Best Camera to Buy in 2022 for the Hobby Photographer

Tips and Tricks from Tallahassee Photographer, Sarah Gray

Best Camera to buy in 2022 | Tallahassee Photographer Sarah Gray

I just got off the phone with a former client who is wanting to gift a camera to her daughter for her college graduation. I know it can be overwhelming to try to purchase something you aren’t familiar with or for someone else who IS familiar with photography. Here, I’ve done the digging and put together my recommendation for the best camera to buy in 2022.

I’m often asked what gear I recommend for someone who is interested in moving beyond their iPhone camera. When most people are ready to make the move to a “big” camera, they are referring to a DSLR which stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex.

No matter what camera you purchase, having an understanding of how to use that camera is absolutely the foundation for any photography. I’ll make some recommendations and offer a discount for education at the end of this post.

My camera recommendations for a hobby photographer and photography lover in 2022

First, I’m a canon shooter. There are other big names for DSLR cameras with Nikon and Sony being the most well known. They make great cameras as well and I’ve used both those brands a little bit, however, I love my Canon and have used a Canon my whole career. Because I’m most familiar with the Canon family and can confidently stand behind it, my recommendations are for Canon cameras.

Most beginner cameras are sold with a basic lens, often called the “kit lens” because it comes as a kit along with the camera body. Buying a kit means that you’re able to start taking photos as soon as you open the box and put a battery and memory card into the camera. These kit lenses aren’t the best quality but are necessary when learning photography because they will zoom a little bit. This allows you to take photos both indoors in smaller rooms, and outdoors.


Best Camera:

  • Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) comes with an 18-55mm kit lens. Price is about $749
  • Another great camera would be Canon EOS Rebel T8i . The reviews on this one were great, but it does not include a kit lens. Cost $750

Lens:

If you’re wanting to go beyond the most basic (and you likely will pretty quickly) then I highly recommend adding one additional lens to your camera bag.

Canon EF 50mm F1.8  Price about $125

Accessories:

  • SD Cards. HERE are the ones I recommend. Don’t be foolish and only buy one. You definitely need at least two to start with. $22
  • Adobe Lightroom Editing Software. If you’ve been doing photography on your phone, you may likely already have the mobile version of this app and are paying the $5 per month for the mobile version. The desktop version isn’t much more at $10 per month.
  • Education! I highly recommend this Starter Course.  It’s really the most important piece for any photography you’ll want to do, no matter what camera you decide to purchase. The photographer who teaches this course is great at explaining the basics and will take you really far in your understanding so you can put it into practice and not get frustrated with the tech side of photography. And there is a lot of tech to understand in order to take the photos you’ll want to know how to take. Cost for the course $199

The Breakdown for Best Camera in 2022:

In summary, here’s the cost breakdown of recommendations for the best camera to buy in 2022 to get you started as a hobby photographer for around $1000:

$749 Canon Camera, Rebel SL3 DSLR
$125 Canon lens, EF 50mm f1.8 (EF is the type of mount that fits onto that Rebel camera body)
$44 SD memory cards (2 of them)
$199 Photography Starter Course
$10 p/month Lightroom Editing Software

$1,127 Total

2024 update: this is still a solid set of gear for a new photographer. If you’re shopping for any of this gear used, you can find it for much less and in great shape from keh.com

Interested in working with me to create your own family photos or book me to teach you how to use your new camera and see light in the best way to create the photos you really want to take? Email me through the contact page and let’s talk!

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Maternity • Newborns • Babies • Family
Photographer based in Tallahassee, Florida
Master Baby, Family, and Maternity Photographer awarded by @napcp

Can we talk about the matching family photo?

I`m not against it in principle. I`ve seen it work. But I`ll be honest with you: identical outfits can flatten the individuality of each person in the frame. Everyone ends up looking like a set instead of a family.

What I always encourage is coordinated, not matching.

Cohesion without uniformity. Everyone looks like they belong in the same photo - but each person still looks like themselves. Mom isn`t dressed like a grown up version of her daughter. Dad doesn`t look like he raided his son`s closet.

