and I have a 44 page book on the same, mostly on high school girls. I also offer one and two day one on one classes for the serious minded photographer.

Benji