What equipment should a photographer buy? Photo studio equipment External hot shoe flash or wireless flash

Everyone's favorite part of learning the art of photography is photographic equipment. Of course, this is a joke, but no one can deny that any shooting requires some kind of equipment. At the very least, you need a camera and lens, as well as other accessories. This article will help you decide on the selection of the most necessary and important photographic equipment, which may be primarily needed for photography by those who are taking their first steps in learning photography.

Camera

A good camera should feel like an extension of the shooter's hand. It should be used effortlessly to make shooting as easy as possible. So which camera should you choose?

The best place to start for many photographers is an entry-level DSLR (DSLR) or mirrorless digital camera. The difference between these two types of cameras is that in SLR cameras the viewfinder is based on a mirror located behind the lens at an angle of 45 degrees to its optical axis. This allows sighting directly through the shooting or auxiliary lens. Mirrorless cameras do not have a mirror, which allows them to be smaller and lighter.

Canon DSLR and Fujifilm mirrorless camera side by side for comparison

There's nothing wrong with using a camera you already have, even if it's a smartphone camera. You can take great photos with any equipment as long as you clearly understand its limits and capabilities.

Lens

The second important piece of equipment is the lens. In some cases, lenses are even more important to photography than the camera itself, because the lens actually transmits light to the camera's light-sensitive element.

Some cameras allow you to change lenses. Such lenses are called interchangeable lenses. You can exchange a “simple” portrait lens for a huge expensive “sports lens”, but still use the same camera. This is a big advantage and makes your system more flexible for different types of photography.

Which lens should you choose?

Some photographers use lenses that come with their cameras. Others buy their own cameras and choose lenses for them separately. But in any case, a lens is necessary. There are two (and possibly three) that we recommend for beginners. You should consider your options and prioritize them from most to least important.

Lenses that scale, such as a 14-42mm, 16-50mm, 18-50mm, 18-55mm or 18-105mm lens. These are quite versatile lenses and using them will give you a clear idea of what specialty lenses to buy in the future.
A primary lens that does not zoom, such as a 25mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8. Prime lenses are especially good for portraits and photographs with a "shallow focus" effect.
Telephoto lens, for example, 55-200 mm. This type of lens allows you to photograph distant subjects, which may be useful when photographing wildlife or sports, although not all photographers need this ability in the first place.

Each lens has a specific characteristic - a numerical value in millimeters, for example, 50 mm. It is called focal length and shows how much the lens magnifies the image and what angle it captures. Lenses with a high number (more than 85) can be called telephoto lenses. Essentially similar to telescopes - they magnify (bring closer) objects at a distance. Lenses with a lower number (28 or less) are considered wide-angle lenses, which provide a much wider view.

All those in between, like the 50mm lens, are conventional lens systems. Keep in mind that it is not the numbers that are important, but what kind of picture you get when you shoot with a lens with a particular focal length. Take a look at the image below.

Photos taken from the same point with lenses of different focal lengths

There is also an important difference between zoom lenses and prime lenses.

Zoom lenses cover multiple focal lengths. You can zoom in and out on the image you are shooting.
Fixed focal length lenses cannot zoom at all.

Zooming is a great feature, but prime lenses are also a very good choice. They usually have several advantages, including weight, price, sharpness, aperture, and more.

An example of a zoom lens is the Nikon 24-120mm f/4 lens. An example of a prime lens is the Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens. It's easy to say that a zoom is a zoom since it has a range of millimeter numbers to its name. This is the widest angle and longest telephoto lens a single lens can offer. For example, the Nikon 24-120mm f/4 lens has a 5x zoom.

All photographers have different lens requirements. There is no one size that fits everyone, which is why.

Camera bag

Unlike cameras or lenses, camera bags are simple. The choice is made mostly by common sense - if the bag is comfortable and it fits your equipment well, go for it. However, you should choose the right one from the very beginning. Don't be surprised, but it depends on the type of photos you plan to take.

