The further someone dives into their photographic career, the more cameras become an attachment of themselves.
You can choose to splurge and purchase the best of the best cameras and all of the accessories. From beginner to advanced cameras, to tripods and monopods, to countless batteries and chargers. Yet, in all actuality it doesn’t take a lot to take photos. Sometimes all you need is a camera, a lens and a battery.
So, let’s go through the essential items that many professionals have on hand at most times.
- Cameras
- You won’t get far without a camera, you can use a beginner “cheaper” camera, or decided to spend more to get higher quality photos. Although a photographer is only as good as their camera. There are main brands of cameras, from Canon, Sony, Nikon and many more. Even in the modern age, smart phones come with built in cameras that can take good quality pictures.
- Lenses
- Another viral item a photographer must always carry is a lens. Many professionals carry multiple at one time as there is different variation of zoom lengths. From wide angles, to midsized and even ultra zoom. No lens is the same and it’s important to research which lens is best for what your photography niche is.
- Batteries and Chargers
- The last must have equipment is batteries and chargers, most cameras will come with multiple rechargeable batteries but it’s important to have extras on hand.
- Tripods and Monopods
- To get a perfect angle and ensure the formatting of your photo, many photographers invest in a tripod, which is a three-legged stand that cameras can be mounted on top of. There are also monopods which are single legged stands that many sports photographers use during matches. Both stands can be adjusted to any size.
- Camera Flashes
- Most cameras come with a built-in flash on top, but there is also larger “speedlights” that can illuminate a space in seconds. Many indoor/studio photographers invest in larger stand lights for a maximum light.
- Hard Drives
- It is important to store photos properly to have quick access to them if you need to go back to previous shoots. Hard drives are a great way to store photos if you have a computer to upload the raw photos. Raw photos mean unedited or altered pictures straight from a camera.
- Memory Cards
- Another very important item is memory cards. Different cameras take different memory cards, but usually SD cards are the most popular for digital. Memory cards are what pictures load to after each photo is taken, the cards can be loaded on the hard drives or computers after a shoot.
- Filters
- Starter camera kits are available at many online and in person photography stores. Many kits come with filters, which can be attached to the ends of lens to get different hues and styles of photos.
- Camera Bag
- If you make the decision to purchase multiple cameras, lens and accessories, it could be very beneficial to invest in a camera bag to hold all of your gear. A bag will not only give you storage, but it can also provide protection to your gear from weather.
- Editing Software
- One last thing many photographers find helpful is a form of editing software. While it is possible to get away with not using software, it can help make your photos the style you want them to be and fix any imperfections in quality.
You can find many shops that sell gear in person, but cameras and accessories are also available on many online websites.
You also don’t need to spend large amounts of money on each to have high quality gear. A little can go a long way.
Photographer Focus 