Must-Have Photography Gear for Beginners

Must-Have Photography Gear for Beginners: Start Your Kit Without Breaking the Bank

What you actually need to start shooting like a pro (no tech bro advice or massive gear hauls required)

So, you’re getting serious about photography—and you’re wondering, What gear do I really need to start feeling like a "real photographer"? Maybe you’ve been lurking in the shadows of some Facebook groups where people toss around $3,000 lenses like candy. Or maybe your web browser has a bajillion tabs open but you're still lost down the camera rabbit home and your brain is slowly turning into one giant spec sheet.

Let’s pause, take a beat, and relax.

You do not need to break the bank to start taking amazing photos. You just need the right tools to get started, stay inspired, and grow at your own pace. No matter what you're shooting (portraits, families, seniors, or brand sessions), this is your no-fluff, direct beginner-friendly gear guide.

A Camera You’ll Actually Want to Use

First up: your camera body. If you're just starting out, please do not feel pressured to splurge on something wildly high-end. You're looking for something that lets you shoot in manual mode, is light enough to carry, and won't make you cry if it gets a little dusty on a hike.

beginner cameras:

Canon EOS R50 or Rebel T8i
Nikon Z50 or D5600
Sony a6400 or a7C

You can also rent camera bodies out at your local camera store which is a great way to try some things out. And what do I shoot with, you may ask? I shoot Canon primarily (I have a few different bodies mostly for when I shoot film)- I am all in at this point!

Pro tip #1: Mirrorless is a great choice for travel, lifestyle, or brand photographers- they are so much lighter and might make more sense if you're planning on committing to a brand and going all in down the line. I think that DSLRs are a solid bet if you're buying used and want that classic camera feel (and you can get sweet deals on these now! )

Pro tip #2: If you can swing it, I'd recommend grabbing two camera bodies, especially if you're planning on starting a business. There have been times when I've been shooting a job and my camera craps... but luckily I've had a back up to fall back on.

Pro tip #3: Look for a camera body that has dual SD slots. This means you can put two memory cards in your camera and record to both. This can be a lifesaver if one card becomes corrupt.

One Good Lens Is Worth More Than Five Meh Ones

Yes, lenses matter—I'd say more than your camera body- but you don’t need a dozen. Invest in one great lens and get to know it really well. That lens will be your secret weapon.

My top beginner lens picks:

50mm f/1.8 (“nifty fifty”) – dreamy portraits, creamy backgrounds, small price tag. If you CAN splurge, go for the 1.2- you can thank me later
35mm f/1.8 – wider and great for storytelling, lifestyle, or small spaces, but still has that beautiful depth of field at 1.8
24–70mm f/2.8 – such an amazing all around lens- it's on my camera often//flexible if you're shooting a little bit of everything

Start with a prime lens if you want sharp, natural images and a crash course in moving your feet to compose a shot (which I recommend a million times over from zooming in and out- move your body first!). But you can't beat Zooms for versatility—especially if you’re working with kids, events (hello weddings!), or brands.

Fast, Reliable SD Cards (With Backups!)

Think of memory cards like your camera’s brain. You want it smart, fast, and not prone to breakdowns.

Look for:

64GB or 128GB SD cards
Class 10 or UHS-I/UHS-II speed
Bonus points if you grab a waterproof memory card case

Always carry backups. And back ups. Because the moment you don’t? You’ll fill your only card in the middle of golden hour and you'll be SCRAMBLING to quietly try to hide your blunder while figuring out what the heck you're going to do (also I do NOT recommend deleting/"culling" any images in-camera. Please just don't.

Extra Batteries = Happy Photographer

Camera batteries are dramatic. One minute they’re at 3 bars, and the next they’re at 2% and blinking angrily at you. Always, always carry extras—especially for long shoots or cold weather.

Grab:

At least one backup battery (preferably two)
A dual battery charger so you’re never caught empty//you can get car chargers which can be a life saver

Just make sure whatever you get is compatible with your camera. No one wants the heartbreak of realizing they bought the wrong one at 11pm the night before a shoot.

