As mentioned in an earlier post – my husband and I work together to produce the photography for this blog. I take all of the product shots, and he takes most of my outfit shots (I set up and frame the photo, he takes the pictures). Creating appealing imagery is an important part of fashion blogging, so I’m always looking for ways to increase the quality of my pictures.
Having the right photography gear is essential for high quality shots, so in today’s post, I’m sharing the exact photography equipment I use – along with a list of items I want to eventually upgrade to. This information will especially be useful if you want to take outfit photos for your fashion blog and don’t know where to start!
CAMERA BODY
- Mine: Canon EOS Rebel T6 (US link) – This camera was recommended at every blogging conference I attended. It’s a good starter DSLR because it’s reasonably priced and easy to use.
- Wishlist / Full Frame: Canon EOS6DII EOS 6D Mark I (US link) – Full frame cameras have larger sensors and produce higher quality photos. Most of the top fashion bloggers use full frame cameras – but they’re very expensive!
- Mirrorless Option: Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7 16MP (US link) – Mirrorless cameras are lighter than DSLRs but can still capture high quality images. The main advantage is that they’re easier to carry around – so they’re great for capturing outfit photos on the go.
LENS
- Using the right lens is as important as buying the right camera. Most bloggers don’t use the “kit lens” that comes free with their camera, but opt for a fixed/prime lens, so that they can create a proper depth of field (when the subject is in focus and the background is blurry).
- The “nifty fifty” or 50mm lens is the most popular lens for fashion bloggers. I started with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 (US link) – (here’s a pic using that lens) and then upgraded to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4. (US link) I eventually want to purchase the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 (US link) for those shots with the super blurry backgrounds.
ACCESSORIES
- Some bloggers don’t even work with a photographer – and take all their outfit photos themselves, using a Tripod (US link) and a Remote (US link). I haven’t mastered this yet, but have found these accessories essential when filming Youtube Videos.
- I haven’t purchased a wi-fi SD card yet – but some of my blogger friends highly recommend them – so that you can quickly transfer images from your camera on to your phone – (US link) Eye-Fi 16 GB SD card.
PROTECTIVE GEAR
- Lens Cleaning Pen (US link) – I learned about these pens at a photography course I attended. They’re easy to carry in your camera bag – and you can clean off your lens before every use, to make sure your photos are as clear as they can be.
- Lens Filter (US link) – This filter reduces the UV light, for clearer outdoor photographs. It also protects your pricey camera lens from scratches.
- Lens Hood (US link) – I don’t own a hood because I use a lens filter – but these also protect your lens while also reducing light flares in your photos.
- Bag (US link) – I bought this cover for our trip to Greece – it was more compact than our camera bag, but provides cushioning, so that I could toss our camera into our beach tote without worrying about it getting damaged.
FOR PRODUCT SHOTS
- I wrote an in-depth post on how I take my product photos – but here are some items that can help with lighting. I don’t really use the Lighting Kit (US link) because I prefer shooting in natural light, but the Light Reflectors (US link) can help brighten your photo when all your light is coming in from one side. And this is an easy way to create Marble Background for Flatlays (US link) – check out my How to Take Product Flatlay Shots for Instagram post for more details.
I didn’t cover photo-editing in this post – but please let me know if you’re interested, and I can write about it in the future!
What photography equipment have you found helpful for outfit photos?
DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post produced in partnership with Amazon.ca
This was a really informative post, Zeba! Although I've been blogging for several years I'm just getting started on the "real" photography part so I have a lot to learn and it's helpful to hear what works for others. I would definitely be interested in your photo editing tips, too. :)Gina || On the Daily Express
So glad you like the post Gina – I kept all this info as notes on my phone – which lens to buy, how to protect your camera etc – so it was satisfying to write it all down in one post 😉
This is soooo good Zeba! As you know, my hubby takes my outfits and I do the product shots. We also use the same camera 🙂 your pictures are superior to mine though! I'm going to order that marble paper! And a 50 mm lens is on my wishlist too
Oooh camera twins! You'll love the lens – it makes SUCH a huge difference – it's one of the best investments I've made <3