BUILDING A BEGINNER’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY KIT
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Building a photography kit involves assembling a collection of essential gear tailored to your specific needs and preferences. This meticulous process ensures that you have the necessary tools to capture diverse and captivating images. Pacing yourself when purchasing photographic gear is a wise approach, especially in the world of photography where technology evolves, and needs can change over time.
Below I share a short list that I hope you find helpful when you begin to build your portrait photo kit. Best of luck!
Prime Lens:
A fast prime lens with a wide aperture. I am partial to 50mm f/1.8 (the nifty fifty) or the 85mm f/1.4 and even a 35mm f/1.4 lens. These are all ideal lenses for achieving beautiful background blur (shallow depth of field) and capturing sharp portraits.
Zoom Lens:
Consider a versatile zoom lens (e.g., 24-70mm f/2.8) for flexibility in framing and composition, especially in different shooting environments.
A zoom lens with an aperture of f/2.8 is not only versatile but can also yield beautiful background blur (shallow depth of field).
Portrait of Caitlin, captured with the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Lens
Artificial Lighting:
If you are shooting indoors, consider an External Flash (also commonly known as Speedlights) for controlled lighting. When buying an external flash, look for features like TTL (Through The Lens) to meter for accurate exposure. More on this topic on a later post. External flashes feature different hotshoe mounts; make sure you are purchasing an external flash for your camera make.
An external flash diffuser will diffuse, soften the light and create soft shadows, enhancing your portrait's overall look.
Reflectors:
White, silver, or gold reflectors to bounce and control natural light, filling in shadows and adding catch-lights to the subject's eyes.
Memory Cards:
You should always have extra memory cards at hand for backup. A good memory card brand is SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO they are fast and reliable.
Extra Batteries:
Extra batteries and any other rechargeable accessories are indispensable in any photographer’s kit.
Tripod:
A sturdy tripod for stability, especially in low-light conditions or when using slower shutter speeds. Useful for studio and outdoor portrait sessions.
Optional Accessories:
Remote shutter release for capturing images without introducing camera shake.
Camera Cleaning Kit. A kit with a blower, microfiber cloths, and a sensor cleaning kit to keep your camera and lenses clean.
When building your portrait photography kit, I recommend investing in quality over quantity; prioritize gear based on your budget and immediate needs. As you gain experience, you can expand and upgrade your portrait photography kit accordingly. Do not forget to consider purchasing used gear when on a budget.
Best of luck!
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