The goal is harmony, not a uniform.

A few ways to pull this off without overthinking it: start with one anchor piece - usually mom`s outfit - and build the palette outward from there. Repeat one or two colors across the group without repeating the exact same clothing. Let textures and silhouettes vary.

The result is a family photo that actually looks like your family.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18133048678736006
Can we talk about the matching family photo? I'm not against it in principle. I've seen it work. But I'll be honest with you: identical outfits can flatten the individuality of each person in the frame. Everyone ends up looking like a set instead of a family. What I always encourage is coordinated, not matching. Cohesion without uniformity. Everyone looks like they belong in the same photo - but each person still looks like themselves. Mom isn't dressed like a grown up version of her daughter. Dad doesn't look like he raided his son's closet. The goal is harmony, not a uniform. A few ways to pull this off without overthinking it: start with one anchor piece - usually mom's outfit - and build the palette outward from there. Repeat one or two colors across the group without repeating the exact same clothing. Let textures and silhouettes vary. The result is a family photo that actually looks like your family.

It`s the night before your session.

You`ve had weeks to plan this. Weeks. And yet here you are, every piece of clothing you own spread across the bed, asking your partner if navy and olive `go together` and Googling `what to wear for family photos` at 10:47pm.

Completely normal. You are not alone. I have heard this story more times than I can count, and it almost always has a happy ending.

But if you`re in the planning phase right now and not yet in the panic phase - this is your sign to take thirty minutes this week and actually sort it out. Future you will be so relieved.

And if you`re my client, you have a lot of info at your fingertips in the Prep Guide sent to you when you booked with me.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 18096578597533677
It's the night before your session. You've had weeks to plan this. Weeks. And yet here you are, every piece of clothing you own spread across the bed, asking your partner if navy and olive 'go together' and Googling 'what to wear for family photos' at 10:47pm. Completely normal. You are not alone. I have heard this story more times than I can count, and it almost always has a happy ending. But if you're in the planning phase right now and not yet in the panic phase - this is your sign to take thirty minutes this week and actually sort it out. Future you will be so relieved. And if you're my client, you have a lot of info at your fingertips in the Prep Guide sent to you when you booked with me.

Here`s the framework I share with every family I work with:

The location is the canvas. Your family is the subject. Your clothing is the paint.

Get the paint right, and everything comes together. Rush it, and even a beautiful Tallahassee evening can fall a little flat in the final images.

That doesn`t mean you need a stylist or a big budget. It means you need a plan and a few principles that actually hold up in real life - with real kids and real closets.

Start with a neutral base. Creams, tans, soft whites, warm grays. These anchor your palette and keep the focus on faces and connection, which is the whole point.

From there, bring in color intentionally. Neutrals with soft blues. Neutrals with blush or sage. Warmer tones in fall - mauve, khaki, olive - especially at a location like Alford Park, where the foliage does a lot of work for you.

Add texture wherever you can. A knit next to a satin blouse. A linen shirt next to a tweed jacket. Texture creates visual depth in a way that flat, solid fabrics just don`t. It`s one of those things that reads beautifully in prints and most families don`t hear about until someone tells them.

Keep patterns small if you use them at all. A delicate floral, a fine stripe, a subtle check - all great. Large, bold patterns pull focus away from faces, and that`s never what we`re going for.

Outfit planning is one of the highest-leverage things you can do before your session. I promise it`s worth the attention.

