I’ve put all the equipment I currently use regularly into a spreadsheet with affiliate links to them on Amazon. If you want that spreadsheet, click where it says “CLICK HERE.” Then make a copy of the spreadsheet. If you want to browse, the list is copied underneath the link. Below that list is my philosophical ramblings behind equipment and what you should prioritize.
CLICK HERE –https://bit.ly/3MluUOx
Go-To Gear
Gh5 batteries https://amzn.to/3CP1l4H
100-400mm https://amzn.to/3lZrTbQ
14 MM https://amzn.to/3adJ4nG
Peak Design Tripod https://amzn.to/3adJ4nG
Hex Ranger https://amzn.to/3x2vrk9
12 MM Rokinon https://amzn.to/3a2yNdL
128GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card https://amzn.to/3t6yCVl
Support Gear
Movo mic https://amzn.to/37yUuAZ
Lavalier https://amzn.to/3KPB7BM
Flexible Phone Mount https://amzn.to/3adJ4nG
Flash Gells https://amzn.to/3x06ghT
Ghillie Suit https://amzn.to/38STWqL
LED Lights https://amzn.to/3x2vrk9
Seemless Paper https://amzn.to/3lZr3vY
Wall Mount https://amzn.to/38vQOka
Geekoto Video Tripod Head https://amzn.to/3NeMPHK
14-140 MM https://amzn.to/3LZmts8
Fog Machine https://amzn.to/3N2O6lk
Camping
Emergency Beacon https://amzn.to/38xzYS1
Headlamp https://amzn.to/3a8uM7u
Stove https://amzn.to/3x230m4
Thermarest https://amzn.to/3lY90Gd
Vendor
Table cover https://amzn.to/3wb7uqO
Canopy https://amzn.to/3x06ghT
Square card reader https://amzn.to/3tZtOAW
Square dock – POS https://amzn.to/3I8tEfC
Office
Storage Cubes https://amzn.to/3adJ4nG
There is no doubt that photography starts with a camera. It can be any camera of any make, any type, but you can begin to capture images once you have it. You can capture random moments or scenes created. Every photographer, from the starry-eyed student to the master inside their studio, has a plethora of equipment they use for photography. It starts with a camera; it ends up being so much more.
The goal of this article is to give you a quick overview and general list of standard tools or terms used by photographers. Use it as the starting point to decide what equipment you would like to buy.
In my personal experience beginning to explore photography, I knew what I wanted, but I didn’t know the terms or keywords to search for them. I hope this blog post helps beginners take that leap toward understanding what equipment they need for photography.
In my humble opinion, photography is one of the most expensive interests a person can have. The list of equipment you can buy to support your ability to capture an image and communicate in a way that accurately shares your message is endless. Still, I’ve developed a personal system to help make decisions and categorize equipment.
There are three areas of focus for photography equipment. The core essentials or basic necessities, then there is the supplementary equipment or support that facilitates the actions of photography. Finally, the extras can be fulfilled by things you might use on a rare occasion or once.
Your goals and budget limit how much equipment you have and what you buy. Are you going to be shooting while carrying all your gear on a 100-mile backpacking trip, or will you be in a studio taking portraits of high fashion models? Do you want to create a sense of candid spontaneity or surreal fantasy beyond the imagination? Each of these goals or conditions requires a different set of equipment, and learning how to prioritize them will help you make purchasing decisions.
Photography Basics
These two items are the most essential parts of your kit. These are the items you should be willing to spend the most significant part of your budget on. Here are some thoughts to consider if you buy one of these items.
1. Camera
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The camera is the distinguishing factor for photography. Without it, you are doing a different type of art. You need a mechanism that captures light and records it so the scene can be witnessed at another time. There are hundreds of different kinds of cameras you can buy. One of my challenges, when I began taking pictures was not knowing what type of photography I wanted to focus on. Knowing what subjects you want to photograph and the scenes, they will be in will help narrow down your camera choices.
Every brand of camera excels in one area or another. Learning the subtle differences between cameras is an expensive test, but answering these questions will help you understand what to look for when purchasing a camera.
