Starting in photography can be overwhelming, especially when you’re faced with endless gear options. It’s easy to feel like you need the best of everything to take great photos, but that’s not true. The key is to focus on the essentials that will support your growth while skipping unnecessary expenses.
Coming to you from Laura BC, this practical video cuts through the confusion of choosing beginner photography gear and focuses on the essentials you truly need. The first item is your camera body. Laura shares an honest take on avoiding compact cameras if you’re serious about photography, suggesting you save up for a decent mirrorless camera. She explains how investing in a quality camera upfront can save you from upgrading too quickly and wasting money. This advice is backed by her own experience, from starting with a compact camera to realizing she needed a DSLR within weeks.
Laura also emphasizes the importance of lenses. She recommends a versatile zoom lens, such as a 24-105mm, as a solid choice for beginners exploring multiple photography styles. Alternatively, she mentions prime lenses, like a 50mm or 35mm, which can deliver excellent results but may limit flexibility. These choices depend on your interests, so experimenting with different styles is encouraged before committing to specialized gear.
Memory cards and tripods also make her essentials list. For tripods, she suggests starting with a lightweight travel tripod, which is useful for experimenting with long exposures, self-portraits, or landscape photography.
What about the gear you don’t need? Laura is clear: skip expensive lenses or high-end camera bodies unless you have specific, immediate needs. While advanced cameras offer incredible capabilities, they’re unnecessary for someone just starting. She also advises against diving into complex lighting setups or unnecessary accessories like battery grips or remote triggers right away. Building your kit gradually based on your needs is smarter.
For future investments, Laura recommends a second lens as you refine your niche and backup solutions like external hard drives or SSDs for safely storing your work. She also highlights filters, particularly mist filters for creative effects and neutral density filters for long exposure photography. These tools can enhance your creative possibilities but aren’t essential until you’ve established your style. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Laura.
