Starting your photography journey can sometimes feel a little bit daunting; which camera to get? Which lens will suit you? Do you need a tripod? What about lighting? In this blog post we’ll be breakdown the top 5 essentials that will make your photography journey begin smoothly.
Lens Cloth
Okay, so maybe not the most exciting piece of kit, but it’s an essential to make sure your gear is in tip-top condition. Keeping your camera kit clean can save you a lot of time when it comes to post-production – no more pain staking editing to remove dust spots or unwanted smudges. Try the Magic Cleaning Cloth; it’s microfibre and the perfect back-pocket size.
Tripod
You’ve got your camera; you’ve got your lenses. Now what about legs? A tripod is an essential piece of kit if you’re wanting to avoid blur in your photos. A tripod offers so much in terms of creativity – allowing you to experiment with slower shutter speeds, long exposure photography, self-portraiture or even a stable base for videography. We go into more detail about the choosing the right tripod in our Buying Guide: Tripods.
If you choose a tripod like our Kenro Karoo Standard Travel Tripod, you can really make use of our next essential…
LED Lighting
Many cameras have a built-in, pop-up flash but if yours doesn’t or you want a bit more control over your lighting, an external compact LED panel is the perfect addition to your arsenal. With a female ¼” screw that fits perfectly on our Karoo Tripods, the Kenro Smart Lite RGB Compact LED Video Light is the versatile and compact LED you’ll want to be packing in your camera bag. With a full temperature range and a 360-degree RGB colour spectrum, it offers limitless creativity.
Filters
Not only do lenses add an extra layer of protection on your camera, but it can also ease any post-production. We have a comprehensive buying guide for our Marumi lenses, but if there’s one that you should really start out with, it’s a UV filter. These filters are great for an ‘out and about’ photographer, as not only do these protect and prevent ultraviolet damage to your camera’s lens preventing your imagery from going hazy, but they also help protect your lens against dirt, scratches, and fair-weather conditions.
Flashgun
Although we’ve already somewhat covered lighting, we think it’s worth mentioning adding a flashgun to your beginner photographer arsenal. As mentioned, most cameras have a built in, popup flash, but to get the highest quality flash to get the best results, an external flashgun is a great piece of kit. The Kenro Standard Speedflash has a high-speed synchronisation, fast recycle time, a built-in diffusor and much more, making taking crisp and clear imagery even easier.
Of course, there are so many other accessories that we could be adding to this list; from reflectors to backdrops or photo tables. But to get started in the best way possible, this is all you need to add to your camera bag.
