As any creative person knows, having the right gear is crucial to achieving your goals. Not only that, but it’s essential to have the right gear for the job you’re doing. If you’re looking to take your already incredible photography or videography to the next level, you’ll need a selection of accessories to help you on your way there. We’ll be discussing some of the must-have accessories for photographers, why they’re important, and how to get the absolute most out of them.
Why It’s Important To Have The Right Photography Gear
Sure, fancy camera bags and the newest gear might look great, but is it all essential? The right gear should improve your efficiency as a photographer, inspire your creativity, and amplify your already solid results. It should be like the cherry on top of a cake (only more practical!) — it doesn’t make the dish what it is, but it certainly improves it.
In a more practical sense, having the right gear is crucial if you’re after a specific style or shot. Your gear should work with the type of situations and environments you put yourself in on a regular basis. You don’t want to find yourself with a land camera if you’re a sports photographer — unless you’re this guy!
Your gear should aid your workflow, it should be akin to a dance where everything has a reason for being in your bag. When it’s a piece of gear’s time to work, it does the job it was meant to do, and it does it without fail.
Prioritizing The Right Gear As A Photographer
Raise your hand if you’ve ever taken WAY too much gear to a shoot …all of you? We thought so! I don’t think there’s a single photographer on the planet who hasn't overpacked their gear at one time or another. It’s nice to feel like you have those ‘just in case’ kind of items, but if you’ve prioritised your gear correctly, you won't need to.
Not only is carrying 101 items stupidly heavy when it doesn't need to be but it’s also primed to give you analysis paralysis. You’ll have so many different possibilities for that single shot, that you’ll fail to decide what to use and miss it altogether. You need to be actively shooting when you’re on location, not weighing up the pros and cons of which strap to use while you miss the most important moments.
So, how do you do that? Invest in quality over quantity.
Believe it or not, you probably don’t need all 75 of those £2.50 lens filters you bought on eBay. But bringing along a single high-quality variable ND or PRO MIST filter might be the difference between bagging that money shot, and disappointing your clients.
Essential Camera Accessories For Photographers and Videographers
In an age of digital noise, understanding the difference between something that’s ‘essential’ and something that’s ‘non-essential’ can feel like a losing battle. The main thing to realise is that the difference between the two will often come down to what you shoot and how you shoot it. After 50, 100, or even more shoots, you’ll likely know what that means to you.
But what if you’re just starting out?
Well, that’s where things get a little more tricky, and shiny object syndrome tends to rear its ugly head. Let’s go through a few accessories, talk about where you might need them, what sort to choose, and whether or not they’re essential for you as a photographer or videographer.
Utility Belt
We’ve developed one of the best photography belts for carrying gear (a product to make running back and forth totally unnecessary). Our top-rated videographer utility belts not only save you time (and look damn good!), but they also save your back!
After countless hours of testing, we’ve outfitted it with the perfect size compartments that can handle anything a photographer, videographer, or vendor would throw at it. A hands-free camera belt for professionals that gives quick access, and a myriad of customisation options. Whether you’re working on a casual city session, a high-tier wedding, or a fashion week, the UNCOMMONSENSE Utility Belt doesn’t skimp on aesthetics or functionality.
The flash pouch will fit the Profoto A1 inside making it a functional photography belt for events and weddings, or if you’re offering your clients something a little more nostalgic, it perfectly fits the Olympus mju ii. Couple that with the other XXL pouches, the lens pouches, and the fact it’s entirely vegan, and you might just have your final must-have photography accessory.
Camera Bags
Camera bags and backpacks for professionals come in all shapes and sizes. The type of camera bag you use will entirely depend on what your working day looks like. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but they are pretty much necessary if you don’t want your gear clinking around in a supermarket bag-for-life for the rest of time.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before choosing the type of camera bag best suited to you:
How much gear do you need to bring?
The size of the bag you should buy is once again determined by how much gear you need to fit in. If you need to bring light stands, tripods, remote switches, props, and reflectors, you’ll be after a very different bag from someone who just needs a body and a lens.
