The Must-Have Photography Equipment in My Kit
Hi, my lovely friends and fellow creatives. I thought it was about time to finally share the must-have photography equipment I use for my personal projects and my client photoshoots. I've always found these posts incredibly insightful, so I thought it's about time I share my own gear essentials. Hopefully, if any of you have been deliberating on the right equipment to kickstart your photography journey, my experiences and insights can be of some help.
Camera Body:
A few years back, I hit a creative wall with my trusty old Nikon, which encouraged me to start searching for a new camera. After doing some thorough research and getting input from my partner, I settled on the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.
Four years later, I'm still happy with my camera and would recommend it to anyone serious about taking their photography to the next level. It's user-friendly and equipped with all the necessary specifications for high-quality photos. I love the face tracking for portraits and the touchscreen functionality, making menu navigation a breeze.
It's important to mention that since this camera is a DSLR, it might feel heavy and bulky to some people, especially during long handheld shoots. But if you enjoy using a tripod like I do, this might not be a big problem.
Overhead shot with the K&F Concept Camera Tripod
Lenses:
If you're stepping into the vast world of photography as a beginner, I'd advise against jumping straight into investing in a pricey lens. Unless you're absolutely certain about what you need and have the option to rent a lens for a trial run, there's a good chance you can achieve a similar look without burning a hole in your pocket. Going for some budget-friendly lenses can be a smart move, saving you a fortune especially when you are just starting out.
In my lens collection, I have two versatile options that cover travel, portrait, lifestyle, and food photography. I love both of them and haven't felt the need to splash out on more expensive lenses. They do an excellent job for both my personal projects and client work.
CANON EF 24-105MM F/3.5-5.6 IS STM
This lens is my go-to! It's super versatile and probably gets the most use out of all my lenses. It has amazing zoom and a small f-stop, which means I can get that beautiful blurry background for portraits and nail those close-up shots for food photography. Plus, it's great for capturing both close-ups and wider scenes without having to switch lenses. It saves me a ton of time and helps avoid any accidents when I need to change setups quickly.
The second lens in my collection is also famous among photographers as the "nifty fifty" lens. It’s a prime lens and, like any other lens, has its pros and cons. To be honest, I don’t use this lens much for food photography because it lacks zoom abilities and would require me to adjust the entire setup, especially if I'm not shooting handheld. However, I do love this lens for portraits. It allows for a large aperture and shallow depth of field, which lets in more light and creates a beautiful bokeh in the background. If you're into shooting portraits and appreciate a lovely bokeh, I highly recommend getting this lens. It's one of the cheapest lenses available and does a very good job.
Tripod:
In all honesty, I’ve owned only two tripods, and both have been very good. However, when I started to take photography more seriously, I wanted to invest in a new tripod that would easily allow me to take top-down shots, offer more height adjustment options, and be light enough to carry to location shoots.
I spent a few days properly researching and reading reviews. In the end, I chose the K&F Concept 94 Inch Camera Tripod. It’s also very popular among food photographers, as I’ve seen it on social media quite often.
K&F Concept 94 Inch Camera Tripod
It’s now been nearly 2 years since I got it, and overall, I’m very happy with this tripod. The only negative I’ve found is that if you want to shoot bigger scenes, the arm that you need to extend for these types of photo shoots will be too short. It also takes up a lot of space as it has 3 legs. If these two negatives are deal-breakers for you, I would recommend getting a C-stand instead.
If you are unsure whether you need a tripod, I can assure you that having one is very useful, especially in low-light environments or scenarios where you need to move freely or are shooting tethered. Mounting a camera to a tripod will also allow you to solely focus on building the scene and lower your shutter speed to increase exposure in low-light situations while avoiding a blurry, low-quality end result.
Camera Bag:
With camera bags, it's all about personal preference. It depends on the types of photoshoots you mostly do and whether you plan to carry it all day or just use it for transporting equipment from one place to another.
My first bag was rather large, and I rarely used it for that reason. Back then, all I had was a camera body and one lens, which could easily fit into a handbag.
For my first ten or so photoshoots, I borrowed an everyday backpack with good padding, which served its purpose. But soon, I realized it was time to invest in a proper camera backpack that would be easy to carry, securely hold all my equipment, and make it easy to find what I need during photoshoots.
The Lowepro Fastpack backpack that I currently own I have used several times now and can only say good things about it. It’s practical, with many thoughtful pockets and places to store all your gear. It will easily hold 2 camera bodies and 2-3 lenses, a tripod, a laptop, batteries, and other bits that you decide to take with you. It’s very comfortable on your back and overall is very well made.
However, this is a backpack that you would need to carry from and to your location as it’s not that easy to quickly grab and switch lenses if you are doing portrait or wedding photography where you are on the go all day.
External Flash/ Lighting Equipment:
When I realized that I can’t always rely on natural light and there will always be scenarios where I need artificial light I started seriously considering investing in professional lights. The first light I got was a continuous light from Godox. This is a great light if you prefer to see the scene as it would look in your camera when you capture it. I find that this is an easier option for beginner photographers as it allows you to observe how light hits objects and creates shadows. It’s also perfect if you film short videos as it’s a very powerful light and you can easily adjust the power and warmth of the light to create the most fitting atmosphere.
After a couple of years, I also decided that I needed a flash that would have the power to freeze the motion and I could use it for portrait and event photography too. I do have to add that it will require some learning as it’s a lot more complicated to understand how to work with it, however, once you get the basics down it will become your best ‘friend’ that you can always rely on, especially in scenarios where a decent light source is not an option.
Andoer Godox SB-UE 80cm / 31.5in Portable Octagon Softbox
Godox 50x130cm Rectangular Softbox
Godox V860III-C Camera Flash Speedlite
Godox Xpro-C TTL Wireless Flash Trigger
Godox ML60Bi Bi-Colour LED Video Light With S-Type Smart Bracket
Editing Software:
I mostly use the Adobe Suite to edit my photos or videos, a practice I've maintained since my days studying interior design over 10 years ago. I consistently rely on Lightroom for tethering, basic color correction, and local adjustments. However, when it comes to more intensive post-processing tasks such as changing colors, focus stacking, or creating stop motions, I switch over to Photoshop. Additionally, there's an awesome generative fill feature available, which can be quite handy for adding elements to your photos.
For beginners, I highly recommend opting for the most basic photography plan, which includes both Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. If you're using this for your own personal projects, it will only cost you £9.98 per month, making it a worthwhile investment in your editing skills.
Accessories:
As a food and product photographer, light modifiers are essential tools for me. My favorite is the A-3 light reflector card, which I rely on heavily during my photoshoots. It's incredibly easy to use and compact, making it indispensable. For larger scenes or situations where a smaller light diffuser isn't sufficient, I highly recommend investing in a collapsible 60x90cm light reflector/diffuser. These often come with silver and gold finishes, as well as black and translucent sides, providing plenty of options for your photoshoots.
Another useful accessory is a remote shutter button, which is typically easy to install and use. It's perfect for capturing photos or videos from a distance, especially when you're working alone.
To wrap it up, having the right gear as a photographer is like having the perfect tools for any job. Whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or delicious food photos, your equipment choice really matters. It's not just about the camera and lenses but also about handy accessories like tripods, bags, and light modifiers that help you nail that perfect shot. And when it's time to put the finishing touches on your photos, editing software like Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop can take them to the next level. I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful!
