Are you thinking about taking the plunge and making photography a hobby?  Congratulations, and on behalf of photo nerds everywhere…We would love to have you!  You are in the Christmas Day phase of the hobby…buying all your gear.  It is exciting and a little nerve racking at the same time because there are so many options out there.  From what camera brand to go with to which lens or lenses should I buy…it can be a little overwhelming.  One thing you should not neglect is what you are going to be lugging that camera gear around in.  Your Camera Bag.

Your camera bag is a very important piece of gear itself because not only will it house and protect your equipment, but it can also make a statement about your personality.  Again, there are a ton of different options and brands of camera bags out there.  But there are really only a handful of different styles and that is what you want to focus on.

1.  The good ‘ole shoulder bag – The tried and true bag used by camera enthusiasts and photojournalists for decades.  This is a Domke bag.

2.  The messenger / satchel bag – A relative newcomer.  The functionality of the shoulder back but a little more slim-lined.  This is a Crumpler brand messenger camera bag.

3.  The backpack – If you are into hiking, traveling, or more active type photographers.  This is a Lowepro camera backpack.

4.  The rolling case – Slightly more professional.  Great for traveling or for wedding and event photographers.  This is a Lowepro rolling case.

5.  The waist bag – Yes, the waist bag is a distant cousin to the fanny pack.  But, it will save your back and shoulders from seeing a chiropractor if you need to carry your equipment for long periods of time.  This is a Tamrac waist bag.

And ladies, you will be very happy to know that there are several lines of camera bags that are made especially to fit your lifestyle.  Purses and satchels with a more designer look to them have gotten pretty popular these past 2-3 years.  You may pay a premium price for them, but hey it can be a purse and a camera bag.  So you really are getting 2 for 1 when you think about it.  There are a few great brands out there.

Epiphanie – I have met the owner (Maile) and she is super cool and I think offers a fantastic product.

Kelly Moore Bags

Jill-E Designs

*Emera Bags

Now that you know the different styles of bags out there let me give you a few tips on what to look for in a good camera bag.

1.  Excellent interior padding.  (note: exposed foam will deteriorate over time and will leave nasty black residue on your gear)

2.  Buy a little bigger than you think you need.  You never know…you may need that extra room when you start expanding on your lens collection.  This is also a good idea because there is nothing worse than trying to pry your camera out of a stuffed little camera bag and you end up missing a photo-op.

3.  The ability section your bag based on your gear (ie moveable separators).

4.  Made of durable material.  Make note if the exterior is padded too.  You may not need that option, but in case your lifestyle is a little more rough and tumble it is good for the bag to be able to absorb those shocks.

5.  Accessibility – how quickly can you get into your bag and your camera and lenses without missing the shot.  This is where the shoulder and satchel bags have an edge.  You can quickly unbuckle and grab your camera as where a backpack you have to take off and unzip.

6.  Comfort – This is where backpacks take the cake because you are dispersing the weight across two shoulders rather than one.

7.  Style (the cool factor) – If style is important to you than don’t overlook this important option.  If you want to go really out of the norm than check out Etsy and look for some homemade camera bags.  Then you will really stand out.

There you go.  Now you are in the know when it comes to buying the bag that your camera gear will live in.  It can be a daunting choice so hopefully it was made a little easier or at least more bearable.

If you are thinking about buying a DSLR camera or maybe you just bought one to take better photos of your family, kids, or you just got bitten by the photography bug then this is a great post for you to read.  For those who don’t know what DSLR means that stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex.  They look like this…you know the ones that have all the dials, buttons, and you can switch the lenses.

They can range in price anywhere from $600 to over $5000 for the camera bodies.  If you are just starting out I would go closer to the $600 end of the range.  But this post isn’t about what kind of camera to buy.  I am going to tell you the one and only lens you will ever need in your bag in case you DO buy a camera.  When you buy a camera, the salesman will usually try to “package deal” you.  They will include a kit lens that in my opinion are the cheapest lenses the camera maker puts out.  When you go in to buy the camera body you will want to ask for a…are you ready…a 50mm lens.  That’s it.  That is the only lens you will need…for a while.  I bet you are wondering, “What is his reasoning behind this claim?”  Let me lay it down for you.

1. They are super inexpensive so you aren’t going to break the bank with some super expensive pro caliber lens.  They run about $120…the cheapest BEST lens you can buy.

2.  Most pros have this very lens in their bag.  So that should tell you something.

3. It is a super fast lens.  A fast lens means that you have the ability to shoot in low light situations.  It does not mean that it will make you run faster.  With a maximum aperture of 1.8 – this means it can let a lot of light in to have higher shutter speeds in darker situations, and higher shutter speeds equals less blurry photos.

4. The 50mm f1.8 lens has fantastic bokeh.  This may be a new vocab word for you.  Bokeh is the portion of the photo that goes out of focus while leaving your subject sharp and in focus.  I have also heard it been referred to as “that fuzzy part of the photo.”  Whatever you want to call it, this lens will make your portraits look more interesting and professional.