How do you access your bag?
For some of us, we’ll be going in and out of our bags very frequently — constantly on the move with a need for quick access. For others, they may only need to transport their gear to location before opening and closing that zip just once throughout the day.
Lenses & Lens Holder
Lenses are possibly the most ‘must-have’ or necessary piece of kit you could own. Unless you’re shooting with a tin foil, pin-hole DIY lens, you’re gonna need to take one with you!
Instead of rattling through every type of lens known to man (we’ll save that for another article), here are the two main types of lenses and why you may need them:
Prime
Often used in a more controlled environment, prime lenses are basically fixed focal lengths — 28, 35, 50, 85, etc. If you do portrait work, these are likely to be the first things you pick up out of the bag on a shoot. Usually, primes have better quality glass for their respective focal length than their zoom counterparts. Not only this, but they’re often smaller as well (apart from a few big and heavy primes).
This Lens Holder is a perfect solution for you, if you are used to joggling 2-3 prime lenses at a time.
Note: If you’re a videographer, that constant f/stop is an absolute must-have. Variable f/stops from lower-quality zoom lenses make recording a nightmare.
Zoom
On the other hand, if your photography or videography throws something new and exciting at you every day, or especially if you are a wedding photographer - zoom lenses might be the best option. If you’re looking for a high-quality zoom, make sure it’s got a constant f/stop — f2.8 will be better in low light and for subject separation, f4 will be physically much lighter but not as versatile.
Filters
We aren’t talking about those cheap eBay filters like we mentioned earlier. Once again, it’s quality over quantity.
For the most part, filters will be a very personal purchase — one you don’t realise you need until you do. In any situation, there are 3 filters that may be worth considering:
Pro Mist Filter
Pro Mist filters, some people swear by them and some never use them. At their core, the filter gives a soft cinematic feel to any image. It works by diffusing light, reducing contrast, and adding a subtle glow to highlights. This effect is particularly popular in filmmaking and portrait photography, where it helps create a dreamy, ethereal look.
Protection Filter
While the UV filter does provide a layer of protection from any accidental damage (as well as removing blue casts), dedicated protection filters offer high-quality glass with a ‘set and forget’ kind of attitude. Handy? Absolutely! Necessary? If you use a lens hood all the time, then technically not.
ND Filter
If you love getting a high degree of subject separation, shooting at the brightest times of day, and having complete control of how you shoot, ND filters (or variable ND for the most convenience) are unquestionably one of our top photography gear recommendations. Even if you don’t currently use them in your workflow, there will undoubtedly come a time when you need one but don’t have one.
Tripods
Tripods for photographers and videographers are super handy, even if they don’t fit directly into your workflow. It’s one of those accessories that can be a lifesaver — especially if you offer wedding videography services, want to shoot B-roll, or your second shooter never turns up. The key is to invest in a sturdy, high-quality tripod from the start. A well-built tripod not only ensures stability and smooth shots but can also last a lifetime, making it a worthwhile addition to any photographer or videographer’s kit.
Camera Straps
Unless you’re shooting on a tripod all day, your camera strap can make or break the entire shoot. The decision is simple — if you’re working with big gear, make sure you’ve got a big enough strap to properly support your shoulder. If your kit is small and lightweight, try to match its footprint with a smaller strap to save even more space. Many third-party brands produce fantastic camera straps, so definitely shop around.
***
Whether you’re an upmarket fashion photographer, a seasoned wedding photographer looking for lightweight flash holders for event photography, or even a vendor (yup, those pouches don’t just hold tech gear!) the utility belt is the ideal way to carry your kit. Add in a few of these other must-have accessories and you’ll be well on your way to taking your photography to the next level and dealing with anything this profession can throw at you.
Need some more help? Reach out to us using this contact form — we’ll help you decide on your must-have accessories, and show you how the utility belt can become a part of your new workflow.