Clueless and need help

[MosesKhan]

I am hoping someone here can come to my rescue. My wife has been wanting a new camera for quite some time and her birthday and Christmas are both not too far off. The problem is... as photography goes, I know how to snap a selfie; and as cameras go, I know my phone has one.

So I am now seeking out the collective wisdom and experience of this subreddit to help me find a camera that would be good for shooting primarily weddings, maternity photos, and portraits on a budget of around $500.

Now, I remind you all that I know less than Jon Snow about what I am getting myself into here. So, if you look at what I posted and think I should probably take my $500 save some money, and buy her an iPad and a nice dinner instead, feel free to tell me so, because I truly have no clue if this is even a reasonable endeavour on that budget.

[bwa]

If your wife wants to shoot astrophotography, you're in the right place.  Otherwise, go to a camera store and talk to a clerk.

bwa