When working with other photographers or mentoring new ones, I get asked a loot of questions about how I run my biz from the backend, to shooting … and everything in between. Out of all of these, the question I get asked time in time again is what’s in my camera bag!!
For years, I primarily shot with Nikon… but recently I’ve been super impressed by the Canon Mirrorless and all its awesome functions! Today, I’m going to take you through my kit and breakdown everything I use and why, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to building a quality camera kit that supports you through your professional career. I totally understand how overwhelming it is to start your business, and with so many options out there – choosing what to include in your bag can be really overwhelming. So, let’s break down my camera bag favorites and why!
What’s included in your camera bag is personal to you and your needs. Below, let’s go through some of my main tools that are constantly with me!
Lenses
When it comes to lenses, I have many (what can I say, I love lenses) but I often find myself reaching for some specific ones …
This lens is truly a beauty! This is such a sharp and crisp lens that I always have with me. As someone who loves dual shooting, this lens comes in handy as I don’t have to swap it out. If you’re looking for a lens that does it all, this one’s your ride or die.
As you become more familiar with shooting in your professional career, you will quickly realize that each situation can require a different lens to really get that shot you’re hoping for! When it comes to my branding sessions, I find myself reaching for this lens more often than not. It doesn’t require me to have a huge distance between me and my subject and helps me get a nice little bokeh and fuzz in my photos, while capturing crisp facial shots as well.
Lights, love them … need them, don’t miss out on having these in your camera bag! One of my favorites is the ProFoto A1 Flash, but there are lots of really great options to choose from. When I say this is an incredible lens … I am not joking. As someone who wasn’t super keen on flash photography at one point, I can honestly say this light has changed my outlook and I now enjoy these types of sessions.
When using external lights, don’t forget to consider a diffuser as support. These really help soften harsh light or can support a direct view during nighttime shoots to give you a really direct shot!
Speaker
This is a personal choice, but let me tell you … when the music is on it really adds to the vibe during a shoot. A little fun background noise to bring something different to the experience, wherever you are is just fun and lighthearted … who doesn’t love that?
Go-Pro
Your Go-Pro is your right handed buddy you didnt know you needed. I looove having my Go-Pro on and with me during shoots to capture all the behind the scenes footage I need to use for content. Social media is a huge part of your business, so capturing those real life moments on video to share through socials, your blog or anywhere else for that matter really helps potential clients get a backseat look at what it’s like working with you, and the energy you bring to your shoots.
SD Cards
Next to your camera/lenses, SD cards are something I higgghly suggest you invest in. Making sure you have quality SD cards can really be the supporting piece that brings your biz to the next level. Unfortunately I’ve seen too many scenarios where poor SD cards are used, and sadly … photos were lost or not properly saved. Thankfully, in these moments I’ve been able to recover what I needed, but scrambling to recover and save images that were taken on one of the most important days of someone’s life is not stress you need in your life!
A few other things I can’t go without in my camera bag include:
Cleaning kit
Lens covers
My dual harness (perfect for shooting with multiple cameras)
Karmrette leather backpack
Make sure to follow along as I’ll be going in depth about some of the things mentioned above in the upcoming weeks. If you’re looking for a more in-depth review on the pieces mentioned, head over to my Youtube page to watch my video!
I am so excited to support you on your professional photography journey. I’ll be sharing more biz tips to help you get started, and feel confident in your role as a photographer!
If you’d like to check out my work come hang out with me on Instagram at
DISCLAIMER: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may make a small commission when you click the links and complete a purchase. I never recommend anything I don’t truly love and you will receive discounted rates for some of the links so you can try without the full expense!
