What's an aperture?
What camera should I buy? Everything seems so expensive, is it worth the money?
How many megapixels should I get?
Is it still worth it to shoot film? Can I even get my film developed?
Who should I go to when I need a photographer for a wedding, and what rates are fair?
Photography is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a confusing world for the novice to navigate. This is especially true since photography is both an art and a science, and in the photo world people often hold very strong opinions to be factual when there really is quite a lot of wiggle room depending on the individual. When entering such a harsh wilderness, it's helpful to have a guide.
Never fear! We have an all-star panel of pro photogs to answer your questions. We encourage you to ask the photographers the photo-related questions you've wanted to know.
Ask your Questions in the Comments Below
Our expert panel consists of:
Travis Biggs, , Cedar Falls
Tara Lantz, , Cedar Falls
Jill Brown, Jill Brown Photography, Urbandale
Jennie Noble, Precious Moments Photography, Ankeny
Yana Glezina, Yana Glezina Photography, Waukee
Brian Allen, White Shutter Photography, Waukee
Mike White, M&M Photo, Johnston
Todd Adamson, Adamson Studios, Iowa City
Justin Torner, Justin Torner Photography, Iowa City
Bill Adams, Bill Adams Photography, Iowa City
Dawn Frary, Dewey Street Photo Company, Iowa City
Ngaire West Johnson, Images by Ngaire, Ames
Also what are some different types of film that you love that people can try for fun regardless of the type of their film camera? I'm really enjoying Kodak Portra lately, for example.
If someone was interested in getting into film but wasn't sure what camera system to buy into, what would you recommend?
That's an interesting idea about archival printing in the digital age. What are your recommendations for doing that in the most efficient and inexpensive manner possible?
I'm the owner and only photographer of http://www.adamsonstudios.com/ in Iowa City. I specialize in portraits, with my favorite sub-genre being the headshot. My professional work also includes commercial jobs and the occasional bit of journalism and editorial photography for print and the web. I don't do weddings. I offer private teaching in photography and digital workflow. I use several camera systems, both film and digital. I have a couple of just-for-fun blogs devoted to film photography. My personal exploration of film can be found at http://no-exif.com/. I also run a site for Holga pics, with several others participating, and I encourage anyone who's interested to sign up at http://holgaiowa.com/. Seems like the other pros here are covering the questions nicely, but if I have anything to add, I'll certainly jump in!
For image apps, the TriggerTrap app is a steal for how powerful it is. The app itself is $10, it requires a $10 dongle (I imagine to regulate voltage) and a cable to attach it to your SLR. It is so user friendly, and has so many features that allow you to create, such as Sound activated shutter release, timelapse, distance timelapse (uses GPS) and eased timelapse. It also has seismic shutter release, motion detection, face detection and a magnometer. For $30, you get the equivalent to a $200+ piece of shutter release hardware.