Must-Have Camera Equipment and Photography Resources for Bloggers

[Check out this roundup of my must-have camera equipment and photography resources for bloggers. These are perfect if you’re just getting started and looking to improve your blog photos! Affiliate links are used for your convenience]

I am celebrating my three year blogiversary this month and after more than 350 posts, one thing is abundantly clear: Great photography is a must.

When I scroll back to posts from my first year, I cringe. I’ve even thought about removing them entirely but then I realize what a disservice it would be to new bloggers – and to myself. We all start somewhere and learning how to take great photos is not something that happens overnight. It’s a constant learning process and something I still work on every time I pick up my camera.

I’ve taken a few classes, read several books and watched countless videos in an effort to improve my photography game. Some were great, some not so much. If you’re looking for a good place to start learning how to use your DSLR (editing is a whole different ball game), I’ve rounded up my favorite photography resources below:

Shoot Fly Shoot Photography 101 and 102 course: Great for beginners who want to understand how to use their DSLR for general photography

Food Blogger Pro membership: They have a great course on food photography in natural light and artificial light as well as an amazing food styling course. The photography courses alone provide enough value for the monthly membership price.

Pinch of Yum food photography ebook: At only $29, it’s the perfect resource for upping your food photography skills.

Digital Photography School: This was a go-to resource when I first started. There are thousands of blog posts and tutorials on using your DSLR camera.

 

And here is what’s currently in my camera bag:

Nikon D3100: This camera body is ancient in camera-world – they don’t even sell it on Amazon anymore. But, it serves its purpose until I can bite the bullet and upgrade. If you’re looking for a good starter, the Nikon D3400 is a relatively inexpensive option i.e., under $400.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8: This is one of my favorite lens’ for shooting vignettes around our home. I didn’t get the autofocus (which I regret) so I don’t use it as much if I’m in a hurry or working in low-light areas and need a handheld option.

Nikon 85mm f/1.8: I use this exclusively for food photography and portraits. It was a big investment but my absolute favorite lens to play with.

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5: This is a wide angle lens that’s perfect for those tight shots, like our bathroom.

Nikon 35mm f/1.8: This is what I use most often for shooting around our home. It’s wide enough to get a majority of the space in the entire shot, plus the low aperture allows for some nice bokeh/blurry backgrounds.  

Tripod: I’ve heard it’s worth the investment in a good tripod and I can definitely understand why. Especially with low-light situations, a tripod is a must-have. Investing in one that stabilizes your camera, is easy to adjust and is high quality is on my ‘want’ list. However, if you’re looking for an inexpensive option, this one is a good start.

Shutter release remote: This one is great if you’re wanting to take pictures of yourself. I’ve tried teaching my husband but have found it’s easier to do this on my own. Using the remote is so much easier than setting the timer and quickly running into place!

 

One final note.

You can take all the classes, watch all the videos and read all the books, but the one thing that will help you improve your photography is simple: practice. Pick up your camera and test out what you’re learning. I promise it’ll be your number one resource for improving your blog photography 🙂

Happy photographing!

All my best,

p.s. Photography question? Comment below when what you’re needing help with or send me a note via email: contact@wittandcompany.com

 

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