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Does it use interchangeable lenses?
What line of lenses can I use with this camera?
How many frames per second can it shoot?
How many pixels are the pictures it takes?
Does it have in-body stabilization?
Is it waterproof?
How heavy is this camera?
How replaceable is this type of camera?
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I advise first-time buyers to buy the cheapest camera that allows them to experiment in the field of photography you are looking to join. Learning what frustrates you the most with a cheap camera will inform you what camera you want to invest a lot of money in. Also, learning how to carry a camera and when you could potentially break it is part of the learning curve when you get your first camera. Don’t stress about the first camera. I say buy cheap when unsure, then go all in when you know what you want.
2. Publishing Device
At the heart of photography is the idea that it is a form of communication. It is the medium by which we share emotions and communicate ideas displayed by an arrangement of objects and light. The image captured isn’t meant to exist hidden away; it is to be seen by at least one person. I might even argue it is intended to be seen by at least two, but ultimately I do photography for me and not anyone else.
Your publishing device is also your editing device. I debated what to call this item and decided publishing would take an explanation. Still, it is the mindset I want to reinforce for anyone considering photography as a hobby.
There is immense joy in taking the picture you were hoping to capture. When you share this image and connect with another person, it touches on that level of humanity that builds community and empathy. History is written with images. Movements are propelled by pictures. Brands grow and die with the shots they are associated with. All of these things can only happen if you publish your image. Don’t let them live on your hard drive.
In the modern mode of doing photography, you will need a computer and a cellphone to edit and publish your pictures. I see a future soon where a cellphone/iPad or tablet is all you need.
My best resources for getting a good pc are
Lots of information on what other people are using to build their PCs. Shows a budget and the latest tech. Will stay up to date. It isn’t biased towards specific companies. It can be an information overload.
This is a Reddit forum where people share their considered build from PCPartPicker. You can share what you want to do, and people will guide you through the process. They have so many resources for what to consider. Even if you are buying a prebuilt pc, I highly recommend posting on this forum because they will have insights into the parts that will become the foundation for your photography.
This is for laptops, but the people in this forum are passionate about getting the best deals. Share the detailed needs of what you are looking for, and I am sure you will get a couple responses. I use this forum mostly to get a second opinion of what I have independently researched. Occasionally they will point out issues or improvements I never considered.
Lenses
The creative work that a photographer does with their camera is framed by the abilities of their lenses. The camera records the light, but the lens funnels it in. This is where your money should go if you want better “Quality” in your images. Expensive lenses, simply put, capture light better.
Lenses are measured by two elements their focal length and their aperture, seen as “400mm f4.”
The greater the focal length, the further you can capture images. The 400mm can focus very far, but the closet object the lens can focus on is 400mm away. The human eye has a focal length of about 22.7mm. If you want people to experience something abnormal, use lenses with a focal length larger or smaller than 20-25mm.
The lower the f-number, the more light captured. The f-number or aperture was probably one of the most confusing things in photography for me as a beginner. A smaller number means a bigger aperture. Typically lenses with a smaller numbered aperture or f-number are described as “faster.”
Support Equipment
I feel this equipment category is why you find photographers using storage facilities to manage all of their equipment. There are endless things that will “improve” your photography. I feel that each of these things I put in this category has hard evidence of use cases and should be considered by budding photographers. Some of these almost belong in the basics but are not absolutely required for photography, so I put them at the top of Support Equipment.
Tripods
You don’t absolutely need a tripod, but it might be the second most common piece of equipment. The difference between a good tripod and a bad tripod is how effective it facilitates your work. The more expensive tripods shave seconds off the time to deploy. They are hardier and sturdier. Doing wildlife and adventure photography, I wanted a tripod I could trust to hold my camera even if I were to walk away from it. After investing in a camera and decent lenses, I focused on my tripod.
