This is the third part in a series featuring tips for beginner photographers.

A number of people have asked me about the kind of equipment I use and how much it costs, so I thought I'd share thoughts on the things I like and -- most importantly -- the pieces that got me started.

9. You don’t need fancy equipment
Between camera bodies, lenses, bags, and accessories, photography can be an expensive hobby—but it doesn't have to be. Below are tips for beginners that won’t break the bank.

• Starter Kits: Just starting out? You probably don’t need the fanciest, most expensive camera on the market. DSLR starter kits offer decent-quality cameras that let you get a feel for shooting the way professionals do without breaking the bank. My first SLR was the Canon Rebel XTi and I loved it. You can often find these kits (they usually come with a camera body, 1 or 2 lenses, bag, and battery) for less than $800. Most pros use Canon or Nikon, but you can save a bit more by choosing an off brand, like Sony or Pentax.

• Nifty Fifty Considered by amateurs and professionals alike as one of the best lenses to own, the 50mm fixed lens is a great purchase—especially because it’s cheap! A new lens from Canon or Nikon will run about $115. Buy an off brand or used lens, and you’re looking at $80 or $90.

For most, the unofficial start of summer is Memorial Day weekend. For Cliff and I, it's the moment we purchase airplane tickets home. We're headed back to Nebraska and I'm so excited I could pop! We missed our annual trip home last summer because we chose, instead, to visit Iceland. Iceland is a fantastic, beautiful country that we hope to return to some day. But as the saying goes, there's no place like home.

Here's to country roads, summer sunsets, campfires, walking barefoot in my beloved Platte River, farm cats, comfort food, and life-long friends. The good life.

I first met Amina through the Fenton Street Market here in Silver Spring. She's a craft maiden and owner and operator of a small candle boutique called Handmade Habitat. She makes, by hand, delightful, all-natural soy candles using essential oils. When she asked me to do some styling/product shots for her website, I said, um... YES!

I spent a Sunday morning with Amina (and her pup, Rosie!) at her studio in Takoma Park. We chatted life, love, and The World Cup in a room perfumed by the scents of lavender, pomegranate and grapefruit. It was bliss.

I love Amina's outlook on life, her attention to detail and calm, quiet spirit, and tried to capture those attributes in my work. Here are a few favorites.

One of my favorite parts of the day was getting to spend time in Amina's studio. She takes great inspiration from European literary classics like Jane Eyre, and her studio definitely had some English country flair. It was so eclectically beautiful, and left me feeling cozy, charmed, and at peace.

Finally, I have to give thanks to Holly Booth for the inspiration behind some of these shots. Holly is creative lifestyles and product photographer from the UK. When doing research for this session, I turned to her blog. It's one I read regularly :)

Electrician. Fisherman. Ham Radio Operator. Lover of history. Son. Brother. Husband.
Dad.
Love you!

One of the most important aspects of any wedding day is determining your unique style and look. Finding the perfect photographer, dress and flowers will help, but makeup is the ultimate finishing touch. To help with this important detail, I've enlisted good friend and professional makeup artist Sev Gedra.

Sev specializes in event and special-effects makeup and has a client list that ranges from Cosplay fans to blushing brides. I've asked her to share her expertise for finding the perfect wedding-day look in this five-part series, Makeup Your Photographs.

Hi Everyone! Sev here. I've been a makeup artist for four years. I've worked in high-end makeup stores both as a beauty consultant and brand representative. I currently work as a freelance artist for weddings, events and costumes. Finding your makeup artist for the big day can be difficult if you don’t know where to start. In this series, I'll offer a few quick tips to make your search as easy as possible!

Finding the right artist.
When it comes to finding a makeup artist, word of mouth will most likely give you the best results. Do you have a friend who's gotten married recently? Did she like her artist? Do you like the way she looks in her wedding portraits? Great! Her recommendation is the perfect place to start.

If you're the first of your circle to get married, try going to a convention. Bring your girlfriends and make a day of it. Most importantly, be sure to look at all of your options. A number of different artists usually attend a single convention. Stop and talk with each one. Get to know what makes them unique and what services they can offer you. Encourage each of your friends to spend ten minutes being made up by a different artist, then compare completed looks to figure out which style and pricing system you like best.

Finally, don't forget about the other resources you have available. Wedding photographers and planners may also have leads on makeup artists they’ve previously worked with and can recommend.

Be sure to watch for additional guest posts by Sev! In her next installment, Sev will discuss the questions you should ask your artist.

Progress. That's the name of the game, folks, and I couldn't be happier.

Earlier this week I started physical therapy to help further heal a back injury I sustained about a month ago. The goal is to do exercises with a yoga ball to help strengthen my core muscles. There's bridges and modified bridges and knee lifts. It all looks kinda silly, but I'm so grateful I've made it to this next step.

From here on out, I'll be seeing my back doctor once per week, instead of twice. The best news of all? Any pain I'm experiencing is almost non-existent. It's fabulous, and just in time for the summer photography rush. Stay tuned! There's a lot of exciting things coming down the pike.

Owning and operating a small business is something I never thought I'd do, but I'm finding that I absolutely love it!

As jhPhotography grows, so does my vision for the future of my business, and the ways I can serve customers. With clients’ interests in mind, I am transitioning jhPhotography from a digital-file business to a print-based photography boutique.

By offering high-quality, premium prints, I am able to increase customer service and focus on what matters most: giving my clients an experience they’ll love, rather than just a product.

Below is a list of the new packages available. Full package details can be found on my pricing page.

