5 Must Have Pieces of Photography Equipment for Business Owners
As a photographer I have spent a good amount of time looking into photography equipment. From mobile light boxes to top of the line DSLR cameras. When I started my photography business a few years ago, I wanted to be at a professional level. This meant I obviously needed professional equipment to use at my sessions, but I also quickly realized that I needed this equipment to create social media content to promote my business as well! This is true for all business owners! So, I am here to share the 5 must have pieces of photography equipment for all business owners so you can create beautiful content that converts your audiences into CUSTOMERS! Let’s get professional, boss.
As I dived into my equipment research, I learned, however, that I had a problem, I didn’t have an unlimited budget & photography gear is EXPENSIVE. So, I did what any level headed business mind on a budget would, I started out small & worked my way up. My brand style has always been bright, timeless & airy. Achieving these looks takes an artistic eye, some awesome lighting and the right equipment.
After a few years of shooting weddings, families, events and product brands here’s what’s in my bag!
DSLR Camera
DSLR cameras are so much more accessible these days, you can purchase beginner cameras that will perform extremely well! I started out with a Canon Rebel T7 but I upgraded to the 6D Mark II fairly quickly. The reason I upgraded to the 6D was because it is a full frame camera. The Rebel models are not. Why full frame? Full frame cameras are able to shoot in raw, which is a large image file that you can edit beautifully! This is important for creating amazing images/content that look professional. The Canon 6D Mark II is a professional model and it’s at a great price point for a business start-up! It has a 26.2 Megapixel full frame sensor with 45 focus points! As I said before, I believe in shooting with a full frame camera at least. It is also Wi-Fi & Bluetooth enabled with an angle touch screen, it’s so fancy! If this perfect start-up camera has you interested, check it out HERE!
If you’ve got the budget for it, my all-time recommendation for a camera is the Canon EOS R6! This baby has dual memory card slots, a full-frame CMOS Sensor, an insane ISO range, subject tracking, 4k video capabilities, touch screen, live shooting on the lcd screen and so much more! My absolute favorite feature of this camera is how it shows a screen in the viewfinder of what you’re looking at, but it also adjusts the edits as you tune your settings in manual mode (which you SHOULD be using). It is so cool!!! I noticed when I made the switch from my Canon 6D, that I had almost double the amount of images turn out in a session. The camera seems to focus so much more efficiently than my 6D did. This left me with the problem of learning to cull my images down so I wasn’t over-delivering to my clients. But, this is not a problem I wished I didn’t have! I’d rather have too many images than too little. Snag this amazing camera HERE!
2.Lenses
Along with my first camera, my first purchase was a lens. I opted for zoom lenses as they offer more variability than a prime lens. My go-to lens, still to this day, is my Canon EF 24-70mm! It has a a 2.8 aperture which is low enough to give you that beautiful blurry background! I use this lens on my family sessions so I’m able to capture moving kids from a distance, but when they decide to sit still for a sweet moment & kiss their momma, I can zoom in really quick & get a great shot of it. I also use it for weddings! I am able to shoot in smaller getting ready rooms as well as outdoor ceremonies without switching! I use it to shoot my products as well! LOVE, love, love it. I’m not sure I can say any more than that! You can go grab yours HERE.
3. Tripod & Remote
Even if you aren’t marketing yourself for your business, you should be showing up to promote it! This means getting in front of the camera! If you want to take photos of your outfit of the day or you need to film your morning workout or your makeup tutorial, then you need a tripod & remote baby.
Tripods are exactly what they sound like they are, three-legged stands that hold your camera for you. This is a MUST HAVE if you take photos of yourself. Even if you are documenting other things like, your recent travel to Europe, a tripod will help with camera shake so your landscape images are sharp!
You’ll need a remote as well, most cameras have a self timer you can push it and run to your spot before it goes off, but a remote is so much more convenient. Be sure to check to see if your camera/phone is compatible with whichever remote you choose.
I am loving this tripod right now from Amazon, it has the ability to hold your DSLR as well as your phone in landscape or portrait mode! That’s like a two in one that saves on space. I love that. It also goes from 20 inches to 67 inches in height!
4. SD Cards
SD cards are super important. Invest in good quality here so you don’t run the risk of corrupting your images. I use Sandisk Extreme PRO cards. They are durable and fast. I find that they work well for capturing 4k video as well. Check them out HERE!
5. Phone Camera
Cellphone cameras have come a long way! They will not look as professional as a DSLR, no matter how you edit, but they definitely have their benefits! You definitely need a good phone camera to make sure you’re able to shoot content on the go. It isn’t always convent to carry your DSLR. You can also post immediately to social media with your phone where you can’t with your more professional photos. They are also PERFECT for capturing behind the scenes while using your DSLR! Get yourself two tripods to master this trick!
This list will hopefully get you on your way to creating beautiful content for your business! Happy creating, professionals!