Necessary photographic equipment
The tools used to perform our work or passion play a key role and directly affect the effects of our activities. Gaining more and more knowledge about the subject we are interested in or improving the equipment we use allows us to take care of the constant progression of the results we obtain. It usually starts with limited resources and opportunities to achieve specific goals. However, it is not a problem to start pursuing a given passion and only after some time gradually expand your workshop. In this article you will learn about all the equipment I use to create my online content. Against the background of all these tools, I will also list those that, in my opinion, are the most necessary in the Influencer industry. Thanks to these tools, I can always create unique photos and videos. I will also discuss my beginnings in this area and describe the tools that I used at the beginning of my adventure with internet creativity. The equipment with which I started my Internet adventure was not very substantial. At the beginning, I carried out my first photo sessions only with the use of a mobile phone. Personally, I have always been a supporter of Samsung phones, because in my opinion they offered the greatest photographic possibilities. However, it was a period when smartphone manufacturers were just beginning to focus on the development of cameras in their devices, so this solution was only good for a while. Wanting to constantly improve the quality of my materials, a moment later I decided to switch to photographing my photos with a professional camera in the form of a "mirror camera".
It was a camera available in my family's resources, so this activity was not associated with additional costs, and with the help of an SLR camera I could create materials of much better quality. The biggest difference could be seen in post-processing and content compression for the requirements of a given social networking site. A photo taken with a camera going through these processes lost much less quality than one taken with a mobile phone. It was quite a key moment in my online activities, because it was then I understood that if you want to do something, you have to do it seriously and replacements such as phone are best used only in situations where it is impossible to take better equipment, e.g. to climatic conditions. I am skipping here the fact that the model of SLR I had for my use at the time - Nikon D3100 - was rather a camera aimed at ordinary users who do not deal with photography on a daily basis. For the next few years, I created my content with this SLR camera.
Initially, I didn't see much need to invest in new tools to do my job, but in recent years, wanting to go to an even higher level, I decided to delve anew into the subject of photographic and multimedia equipment. A rather cautious approach to this topic at the beginning turned into a kind of passion for taking care of the smallest details of the content I created. Then I started looking for a tool that, among other things, would allow me to perfectly expose the foreground figure, blurring the background and creating an intriguing bokeh effect. From the knowledge gained at that time, I learned that the key element of each unique photograph is a well-chosen lens, which is why the first equipment I bought after quite a long break were new lenses for the previously mentioned reflex camera. There are many models of lenses on the market that can be used in various ways. So, taking into account the effect I wanted to achieve at that moment, I decided to buy a classic 50mm lens. This lens is characterized by a very good rendering of the parameters and shapes of the photographed person. In addition, when choosing a good lens model with a specific aperture parameter, we can also achieve a perfect cut-off of the background by imposing a gradual blurring effect on it.
My Nikkor 50mm 1.4f allows you to take such pictures. It is worth noting here that this model is rather designed for typical portrait photos (face detail, bust) or photos taken in the American frame, but the American frame is rather optional, because taking a good sharp photo with this type of lens is quite a feat and you need to have a trained eye to catch the right moment to release the camera shutter in order to get the full focus of the photographed person. Another lens that caught my attention and is a typical “must have” for every photographer or influencer is the 85mm or 105mm lens. These lenses, like 50mm, reflect the real dimensions of a human being, and in addition, they can be used for Fashion photos, i.e. full frames, where the whole body of the photographed person is visible. Moreover, these lenses can also be used for landscape photos, where, apart from the photographed person, an additional element that we want to show is a beautiful background or a unique place. Some time later, after buying lenses, I came to the conclusion that in order to get even more out of my photos, I need to consider upgrading my SLR camera.
For this purpose, I did a thorough market review and the SLR model I finally decided to buy was the Nikon D800. It is one of the top "mirror cameras" available on the market. This model is highly appreciated by professional photographers, e.g. those who deal with photography for money by carrying out many advertising or wedding sessions. The advantages of this model that prompted me to buy it are, above all, the great, even top resolution of the frame (36.3mpx), the ability to take photos immediately in the 4:5 frame (so in the frame preferred on Instagram and many other social media), as well as 51 autofocus points. Thanks to this, the photos are always sharp and we have the opportunity to take them immediately in the target frame without having to cut them later. In the case of my previous reflex camera, incompetent selection of free space for subsequent cropping often made the photo unsuitable for publication, while many photos that, after cropping, retained the photographed character in the main frame, lost their magic resulting from the originally properly selected frame. In this case, there is no such problem and it is a very big advantage for me. This SLR also has many interesting functions, such as, for example, continuous shooting, thanks to which, when choosing a sufficiently fast memory card, we can take about 5 frames per second.
