Every Beginner Photographer needs these

What to buy, what to get started with, and which gear to use are among some of the questions most beginner photographers ask. In this video, I have a list of 3 things I believe are essential when starting out.

The first thing, of course, is a camera, even though it’s not on the list. I guess that’s a good way to start. Most beginner photographers are probably going to start with a crop sensor camera, so that’s one thing to note. I’m a Canon shooter, so most of my suggestions will be based on canon cameras but you can also get the equivalent from other camera brands. My suggestion is, any camera that has a sensor of 18MP or above has an interchangeable lens mount, and a hot-shoe mount is good enough. And if it, at least, shoots 1080p videos, then that will be a bonus. Who knows, you may start shooting videos instead of photos, someday.



So first on the list, yeah first, after getting a camera is a battery grip. Now, before you lash out at me that it isn’t really necessary. Hold on, I agree with you. But lemme explain. The actual things to get are extra batteries, especially if you’ll be shooting the whole day. But the reason I say get a battery grip is, well, I don’t know about you or where you live, but there’s this misconception here in Ghana that, bigger cameras are better. There’s no way, you can convince a kid or an adult for that matter, that, the Canon M50 is better than the 600D or T3i with a battery grip. No way. And apart from making you look cool, smaller cameras need to have that extra extension to make them easier to hold. In my review of the Canon M50, I complained that the smaller body causes some pains in my hand after using it for an extended period. And with a battery grip too, you have the opportunity to use 2 camera batteries at once, so that’s a cool thing. Some battery grip manufacturers go the extra mile to provide compartments for storing your original battery covers so you never have to lose them. And if the grip alone is not enough, you can shoot vertically, without having to hold your hand up in a weird way.



The next thing on the list is, a Speedlight. Not particularly this one that I have here. But any Speedlight of some sort. I won’t argue with you as long as you’re not using the flash that comes with your camera. One advantage of an external flash is that it is better. It is articulatory, so you can change the direction of the flash to wherever you want. If it comes with a trigger, like the Godox TT520II I have here, you can mount the flash somewhere else and still get it to work. More on this specific flash up here or down in the description below. Although it is cheaper, it comes with a few disadvantages too. Since we are beginners, I’m sure your 1^st Speedlight would use double A batteries instead of Lithium-ion as used on more expensive flashes, and I would recommend that you get these rechargeable ones. Note that, you will need to purchase the charger separately, so bear that in mind.

Next on the line is a prime lens. It’s obvious this was going to come in at some point. Why is this important? Well, think of it this way. The 18-55mm kitlens that usually comes with the camera is not good. It’s more like a testing lens for your camera. You can’t really do too much professional work with it. And of course, you can buy a zoom lens that is great for taking both pictures and videos, like the Sigma 17-50 f2.8 lens. But that thing cost nearly GHc 2000. A beginner photographer who just used up most of their savings for the camera alone will probably not have enough for something like that. That’s where this comes in. And yeah, the 50mm f1.8 is the most recommended lens for any beginner on any camera brand. It is cheaper, it has a wide aperture, it has some amazing colors, some amazing focusing speed, and overall, a reasonable focal lens. More on that here or down in the description below.



So, the next time you walk into the room that you have your next photoshoot, bring a few of these with you. The pricing for all these mentioned here will be in the description below. Yes, they are affiliate links, so I’ll get some commission on your purchase if you use those links specifically. That’s a nice way of supporting myself and this channel.