Pro tip #1: Always go with a camera=specific battery and never a third party. You never know another electronic can interact with your camera body and it can even null your camera warranty if something goes wrong (double check your camera warranty).

Pro tip #2: Mirrorless cameras EAT UP BATTERY LIKE CRAZY. If you're constantly using live view and shooting an event like a wedding, your battery will deplete quickly. That's not a problem! Just be mindful of the battery levels and plan to change our your battery accordingly (like not waiting until the middle of the wedding ceremony to finally change that blinking battery thats going off for a few minutes) .

Light Is Everything—So Let's Use It

Natural light is beautiful, free, and 100% your best friend when you’re starting out (not to mention my favorite favorite light to shoot in).

But a foldable 5-in-1 reflector? This is one of my favorite lighting tools and it will become your trusty and reliable sidekick.

Use it to:

Fill shadows on faces
Add a soft glow in flat lighting
Bounce warm light during golden hour
Use it as a diffuser if the sun is TOO bright and you don't have access to shade

They’re lightweight, packable, and cost less than lunch at your favorite cafe. Win-win.

Pro Tip: Using reflectors is much easier when you have an assistant to hold it. If you find yourself without an assistant, you can always position it on a light stand and aim it where you want it to land on your subject.

A Computer That Can Handle Lightroom Without Crying

Once you start editing RAW files, you’ll want a computer that doesn’t freeze every time you touch the contrast slider. If you've never worked with RAW files, you'll soon find out- they are HUGE files that take up a lot of storage and memory on your computer

Look for:

16GB of RAM or more
A decent graphics card
Plenty of SSD storage (bonus points for external drives)

You’ll also need:

Lightroom Classic for full desktop editing
Lightroom Mobile if you’re starting small (I don't recommend this but if you need to it’s surprisingly powerful!)
Photoshop- I use this pretty much on the daily in tandem with Lightroom

External Storage...or a few- Trust Me on This

Photos pile up fast. Like, “how is this already 2TB?” fast. Back up your work from day one.

Here’s your basic setup:

One main external hard drive (WD and LaCie are solid- I would start with 1T or 2T of storage)
A second drive or cloud service (I use Backblaze but there's also Dropbox) for redundancy
A folder system that makes sense to you

Your future self will thank you like crazy when you’re not searching for files named “IMG_264-final-final-v3.CR2.”

A Camera Bag That Feels Good (and Looks Good, Too)

You don’t need to look like you're on safari every time you shoot—but you do need something that protects your gear and doesn’t kill your shoulders.

Look for:

Padded compartments and partitions
Water-resistant zippers// pack covers for when it rains
A style you’ll actually want to carry//backpack, crossbody, sling, whatever fits your vibe// I personally have a one of each of these and also a suitcase-type rollie bag for larger jobs. I also carry some lighting bags and a few totes for other accessories and tools... you never know what you might need!)

You can totally shop local or grab a secondhand option. Bonus points if it looks cute AND makes you feel like a boss.

Not Gear, But Just as Important: The Business Basics

As soon as money and transactions are involved, you're going to need a few extra things:

Solid photography contracts// this is a non-negotiable// not sure where to start? I have some here you can look at!
A booking system like HoneyBook* to stay organized
A professional-looking website or landing page
Tools like Canva to create templates + communicate
Don't have a lot of time to create templates in Canva? Check out our fully customizable Canva Template Bundles that are ready for your to swap out your details- the heavy lifting has already been done for you!

Gear helps you take the photo. This stuff helps you run your business.

*get 30% off HoneyBook on me via my referral link!

Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Grow Slowly, Stay Creative

You don’t need to go into debt to become a photographer. And you definitely don’t need every gadget (even though they want you to think you do) .

You definitely don’t need to stress about not having a “full kit.” I spent years building up my camera arsenal and am still constantly adding to it. Start with the basics listed here and grow as you can.

What you do need:

A camera you enjoy using
A lens that fits your style and kind of work
A few reliable tools to support you
A love for learning (but you're here so you’ve got that one already;) )

Start small. Shoot as often as you can. Take your camera everywhere you go. Upgrade when the time is right. And build a photography journey that’s aligned with you. Remember, you and not any one else is on your exact path.