Let’s be real, photography can be a pricey beast of a hobby. Between camera bodies, lenses, and all the extra gear that professional photographers swear you must have, it’s easy to think you need a small fortune to even begin. But guess what? That’s utter nonsense. You can absolutely start photography on a budget and not the “still-need-a-few-grand” kind. I mean the real kind. The “I’ve got a tenner and dreams” kind.
Here’s how to get started without spiralling into debt or sacrificing your will to live.
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Second-hand gear is the way
In the beginning of your photography journey brand new is overrated.
Second-hand gear is where it’s at. Not only is it massively cheaper, but it’s also usually been tested, cleaned, and pampered more than most people’s houseplants.
Start with sites like MPB.com and Wex Photo Video. MPB is like the mothership for used gear, and they actually rate stuff so it’s easy to find out the condition. Want a camera body for under £300? Sorted. Need a lens without selling your soul? Easy. I’ve used MPB for years, and it’s never done me dirty.
Look out for things like shutter count (for cameras) and lens scratches (obviously). And don’t forget that warranties exist for a reason.
Grab gear with at least some kind of return policy in case you get something that smells like regret.
As for only having that tenner for a budget? Honestly, ANY camera will do when you’re starting out. I got my first film SLR for a tenner, which I bought from a local ex-photographer. You might not be able to get the gear you want with a tiny budget, but you can certainly start with something that will force you to learn good composition.
Third-party lenses are often just as good or even better
I shoot a lot with Sigma lenses and honestly, they are brilliant.
Third-party lenses have come so far over the years. Sigma’s Art line in particular? *Chef’s kiss*. Amazing sharpness, dreamy depth of field, and you won’t need to sell a kidney.
Other brands like Tamron and Tokina are worth a gander too. You can usually snag a decent prime lens for way less than Canon, Sony, or Nikon versions. No need to be a brand snob.
Accessories that are budget friendly
You don’t need a bag full of gadgets. Just a few budget-friendly accessories can easily do the trick:
- Tripod: Get a basic Neewer or K&F Concept one for under £40. Great for long exposures, self-portraits, and not dropping your camera in a puddle. If your budget is even tighter, you can get an Amazons basics tripod for much less but it won’t have as much flexibility.
- Lens filters: A UV or ND filter can save your lens (and your sanity) and you can easily get one for less than a takeaway.
- Remote shutter: Handy for avoiding blur. You can find one on eBay or Amazon for pretty cheap if you go for a wired one.
- Cleaning kit: Keep your glass clean and your sensor speck-free and you won’t be editing out dust particles from your photos like I did in the very beginning.
Also, if you’re broke-broke, you don’t really need all of these to start with. These are things you can build into your camera bag as time goes on.
Prioritise lenses over bodies
This one’s controversial, but here we go: a good lens on an old camera will beat a rubbish lens on a brand new camera almost every time.
Glass matters more than megapixels and you can use your lenses with newer version of your camera if you ever choose to upgrade. Lenses just last longer than camera bodies.
If there’s one lens as a beginner that I would recommend, it is the nifty-fifty! (A 50mm 1.8). It’s the most budget friendly prime lens and I promise you that you will love shooting with it.
When you DO start building your lens arsenal, make sure you go for lenses that actually aid you in the type of photography you enjoy. There’s no need for a super-telephoto lens if you want to shoot macro and there’s no need for a wide-angle if you only want to shoot birds.
Learn photography with what you’ve got
No money for Lightroom Desktop or Photoshop? Use free tools like Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile or GIMP for desktop.
No studio lights? Use the sun. Golden hour is free, gorgeous, and never runs out of batteries. You can even make a reflector out of white card.
The real magic behind your photography isn’t in your gear, it’s in your way of seeing. Your obsession with that shaft of light hitting the mushroom in the woods at sunrise. You can’t buy that. You develop it over time, bit by bit.
Find your people (and free resources)
Don’t go it alone. Photography forums, YouTube rabbit holes, Reddit groups, and blogs like this one are stuffed with tips, tricks, and support.
You’re not too broke. Come as you are.
And don’t fly on past without claiming your goodies in my free resources library.
Starting photography on a budget
Starting photography on a budget isn’t just possible, it’s often better.
It forces you to get creative, to learn how to shoot with limitations and to focus on the moment instead of the gear. This will set you up for much more success in photography than if you were just handed all the professional kit.
Ever heard the phrase “all the gear and no idea”? Exactly!
You don’t need the very top of the range camera and you certainly don’t need every lens ever made. You just need to start.
And when you do? It’s going to be glorious. Imperfect, full of learning curves and utterly worth it.
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