Could you use the Canon XSi to start photography business!

The way I look at it, weddings are probably the WORST events to "start out" with professional photography. You have to remember you have a razor thin margin for error. Women tend to lose their damn minds (sorry ladies , I just remember how my normally sane wife was!) during this time making it even more important to get things exactly right. Chances are, if you miss or don't get good shots of something like cutting the cake or the first kiss, you will soon find yourself with little to no business. To many of these ladies, you will have ruined the memories of the most important day of thier lives.

People involved with weddings (planners, caterers etc) are typically a tight knit community. One snafu at a wedding and chances are you will be blacklisted.

That being said, glass is more important than the camera, as long as you know how to use the camera. It has taken me 2 years to finally get to the point where I have a lot more keepers than trash with my kit lens and set of starter sigmas. I decided that it was time to reward myself and move up a bit in lens quality (I bought a couple of IS lenses). Once I get the IS lenses mastered I MAY allow myself to look at some "L's".

Pick up the XSi and a 50 F1.8 (as well as the kit lens), a reflector, and start taking photos of friends. Give yourself a couple of years to get good at it, acquire flashes and lighting equipment, decent lenses, backup bodies, and most importantly learn how to take a great photo. Don't rush it, and don't try to call it a business and write off the equipment until you make more profit than you spend on buying equipment. Have fun and good luck

basroil wrote in post #5485169
quite true, especially landscapes and such. the only reasons to go for a better body are:
durability- your xsi is a chunk of plastic with a metal mount, a 1d is a solid piece of magnesium alloy
fps- in certain sports, fps does matter. while you can get away with just single shots, you'll get more sell-able photos with some spamming (and if you know your camera's timing well enough, you can get shots before, the shot you want, and shots after-i.e. tennis ball before, on impact, and after)
battery life- mkiii>40d>450d in terms of battery life. i can often get 4500 shots/charge on my mkiii
authority-for smaller gigs, having a big camera means people tend to be more respectful of your space and will likely help you get your job done. exceptions:NYC, where people will kick you out so their p&s can get a very blurry photo of an even blurrier subject. also, if everyone has X0D and up cameras, only your skill will matter. worst comes to worst get a vertical grip for your xsi

edit: some of my most profitable shots were taken with an xt and 17-85IS. no reason why an xsi would be worse.

Why "...especially landscapes"?

I know someone paying his bills/rent still using a 300d (original rebel), prolonging the body upgrade as long as possible and purchasing quality glass/accessories. He produces great images and all the credit is due to his vision and approach to photography, not the body. Love the XSi, its a great camera, and shoot as much as possible, you will know when you feel limited by the gear(and it will take a while). Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to the forum!

i7137 wrote in post #5487640
I know someone paying his bills/rent still using a 300d

I would still be using my 300D, but my parents gave my some "extra $$" so I can buy a new camera.

Twitch1977 wrote in post #5484596
With respect, if you have to ask this question you're probably a long way from the point where you can have a sustainable career from photography.

I'd keep the day job so to speak for now and work on your photography in the off time. Before I quit my job I would want to know for sure I'd be able to make a living at photography.

Kurt

Thanks for reply! It wouldnt matter if I became the worlds Top Photographer so to speak, I LOVE my job as a 911 Dispatcher! I would NEVER leave it no matter what! I would like to get into photography only as a secondary thing! I have always had a "passion" for taking pictures! I have a house full of kids so it has always been something I have done! I just wanted to buy a camera capable of taking excellent pictures! I practice with my photography obsession when Im off work! Like I said, thanks for the advice, but no matter how good I get, I have a rewarding job that not many people can do & Im sticking with it!

Thanks

By the way....welcome to POTN!!!

i7137 wrote in post #5487640
I know someone paying his bills/rent still using a 300d (original rebel), prolonging the body upgrade as long as possible and purchasing quality glass/accessories. He produces great images and all the credit is due to his vision and approach to photography, not the body. Love the XSi, its a great camera, and shoot as much as possible, you will know when you feel limited by the gear(and it will take a while). Congrats on the purchase, and welcome to the forum!

Thanks Jeremy! You have made me feel much better!

Have a great day!

sevillafox wrote in post #5487728
By the way....welcome to POTN!!!

Thanks a lot! All of you are so nice & helpful!!

I appreciate your advice!

TLowe

tim wrote in post #5487183
Pick up the XSi and a 50 F1.8 (as well as the kit lens), a reflector, and start taking photos of friends. Give yourself a couple of years to get good at it, acquire flashes and lighting equipment, decent lenses, backup bodies, and most importantly learn how to take a great photo. Don't rush it, and don't try to call it a business and write off the equipment until you make more profit than you spend on buying equipment. Have fun and good luck

Thanks so much for the useful advice!

Have a great day!

LeeSC wrote in post #5487017
The way I look at it, weddings are probably the WORST events to "start out" with professional photography. You have to remember you have a razor thin margin for error. Women tend to lose their damn minds (sorry ladies , I just remember how my normally sane wife was!) during this time making it even more important to get things exactly right. Chances are, if you miss or don't get good shots of something like cutting the cake or the first kiss, you will soon find yourself with little to no business. To many of these ladies, you will have ruined the memories of the most important day of thier lives.

People involved with weddings (planners, caterers etc) are typically a tight knit community. One snafu at a wedding and chances are you will be blacklisted.

That being said, glass is more important than the camera, as long as you know how to use the camera. It has taken me 2 years to finally get to the point where I have a lot more keepers than trash with my kit lens and set of starter sigmas. I decided that it was time to reward myself and move up a bit in lens quality (I bought a couple of IS lenses). Once I get the IS lenses mastered I MAY allow myself to look at some "L's".

Oh yes I agree! Women do tend to "transform" into "Linda Blair" on their wedding day! =) I think I did !!!! Thanks for the useful advice, it definatley comes in handy!

Have a great day!

Kadath wrote in post #5485927
If I had a pencil thin mustache, then I could solve a mystery too! =)

What? I dont think this is a mystery, I just wanted advice!

But Thanks anyway for reply!

bieber wrote in post #5486859
Gotta love Jimmy


Yep. Skill is still more important than anything. If your light and composition are good, you can make great images even with crappy glass.


QFT. If you don't even know the capabilities of your camera, it's pretty safe to say you don't know enough about your capabilities as a photographer to be considering charging for your services yet. Get the camera, practice with it, have fun. Worry about money when you know you're good enough.

Your right I dont know about the capabilities of my camera! Thats why Im paying someone $160.00 to come & show me some things! Im not in any need or hurry to charge for my services! I am not gonna rush into things like Im sure some photographers have done! However I like "different & very creative" images! I have seen some photos by semi-pros that werent all that great & they had a big expensive camera, I think its more about the person behind the camera! Learn how to use equipment & be creative, thats what makes the pictures! In my opinion!

P.S. Like I said before though I have a very rewarding career in Law Enforcement that I would never give up , believe me this isnt something I would wanna do full-time, just in my spare time & more for FUN!

Again, welcome TLOWE!

FYI. We have a lot of very smart folks who love to help out and a few smart asses who mean well.

When I first started out I had an Elan IIE and a kit lens. I still have many portraits of my daughter decorating my walls that still hold up to my new pixel peeping ways. I still use the same strobes I started out with. SP systems is a fine brand and reasonably priced, although knowing what I know now I would buy Alien Bees.

Good advice if you are doing this for paying clients is buy whatever gear you can afford (2) of. I own (2) Xti and love them.

HaroldC3 wrote in post #5484180
You could use any camera. It's what you do with it that determines your success.

Amen! I agree totally!

Thanks for reply! =)