Advice: equipment for school photography

[thekingb]

I now run a K-8 school and no longer have the joy of being the primary photographer for the school. I'm hiring a digital media specialist who will capture our experience, and that person will most likely have a photography degree. The school needs to provide the equipment. So my question is this: what should I buy?
Budget is tight, so the dream of a 5dII and 70-200 f/2.8 L IS II isn't going to happen. It'll need to be a good APS-C body with lenses that can handle low light.
T3i and 85 f1.8?
The school already owns a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, which I've been happily using as my own and will have to give back. Other ideas?
Thanks!

[William]

Can you give a figure for the budget. Also, what do you require from your equipment, you mentioned low light, what other limitations or expectations do you have? What style of photography will you specialize in or is it a bit of everything. Do you need any accessories that need to be factored into the budget such as a tripod, software, memory cards?


Is K-8 kindergarten to 8yr old?

[DavidEccleston]

William, K-8 is Kindergarten to grade 8 (12-13 year olds).


An 85mm f/1.8 would do nice portraits, and some sports. Depending on your light levels indoors (such as away from windows, during winter), the Tamron

[andnowimbroke]

You might want to wait until you find someone and see what they use. Since he/she is a pro, they will prolly be using Canon. If they are using a better body than what you provide, they might end up using the stuff they are more comfortable with and the money was wasted.

[William]

That

[HDNitehawk]

You might want to wait until you find someone and see what they use. Since he/she is a pro, they will prolly be using Canon. If they are using a better body than what you provide, they might end up using the stuff they are more comfortable with and the money was wasted.

This is good advice.


If someone with a degree in photography is going to be hired, try to find someone who already has there own equipment. Save the money, use it for the school. If I had went to school to get a degree in photography you would think I would have some gear already.

[neuroanatomist]

If I had went to school to get a degree in photography you would think I would have some gear already.

In a thread I'm following on CR, someone planning to attend a photography school in Seattle mentions that they require that students purchase full-frame dSLR. Ouch!

[Dr Croubie]

How