2022 Camera Gift Picks for New Photographers – Missy’s Good, Better, and Best Picks

The holiday season is upon us, and I get asked every year which cameras are ideal for gifting. I pretty much universally recommend the Canon Rebel series, but this year I am making a change in my recommendation for the first time... ever! The future of digital photography is in mirrorless cameras, and things have been headed in this direction for quite some time now on the professional level. In the past 1-2 years, there have been several new releases at the hobbyist (crop sensor/affordable) level, including a couple of options from Canon that I can recommend for a beginner. Mirrorless cameras are going to be more expensive, even at the "prosumer" level, but I think it's worthwhile unless you are really uncertain how committed you are to learning photography. Mirrrorless cameras have a few significant changes from your traditional DSLR: they incorporate features and technology that you will not see in a regular DSLR (particularly when it comes to focusing technique), there is a learning curve when coming from a traditional DSLR, and mirrorless camera bodies require a new lens mount, meaning your older lenses will work with your new mirrorless camera only with an adapter. So, it makes sense to start your photography journey with a mirrorless camera since there are different controls and features, and most importantly, any lenses you purchase will be relatively future-proof. My Picks for Cameras: Good: Entry-level crop-sensor DSLR with EF kit lens (18-35 mm), such as the Canon Rebel T7 or T8i. Skip the two-lens kit with the telephoto lens and save up for a 50 mm 1.8 lens instead. Canon Rebel Better: Mirrorless crop-sensor DSLR, such as the NEW Canon R10 with 24-105 f/4 RF lens and/or 50 mm 1.8 RF lens. Canon R10, my TOP PICK Best: Full-frame mirrorless, such as the Canon EOS R6 with 24-105 f/4 RF lens and/or 50 mm 1.8 RF lens. The semi-pro option, Canon R6. (On a budget but want a full-frame mirrorless camera? Check out Canon RP.) Companion gifts for giving with a camera: 50 mm (or 35 mm) 1.8 lens, an essential lens for learning photography: RF mount for Canon mirrorless EF mount for Canon DSLR  Missy Timko Class Series Take classes with me to learn all about your new gear! Click here for all the details about my custom, private photography classes. Give a Gift Certificate with our custom packaging, click here Click here to sign up for classes now! Click on the image below to see my full range of beginner picks: https://kit.co/missytimkophoto/beginner-camera-kit-missy-timko-photography *This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we love.

New Blog Series: Our Most Loyal Families

Read more about the article New Blog Series: Our Most Loyal Families

I am working on a new series dedicated to my most loyal repeat clients! I have quite a few families that have done portraits with me 4, 5, 6, even 7 years! When I moved here in 2012, Mimi was born just three months later, so my first PA families were in 2013. I started my business as Powder Blue Photography in 2010 in Portland, OR, and we have now celebrated 10 years in business! 🎉 I am overjoyed when a familiar client (friend!) gets in touch to schedule a shoot. I am even more excited when someone texts me with baby news! These are families whose kids I've known since they were teeny tiny, some of them newborns, and their moms and dads are devoted to documenting their childhoods through newborn, family, and senior portraits. Many of the moms and dads have done their headshots with me as well, some of them multiple times throughout the years. These are also clients that are responsible for many of my referrals, so I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. There is nothing I enjoy more about my job than forming relationships with the kids and babies I photograph. I was able to form meaningful relationships when I was a public high school teacher (art, photography, AP Art) on the West Coast from 2000-2012, and my favorite part of teaching was my relationship with the kids as well. I didn't realize when I opened my photography studio in 2010 that I would enjoy this benefit as a photographer as well. Some of the kids I photograph have said "I love you Missy!" and their parents have told me that they look forward to seeing me, or they talk about me often... the kiddos consider me a friend, and that means the world to me! Many of these clients have walls of portraits in their homes and shelves full of albums that I have crafted for them. I work with them every year to update their gallery walls or add a new grouping. I have lately been making suggestions on how to handle it when you have run out of wall space! (Move oldest portraits to the family room or an upstairs hallway, or create a grouping for each kiddo in their room using their individual portraits from every year.) These wall displays tell their kids, "You are loved and valued in this home, and family is important!" So my goal this winter is to honor each of the families that have worked with me for multiple years with downloadable slideshows of their children and families as they have grown each year. I am honored by their love and trust! I never delete photos that have been purchased by my clients. I delete the RAW files, plus any images that have not been selected for purchase, pretty much right after the ordering appointment since they take up a LOT of drive space. I don't guarantee image archival after very much time has…

Mother’s Day Sessions 2019 at Missy Timko Photography

Read more about the article Mother’s Day Sessions 2019 at Missy Timko Photography
© 2019 Missy Timko Photography. www.missytimko.com

We held Mother's Day minis at the Ace Hotel in April of 2019 to celebrate mothers and capture the unique bond we have with our little ones. I am thrilled with how these sessions turned out and shed a tear while sorting and editing some of these special images! I am such a softie! I've always wanted to shoot at the Ace Hotel in Pittsburgh--the vibe is chic and hip, and the decor is classic American... simple & modern, utilizing dependable materials and a neutral palette. They have a signature Pendleton wool blanket that is designed specifically for each city, and the Pittsburgh blanket has bright red and blue rectangles that give off that vintage-modern look that is distinctly Pittsburgh. This turned out to be the ideal location for this shoot. The staff at the Ace Hotel was of great assistance in planning my event. We got their largest corner suite, and it could not have been a more ideal location for these cozy lifestyle images. Something that surprised me was the beautiful portraits I got of the moms. Each one looks relaxed & happy. These individual portraits of mothers almost certainly will be the images most valued by their children as they grow. Here are a few of my favorites: I definitely plan on offering this session next year! Make sure you are on my email list to have first access to this event and others. Here are a few of my other favorite images from this day: ___________________ Missy Timko Photography is a boutique photography studio located in Mt. Lebanon, PA. Missy specializes in children from newborn to senior, families, and adults. Missy’s style is simple, natural, and clean, both posed and lifestyle photography with beautiful natural backdrops, and Missy also has a gorgeous custom studio space in uptown Mt. Lebanon.  There are many session options, from full length custom sessions to quick & easy headshots, inside the studio or outside in a beautiful natural or urban location in Pittsburgh.  Contact Missy for availability.