I recently shared how I take my own blog photos or family photos using a tripod and remote. To follow up on that, I’m sharing the photography gear I use to take my blog and social media photos. I find that these items are all I really need to take quality photos and video, although I would always love new lenses to experiment with.
My gear:
Shutter Remote: This allows me to snap photos with the click of a button. I simple turn on the wireless remote settings on my Nikon. I set it to quick release vs. delay. The minor downside to this is that you have to hide the remote in your shot.
Nikon D3200: I have been using this camera for almost two years now. I find that it works perfectly and I have no need to upgrade yet. I do wish I had kept my other Nikon, but I sold it to be more minimalistic. Next time I upgrade I will keep my older camera.
Nikon AF-S NIkkor 24mm lens: I wanted a wide angle lens to work for all sorts of shots and this one had positive reviews. I have no complaints about it. I love it!
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm lens: This gives you those shots with blurry background, if that’s what you’re looking for. It can be hard to get the shot because the photographer has to move back or forward to get the right framing. It works well for low-light situations, too.
Dolica tripod: A photography workshop instructor recommended this to me years ago and I’ve been using it since. The downside is that I broke the leg by not folding it up properly, but Dolica sent me a replacement. I have since broken another leg and I need to fix it. I still think it’s a sturdy tripod though, especially to use outdoors.
Ring Light: This has helped with photos and video that needed to be shot during the Chicago area winter. It gets so dark that we have little natural light in our home, and that’s when I rely on this light. I basically just use it for extra lighting when needed.
Drone: I love using the drone while traveling to capture amazing video. I wish we would use it more but some places ban drones and we haven’t been traveling as much as we did in the past. We plan to use it whenever we can, especially now that we have a second drone. (I won it in a giveaway!)
GoPro and Karma Grip: The GoPro is great for underwater video and photos and when you’re doing outdoor activities and sports, but I don’t like the look of the video as much as when I shoot with a DSLR. We still love the GoPro for on-the-go video, though. The Karma Grip helps stabilize the camera so you’re not left with shakey footage.
External Hard Drive: This is a must for backing up your work.
Reflectors: I don’t use these as often but they help with lighting and shadows when taking photos.
Lens Protective Filter: This has saved me hundreds of dollars by protecting my lenses when the camera was dropped. Highly worth it and necessary!
I also use a wireless adapter to send photos to my phone to post them quickly to social media.
What would you consider your photography essentials?
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