TOP 10 BASIC ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER IN 2022
You might have seen those beautiful images on Instagram and have been inspired to go beyond just using your phone camera and start learning how to take photographs, we have you covered. We picked out the top 9 basic items that every photographer should have and why it will help you in your photography journey. If you are starting out in photography do check out our article on how to kick start this journey.
Contents:
Camera
Lenses
Tripod
Memory cards
Reflector
Camera bag / Carrying Gear
Camera Cleaning Kits
External memory drive.
Software.
Lighting equipment (Advance)
1) CAMERA: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE.
The obvious, we definitely need a camera to start with. There are many formats of cameras that are out there. There are DSLRs camera, mirrorless cameras, micro four thirds cameras, medium format cameras and phone cameras just to name a few. After that, there are various brands ranging from Sony, Canon Nikon, Phase One to exotic luxury brands like Leica and Hasselblad. These wide selections of cameras can be confusing especially if you are looking to get your first camera or you are new to photography. We at The Finishing Touch Studio have used various models of cameras and we realised one thing, what camera you use, depends on what you have to produce. If you are a budding photographer that takes photos for your own enjoyment and hobby, the camera you used is not all that important. Most cameras nowadays are quite capable of taking pretty good images, even your phone camera. Unless you are thinking of printing a very huge print like a billboard, the format of the camera is not crucial. However, if you are a working professional, understanding camera formats is crucial, as it clients have various demands, and using the right format will deliver the results you need for the final output.
2) LENSES: CHOOSING THE RIGHT SYSTEM
Lenses are another consideration when you are buying a camera system. Every camera brand has a different set of combinations that might factor in your buying choice. There are prime lenses and zoom lenses. Prime lenses are single focal length lenses that are usually great in image quality and low in f-stops (also know as low apertures) which allow more light in. Zoom lenses are usually very versatile as they offer multiple focal lengths in one package. They tend to be bulkier and image quality might suffer a little due to their complicated zoom mechanism. Zoom lenses are also usually higher in the F-stop range compared to prime lenses. However, in recent times, zoom lenses sharper are getting better with each iteration by lens manufacturers.
For starters, a 24-105mm or 24-70mm lens is great for almost everything. A 50mm prime lens is also another must-have in the bag. We at The Finishing Touch Studio have shot almost half of our images on a 50mm prime lens and it is still our first go-to lens for most of our jobs. It is just that versatile.
Choosing the right camera brand that suits your style is important. for. Do research more in to which system fits your style and workflow. It might get costly switching systems.
3) TRIPOD: THE WORKHORSE
The solid bedrock of photography literally is the tripod. Without this tool, many shots are not possible. We will have tonnes of blurry images. Expensive tripods are made of exotic materials that make them super light yet strong such as carbon fiber tripods. There are various types of mounting systems and features such as quick-release legs and whatnot. You should be able to get a decent tripod for a couple of hundred dollars such as the Manfrotto tripods which are popular and relatively affordable. The tripod is a must-have for landscape photographers and product photographers. It is always a good practice to use a tripod for shots that requires images to be tack sharp especially in low light.
4) MEMORY CARDS: BUY THE BEST
Everything that you capture is stored here. There are plenty of options nowadays. However, it boils down to mainly, how large the storage space in the card is and how fast is the card. The larger the storage space and the faster it is will definitely cost more. Choose reputable brands such as Sandisk or Samsung to ensure they are made will as if they fail, all your images will be gone, and it has happened to even the best brands, so do not skim on this item and spend the money to get a good one.
5) REFLECTORS: BOUNCE THAT LIGHT
Reflectors are quite underrated. They are simply a reflective surface for you to bounce light off. When they are used correctly, they can produce wonderful results. They can be said to be a bread and butter item for the working photographer. Get one and try them out in various situations. They can be used to fill in the shadows to make it lighter on the white surfaces or if you use the sliver or gold surfaces, you can transform it in to an instant secondary light source if you have a strong main light.
6) CAMERA BAGS / CARRYING GEAR : PROTECT AND ORGANISE
Everything we are talking about needs to be protected. We are talking about expensive equipment that needs to go places. One item that all photography houses have is camera bags. Your camera bags because of the number of items you might have to carry for your photography. Thick padded bags are recommended to ensure peace of mind when moving equipment around especially when you are traveling. Camera bag brands are everywhere. Many have come up from kick-starter designer bags such as Peak Design or there are big camera gear companies such as Manfrotto to Lowepro if you prefer more mainstream brands.
You will want a good bag for your camera gear. We cannot emphasise enough how important having a good camera bag will improve your shooting experience and enjoyment. Functionality and features are varied from bag to bag and every brand has a unique idea on how to safely keep your equipment and how to get them out easily.
7) CAMERA CLEANING KITS: USE THE RIGHT STUFF
Everything needs to be cleaned, from your house to your car and down a long list of items. It is the same for your camera gear. Dirt, dust and moisture can get in to the bodies of camera, lenses and accessories. Camera gear is expensive items, so make sure you use the right material for the right item. For e.g, if your lens is dirty, use a professional cleaning kit. You do not want to damage the glass or the coating on it. Trust us, we been there, done that when we first started out.
8) EXTERNAL MEMORY DRIVE: THE BIGGER THE BETTER
Backing up your images are super important. Especially, if you are doing this professionally. Keeping the raw images would be most ideal, however they take up tonnes of space. Get a good hard drive and throw all your files in there as they fill up your computer pretty quickly. There are plenty of options nowadays, from Western Digital to Seagate that are quite affordable.
9) SOFTWARE: UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY
If you are starting out, usually the camera manufacturers have their own native software for you to process your photos. However, they are usually not the best. There are other software that does a great job such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture one that makes photo editing and processing a fun and creative experience. Go give it a try and adjust the settings to play around. This will help you understand many aspects of photography.
10) LIGHTING EQUIPMENT: BRINGS YOUR IMAGES TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Light is the foundation of photography. Without it, we have nothing. So when you feel like growing in your craft, mastering how to shape and manipulating light is the next goal. Lighting equipment can range from a normal affordable hot shoe speed-light to high powered strobes that do cost up to five figures. However, it all boils down to your knowledge and understanding of light. When you feel ready, try them out. It will up your game. We will be releasing more tutorials on lighting in the future, so stay tuned.
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Here at The Finishing Touch Studio, we're one of Singapore’s leading photography production company that offers a suite of services to cater to brands and businesses. Besides all the business stuff, we engage with the community to teach and grow budding photographers. If you are looking to learn photography or grow as a photographer, we are happy to talk more. So speak to us!