Best Cameras for Beauty Bloggers

By far one of the most popular questions almost all Beauty Bloggers are asked is, "What camera do you use to capture those amazing shots?" You would think that with all the questions that get asked, that there would be more readily available information concerning this topic, but as I found out when I did my own research, that is really not the case. So after about a year of research, and headaches caused by horrible depressing pictures, I've decided to compile a list (arranged in descending order) of the best camera types out there for beauty bloggers. I have a lot of horrible experiences regarding taking beauty shots, and I hope to save a lot of you from the same experiences. Also I think now is the best time for all you lovely beauty bloggers who have been thinking about upgrading your equipment, to see the options available to you. The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, and a lot of these cameras will soon go on sale for very affordable prices. 

D SLR Cameras

One of the things I have come to realize is, if you want to achieve beautiful blurred backgrounds, and amazing clear shots of your makeup looks, then a camera with full manual controls is one of the best ways to go; and it really doesn't get more manual than a DSLR Camera. DSLR Cameras allow you to tweak just about everything, which means you can compensate for a wide range of situations such as taking pictures in a low light environment, or capturing minute details in a makeup shot. One of the biggest misconceptions I have found regarding DSLRs is that they all sell for over $1000. As a matter of fact I have found articles telling people not to buy DSLR cameras (before proceeding to brag about their own DSLR Camera) for this very reason. The truth is you can actually find a lot of entry level options that get the job done for under $400. As recently as three months ago, Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy all had the Canon Rebel T3 for just $299 (it has now been discontinued by the manufacturer). 
Canon is a very popular choice in the Beauty Blogging world. Some popular choices include Canon Rebel T3i, used by Beauty Blogger Chrissy, you can check out her amazing blog here, and the Canon Rebel T3 used by Instagram makeup guru @MakeupbyMia. Honestly the only downfall with DSLR Cameras is that they tend to be way more complicated than a Point and Shoot, but if you play around with it and do your research you should have no problem.

Image Source: B&H Photo and Video

Mirrorless Cameras

Depending on who you ask, Mirrorless Cameras are either the smaller, more compact version of DSLR Cameras, or are more of a "DSLR-like" option, not necessarily equal but good enough. Mirrorless cameras are great for bloggers who take a lot of pictures on the go, since they are more compact. The Samsung NX2000 gets great reviews from buyers on Amazon. I recently purchased the Sony A3000 from Amazon, and I am so far in love with it. It is not as compact as the others, but the image quality is top notch. 

In the video below popular Youtube Beauty Vlogger Desi Perkins, discusses how she achieves her amazing photos using her Sony Nex-6 mirrorless camera, and you can also check out Amrezy's post on her blog about using the same camera.

My Camera Evolution. From Left: The Canon PowerShot A2200, The Samsung WB100 and Sony's A3000 Mirrorless Camera

Bridge Cameras

As the name suggest, Bridge Cameras are a halfway point between DSLR cameras and Point and Shoot Cameras. Typically they differ from DSLR cameras in areas such as lacking interchangeable lens, much smaller sensors, and from Point and Shoots by offering more manual controls. They are more likely to be viewed as "Advanced Point and Shoot" Cameras, and are also a more affordable option for beauty bloggers on a budget. Some top choices for Bridge Cameras include the Fujifilm HS35exr, Fujifilm HS50exr, Canon Powershot SX50 and the Panasonic Lumix FZ200.

Image source: Panasonic.com

Smartphone

Smartphone cameras are a very popular choice for beauty bloggers and it's not hard to see why. They are a lot less bulky, and for ladies that like to snap pictures of the latest sale at you local drugstore, they are super convenient. I own both an iPhone and an Android, and I have found that though Android phones tend to offer more manual controls, iPhones tend to have overall better image quality. Aside from the iPhone other great options include the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. 
When using your smartphone, everything has to be on point, including lighting. That's not to say that lighting is not extremely important with other cameras types, but as I mentioned before, you can compensate for bad lighting using other camera types, not so much with your smartphone. Below is a photo taken using my iPhone and a Ring Light.

Taken using iPhone and Ring Light

Final Tip, when looking for a great camera, try not to get caught up in the whole Megapixel debate. Higher megapixel cameras do not necessarily deliver better image quality. There are a lot of other things that go into creating the perfect shot, such as sensor size. You'll come across a lot of DSLR Cameras with megapixels as low 10, and still produce shots far better than a 20mp Point and Shoot. I hope you found this post helpful, and if you have an other suggestions please feel free to comment below.

Inspirational Quotes to get your day started

Happy Tuesday everyone! Mornings are usually one of the most tricky parts of the day. Your morning mood can affect how you feel for the entire day, and have a huge impact on your productivity. One of the best pick-me-ups is to read quotes from women, who through hard work and the right attitude have made it to the top of their fields, and show no signs of slowing down. Here are 10 inspirational quotes from 10 inspirational women.



"Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules."- Anne Sweeney

"Delete the negative; accentuate the positive."- Donna Karan

"It's not about being included. It's about creating your own space..."- Sophia Amoruso

"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman."- Melina Gates

"Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight."- Leah Labelle

"My best successes came on the heels of failures."- Barbara Corcoran

"You live only once, but if you do it right , once is enough."- Mae West

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."- Oprah Winfrey

"Be careful how you are talking to yourself because you are listening."- Lisa M. Hayes

Now that you've read how these successful women approach life, it's time to conquer the week.