So, you are planning to venture into professional photography? Taking your photography talent and turning it into something bigger? In this article, I’m going to explain what you would need and what you should think about when you are starting out.

Camera
The first and perhaps the most obvious thing would be the camera itself. Whether it is a simple or advanced point-and-shoot or a digital SLR, you are going to need one. From an SLR camera you’ll have a lot more choices when you compose your shots, but if you are just starting out, SLR’s can be bulky and more complicated if you don’t have any previous experience. A slightly advanced point-and-shoot might be a good choice. If you decide on an SLR, think about the fact that they use detachable lenses, external flashes etc. all of which are sold separately. They give you more control, but can be expensive.

Tripod
A tripod is something that you can’t ignore. You will need one. A tripod will come in handy when you take close up shots, shots with low light etc. Tripods come in many different sizes and, of course, prices and the size you need depends on how large your camera is. For larger and heavier cameras you will be fine with a mid-sized tripod, but once you start adding lenses of various sizes and weights, you would need to have a tripod that can hold them. I would recommend that you research tripods after you buy your camera and lenses etc.

Flash
An external flash is something you will probably not need when you start out. Usually the built-in flash, which a lot of cameras have, is something you can rely on. If you take many shots where you need a more powerful light or need to have the lightning from a different angle, you would do best with an external flash. Again, research external flashes after you buy your camera.

Memory Card
Next to the camera, the memory card is probably the most important purchase you will make. This is where all of your photos are saved. There are different formats of memory cards, which may differ from camera to camera. Examples are Secure Digital (SD) and Compact Flash (CF). There are many different sizes to choose from, however, the more high-resolution photos you are taking, the larger size you will need. A memory card lower than 512mb doesn’t hold many photos and considering the fact they don’t cost much more that a 216mb, you might as well get at least a 512mb. If you take a lot of photos, a card of at least 1gb is recommended. However if, for whatever reason, you have lower mb cards, remember to bring spares with you. In fact, it’s a good idea to always have at least one spare card with you – you never know when you’re going to need it!

Batteries
Many cameras use their own special batteries and many use AA’s or AAA’s. Always remember to start out with a full battery and have spare batteries with you, since there is nothing worse than coming across that “perfect shot” and having a dead camera battery.

Lenses
If you are using a digital SLR camera you will need additional equipment such as lenses. The lens is the camera component which makes the shots come to life. The lenses come in many different sizes and they all have different features. Some will be used to take wide-angle shots (wide-angle lenses) and some used to take close up shots (macro lenses) and other will be used to take shots from a distance (telephoto lenses). When you are starting out, if you don’t have the money to purchase a lot of different lenses, choose a lens that will do a variety of things. Something like an 18-55mm lens is a great “all around” lens. Lenses do cost a fair bit of money, so make sure that you understand your needs and research your options. Again, research lenses after you choose your camera.

Bag
When you take your camera with you, you will need a bag to carry it and all of your accessories in. If you are using a digital SLR, you will need a larger bag that can hold your camera, lenses and have space for spare cards, batteries etc. When purchasing a bag, keep in mind that you just spent a lot of money on your equipment. The bag protects that investment! Also remember to purchase a bag that is comfortable to carry, otherwise the bag and the camera will be left at home.

I hope this article has given you some insight on what you need to start out in photography. Of course all levels of equipment will be decided on how much money you are willing to spend and also what type of photography you do.