Landscape photographers primarily need a backpack since they end up traveling long distances and carrying photography equipment in addition to personal items.
Street photographers will probably be better off with a shoulder bag as it's quick and easy to get your camera out of and also works well for smaller camera kits.
Wedding photographers vary, but most will need a camera backpack or suitcase to carry a lot of gear for their wedding photography.
Studio photographers may not even need a bag unless they leave their studio, although some buy rental cases to transport their equipment by car or plane.

Don't forget a good camera strap. If you end up carrying the camera on your person for long periods of time, the standard strap that comes with your camera probably won't be very comfortable.

Memory card

The next element is the memory card. Memory cards store photos and allow you to transfer them from your camera to your computer. They are important for any photographer.

The first characteristic that influences the choice of a good memory card is its capacity. You'll need a card that can store a lot of photos - ideally over 1000 or more. Choose a card with a capacity of at least 16 gigabytes (ideally 32 GB, 64 GB, etc.). This is especially important for wildlife, sports and travel photographers.

An equally important characteristic is the card reading speed. Fast memory cards have several benefits, and one of the biggest is that they minimize the amount of time your camera spends buffering (blocking to process a series of photos you just took). Choosing a card with high speed is especially important for wildlife and sports photographers, as well as for video use.

A fast memory card is critical for wildlife photography, especially when you're shooting long bursts of photos to capture the perfect moment

Many cameras have pop-up flashes, but you can also do this on camera. As a rule, models are more powerful and with their help it is easier to control the light.

Some photographers (landscape or architecture photographers, for example) may not need a flash at all, unlike portrait photographers.

Additional batteries

Every time you buy a camera, it will be sold with a battery and charger. However, one charger may not be enough. It's never a good idea to miss out on a good shot because your battery is dead, no matter the reason. Get yourself at least one (and even more if you find that two is not enough).

It was a beautiful morning for photography, but it was so cold that the battery died in less than an hour. Luckily there were a few spare parts

Other accessories

Along with all these necessary camera equipment, there are a few additional accessories that you should also consider.

First, to maintain your camera, lenses, filters, and other gear, you'll need a cleaning kit. It includes a microfiber cloth and lens cleaning spray. Cleaning the matrix should still be entrusted to professionals, at least at first.

Along with this, you may also need various other accessories such as shutter remotes, GPS devices, motion triggers, printers, etc. The market for photography accessories is huge.

It is recommended to hold off on purchasing specialized equipment until you know what genre of photography interests you. For example, don't buy a set of high-quality studio lights only to realize that you prefer landscape photography to studio work.

Don't get bogged down with accessories at the very beginning. Instead, start with a basic set of camera and lens and see which direction your photography goes. Additional accessories can be purchased as needed.

The exposure has a shutter speed of over two minutes, so the stars in the sky appear as stripes. Extremely long exposures, like this one, are easiest to capture using a remote shutter release

Choosing the right camera equipment is not as easy as buying a good camera. You need to think about a tripod, filters, batteries, memory cards, accessories, etc. Start with a DSLR or digital system camera, think about lenses, gradually expanding your arsenal based on the tasks you will set during shooting.

And remember that photography equipment definitely matters. But still, no matter what gear you have, it is not the driving force behind taking good photos. The main thing will be your desire to learn the technical and creative components of photography.

In the modern world, photographer is considered one of the most popular professions. , you can earn good money. After all, these types of services are now in great demand. But to build a thriving business, you need to open your own. Start by purchasing special lighting equipment for your photography studio.

The quality of photographs depends on photographic equipment and proper lighting. In addition, thanks to lighting devices, you can refresh your complexion, hide dark circles under the eyes, and other imperfections.

Purpose, types and lighting schemes

Studio photography is becoming more and more popular. This can be explained by the fact that it will not be affected by any natural phenomena: neither rain, nor wind, nor cloudy weather is scary.

But the correct lighting is very important. A variety of light and shadow equipment allows you to get interesting photo effects.

