Shopping for photographers can be tricky. The BPW is made up of real working professionals and we’ve compiled this list of useful items photographers will actually use. If you want to skip the reading you can jump to our Amazon Idea page to see all our recommendations.
The Beginner’s Essentials
Magnus Travel
Tripod:
We deal with tripods A LOT. Many a-tripod has come through our studio and there are plenty of duds. For three years now, the Magnus tripod is a sure-fire winner for beginners and experienced photographers alike. Simple to use, well designed, portable, yet solidly built, this tripod strikes a perfect balance for those who need a tripod on the go, as well as those who may need something sturdy for their photography outings.
SanDisk External Hard Drive
Cameras these days take great photos, but they also eat up a lot of hard drive space on our computers. To keep things organized–the right way–you need an external hard drive. The SanDisk Extreme SSD (solid state drive) is much faster than typical hard drives and ultra portable. Photo organization is essential for enjoying your photography, so if you need some help check out our Organizing Your Photos online class.
Peak Design: Camera Leash
Camera straps can be an after-thought for most folks, but after a while you realize how important they become to your everyday photography. Peak Design is one of the leading creators of camera accessories (and for good reason). Their camera straps are thoughtfully designed, well made, and survive the test of time. We like the “Leash” but there are several options for different size cameras.
Accessories to help intermediates take the next step
Photo Book by
Henry Carroll
A lot of photo books are long winded, or have little to share in terms of education. Henry Carroll’s “Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs” is the perfect balance between photo instruction and inspiration. With simple explanations of photographic techniques and ideas, this book is an excellent read for photographers of any skill level.
Godex Camera Flash
New and experienced photographers alike often struggle to use camera flashes. These auxiliary lights can be confusing at first, but with the right know-how these tools open up endless possibilities for creative photography. This model ditches unnecessary features that you won’t need, and makes the price incredible. The BPW actually uses these in our workshop, Flash For Beginners, so join us if you’d like to learn how and why flashes are a must-have tool for photographers.
Inexpensive Filter Kits
If you’re itching to try some more creative filters, these filter packs offer color, ND, and graduated ND filters, perfect for experimentation. Awesome for any lens, the kit includes a bracket you can mount on your lens to then slip any filter (or combination of filters) in front of the lens. For $30 this is a great way to dabble with filters and not commit to a single type for a certain lens size. For help understanding these awesome accessories, check out our online workshop: Filters Explained.
For those who seem to have everything:
Capture Clip
Having your camera ready and on hand can be challenging. Sometimes a shoulder strap just doesn’t make sense. This accessory allows you to clip your camera to a bag strap, backpack or even a belt. Bonus: the mount also doubles as a tripod plate for arca-swiss tripods. We’ve been using the capture clip for about 4 years now and really enjoy it. We’ve already shared our thoughts on Peak Design as a brand, so it should go without saying that this tool is high quality, well built and fun to use.
Tech Pouch
Digital photography seems to require so many small accessories that easily get lost in your larger camera bag. To help keep things tidy (and not lost!) a tech pouch is an excellent accessory to help you stay organized and focus on the creative part of photography. For chargers, memory cards, or headphones, this handy bag is a perfect addition to your camera or laptop bag.
Lens Wraps
Cameras are designed to get tossed around; lenses however need a little more TLC. Instead of tossing your extra lens loosey-goosey in your bag, consider a lens wrap. These simple accessories help take care of the unsung hero of your photography. We like Tenba’s offerings as they make excellent bags and have demonstrated high quality design in the past.
Thoughtful gifts for everyone.
Aura Digital Picture Frame
After making all of those hard-earned photos, you should show them off! Aura makes some amazing frames that are intuitive to use and, dare I say, enjoyable. With unlimited cloud storage, an easy to use smartphone app, sharing options for family or friends, this frame has now been gifted to 4 family members. Worth the price and highly recommended.
Photographer’s Mittens
Often overlooked by new photographers, fingerless gloves are a must have when photographing in winter. Nothing compares to the warmth of a mitten, so this combination is perfect for those brave enough to photograph in the colder seasons.
Mini Tripod
Tripods are a necessary tool for many situations. However, tripods are not always practical or welcomed tools in certain situations. This Neewer mini tripod is well made and highly portable. Great for low angles, or table top uses, this tripod is a great piece of kit for photographers on the go.
