In 2020, I wrote a piece on 5 must-haves for photo and video editors (click here to read that) and this in its entirety is an update to that piece but for photographers, especially on the go freelance photographers who do everything between studio sessions and outdoor editorials, this is a list of must-haves that would make photography so much easier.
- TRIPOD
Tripods are often discarded as do withouts in photography but they are top on the lists of must-haves for photographers that are constantly on the road. Even those who shoot stills in the studio will confess to the premium sharpness that using a tripod offers, not forgetting their immense importance when shooting long exposure images or when portraits shooting with lower shutter speeds. There are a lot of tripods in the market but if you’re a photographer that’s constantly on the go, then investing in a carbon fibre tripod is what’s is best. They are small but incredibly sturdy and can be used in a wide array of scenarios and locations.
- FILTERS
There are a wide variety of imaging filters on the market and depending on what you want to shoot, a filter could simply elevate the aesthetics of your image or go as far as being completely necessary to achieve your shot. Amongst the long list of filters available include UV filters that filter the sun’s rays (though now, they simply act as glorified lens protectors as lens coating are very much capable of filtering sun rays), Neutral Density filters that act as sunglasses for your lens and limit the amount of light that passes through the lens to hit your camera sensor, Polarizing filters reduce reflections, reduce atmospheric haze and increase colour saturation in images, Pro Mist filters ted to make images soft looking and reduce the sharpness that is default with all cameras, etc. The filter you purchase is most dependent on your need and what you want to create.
- TETHERING CABLE
Tethering cables are an editorial photographer’s best friends (well, outside a fast lens, lights, light modifiers, and flash triggers). Tether cables help a photographer immediately preview the work he has done with his client/model on a monitor to ensure they are sharp or notice differences that need to be made. Tether cables link a camera to a big screen and enable previews.
- LENS HOODS
Lens hoods are like face caps for your lenses. They block side lights that might cause lens flares and ruin your shot whilst also providing a bit of contrast to your images. Lens hoods are inexpensive but also quite valuable as they also protect the front element of your lens (trust me, I can’t mention how many times I’ve bumped into walls and other obstacles and my hood has taken the scratch instead of my lens). It is important to ensure that the lens hood you’re getting is the right fit for your lens or you’d risk the chance of the hood appearing in the corners of your pictures and ruining your shots.
- CAMERA BACKPACK
Camera backpacks are lifesavers that never get spoken about. A good camera bag will protect your gear whilst ensuring they last for a very long time and stay pristine. Most dedicated camera bags are weatherproofed so they keep your gear dry under rain or temperature in areas with extreme temperatures. You can opt for a carrying bag or case as would fit the amount of gear you have. Pelican cases or Normatic bags are amongst the best in the market and guarantee gear safety always.