Select equipment for a photo studio taking into account the lighting schemes you will be working with:

scheme with one light source: a flash and a reflector are required at a great distance from the subject;
butterfly: a second light source behind the model is required;
triangle: lighting equipment is installed on the side;
Beauty: lighting is directed from both sides through clear zones, reflectors are also needed.

First steps in studio photography

Studio light

Divided into 2 types:

constant;
impulsive.

Studio lighting equipment catalog

Constant lighting is provided. But now this equipment is rarely used, as it has several disadvantages:

generate a lot of heat;
I require a lot of electricity;
their brightness irritates the photographer's eyes.

Constant lighting sources:

Characteristics / Model	QL-500BW	DS-500	YN-600 LED	Fresnel 300
Manufacturer	Falcon Eyes	Falcon Eyes	Yongnuo	GreenBean
Illuminator type	halogen	halogen	LED	halogen
Output power, W	500	500	36	300
Power adjustment	smooth	fixed	smooth	smooth
Cost, rub.	7 400	4 300	8 500	13 480

Therefore, it is more preferable to include it in a set of equipment for a photo studio. Which are not only economical, but also better recognize and convey the shade of light. Soffits give a yellowish color, requiring additional correction of photographs; with flashes there is no such need.

Lighting solutions for portrait photography

Pulsed light sources:

Characteristics / Model	D-Lite RX ONE	GY-150	TE-1200BW
Manufacturer	Elinchrom	NiceFoto	Falcon Eyes
Light source type	compact flash	compact flash	monoblock
Max. power, J	100	150	1 200
Power adjustment	6 -1 00 J	smooth	smooth
Cost, rub.	9 250	5 000	25 480

Studio flashes

Monoblock flashes are usually used as equipment for a photo studio - a strong pulse flash of 100 - 1,000 J with an additional halogen or regular incandescent lamp, which allows you to simulate lighting and works independently of others.

A modern camera requires a flash of up to 500 J. For some types of photography, 300 J is a lot. That’s why professional flashes have a pulse energy regulator.

Reflector or reflector– equipment that reduces light scattering and creates a directed flow.

Nozzle with honeycomb filter allows you to get sharp shadows. The honeycomb creates directional beams that mimic sunlight. A nozzle with parallel stripes creates a “blinds” effect. These attachments prevent glare from reaching the lens and eliminate the need for curtains.

Using 2 - 4 monoblock lighting equipment for a photo studio with different attachments, you can get a large number of different effects. But the main thing is to arrange them correctly.

To do this, you can use several arrangement options:

painting light;
back;
modeling;
background.

Light diffusers

Umbrella– affordable and compact diffuser. Thanks to it, you can get soft, even light with the ability to control it (the distance from the umbrella to the light source is adjusted)

There are 2 types of umbrellas:

translucent: made of white fabric, light passing through it is weakened by 2 times;
reflective: the inside of the umbrella is white or with gold or silver coating, the outside is black; reflection promotes dispersion and creates a more contrasting image, adds sharpness in light parts, and reduces it in dark parts.

– a popular diffuser that has the shape of a quadrangular reflector. The inner walls are coated with a metallized composition. Light reflects off the walls and passes through the white material.

Softboxes can be square or rectangular. Used for portrait photography.

Characteristics / Model	Rotalux	Recta	Rotalux Octa
Manufacturer	Elinchrom	Elinchrom	Elinchrom
Softbox shape	square	rectangular	octabox
Softbox size, cm	70x70	90x110	175
Soft box depth, cm	32	42	50
Cost, rub.	13 140	15 580	26 210

Stripboxes- the same softboxes, but in them the length is much greater than the width. Used for full-length photography. They give large glares on the background.

– an octagonal-shaped softbox, used to get an artistic highlight on glossy surfaces, and also to imitate light from a window in the model’s eyes.

Lightbox– equipment that serves to obtain uniform lighting and prevents the appearance of unwanted shadows and glare. Used in subject photography. It is made in the shape of a box, the walls are made of white material that transmits light. The object is placed inside the box. The photo turns out to be of very high quality and requires almost no further processing.

