I’m interested in a Dslr that has a removable lens ans in the future i can purchase other ones to keep my camera fresh to me. I am not a professional, but portrait photography is a passion of mine so i would like something better than a point and shoot… It does not need to be a big name brand.

In fact there is one and I own it – the Canon Rebel XS. Keep in mind though you may want a different lens than the kit at 18-55. It’s a good lens but there are better ones. However it will do fine until you can afford another – I use the Canon 28-200 and I’m getting results like these.

Keep in mind also, especially if you’ve never used a dslr before, the manual controls aren’t difficult but there is a learning curve that must be respected to have success.

Should you want to discuss that further: jimmya43@cox.net

Good Luck. Oh, two good places for this camera are:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-XS-Digital-18-55mm-Black/dp/B001CBKJGG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291235082&sr=8-1

and

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571144-REG/Canon_2762B003_EOS_Rebel_XS_SLR.html

I was looking up homemade photo lighting techniques and notice all of them still used the flash. If i just set up some work lights would that work? Does using the flash benefit my photos in anyway?

No its not necessary if you have sufficient lighting, but it allows to to be more creative with lighting. Flash allows you to control how much ambient light you allow in the image (via shutter speed), also the softness/ hardness of the shadows and their position via directionality of your lights & any modifiers.

Specifically, the pasting of large scale images on the side of a building. Wouldn’t having these printed in such a huge way as to paste them be extremely expensive? Is there a low cost way to do a project like this?

You need to be more specific and provide an artist name, or a link to examples of what you are talking about.
Anymore, many images are photoshopped, and it is easy to do that digitally, but it’s not real.

In the real world, artists often pay billboard companies to print the large sheets that they put on building sides. And yes, it is expensive. But they have people who pay for it, or pay them to do it, or pay for a portion of it.

There is no "low cost" way to do such a project, as the cost of materials for any project that is large, start to add up.

Photography has always been my dream but I have never done anything to learn it. I don’t have much time on my hands and enrilling in college or university is not an option right now. So I was wondering if there is something out there where I can take a simple course to learn. The less money the better, too!
Thank you very much!

Hey,
try looking at your local training centres, after hours high school classes, local newspapers and notice boards for photography courses.
Another very helpful resource is books..many a great photographer has taught themselves through reading books and practicing. You local library should have a lot of books on photography to read.

I just want to improve my photography and people say the best way is use a fill flash. I just bought one, and wanted to know different was to use it. Im not really sure, I just used the flash in general and i dont really see a difference. So im not sure if im using it right. Any advice is good advice! Thank you

i dont understand the "best way is use a fill flash" statement, its a very general statement

learn off camera flash and your images wil go from zero to hero, thats all i will add

Hundreds, be more specific in your question.

Would like to help Models to build their portfolio’s. I have advanced Photography and Digital Art skills. Where can I find Models and what can I expect to get paid? Any ideas would really be helpful in this new venture.

There is a very limited market for models wanting to pay for portfolios. The typical aspiring model is a young lady either right out of high school, working an entry level job not paying a lot, or right out of high school and in college and trying to make ends meet. No discretionary income on their part.

If you think you have good skills and a portfolio, you can at least set up some practice shoots at places like http://www.modelmayhem.com or http://www.onemodelplace.com

These are networking sites, not much money to be made by either models or photographers. It is mostly TFCD

ineed to know a good camera for photography and im a 15 year olg girl

I think you should start with a nice point and shoot first, unless you are absolutely sure you’re not going to drop photography over the next year or so, you should look for basic DSLR’s. And like others have said, probably buy used.

something that isn’t a long program -
wonderful idea ~

well, i asked this Q about 30 years ago… and apart from some well meant advice, i decided to learn. i went to the local church and registry office, and i watched… and then i asked questions of the photographers… ( I already had my own 35mm kit, and a Mamiya C330s)

then, i did a few freebies for my friends… and it all went from there…

nowadays i still shoot weddings, i shoot on a 11mp Olympus E, (raw only) i dont do prints, just DVD’s and i point them towards my printer, who does a great job, and saves me HOURS if not days, of work… it keeps the couples costs down… and, before anyone mentions reprints and copyright… im charging 100pounds an hour, plus 15ph for post prod. an average wedding is 8 hours, (i specialise in reportage) plus maybe 20 hours Post.. it would appear churlish to restrict their useage… theyre wedding photos, who else wants to use them?

i teach, and this is my pocket money job… and, in 30years ive never advertised, its all been word of mouth… and ive done parents weddings and 20years later ive been back to shoot their kids weddings…

technical skills can be learned easily enough… its teh people skills which let so many down… basically you work the crowd, walk the floor, and engage with the customers… ive heard of so many photographers who arent asked back simply because the client didnt like their attitude… to them, its the most important day in their life… to you, its just another job… but never ever mention that… make them feel special, make them feel like rock stars on a red carpet… you make thier day… because, in all truth, after teh couple and the vicar… its all down to you, teh photographer…

you can’t afford for ANYTHING to go wrong, and if it does, go to plan B immediately… double your kit, 2 bodies, lenses, off camera flash heads batteries and around 32 gig of memory cards… (i get around 900 shots on 16 gigs. and then… theres photoshop…and autopanogiga2 and portrait pro 9…

and, on piratebay theres a wealth of how to video’s and books…

taking the photo is only part 1 of the process… each shot needs to be colour matched, cropped, rotated, and have teh levels balanced… this takes skill, and time. and occasionally, esp in teh closeups you need to remove blemishes and spots, and cover the occasional tattoo!

after a shoot i can do around 300 images a day in post.. *this is reportage, they get everything

i use autopano to stitch large group shots, where you def dont want the distortion of a wide lens…

but, you can teach yourself… theres no right way, or wrong way to do it… its the end result were after… perfectly exposed, crisp shots…

I have a Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera. Does anyone know some good books with tips/ lots of poses and lighting techniques for photographing babies? Thank you very much, any answers would be appreciated

Anne Geddes is an amazing Baby Photographer. She is my inspiration for my Business.

http://www.annegeddes.com/

any book by her i would recommend