SD Cards
Short-term storage used by your camera. Your camera manufacturer will recommend what cards work best with your camera, but if you are really interested in learning more, I found this blog https://alikgriffin.com/ultimate-guide-memory-cards/ to have great information. The general rule I’ve followed for my cards is to have double the SD Cards that my camera can hold. My GH5 can hold two, so I have four cards with me when I do a shoot.
Hard drives
Long-term storage of your media. This is where you keep a record of all your work. It becomes a library for you to create compilations and provide customers with old media if they require it. This is also how you prove your ownership if you find someone else using your work without permission.
The hardest lesson I learned early on in my journey with photography was the importance of having two copies of everything. I went on the journey of a lifetime, spending months in Asia and even going to North Korea. I stored everything on one hard drive. Sadly within weeks of being back in the United States, my backpack with that hard drive was stolen, and I lost all the work I had spent the better part of a year doing.
There are hundreds of systems you can buy, but the technology for storage is advancing rapidly. What would have cost me $500 when I started photography in 2016 now only costs $100. I recommend you buy what you can afford and follow the rule of having two copies in different locations.
Filters
An analogy for filters is that they are different types of hair on the painter’s brushes. Some styles of filters are absolutely critical and will elevate your photography in terms of sharpness and clarity. Others are more artsy and subjective. For brands of photography filters that I recommend…I can not. There are too many, and I haven’t been able to invest in this area enough to give a confident recommendation. However, these filters are the ones that I have found very useful.
Types of filters that I have seen that almost every photographer should have?
ND-
Limiting the light so your camera can use different settings to capture the scene. Think of them as sunglasses. This is also a common filter for creating blur with motion, commonly seen in the water.
Polarizer-
The polarizer filter changes the angle of the light when it hits the lens, cutting some of the glare off of reflections and liquids. Makes water more see-through and wet scenes not so sparkly.
Lights-
Once you understand the basics of photography, you can manipulate light to create scenes to your liking. It is a skill that allows magic to happen before the picture is even taken. It cuts down time spent in post-editing pictures and is a hallmark of an experienced photographer. There are three types of lights that photographers use.
Natural-
Natural light is provided by the surroundings. Some photographers use reflectors and screens to help control this light. This is the cheapest form of light but the most difficult to get consistent results from.
Constant-
Before LED lights, this form of lighting was expensive and hot. It is becoming more common for photographers to use constant lights, but how many lights it takes to create a scene will surprise you. This tool is commonly used by videographers and is so appealing to photographers who blend the two classes of an artist.
Flash-
Lightweight and practical, this method has been the go-to tool for portrait and retail photography for generations. The learning curve is steep and requires a whole lot of experimentation to become familiar with it, but once you do, that skill can be easily monetized.
Backgrounds-
Looking past your subject and seeing the environment surrounding them is a skill that great photographers develop. They find patterns, shapes, and colors to bring meaning to their photos. You can also create the background using stands, sheets, and props.
Here are some common terms used in regards to backgrounds in photography. I highly recommend researching them before purchasing any equipment. They will help you envision the scene you are trying to create.
Composition-
The positioning of the subject within its environment.
Rule of Thirds-
This is a shared practice to help with composition. The idea is that images are more pleasing when the subject is placed on a grid thirds.
Foreground-
This describes the space between the bottom of the image and the subject.
Leading Lines-
A pattern commonly found in photography uses unconventional objects to form lines that point at the subject. This can be done with shade or cracks in the rock, the steps of a staircase, or the positioning of flower petals. It is an opportunity to get creative and help the viewer focus on the subject and message of an image.
Now that you are familiar with some of the basic concepts of a photography scene, here are some pieces of equipment you can use to help shape it.
Common Tools
Backdrops-
These are fabrics and paper and can be mounted on various stands. Fabrics tend to be longer-lasting but are harder to keep wrinkle-free. Paper backdrops are flat and easily replaced but don’t withstand movement or liquids as easily.
Stand-
Used for backdrops and lights. Tripods are the go-to, but C stands are an excellent tool for studios or locations where you won’t be traveling a lot. I like mounting my backdrops to the wall and using them in a dedicated room, but if you need more flexibility, c stands are the standard.
