When I first started this blog over a decade ago, I had never held a camera that was nicer than a disposable or point and shoot (remember those?!). As I continued sharing content here, and eventually turned it into my full time job, I started learning more and more about how to take a good lifestyle photo. Of course styling and content are key, but learning about photography gear and growing into a professional set up was life changing for my business.
Since learning, my work has been in magazines like Better Homes and Garden, Real Simple, and more. I even photographed my first and soon to be second book (mark your calendars for next fall!). So if you’re wanting to learn more about lifestyle photography for you business, or are just curious about what I use, here’s the break down of the camera gear I recommend!
Camera Equipment for Lifestyle Photography
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Camera Body— I’ve been using the Canon EOS 5D Mark IIIÂ for a few years, so there are certainly newer models on the market. This just happens to be the one that I have and love. I might upgrade in the future, but it’s a solid camera that I’ve found easy to navigate and learn. I originally rented this camera to photograph my first book Hello Color. Then I purchased it refurbished, so there are ways to not splurge if the pricing is holding you back.
Lens— different lenses are going to give you different results (more so than changing your camera body would). I’ve used the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens to shoot every photo you see on this blog (from home decor, to flat lays, and more). It’s a higher price point, but it’s extremely versatile and will produce high quality images.
Tripod— a good tripod will change your entire setup and this is a great place to splurge. After all, you’re placing your trust in it to hold a really expensive camera. I recently upgraded to this one and LOVE it! You do need to order a tripod ball head to go with it to be able to attach your camera. PS if you want a less heavy duty tripod for your phone, I take this one everywhere.
Tether Cable— This tether cable is how I see photos on my computer in realtime. I can see a live view of what my camera will capture and make edits mid shoot. This is especially great for flatlay photography and to get the styling perfect every time.
Memory Card— capture all your photos with a quality memory card.
Wireless Remote– for when you need to take a picture of your hands, or just need to be away from the camera/can’t touch the camera in low lighting, use a wireless remote. I’m sure there are better ones out there, but this one does the trick and it’s cheap!
External Hard Drive— back up your work! If you’re taking high res photos, you’re going to run out of storage on your computer sooner than you think. Grab something, like this one, with a ton of space.
So that’s the camera equipment I use on a weekly basis! Let me know if you have any questions about any of the items. And if you’d like a break down of my set up with more details, including how I edit everything, just let me know and I’ll follow up with another post!
xo
Rachel