Have more questions? Check out this Q and A that further discusses the transition and the meaningful reasons behind it.

Q: Why Prints?
The answer to this question is three-fold.

(1) My goal is to serve my customers in the best way I can. By offering high-quality, premium prints, I am able to increase customer service and focus on what matters most: giving my clients an experience they’ll love, rather than just a product. That experience will begin with a client-photographer consultation, and will end with the delivery (yes, the snail-mail kind!) of beautiful prints ready to be framed.

(2) A printed photograph is more than just a piece of glossy paper. It is a symbol of the past, present and future. Let's start with the past. Images conjure memories and, when looking at their photos, I hope clients will remember special times in their lives. Present: As a framed piece, a printed photograph is more than just a memento -- it acts as art. Future: Printed photographs are family records. They document life's major milestones and can become cherished family heirlooms.

(3) As convenient as digital files are, they have limitations. Digital file storage devices like CDs and thumb drives can be lost or damaged. A computer can crash. A laptop can be stolen. Furthermore, once uploaded to a website, a digital photograph is compressed into a low-resolution file. This action cannot be undone, and means a large, high-quality print can never be made from that file.

As our society retreats farther and farther from print, so does a collective knowledge of the printing process. As your photographer, it is my job to make sure all of my clients receive the most use out of their photographs as possible. Print is the best way to do that.

Q: Why Now?
I feel it is best to make this transition now, while jhPhotography is still in its infancy. I want to serve my customers in the best way that I can, and part of that involves earning trust. I realize this drastic change may come as a shock to some, but in the long run, I believe it will allow me to give better customer service while producing a higher quality product.

Q: You increased your prices. Are you going to increase them again?
I did have to make the difficult decision to increase my prices, but those prices reflect a much greater quality of service I will be providing clients. My goal is to make my customers happy, and I believe the new pricing system is fair and reasonable. I do not expect to raise these prices anytime soon.

Q: What can I expect now that jhPhotography is a print-based boutique?
Now that jhPhotography is a print-based boutique, customers can expect an experience tailored specifically to their wants and needs. Here's how:

• Each session booked by a client will come with a complimentary meet n' great + consultation. I want to make customers feel as comfortable as possible, and suggest that this take place at their home or a coffee shop or restaurant of their choice.
  

• Once the photo session is complete, customers will receive a link to a password-secured, online gallery. From here, customers will have the ability to choose which photos they'd like to print and at what size.
  
• Four to six weeks after prints have been purchased, they will arrive via mail in special packaging.

Additional prints can be ordered at any time.

Q: How does the print credit work?
Each package offered comes with a credit for prints. After receiving the link to your password-secured, online gallery, clients will shop for the prints of their choice. Each client will receive a credit code, which they will use prior to checking out of the store.

Any portion of the photo credit not used is non-refundable and cannot be used towards another session. It is encouraged that customers use the full print credit associated with their package.

Q: If I’ve already booked a digital session will I have to pay more?
No. Any customer who has booked a session before May 23 will keep the same package they originally purchased, unless they choose to upgrade. This will include digital files via a secure link, a blog post, and professional, quality service.

Q: If I’ve already book a digital session, can I upgrade to prints? 
Yes! Those who want prints but have booked digital sessions before May 23 can order prints a la cart. I will just need to know that you would like this option.

Q: Can I still get digital prints if I want them?
Yes! As outlined on my pricing page, each package comes with a set number of digital prints, which can be used for sharing on social and other online media.

Just before sitting down to write this blog post, I learned that a young man opened fire on a campus in Seattle. Another young person killed three Canadian Mounted Police. Not long before that, there was a shooting on a campus in Santa Barbara. Of course we are all familiar with Newtown, the shootin in a Colorado Movie Theater, and Columbine.

There is so much wrong with our world -- so much violence and destruction.

And yet, something as simple as my neighborhood farmer's market reminds me that hope is not lost. 

Last weekend, the Takoma Park Farmer's Market invited me to photograph vendors, products and produce for a new project they're working on. I had a fantastic time capturing the beautiful textures and colors of locally grown, fresh foods while meeting area farmers who are so dedicated to their craft.

It wasn't until I got home and began reading more about that market that I realized what an honor it truly was (and still is) to have been asked to document this DC staple. 

The Takoma Park Farmers Market is more than just a leader in the food revolution that is sweeping our country. It is a pioneer on many fronts. It was the first market in the DC area to operate on Sundays and one of the first to be self governing and follow the "producers-only" model.

These things happened because a few people in a single community saw a problem and decided to make positive change. Their actions might not be Earth shattering, but they are making a difference for the hundreds who visit the Takoma Park Market every Sunday -- proof that a little bit of love can go a really long way.

Cliff and I are spoiled by Silver Spring's food scene. Within walking distance of where we live are a number of hole-in-the-wall eateries and cafes that have become some of our favorite restaurants.

But, let's face it. Eating out isn't always cheap. Neither are medical expenses. Between bi-weekly visits to the chiropractor and meals on the go (since my back hasn't allowed me to cook) my family has been spending a lot of money. But hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Now that I’m feeling better, Cliff and I are determined to be more budget conscious. We created a meal plan of home-cooked goodness that will carry us through the next 12 days. Dinners will be at home and leftovers are for lunch the next day. 

Our grocery bill for this food schedule came to just over $80. If all goes according to plan, we'll be able to eat lunch and dinner for $3.45 per person over the next (almost) two weeks!

Here’s our plan: