While we make no claims at all to be experts at photography- in fact far from it, we are learning all the time too, we DO know what we like and what products and pieces of equipment we can’t live without.  There are literally millions of photography products out there and people all like different things- it is worth experimenting to see what you love the most.  Here are our top pieces of kit that we can’t live without…

Camera.

Obviously an essential part to being a photographer is your camera.  You will find that most people have an opinion on the two biggest camera brands- Nikon and Canon.  You generally either sway one way or the other.  Both myself and Lucy are Nikon girls- I have the  Nikon D5100  and Lucy has the Nikon D5000.  These are both mid-level DSLR’s but you can get cheaper entry level cameras.  One that I had a look at in the shop that was a little cheaper was the Nikon D3100 .  The best thing to do is go to a specialist camera shop and talk to the staff about your requirements- however always check the online prices as they often are a lot cheaper.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the money to buy a DSLR, there are some fabulous compact camera’s out there and even phones nowadays can give some fantastic shots.

Tripod.

If you want to get into photography seriously then one thing you can’t be without is a tripod.  By using a tripod you will help eliminate camera shake and overall your photos will look sharper and more in focus.  Plus it means that you can occasionally get in the photo too.

Both Lucy and I use the Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom tripod, if you haven’t heard of these little fella’s before then they are definitely worth a look.  They have flexible, bendy legs that mean you can hang it from so many different places- I have hung mine from trees, my bed posts (not for that reason!) and I have also placed in lots of different positions.  It really is a great bit of kit that allows you to get some really creative and unique shots, and helps you unleash your imaginative side.  However there are lots of different types of tripod that have different functions, they can cost from very little to hundreds of pounds.

Remote Control.

I cannot live without my remote control, it comes in handy so much when you have a cheeky toddler.  It means that I can set up the shot, and entertain her while taking photos at the same time- I really recommend buying one.  Mine was so cheap, I have the NEEWER Wireless IR Remote Control which was only £2, but it does the job really well.  However you can spend more if you want too.

Camera Bag.

It may sound like a silly bit of kit but it is so important to have a good camera bag as it is essential to keep your kit in tip top condition.  There are so many nice bags out there, and you can even use one as a fashion accessory if you were that way inclined.  I just have a Lowepro bag, it isn’t particularly fancy but it is small enough for me to lug about and take everywhere with me.  If I had the money I would buy a Kelly Moore bag as I think they are lovely.

Lenses.

If you are going to get serious about photography and you have a DSLR, it may be time to think about lenses.  We will be talking a lot more about lenses over the coming months but you can literally spend thousands of pounds on them.  However you will notice a huge difference in any lens you buy- you can buy zoom lenses, macro lenses and fisheye lenses- there are literally hundreds to choose from.  We will explain in a series of posts what different lenses will do, but it is important to bear in mind when buying a camera that the kit lens isn’t necessarily going to give the best shots.

There are so many products out there, and as your photography progresses and you get more in to it there are literally so many other pieces of equipment you can buy.  However in the first instance I would say that those are the bits of kit I have found most useful.

Do you have anything that you can’t live without when it comes to photography?  Be sure to let us know below.