5 0
Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17904023511579995
Here's the framework I share with every family I work with: The location is the canvas. Your family is the subject. Your clothing is the paint. Get the paint right, and everything comes together. Rush it, and even a beautiful Tallahassee evening can fall a little flat in the final images. That doesn't mean you need a stylist or a big budget. It means you need a plan and a few principles that actually hold up in real life - with real kids and real closets. Start with a neutral base. Creams, tans, soft whites, warm grays. These anchor your palette and keep the focus on faces and connection, which is the whole point. From there, bring in color intentionally. Neutrals with soft blues. Neutrals with blush or sage. Warmer tones in fall - mauve, khaki, olive - especially at a location like Alford Park, where the foliage does a lot of work for you. Add texture wherever you can. A knit next to a satin blouse. A linen shirt next to a tweed jacket. Texture creates visual depth in a way that flat, solid fabrics just don't. It's one of those things that reads beautifully in prints and most families don't hear about until someone tells them. Keep patterns small if you use them at all. A delicate floral, a fine stripe, a subtle check - all great. Large, bold patterns pull focus away from faces, and that's never what we're going for. Outfit planning is one of the highest-leverage things you can do before your session. I promise it's worth the attention.

Earlier this week, I had the honor to speak to a room full of moms about friendship. Later this week, I was in a living room with a brand new baby. 🤍

Here’s what I told that group of moms: I’m not a friendship expert. But I’ve spent years walking into homes with families I’ve never met, and I’ve learned that the best moments happen when they don’t feel like they have to perform.

For great photos, a mama doesn’t need a perfect house, perfect hair, or a perfectly behaved toddler. She needs to feel safe. So we talk, we laugh, we find common ground, and somewhere along the way she lets her guard down, relaxes a bit and just gets to be herself with her baby.

Friendship works the same way. Find something in common. Say “me too.” Listen. Let someone see your real life.

So mama, whether you’re in the newborn fog or the toddler chaos: you don’t have to have it all together to belong. Text the mom you just met. Say, “Want to get together?” Small deposits over time build the kind of friendship that can hold you when life gets hard.

@eproctorsutton it was an honor to photograph you precious family with your newest little miracle. 🩵

#momco #newbornphotographer #tallahasseephotographer #momsupportingmoms #christianmotherhood

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17869084254644478
Earlier this week, I had the honor to speak to a room full of moms about friendship. Later this week, I was in a living room with a brand new baby. 🤍 Here’s what I told that group of moms: I’m not a friendship expert. But I’ve spent years walking into homes with families I’ve never met, and I’ve learned that the best moments happen when they don’t feel like they have to perform. For great photos, a mama doesn’t need a perfect house, perfect hair, or a perfectly behaved toddler. She needs to feel safe. So we talk, we laugh, we find common ground, and somewhere along the way she lets her guard down, relaxes a bit and just gets to be herself with her baby. Friendship works the same way. Find something in common. Say “me too.” Listen. Let someone see your real life. So mama, whether you’re in the newborn fog or the toddler chaos: you don’t have to have it all together to belong. Text the mom you just met. Say, “Want to get together?” Small deposits over time build the kind of friendship that can hold you when life gets hard. @eproctorsutton it was an honor to photograph you precious family with your newest little miracle. 🩵 #momco #newbornphotographer #tallahasseephotographer #momsupportingmoms #christianmotherhood

I used ChatGPT to help me plan out our landscaping this week and I feel like an absolute genius.

The AI rendered a version of what our yard could look like and honestly, even if we only get halfway there, I will be thrilled. Genuinely hopeful. This is not a drill.

Anyway. Back to photography. But also - technology is wild right now and I am here for it.

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Open post by sarahgrayphoto with ID 17895963180393884
I used ChatGPT to help me plan out our landscaping this week and I feel like an absolute genius. The AI rendered a version of what our yard could look like and honestly, even if we only get halfway there, I will be thrilled. Genuinely hopeful. This is not a drill. Anyway. Back to photography. But also - technology is wild right now and I am here for it.

Memberships and Affiliations

Sarah Gray Photography | Professional Photographer of America Member
Sarah Gray Photography | The Motherhood Anthology Member
National Association of Professional Child Photographers Member 2026-2027

Sarah Gray creates timeless and joyful images that are designed for living room walls and photo albums. A tallahassee photographer, Sarah Gray also serves Thomasville, Crawfordville, St. Marks, Gainesville and throughout the Forgotten Coast and panhandle of north Florida and south Georgia.

email us | sarah@sarahgray.com

telephone (850) 328-3258

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located in tallahassee, florida