Curtains– equipment that regulates the luminous flux of the flash. Regulation occurs by opening and closing the door. Used to illuminate the background. Sometimes color filters are used. With their help, they change the background color and create unusual transitions.

Tripods or stands– equipment with which studio flashes are fixed in the right place, at the right height. When choosing a rack, pay attention to its load capacity and stability, because monoblocks are quite heavy (3 – 7 kg).

Good equipment for a photo studio- this is the most important component of a photographer’s creativity. Talent and experience without the right lighting and professional camera will bring neither pleasure nor income. If you want to take exciting, beautiful photographs, it's time for a photo studio buy lighting equipment.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of light in photographic art, therefore extremely wide. We will help you navigate the variety and purpose of equipment for photo studios, which is presented in

To choose the right equipment, use our tips:

Light in photography - what type of lighting is preferable

The choice of equipment is influenced by what tasks will be solved in studios: only photos or also video shooting, warm or cold light is preferable, is it possible to regulate the power and width of the light flow?

Light for Photos of the documents different from light for product photography or artistic portraiture. Therefore, choosing photo studio equipment, you should decide on the range of your genres.

If you need light for photo studios, imitating natural, should be looked to the side fluorescent devices, which are characterized by low heat transfer and low cost.

Highly popular for professional photography uses halogen photography lamps that emit constant light. Their advantages:

high color rendering index, which reaches almost 100%;
continuous emission spectrum;
soft warm picture with dramatic effect;
ability to control light (power, flow width).

Successfully choose lamps for your photo studios Experienced store specialists will help. Our assortment will not confuse you if you use them consulting assistance.

Do-it-yourself photo studio - correct lighting arrangement

Light for a photo shoot can be set according to various schemes. On our website you can choose a light pattern, which optimally corresponds to the assigned tasks. Knowing 2-3 light arrangement schemes, you can open a photo salon.

The classic version involves three light sources:

drawing(main light, which determines the direction of flow, lighting intensity);
filling(allows you to fill the shadow areas of the object with soft light, this will not allow important details to hide from view and will make the picture softer);
background(emphasizes the structure and volume of the model, object, does not allow it to merge with the background);
back(emphasizes a certain area of the photograph, details the accent as much as possible, this could be clothing, a silhouette, an accessory. As a rule, such light is a narrowly focused spot).

Optimal lamps for photo studio You can choose from us for a variety of purposes. The store’s specialists in Moscow will help you make a smart choice and buy the most useful and high-quality for photography.

Light power for professional and home photo studios

The rule is simple: the larger the room, the more powerful you need lighting for photo studio. A home photography studio will not require very powerful light, since it will largely be reflected from the walls.

In addition to the area of the room, the light power is determined by the following factors:

camera properties;
dimensions of the subject;
distance from lamp to model.

For example, powerful light is not needed for product photography; you should also take care soft lighting, if you are going to photograph children. Such models are very impressionable and may feel anxious under a bright light source. And this state of affairs negatively affects the final result.

Light for portrait photography is selected depending on the photographer’s tasks. By adjusting the light power you can achieve:

highly dramatic pictures;
good elaboration of contours;
highly detailed object.

A ready-made set will provide optimal light for the photographer and save time

It's possible with us purchase a set of equipment, which will become the basis for your work. Buy a kit- it’s more convenient and, as a rule, much cheaper than buying studio elements separately.

The light kits that are presented in belong to popular brands. This will allow you to easily buy new elements and accessories when expanding your photo studio at home in the future.

The importance of accessories for opening a photo studio

Rarely does a photographer limit himself to a small a set of studio photographic equipment, but when purchasing accessories it is important to be guided by expediency and a sense of proportion. One of the necessary items, without which it is difficult to imagine the work of any photo studio, is softbox, buy you can use this accessory our store.

Softbox Designed to soften the flow of light or flash. Its use allows you to get curved highlights, the picture looks softer and more voluminous.