This is very helpful when taking "Fashion" photos when the subject is constantly moving. From other interesting and very helpful gadgets that I use for my photo sessions, there is also a fold-out reflector. When folded, it takes up very little space and you can take it with you anywhere. When choosing a reflector, it is worth choosing a model that is double-sided - gold on one side and silver on the other. These colors are applicable to different types of beauty and complexion. In situations where we want to eliminate strong shadows on the face, the reflector is a very useful element of our equipment. To create advertising photos, I also purchased a home photo studio set consisting of a wall with variable backgrounds and RGB lighting, which can be set according to your needs and creativity for the marketing campaign being carried out, which gives the photos professionalism and magic. I also have a super-fast SDHC card for the camera itself, which allows you to use the full shutter speed of my SLR camera. For greater convenience of work, over time I also purchased a large and comfortable case for the camera itself as well as all useful accessories for it, such as: a spare memory card, an additional battery or a device that allows you to remotely release the camera shutter (using a small remote control). . These accessories in "critical" situations can save a photo session. If you want to take photos together, as is often the case with me, another necessary gadget is a good quality tripod.
I spent a lot of time finding the right one that fully meets my needs. Many tripods available on the market were often of poor quality or did not have a key element for me, i.e. the ability to spread it to a very high height. The one I bought - Zomei Z888, in addition to the cover that allows for easy carrying, also has the option of unfolding it to a height of approx. 180cm. Furthermore, it contains indicators showing the appropriate level and vertical of the frame, thanks to which setting the horizon in my photo is no longer a problem. Another advantage of this model is its portability. The tripod is very light, yet very stable and durable. With the development of my interest in creating video recordings, I also decided to buy equipment that would allow me to create them even better. For better stabilization of the video created with the phone, I chose a mechanical stabilizer from DJI Osmo Mobile 4. It allows you to record fully smoothly, without the slightest jerks. Stabilizers in mobile phones do not always offer the highest quality of image stabilization, and the above-mentioned device allows us to record video in constant motion without fear that our recordings will show unwanted movements or vibrations.
In the near future, I will consider updating this device to its latest version, i.e. DJI Osmo 6 currently available on the market. Another tool that I have chosen to create my recordings is a drone from the previously mentioned DJI company. When choosing the right drone, it is worth taking into account its intended purpose and places where we would like to use it. It is worth bearing in mind that many countries in the world have recently introduced certain legal regulations regarding the use of drones in their territory. These most often determine the size and weight of the drones themselves, as well as the allowed places where they can be used.
Due to the above facts, when choosing a drone for myself, I chose the one that would give me the greatest possibilities in the implementation of my recordings. I decided to choose a drone from DJI in the Mavic Mini 2 model. In addition to its small size, which allows it to be used in many countries around the world without the need for a special permit, it also offers very pleasant control, image stabilization and very high quality of the recordings. Moreover, the drone is relatively light, so it does not burden my holiday luggage too much. So far, I've been using it for purely testing purposes to learn the proper controls. I also managed to make one more professional recording from a holiday trip with my partner, which will be published on my social media in the near future. The last items in my session inventory are: a remote trigger for selfies taken from the phone (photos are taken with a small remote control), as well as a phone tripod that can also be used as a selfie stick. I am also considering buying a small sports camera in the near future. With such a device, you can easily record vlogs from your travels or visits to interesting local places. In this case, I think that I will most likely opt for a classic GoPro camera.
All the above-mentioned tools are in my session inventory and have been improving and facilitating my online initiatives for many years. Some of them serve as an additional improvement of my working conditions, while a significant part of them is a typical “must have” for producing professional and high-quality materials. I have described each of them in detail, describing its greatest advantages. If you want to choose the right equipment for yourself, it is worth answering the question whether the functions it offers will facilitate the implementation of your content and whether the equipment is really necessary for us. To choose the right photographic equipment for you, it is also worth organizing your work properly by determining the best action scheme for you. I hope that this article will help you choose the right session equipment, which will make it easier for you to create materials both for yourself and for your social media. I wish you all the best and have a nice day!
