So, I've always knew I wanted to do portrait photography when I grew up, but I've recently discovered that I need to be a grownup ASAP.

I'm getting ready to invest in pretty much everything necessary to do studio and site photography. The whole package...camera, lenses, lighting, backdrops, print media.

I'm looking at cameras and I can't decide if I should get the Nikon D70 or the D80. Does anyone shoot with the D80? I love the shots I see taken with the D70 and they seem incredibly clear and detailed. Is the difference between 6.1 megapixels and 10.1 going to be a huge leap in quality?

Help me make my decisions, please. It's toooooo much info, and too many possibilities.

~L

i bet you'll be happy with either. i have a d50 and it's amazing.

The difference in megapixels won't be that apparent unless you're having them printed quite large and/or you like to crop a lot.

I'm a Canon girl, but if I were buying Nikon and wanting to work professionally, I'd get a D80 or D200. Nikon DSLR Body Comparison Chart - Nikonians.org (http://www.nikonians.org/nikon/nikon_dslr_chart.html)

Have you been to ILP? Have any of you been there? LOL! C'mon over...great boards! Will help you decide too! :D
ILP (Powered by Invision Power Board) (http://ilovephotography.com/forums/)

PS -- What are you looking at ASFA backdrops, lights, etc. :) I love to talk shop!

Thanks for the opinions, everyone.

I do lurk at ILP, Michelle, but I don't post yet because I'm not even to the portfolio building stage yet and I really need a decent camera before I post any pics for critique.

As far as lighting goes, I'm looking at a couple of Alien Bee s, a softbox and a decent reflector for starters. I'm trying to keep my lighting under $800.

Backgrounds are, hopefully, coming from Silverlake. I have been on the Silverlake forums (lurky, as always) for almost a year and I love their hand-painted muslins. They have a group buy there, too, that makes their 10X20's under $150 each.

~L

Good choice on the ABs. They're great! I sold everything last spring when funds were super-tight but can't wait to get more. The bees w/softbox + reflector will be awesome.

I held onto my favorite thing...a 10x20 Silverlake. It's a mismatch so not on their site but tans/blues...just gorgeous. You will love their drops. They are more stunning in person than in pics. And so versatile depending on how you light them. I've had Charcoal, All Natural, Polar, Sand Cave and Felsic (a couple of those were 6x9's I got on Ebay really cheap and then I did the "buy 2, get one" deal on 10x20s. They are all to die for. The bad thing is choosing between them--especially as they introduce more and more! :)

sooo how's it comin'?