Beginner Photographers Could Use These Five Things

There are a lot of guides telling beginner photographers that they’ll need this lens or that filter to make good photos.

That’s pretty much what I was expecting from photographer and YouTuber James Popsys’ “Stuff Beginner Photographers ACTUALLY Need…” video. Maybe I’d learn about a new tripod I’ve overlooked or a cool new time-lapse device or something (my Syrp Genie is getting a bit long in the tooth). Instead I got advice that went a different direction, one that I’d agree with for beginning photographers in my own circle, and perhaps those looking for stocking stuffers for beginner photographers. It is that time of year, after all.

Aside from the obvious items that would make any beginner list, that is, a camera with interchangeable lenses or at least some sort of camera that can change focal lengths, be it an iPhone 12 Pro or a tricked-out point-and-shoot like a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII.

Then there’s the requisite “buy a nifty fifty” advice that’s so common across all photographers and pro photographers dispensing advice.

But after that, there were some points made that all photographers can benefit from, beyond beginners. There was the idea of a good, solid camera bag, but one that makes it easy to just pull out the camera and start shooting. I know that the more clasps, zippers, and belts a bag has, the less likely I am to reach for my camera. This can be evidenced with the fact that when I once encountered a school bus full of alpacas at a gas station in Nashville, Tennessee, I ran at it with my cell phone when my Nikon D700 DSLR was locked in a bag in the trunk with its 24-70 right nearby. Too hard to get in the moment, and so my HTC Incredible 2 was what I went into battle with. Obviously, the results did not turn out to be so incredible. I still wish I grabbed the DSLR today.

That dovetails with his next suggestion of a good strap to hold your camera outside the bag. Popsys recommends Peak Design items, though I rather like my Canon Professional Services neoprene straps.

The final suggestion from Popsys doesn’t cost any money; It’s to set goals and aim to reach them. There’s a lot more to it than that, but you can check out the video above to hear what his thoughts are on that.

Do you have advice or gear that beginners should know about? Share your thoughts in the comments below.