Raindrops on roses
And whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
.... you know how it goes.
Rain drops on roses are lovely and whiskers on kittens are pretty cute but you know what else is my favorite? Photography Gear! It doesn't necessarily have to be the most expensive or the newest but I love things that work well. That being said I figured i'd write about some of my favorite things!
For starters i'm a Nikon girl. I always have been and I don't foresee myself changing, not because I think it is elite or better but it works for me! My first camera was a Nikon D5100 and my current camera is a Nikon D750.
Whenever I find out someone is going to buy a camera or has just received a camera I strongly suggest getting a filter to protect the lens.
Lens Filters - This is like a safety glass for your lens. It protects your lens from getting scratched. The lens filter is a glass ring that screws on to the end of the lens. You want to get a good quality one because a cheap one could affect your image.
I like Hoya or Tiffen (all my lenses have a Hoya filters on them)
One size does NOT fit all so in order to find the size you need you take off the little flat cap that goes at the end of your lens. On the back of that there will be an engraved number (example 58mm) and that will be the size you need for your filter.
Think about it this way...If your filter gets scratched you can easily get another for around twenty bucks. If your lens gets scratched that scratch or speck will be on every image until you purchase a new lens.
MACRO FILTERS - There are also some macro filters if a person doesn't have a macro lens. These are SUPER inexpensive and they get the job done for someone that likes to dabble in macro photos. I used them for years before I got an actual macro lens and I really enjoyed them.
Next up is
My camera strap. I'm a huge lover of a Black Rapid camera strap. For those that know me know i'm always running around fire scenes and running around with little kids on shoots so I need a strap that is secure but comfortable. I know the side strap is not for everyone but this is definitely the strap for me! I like the rapid sport a little better than their traditional rapid curve because it's not as wide but both are great.
They're durable and comfortable. <--- your neck will thank me for this later!
Black rapid also has several other accessories. Tripod bags & side bags that clip right on to the current black rapid strap are super handy!
Ziess Lens wipes... I love these things! I use them for my glasses, laptop, camera screen and camera lenses! Check them out HERE
SD Cards. The more the merrier! Just make sure you get a good quality ones because nothing stinks worse than shooting and you load your images and it reads nothing because your camera card had an error. EEK or when you go to use it and it's full and you have no time to empty! Also as you add to your collection make sure you label them so you can tell them apart. 1,2,3,4,5 or a,b,c,d etc. Something to help you tell the difference when 1 is full or 2 is corrupt so you don't need to keep putting them in your computer to figure out what one is the full one.
Things to consider when buying an SD card.
- Where you're buying it from
- Transfer Speed
- Card Size, what you'll be shooting and how much you shoot.
External Hard Drives - I like the WD I've had them for years and had VERY good luck with them. All of my photos go on an external hard drive to keep my computer running smoothly! I do suggest developing a good organization method early on. It's very difficult to go back in and organize all your photos after you've taken a million.
Extra camera batteries are always a good idea! I personally don't care for knock off brands when it comes to batteries. I've read horror stories about batteries so I'd rather go straight to the source and order the brand name battery. Because of that I don't have a link for this one but I do the majority of my shopping straight off the Nikon site, Adorama.com or B&H Photo's website.
Favorite Resources:
Creativelive.com is one of my favorite websites. They offer beginner photography classes and A variety of free classes or classes to purchase
I really love the book “Capture the Moment” by Sarah Wilkerson. It shares a lot of beautiful images, tips, settings for the images and all the proceeds go towards the Ronald McDonald House
Don't Say Cheese is a great beginners guide unfortunately it's no longer sold.
Favorite LAB to print from
mPix/millers to print because who doesn't love prints!!!
I have also heard great things about White House Custom Color but haven't used them yet!
Camera Bag insert/Camera Bag.
When I first started shooting I was super overwhelmed with all the bag choices. So many options. Some cheap but most are not. After many purchases and returns I have found a camera bag insert on amazon for about 20 bucks and put it in a purse or a backpack!
After I started to collect more lenses I realized I needed something in addition to my little insert. I tried out several backpacks and briefcase bags but finally settled on a pelican case. The one I purchased is a pre-approved airline size pelican case that has a handle and wheels so while it is heavy it's also durable and can double as a carry on suitcase which is super handy to have!
Favorite Stores
B&H Photo
Adorama
Amazon but make sure to check it's a trusted seller!
I tried my best to create a favorites list on Amazon - this is a first for me so if that doesn't work just let me know!