You don’t need much to get started.

Photography isn’t about the equipment you use or how much you have; it’s about telling a story through a photograph. It doesn’t matter whether it comes from a camera that takes film or your smartphone, it just needs to tell a story. I’ve said in previous blogs that you don’t need the best camera, but that also holds true for most of your equipment. There are many things you can get to use alongside your camera, some essential and others not so much. What I carry in my bag can depend on where I am heading but it stays constant for the most part. I’ll go through the items I use, what I recommend, and things I think are good investments.

1} Camera and Lenses

I’ve been through cameras before, so I’ll just recommend that you have a camera body or phone that you are comfortable with. As for lenses, I had used the kit lenses that came with my camera until recently when I bought two new lenses. I am certain that I will still use my kit lenses, but as I started to get into different types of photography, I thought it would benefit me. I recommend having two lenses with different ranges when you start because it can provide flexibility in trying to capture various shots. I believe the 18-55mm and 55-250mm that came with my Canon EOS 80D were perfect to begin with. As a beginner, it has the range I need to capture landscapes and cityscapes but also zoom in with the 55-250mm when I needed to. The primary lens I shoot with is the 18-55mm since it does fulfill my needs for almost every shot I encounter. I recently got a Sigma 10-20mm lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens so that I could do more with my landscapes and cityscapes, but also to help me get into real estate photography. I thought this was a good investment because it opened me up to other opportunities and gave me a chance to try something new. The other new lens I bought was the Canon 50mm f/1.8. I got this one because ever since quarantine began, I started doing self-portraits and portraits of friends since there wasn’t much else to do, and I wanted to better the quality and my skills in taking portraits. When I got the lens, I was on the fence of whether I wanted to keep it, but after I used it a couple of times, the bokeh and image quality was so nice that I had to keep it. Now, after almost two years, I have four lenses that help me do different things. I plan to carry at least three of them wherever I go, but I do recommend having two with you. Additionally, if you’re using a phone, there are lens attachments you can buy off amazon that can help you turn your standard camera lens into a wide-angle or zoom lens.

2) Accessories

I like to break up accessories into two parts because there are some that you should spend a little more money on and others that you don’t have to. First and probably the most important, I would say, is an sd card. Without an sd card, your camera doesn’t have a place to store the pictures you take. A good quality sd card is also necessary because if you get a cheap sd card, there is a higher chance that it can get corrupted and lose the pictures you had on there, so it’s safe just to spend a little more. I use Sandisk sd cards, two 32gb ones, that came with my camera, that I use for back up and two 128gbs that I spent a little more on that are my primaries. Sandisk is by no means the best sd card brand you can get, but I didn’t need to get the absolute best, just something better than standard ones that came with my camera. Furthermore, getting a good tripod is also a must. You are trusting it with your camera or phone, so making sure it’s a good quality tripod is important. I have a Bonofoto tripod that I carry almost everywhere and a gorilla tripod, just in case I encounter a situation that requires a more extreme angle. It’s also smaller and much easier to carry around. I recommend getting a full-sized tripod, but if you don’t feel like having a big piece of equipment, then getting a small one that fits into any bag would be the way to go. This next accessory will help you carry your equipment, so it must be durable and comfortable. Having a camera bag with padding, enough space for your stuff, and being comfortably carry it long distances is important. I had bought a camera bag off Amazon thinking it was good, but after a couple of days it broke so I had to look for a better one. I found that many people recommended Peak Design and their Everyday Backpack. This was a big investment because the bag was $250, but looking at the quality, its durability, and customizability, it makes it worth the price. The bag as more than enough space to carry my equipment, including a laptop and/or tablet, and it’s comfortable to use. You don’t need a bag as expensive as this, but having one that protects your stuff and feels good to wear is important.

The other accessories I carry are a little cheaper but still do the job. The most important, during this time is my face-mask since cases are increasing everywhere and it’s important to protect yourself and others. Extra batteries are inexpensive but can be very important. Having backup batteries can be lifesavers when you’re wandering in a city or nature. Batteries can last a while; however, if you are taking tons of pictures or taking videos, you can quickly drain the battery. I have four extra batteries and they have helped me in many situations. It’s better to have backup, rather than regretting it when you need it. Similarly, having a camera strap can also be helpful in some situations. Many people don’t like having that weight around their neck, but sometimes it’s necessary and having a strap on your camera or in your bag can be helpful. I use the Peak Design Leash as my camera strap, and I like it because it has an easy clip system that allows you to attach and detach the strap quickly. Another accessory is one that I got when quarantine started. I bought a knock-off Lume Cube from Amazon, which is essentially a little portable cube that emits light and has color filters. A Lume Cube usually runs about $90.00, but this knock-off is about $25.00 and works just about the same. I usually carry this around, because it is so compact and can be useful in many scenarios. In some cases, I will carry my flash with me, but it is much larger. My flash is also another item that came with my camera, and there are probably much better ones, but it does what I need it to. Unless y0u plan on using a flash often then, I would recommend not buying an expensive flash. I also recommend having a microfiber lens cleaning cloths with you, so you can wipe off any dust partials that may get on your lens. All the lenses I’ve gotten came with cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. This next one isn’t really a camera accessory but it is very handy. I always carry a pair of headphones in my bag, because when you’re alone walking around, having headphones to listen to your favorite songs can be very nice. Music helps t0 inspire me, so I like being able to listen to my music whenever I go out for a shoot on my own. Obviously, if you’re going out to shoot a model or with your friends, don’t have them in your ear, but it’s helpful when you’re alone.

I have other equipment that I use, but I don’t usually keep them in my bag because I use them in specific instances. For example, I have a lens ball, but I only take it if I think it’ll be useful since it can take up space and adds a little weight to the bag. Sometimes you don’t even need to carry a bag with you, and sometimes you do but with just the essentials. Taking all your equipment with you is a waste of energy and can be unnecessary because you won’t be using all of it for the most part. I try to only carry the essentials, from a few lenses, sd cards, the knock-off Lume Cube, a tripod, and a water bottle. When I am out for a long time, it can be tiresome to carry so much stuff around, so I limit the number of things I take with me and plan ahead to make sure I have the right equipment.

Let me know what your favorite camera accessory is below!