A newbie talking to a soon to be Newbie

first off..you might be confused with the title... I am a newbie...been with my camera for more or less 5 months now. I know I have learned a lot since buying this camera. I have been here before I even bought this camera. Thanks to POTN I have acquired GAS(expensive) but I also have greatly improve my skills.

Last night, I was able to talk to my gf's friend, she is also into photography but doesn't yet have her own camera, she already attended a 4 day beginners seminar and have used Nikon D60 and D90 (both company owned). In my 5 months or so I have not been able to attend any seminars/trainings as I can't really fathom the $100-$200 registration fee, and thought I might as well buy myself a new lens or gear instead of attending one of those.

While talking, she asked me if I already have a reflector... I said what reflector? I don't even have a flash yet as I am saving for a tripod first, then flash then the tokina 11-16.

She then said, If and when I get my D90 I will buy a reflector first, then a photography tent and a soft box. I was like what?? are you for real? you should buy a flash first at least and tripod (in any order) then the rest after that, studio kits etc..

My questions are,
what are they teaching in the beginners seminar/short course?
how come she wants a reflector first?
and how come she is not buying either a flash or a tripod first?

haha Im just wondering also, if any of you bought a reflector first instead of a flash? was my answer/advice correct? please enlighten me... as I have no plans of attending a seminar unless I am invited for free as I can't really afford it.

monk3y wrote in post #9763280
....Last night, I was able to talk to my gf's friend, she is also into photography but doesn't yet have her own camera, she already attended a 4 day beginners seminar and have used Nikon D60 and D90.........While talking, she asked me if I already have a reflector... I said what reflector? I don't even have a flash yet as I am saving for a tripod first, then flash then the tokina 11-16. She then said, If and when I get my D90 I will buy a reflector first, then a photography tent and a soft box. I was like what?? are you for real?.....

First off, why are they not recommending she buy a Canon, but instead, a Nikikikikikikkki....
Sorry.
A "Nikkkkkkkkkkkkkkkokok​o"
Sorry, my keyboard doesn't want to type the word.
How odd....
Anyway, all "courses" teach whatever they want to teach.
I have a real dislike of tripods and only own a table-top one. So no, I wouldn't even bother with one of those unless it was required for the field I was aiming at. And there are a LOT of different routes in photography!!!
Some people like to stay along just one of those and become - hopefully - a master in that area. Others like to try many areas to develop a wide range of skills and techniques.

For you, my friend, there's POTN - a community of (often) talented and (mostly) kind and considerate people who can help you along your path of learning this wonderful, creative activity. And it matters not, if you want to be a "pro" or a hobbyist. We're still here to help!

So, a reflector. Not much use for shooting wildlife. Pretty redundant if you like sports photography. Pointless if you shoot candid street photography using a long, prime lens. Probably a liability(!) if you shoot macro insects halfway up tree trunks....

So if your girlfriend's friend wants to buy one....good for her

Regards,
Simon

Maybe it's a seminar on product photography. BTW, a soft box is a great and very inexpensive DYI project.

Seminars usually teach you how to take on photo, over and over again. Thats fine if you want to take that photo over and over again (portraits), or some minor variation of the same photo repeatedly (wildlife, macro, nearly anything else really). Nothing wrong with that though, but if you want to learn to branch out and take more seminars, take a long form proper course, or learn through reading, forums, and experimentation. I've been doing photos, and making my gear at least pay for itself for nearly 30 years and I dont have a proper reflector. The gear you buy depends on the work you do. (although there are certain essentials).

gjl711 wrote in post #9763467
Maybe it's a seminar on product photography. BTW, a soft box is a great and very inexpensive DYI project.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I second that, and then some!
You've got to be rich/super-busy/soft-in-the-head (delete as appropriate) to pay money for a box with some translucent holes cut in it!

@skygod44- haha she was a bit expose to nikon already so she wants to buy that also. I like to buy tripod as I notice my direction is towards landcape photography. and yes I have already learned the basics here at POTN and from the links provided etc. so I don't see the need to attend BASIC seminars

@gji711- no...its a Beginner seminar..more like learning the basics for photography, exposure, understanding the technical lingo etc...

skygod44 wrote in post #9763485
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I second that, and then some!
You've got to be rich/super-busy/soft-in-the-head (delete as appropriate) to pay money for a box with some translucent holes cut in it!

I actually told her- you should not buy a softbox, just buy a big Transparent Water JUG (I have read it here somewhere) and DIY it and shoot any product under a bright sun and you'll have yourself a softbox. hehe she said uhhmm no I want a nice softbox. oh well haha

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Each to their own.

Well, looking forward to seeing what you can produce with your gear as-and-when you get what you want!

Regards for now,
Simon

monk3y wrote in post #9763515
I actually told her- you should not buy a softbox, just buy a big Transparent Water JUG (I have read it here somewhere) and DIY it and shoot any product under a bright sun and you'll have yourself a softbox. hehe she said uhhmm no I want a nice softbox. oh well haha

A water jug is going to be a lot smaller in area than a softbox, so she's right to get the box if she is trying to diffuse a strobe or flash.

It sounds to me like the seminar she is taking is focused on portrait photography. Rightly, they are teaching her that the most important thing in portrait photograpy is control of light.

A competent portrait photographer knows that things like reflectors, modifiers and lights are what they really need. Any D60 or Rebel with a kit lens is going to look great at f/8 - f/11 with lights.

If your friend is not shooting landscapes or macro, a tripod is not really going to be important to her. And if she isn't shooting fast action then the AF speed of the lens or body won't matter much either.

Different things are important to different genres of photography.

JeffreyG wrote in post #9763669
A water jug is going to be a lot smaller in area than a softbox, so she's right to get the box if she is trying to diffuse a strobe or flash.

It sounds to me like the seminar she is taking is focused on portrait photography. Rightly, they are teaching her that the most important thing in portrait photograpy is control of light.

A competent portrait photographer knows that things like reflectors, modifiers and lights are what they really need. Any D60 or Rebel with a kit lens is going to look great at f/8 - f/11 with lights.

If your friend is not shooting landscapes or macro, a tripod is not really going to be important to her. And if she isn't shooting fast action then the AF speed of the lens or body won't matter much either.

Different things are important to different genres of photography.

now what I am pointing out here is... Should she buy a reflector first before a flash?

monk3y wrote in post #9763706
now what I am pointing out here is... Should she buy a diffuser first before a flash?

Diffuser or reflector?

monk3y wrote in post #9763706
now what I am pointing out here is... Should she buy a reflector first before a flash?

Reflector = yes. Reflectors can do the job of a flash in situations where you need some fill on the dark side. You can make a reflector from cardboard and tinfoil, which is a lot cheaper than a flash.

Diffusor = no. Any modifier (soft box, umbrella etc) is for modifying a light. So you gotta have a light too. This can be a flash or it can be a studio strobe.

gonzogolf wrote in post #9763717
Diffuser or reflector?

sorry reflector

Sure you can use a reflector to direct sunlight back onto a subject when you have directional sunlight hitting one side of the face and not the other, just as you would use it for the sun.

If I were her and portrait is her thing, I would buy a cheap reflector (got one for £30) and flash.

There is a lot that can be done with that set up!