Building Your Photography Kit
If you’re just starting out in photography, chances are you’ve got a camera and a standard kit lens. While you’re out there snapping away, you might be wondering why your shots aren’t quite hitting that pro level you see from others. Well, it’s probably time to think about upgrading some of your gear, especially from that basic kit lens to something the pros would recommend. But let’s be real, building your kit can be a bit overwhelming, not to mention pricey. So, to help you out, I’ve rounded up a list of must-have essentials so that you only buy lenses once rather than spending money on lenses you won’t use.
**PRO TIP: You don’t need an arsenal of lenses. I have 3 faves and that is what I use 99.999% of the time. Often I only use 1 or 2 lenses at a photoshoot.
Camera Body: For beginners, you probably have a user-friendly DSLR or mirrorless camera that offers manual controls and room for growth. Popular options include the Canon EOS Rebel T7i, Nikon D3500, or Sony Alpha a6000. My personal suggestion is to stick with this for a year or so before you upgrade. Build your lenses first.
Prime Lens: A 50mm f/1.8 prime lens is a must-have addition to your kit. Known for its versatility and excellent image quality, the “nifty fifty” is perfect for portraits, street photography, and everyday shooting. With its wide aperture, you can achieve beautiful background blur (bokeh) and capture sharp, detailed images even in low-light conditions. If you are willing to spend a little more money, I suggest the 50mm f/1.4
Another go-to lens of mine is the 85 f/1.8. Perfect bokeh, great buttery look!
Wide Angle Lens: Expand your creative possibilities with a wide-angle lens, such as a 35mm or 24-70mm zoom lens. Ideal for landscape photography, architecture, and capturing expansive scenes, a wide-angle lens allows you to fit more into the frame and add depth and dimension to your images. I use the sigma 35mm 1.8 often and is a signature in my kit. That being said, I’m not a big fan of mega wide angles. I bought this lens and haven’t switched in years.
Telephoto Lens: For capturing distant subjects with precision and clarity, a telephoto lens is an essential addition to your kit. Perfect for portraits, sports, and wildlife photography, a telephoto lens allows you to isolate your subject and create stunning background blur for beautiful, professional-looking results. With its longer focal length, you can achieve flattering compression and creamy bokeh that will make your portraits pop. I have been shooting with a 70mm-200mm f/2.8 for the last 10 years but this is not a beginner lens! I’ve suggested a few below, but depending on your budget and style, a telephoto lens might be the only lens you use, or the lens that takes up space in your bag.
SD Cards: Don’t overlook the importance of reliable SD cards in your photographer’s toolkit. These little memory cards may seem unassuming, but they’re essential for storing your photos. With ample storage capacity and fast read/write speeds, high-quality SD cards ensure smooth performance and minimize the risk of data loss or corruption. On the flip side, don’t carry too many. They are easy to lose and mix up!
A Great Camera Bag: A killer camera bag is like having your own personal assistant on a photo shoot—it’s a total game-changer. Personally, I swear by my Ape Case backpack with wheels. I mean, come on, it’s got wheels! It’s like having the best of both worlds: the comfort of a backpack and the convenience of wheels for when you’re on the move. It’s saved my back on long shoots!
