How to choose the best camera when you’re just starting out as a wedding photographer

If I were beginning my wedding photography business today, I’d choose… the best camera based on the following:

Someone recently asked me what camera I would buy if I were just starting out today, and I have been into the higher end cameras for so long that when I went to look at what I learned on and started out with…they were gone.

“Discontinued.”

Say what? I mean, I felt a little out of touch with the beginner/hobbyist cameras because I had not used one in so long. But now I felt really out of touch. I couldn’t even offer you advice based on my experience as a beginner.

But, never fear. Well, sort of. I am going to offer you two or three viable options. And I am going to offer them according to your experience, income or resources, and motivation to move forward.

(Note: I speak Nikon. It’s what I learned on and what I use today. Feel free to look for the same things in a comparable Canon. Or Sony. Or something.)

PS None of the below links are affiliate or sponsored.

If you are:

Consider this camera:

A used Nikon D750. A key here is that you are learning, and you are not charging anything, and you are being honest with people about your learning process and that you are not shooting with top-notch gear. There is no shame in that unless you are dishonest.

The reason I suggest a used D750 is that it is the only way to get your hands on some of the DSLR models Nikon used to offer. Actually they do still offer some of them, but only directly from Nikon online. No local or national online retailers have them. Also, if you are going to buy a used camera, any camera, buy from a reputable and local camera shop. They will be up-front with you about the shutter count and condition of the camera body (and lens, if you get one with it). I don’t recommend buying from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay.

The pros of the D750 are that it is a full-frame camera with a good sensor and has a dual card slot. Both are important in shooting weddings. The downside: it looks like Nikon is phasing out the DSLR’s, so if you fall in love with this camera a replacement can only be found used. Plus, if you decide to switch to mirrorless later, it will mean buying another set of lenses as well since your D750 lenses won’t work with the Nikon Z bodies.

I shot with D750’s for years until I switched to Nikon’s mirrorless cameras. It is a workhorse of a camera.

A New Nikon Z30. For about the same money as a used D750 you can get a new Nikon Z30. 

The pros of the Z30: You will not have to buy all new lenses like you would if you started with a DSLR and switched later. Also, since the Z30 was designed as much for video (4k) as it was still photography, so if you see video or vlogging in your future, it’s a great place to start with that as well. The downsides: It is a crop frame, the sensor is 20.8 vs the 24.3 of the D750, and most importantly, it only has one card slot.

I have a Z30 with a kit lens that I use for making all of my course videos, for what it is worth.

If you are:

Consider this camera:

The Nikon Z5. The reasons are many. The price is not one of them. I mean, cameras when I started out, what they called the pro-sumer cameras, were around $500 to $600. That was with a kit lens as well. This Nikon Z5 is $1000 without a lens.

Things change. Times change. Prices go up. Go figure.

But, if you can afford it, here are the advantages.

• Full frame format (vs cropped frame)
• 24.93 megapixel sensor
• Dual card slot

Everything else aside, this has many of the same features you would look for in a pro level camera without the price tag. And by making the switch to mirrorless now means saving yourself the expense of switching to your mirrorless lenses later down the road if you start out with a DSLR.

For comparison, I shoot with the Nikon Z6ii, which is currently priced at $1600, and has just a few advantages over the Z5 that won’t be that important to you at this stage of your career.

So you can get started in the $600 to $700 range looking at a used D750 or new Z30 and grow with those cameras, or you can leap ahead a little, save yourself some money down the road on lens swap outs, and go straight to the Nikon Z5. The biggest thing to consider here is the dual card slot, which is a huge thing to have once you start charging clients, or start shooting more involved weddings.