As much as I love having a cheap, good photographer on hand (we've used a student for 3 years who charges about 65$ a session), I love, love taking pictures on my own and I think I'd like to start doing my own awesome photography of my LO. Currently though, I have a so-so point and shoot, and it's just not getting the job done.

SO has said that we might be able to fit a nice camera into the Xmas budget, but I have no idea where to start. DSLR? Nice point and shoot? Lenses? Other thingies? What kind of editing software do you use?

So, my photographer bees, tell me what I need to know! I need camera recommendations (let's keep it under 600$ if possible, and if it's not, tell me that too!), and anything else you can tell me that might be helpful!

Shout out to rawrasaur because she took awesome pics of Gwen this weekend and is motivating me to get my own fancy camera