Photography is a fun and fascinating process. It’s easier now than ever to get started too. Long gone are the days of needing portable darkrooms or waiting hours to take a single photograph. You can dive in and start snapping away at anything that piques your interest.
The art of photography has come a long way over the years. It’s easier than ever to get started in it and take your first steps! These might seem be a bit obvious, but here are five essential things every photographer should have.
And finally, the most important thing of all is you. It’s your eye, passion and drive which sets your photographs apart from everyone else’s.
A camera is one of the most essential pieces of equipment that a photographer can have. It’s definitely not necessary to have an expensive camera, but it’s important to have one that will do the job.
The camera doesn’t need to be an expensive DSLR with thousands of features. A basic point-and-shoot or bridge digital camera will do just fine for beginners or photographers on a budget. A lot of these small cameras are lightweight, easy to carry around with you, and come in different shapes and sizes.
You also want your camera to take great photos quickly. Obviously you don’t want it taking 10 seconds per photo!
A tripod is another essential tool that photographers should have. It’s used for holding the camera still and taking the shot without any blurriness.
Tripods can easily be adjusted to sit at different angles and heights for your convenience. They collapse to a small size for portability and typically come with a bag or case.
A tripod is great for landscapes, portraits, architecture, still life and more. It’s an essential tool to have if you want steady shots without having blurriness from camera shake.
You can use special filters to help enhance your photos with things like colour balance, light diffusion and glare reduction. Filters are great for taking certain kinds of photos where the lighting isn’t great, like direct sunlight or where there is bright reflections.
Having a cloth for cleaning lenses is a must-have in every photographer’s kit. The lens itself, where you take your photos, can be dirty from smudges, dirt or dust. If you want to make sure that your photos are clear and clean, then having a cloth handy can help you get that perfect shot without any blotches or scratches on the lens.
How many times have you put a memory card in your camera and gone off to get some shots of your favourite landscape, only to find you have run out of space on the card. Having a second, or third memory can is very handy and you should always keep at least one spare memory card in your camera bag.
I am a big believer in printing and framing photos. I hate to see photos sitting on a phone, buried deep in a folder on