5. It is small and light so you aren’t clunking around with some big lens on your shoulder (saves in chiropractor bills).

6. This lens is the absolute best lens to train your eye with (in my humble opinion).  If you are just starting out then grab this lens and use it…use it all the time and you learn composition and lighting faster.

I know what you are thinking.  But I want a zoom lens so I can take wide photos and close-ups with one lens.  That is exactly what the 50mm is…you just have use your manual zoom feature (your feet) to zoom in and out.  You are just going to have to trust me.  I have been a professional photographer for 11 years and it is by far my favorite lens of all time.  Here is what they look like so you know what to look for.  I included both the Nikon (my brand) and the Canon as not to play favorites.  I hope that you found this helpful.  We love to talk photography and anything creative for that matter here at Canvas Press.  Give us a shout if you ever have questions about photography.  Especially if you want to turn one of your stellar photos you just took with your 50mm into a canvas print.

It’s a question we get asked all the time. People want to know how large they can print their image, taken from their camera. The terminology can be confusing but we’ve prepared this chart to serve as a guideline. The MegaPixels in your digital camera translate into pixel dimensions, which tell us how large an image can be printed. All cameras have different settings (read our previous blog post to see just what can happen if you don’t know your settings) but the dimensions listed here are for the maximum available for the respective megapixels listed.To determine the pixel dimensions of your image, find the file on your computer and right click (control + click on a mac) and select “properties” (or “get info” on a mac).This is just a rule of thumb, depending on the clarity of the image, any enhancements added and the finished look you are going for, some images may not work at these sizes and some can be done even larger. If you have your hopes on something bigger than what is recommended here please use our image consultation form online.

iJango, an internet startup with a downtown Austin office had Canvas Press make a collection of canvas prints to decorate the walls. Using art from their own company in the form of logos and website screenshots, we were able to help them make a very personalized workspace.

Alison of No. 16 Photography has some unique and creative photography. When she contacted us about doing a large restaurant project we were excited to help and see what amazing shots would be included. Here are a few pictures of the finished results and a testimonial from her, we’d like to thank her very much for the kind words!

I couldn’t be more pleased with Canvas Press’s quality and service!

As a professional photographer, I do an extreme amount of research before committing to a product. Past reviews, incredibly helpful and pleasant customer service, and extraordinary offers and pricing convinced me at once that Canvas Press was the right choice for my photos.

My first order with Canvas Press included three custom sized black and white images. When I received them, I was incredibly happy to see that they were just as the way I had previewed them on the easy-to-use website. When I was contracted to do 33 photo canvases for a restaurant, I knew that Canvas Press could handle it and guarantee the quality I desired. ALL 33 canvases were perfect. Canvas Press’s safe shipping of all 33 canvases was and is unsurpassed.

There is no doubt that I will continue to use Canvas Press for all of my photo canvas needs. The quality of canvas and use of inks is superb. Each canvas that I have ordered is clear, sharp and rich in color. The stretching of the canvas itself on my gallery wrapped projects is just as superior.

I thank you for all your wonderful help and support. Your customer service reps are the best I’ve ever dealt with. The friendly staff is always so very helpful with any and all of my questions and/or concerns.

Thank you again for your wonderful business!

Alison, No. 16 Photography

We just received our order and they all look great!  We could not be more pleased with how well our photos turned out and the quick shipping.

Dustin from Washington

You don’t have to be a master of photography to capture those most perfect moments in time of your children, human OR fuzzy. I find that some of the best shots of our children are candid, when they are being completely natural. However, many times when those moments arrive, all we have is our cell phone camera. While, your babies may look adorable, the backdrop in which they stand, the lighting or graininess discourages you from turning it into memorabilia for your walls.

That has all changed now that we have our OilWorks program. For over 2 years, we’ve transformed hundreds of rough photos into stunning digital paintings that are used as the focal points in many homes. Each OilWorks piece, whether Master or True Artist, is painted by a live person who is a traditional artist as well, using a virtual paintbrush and pallet. As you see in the Photo below, this is exactly what Beejal did with her children. She now has her new 48”x 36” Master OilWorks painting hanging in her home to enjoy every time she walks by.

I think it’s time to pull out all those candid photos… don’t you?

Renee from Canvas Press

BEFORE

 AFTER

Our customer Nancy from Florida is an incredibly talented photographer who sells her work at art shows. We have printed many canvases for her that she and her husband stretch themselves for display and sale. Below is a picture of how Nancy has organized her booth for the art shows she does. Please visit her website www.naturesportal.net to view her stunning work.

We are really enjoying our Canvas Press photos on canvas in our new dental office.  Everyone comments on them and we have referred many to your website.  Here are a few photos to show how beautiful the canvases look. 

- Rosemary & Terry