If you want to buy a softbox in Moscow excellent quality and at a reasonable price- Welcome to . Also presented to your attention is a variety of photo studio equipment, which can satisfy various requests. We are ready to advise you in detail about the range and recommend suitable models.

Product photography is a special type of photography. This genre of photography is most often used to create advertising photographs of various products. Also, various photographs of objects are a popular product on photo stocks. The main purpose of advertising subject photography is to show the item in the most interesting and beneficial form for the buyer.

To carry out quality photography of an object, you need strong knowledge and good experience. After all, the photographer must choose the right background for shooting, choose the shooting point, and set the light.

Currently, photography for catalogs of various online stores, which are springing up like mushrooms after rain, is becoming especially relevant. Everyone needs high-quality photography of the products they offer to people. After all, it is from the photograph that the first impression is most often formed.

Various restaurants and cafes also need photography of their products. Photos of dishes are necessary to create a beautiful menu.

3D photographs are also in demand, which allow you to view an object from all sides.

If we consider advertising subject photography from the point of view of a photographer’s potential earnings, the situation has now changed somewhat. Online stores and various companies prefer to recruit photographers to their staff. Examples of vacancies can be viewed on Yandex work.

In our short article we will look at the main technical points that will help you start shooting for online stores. So, let's begin.

Background for shooting.

As a rule, when shooting for online catalogues, a discreet plain background is selected, preferably light colors or white. But, it is necessary to coordinate everything with the customer. Experienced product photographers work according to the so-called brief. This is a technical task that describes in detail the result that the customer wants to receive. Often the brief is made with examples of such filming.

Preparing subjects for shooting.

Subjects for shooting must be prepared by the customer. For shooting you need to use new items from the original packaging. In this case, there will be no pronounced defects on their surface. If the photographer himself prepares the subjects for shooting, then he needs to thoroughly clean them of dust, periodically blowing it off with a special blower, since the slightest specks of dust will be clearly visible in the final photograph. This will help reduce the time required for retouching.

Using a tripod.

Product photography is performed from a tripod. It is advisable to use a high-quality, heavy tripod to minimize the possibility of camera movement and shake. This is especially important if you will be shooting in constant light or with focus bracketing. A tripod will also help keep the shooting angle and scale constant if you are shooting a series of subjects.

Lenses.

It is not customary to use wide-angle lenses to photograph objects, as this causes distortion. Mostly lenses with a focal length of 100 mm are used, although there are exceptions. To photograph small objects, it is best to use specialized macro lenses. Autofocus is practically not used in product photography, so you can choose lenses with manual focus for shooting. In some cases, this can significantly save your budget.

Camera.

You can use both amateur and professional cameras. It all depends on the shooting tasks. If you are shooting for an online store, where the photos will be viewed in a small size (about 1200 pixels on the long side), then you can get by with a simple DSLR or mirrorless camera.

If you are photographing expensive exclusive items, for example, jewelry, collectibles or antiques, then in this case, of course, you need more serious equipment. Most often, professional full-frame cameras are used for such filming. The Nikon D800E and D810 cameras have proven themselves very well. They do not have a smoothing low-pass filter in front of the matrix, so they have the highest detail, which is especially important in product photography.

Lighting equipment.

For shooting, you can use both constant and pulsed light. Naturally, the more expensive products you shoot, the higher the level of lighting equipment should be. For simple catalog photography, you can get by with kits in the form of an object table and 2-3 inexpensive pulsed light sources.

Camera settings.

Manual mode M is used. No automatic settings!

Optimal values when shooting with pulsed light:

ISO 100, aperture f/11 for good depth of field, shutter speed 1/160 sec.

Exposure adjustment is carried out by the power of pulsed light sources.

White balance is best adjusted manually using a gray card.

If you're shooting in constant light, your shutter speed settings will depend on the power of the light sources you're using. The aperture also remains f/11, ISO in some cases can be raised to 400-800 to shorten the shutter speed. This can only be done if the final images are small in size, then the noise will not be noticeable, but you will save time.

In the following materials we will continue to talk about subject photography.

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