Hey Reader,
Happy Wednesday! I’ve got a quick but important one today—especially if you’re just getting into photography.
One of the most common questions I get from beginners is:
“What camera should I buy to get started with photography?”
Here’s my honest answer—
You don’t need one. At least, not yet.
If you’re just starting out and building a foundation of skills, your phone is the best tool you can use.
Seriously. Scroll far enough back on my Instagram and you’ll find my earliest posts were all shot with a phone.
Before you worry about gear, focus on the fundamentals:
- 📐 Framing & Composition
- 💡 Lighting
- 🎨 Photo Editing (Lightroom Mobile is amazing for this—even the free version)
I actually recommend everyone spend 6 months to a full year practicing with just their phone.
Why? Because it forces you to think like a photographer—not just someone with a fancy camera.
Plus, Lightroom Mobile has a built-in camera feature that lets you shoot in RAW and take manual control of your settings—ISO, shutter speed, white balance, you name it.
That means you can start learning the exposure triangle before you ever pick up a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Once you’ve nailed the basics and feel confident, here are a few great beginner-friendly cameras I recommend:
- Sony a6000 / a6400 – Compact, powerful, and great image quality
- Sony A7 or A7II – Older full-frame models, still very capable
- Canon 70D – Solid, reliable, and often available second-hand for a great price
Truth is, most camera brands are totally fine these days.
What matters more is that you know how to use your tools—and the best way to learn that is by starting with what you already have.
You don’t need a $2,000 setup to become a great photographer.
You need consistency, curiosity, and a commitment to mastering the fundamentals.
🧠 What are you currently using to shoot, and what are you focusing on improving right now?
Feel free to hit reply—I always enjoy hearing where people are at.
P.S. If you want to practice editing, I put together a Starter Preset Pack with 19 presets, RAW files, and a short tutorial to help you get going.
No pressure—just a useful tool if you need one.
👉Grab it here
See you next week 🫶
– Ben
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Thanks so much for spending some of your time with me & reading Filling The Gaps.
Talk soon,
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Anything else I can help you with?
Editing Masterclass & Preset Pack
If you're ready level up your images and your workflow to edit like a pro, my Editing Masterclass takes you through my entire editing workflow with 25 presets, 175 RAW images and bonus resources to help you along your journey!
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