First of all, congratulations on embarking on a passion that can take you to some fantastic places - both internally and externally.
Without unloading a wall of text here, these are some things to consider:
* What you shoot belongs to you. I don't mean only from a copyright angle. I tell people I am present in every photo I take. Part of me is in each photo. Anyone can shoot the Eiffel Tower.
* When it comes to equipment, I am a Canon man. I do have a couple of Sony cameras, but I like the feel of the 5D Mark IV. It "feels" like a camera to me. This is important: your gear won't make you a better photographer. It will, however, be able to create more technically better photos consistently. When you can arrange to do so, the 16mm-24mm, 24mm-70mm, and 70mm-200MM lenses will cover everything. Aim for f/2.8 or "lower" (i.e. wider aperture) for better resolution (due to being able to increase your shutter speed and lower your ISO) and also have a few prime (i.e. non-zoom) lenses. the 50mm ("nifty fifty") is pretty standard, but an 85mm prime lens is increasingly more popular. No need to get too far into the technical here at this point.
* I never had a photography class, but if you have access to one, I recommend it. One word of caution is the world of photography is full of runaway egos, and that can include instructors. People like this constantly feel threatened, especially by new converts, and they see photography in two distinct ways: their way and the wrong way. Your BS meter will probably pick up on this rather quickly.
* Watch YouTube videos on everything from equipment, equipment comparisons, lighting demos, live performance tips (sports, music, etc.), event photography, etc. Watch multiple videos on the same subject so you can holistically evaluate what you feel works for you.
* Make mistakes. Make a lot of them. Embrace the mistakes you made and then make the necessary adjustments the next time out. I made every mistake in the book, and then some. I started out on an iPhone until a friend of mine, who is a nationally (and I believe internationally) known photographer, took a look at some shots I took with my phone and said, "Dude, you need to get a camera." Without those words, I doubt I would have pursued it. I look at my early work and cringe, but it was a necessary part of my journey.
* For software, I recommend using some free versions until you find one which feels intuitive to you. Again, watch YouTube videos. I would not use Photoshop at this stage of the game. You'll end up frustrated. I use Cyberlink's PhotoDirector, and have to say it is by far the most intuitive program I have used with all the bells and whistles without being overwhelming (like Photoshop can be).
* Know your triad - shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Once you master them, you're 90% of the way there.
* Don't worry about mastering speedlites (flashes) right out of the box. For me, flash photography was the trickiest part of the journey and I'll always be in "learning" mode when it comes to lighting. Start with natural light and go from there. Sony is known for their dynamic low-light range, but keep in mind each manufacturer has its strong points and its shortcomings. Canon is expensive and has a limited selection of lenses, although there are plenty for what any photographer would need. Their high-end gear is outstanding; Nikon has a broader selection of lenses, and they are all quality, but not as much consistent 10/10 across their inventory. Sony, as mentioned above, is great in low light, but has some production elements I'm not crazy about. There are others, but those are the big three. Whatever you choose, you really can't go wrong once you edge into the enthusiast/pro level of bodies and lenses.
* Personally, I want to take photos that have a narrative to them. For example, I can take photos of someone leaning into a guitar solo on stage, with full-on guitar face, but I'm more interested when the solo concludes and the guitarist looks over at the lead singer to hand it back. I'm not saying one photo is better or more important than the other. It's just more meaningful to me.
* Shoot your truth and never apologize. You may have people criticizing your work, telling you what you should shoot and what you shouldn't. I mostly shoot models these days, so you can imagine the criticism I get from certain people. I ignore them. Once you start taking the type of creative photos in order to avoid criticism, throw away your camera and find something else to do.
There is so much more I can expound upon, but I don't want to jam up the thread. If you want to create a photography thread in order to ask more pointed questions or share your work, I'd be more than happy to contribute what I can.
