As a professional photographer, I often get asked what camera lens and accessories I would recommend to someone. If you are just starting with photography either as a hobby or you want to document your kids growing up, you certainly don’t need a $30,000 setup! Below is the gear I recommend for moms, hobbyists, and bloggers. You can do so much with this gear!

Before we dive in, are you ready to take full control of your camera and capture stunning images in any situation? Mastering Manual is the perfect course to help you unlock the full potential of your photography. Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve or an experienced photographer wanting to refine your skills, this course will guide you step-by-step through mastering manual settings so you can confidently shoot in any lighting condition. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to professional-quality photos! Click here to learn more and sign up!

Now, on to the gear!

Camera

I am a Nikon gal through and through! To me, they just seem sturdier! I also love some of the new features that have come out in the newer cameras! One of my favorite new additions is the snap bridge and wifi capabilities. This means you can wirelessly transfer photos from your DSLR camera to your phone! This is super handy if you are on vacation and want to post on social media. This would also be handy to bloggers of all kinds! I have heard from so many people who just leave their photos on their SD cards because they haven’t taken the time to plug them into their computers!

This camera offers beautiful photo and video capabilities. It will allow you to shoot manually if you want to start doing so or in full auto mode (and various in-betweens) if you prefer that route! It has every function you’ll want and need and produces quality images!

Lens

If you are going to invest money in something to improve your photos, your lens is actually a great place to start. Eventually, you will upgrade your camera body. When you do, you can keep your lenses as long as you stay with the same brand! Your lens really determines what your settings will be and how professional your photos will turn out. The 50mm is generally one of the first lenses I recommend purchasing. This is a great lens if you want to get that blurry, creamy background (or depth of field if you want to sound professional)!

Accessories

I would definitely suggest purchasing a few items. If you want to take photos of you and your family, a sturdy tripod is great to have! I use my tripod a lot to get full family photos or even photos of myself for Instagram when I can’t talk someone into helping me out!

Both of the tripods above work really well. If the extra $10 is in the budget, I would suggest the black one. It’s a bit more sturdy, and you can use a sandbag to stabilize it a bit more if you need to!

SD cards have become much more affordable in the past five years! Lexar is my favorite brand for memory cards, and SanDisk is also a great brand. I would definitely suggest getting some type of memory card holder. This way, you can keep your cards all in one spot! I also suggest using an external hard drive to back up your images! Check out this post on how to organize your digital images!

Camera Bag

Protecting your new camera is a smart idea, and choosing a cute camera back is even smarter! Check out the camera bag I use on wedding days over here. Amazon has some really cute camera bags! I love the neutral canvas and leather bags!

Camera Straps

Your camera will come with a strap that will work just fine! But if you’re looking for something a bit more customized, here are some great choices! Many of these have Prime Shipping!

Ready to take full control of your camera and capture stunning images in any situation? Mastering Manual is the perfect course to help you unlock the full potential of your photography. Whether you’re a beginner looking to improve or an experienced photographer wanting to refine your skills, this course will guide you step-by-step through mastering manual settings, so you can confidently shoot in any lighting condition. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to professional-quality photos! Click here to learn more and sign up!