*I have created Amazon links to make it easy for you to shop! These are personal links, so everything that you purchase through my links helps provide for my family as we live in our RV and travel! So much appreciation to any of you who choose to purchase! I have found the BEST deals on Amazon! Plus, with most things having FREE shipping, you simply cannot beat it!

for the beginner in photography…

When I first started my business in photography, I was probably much like you, the reader. I had a brand new digital SLR camera with the kit lens (I am 100% a Canon Girl, as I have photographed with Canon for as long as I can remember. Check out the newest version of what I had, here >>Canon EOS REBEL T7 DSLR Camera|2 Lens Kit with EF18-55mm + EF 75-300mm lens, Black), I set out and created trial run mini sessions. The Canon Rebel is definitely a must have for any new photographer wishing to expand their knowledge of cameras, simply for the fact that you can easily learn manual settings AND you are able to switch the lenses, without dropping a few thousand dollars. I like to consider this camera a great tool for deciding whether you want to pursue a career in photography or just have an awesome camera for wanting to get better images than the traditional “point and shoot” cameras!

After you’ve gotten comfortable playing around and shooting with your Canon Rebel T7, I highly recommend upgrading your lens to at least a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens . The Canon 50mm f/1.8 is a great transition lens. It is super lightweight for a prime (prime = fixed….basically, you move with your feet – it does not zoom) lens, and takes crisp, clear images. Even my teenagers love the versatility of this lens!

Something that EVERY. SINGLE. PHOTOGRAPHER (beginner or expert). NEEDS, is the ExpoDisc Professional White Balance Filter!!!! You may not know what white balance is right now, but you WILL! To get even, creamy, almost always perfect skin tones, THIS IS YOUR BABY!!!! A friend & mentor recommended this product to me about a year ago, and I just couldn’t believe how much better my images were after using it! You will be more than happy to kiss Auto White Balance or Kelvin goodbye!!! Yes, there are similar products on the market, some with cheaper price tags,
but I promise you, they do NOT compare to the ExpoDisc!
It will be the BEST $50 you will spend in your lifetime as a photographer! I seriously cannot hype this product enough!!!

For your editing software, I HIGHLY recommend shooting in RAW format on your camera, and editing your images in Adobe Creative Cloud Lightroom or Photoshop! For just $9.99/month, the possibilities are endless! I, and most professional photographers, now use Adobe Creative Cloud Lightroom and Photoshop to edit our photos! There are so many presets (kind of like filters) you can download for free or purchase online to make your photos just how you want them! THIS IS A MUST PURCHASE FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPHER! With a few YouTube videos or help from other photographers & photography groups on social media, you can learn and master Lightroom/Photoshop in no time!

for the professional photographer…

LET’S TALK CAMERA BODIES…ooo la la…JK!

I, personally, shoot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera. It is just simply amazing. I love all the features of this camera, including the touch screen and high ISO capabilities! While it is a heavier camera, it is the cream of the crop in DSLR Full Frame cameras! Its little sister the Canon EOS 6D Mark II Digital SLR is also a great choice for a full frame camera, but nothing compares to the speed and functionality of the 5D Mark IV – ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, like myself.

BUT. Let me just say….I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the new Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera  !!! Ohhh emmm geeee…. Like, super lightweight, SUPER fast, CRISP images. I. NEED. THIS. CAMERA. BODY. NOW. (Canon, if you’re reading, I would be glad to be a product tester…haha jk…sort of…)….SO. If you are not interested in having the cream of the crop, heavy, but AMAZING 5D Mark IV, and are on the hunt for the most amazing camera on the market- You need the Canon EOS R5 IN YOUR LIFE NOW! However, Canon users with all EF Lenses, You will need to additionally purchase the Canon Mount Adapter EF – EOS R, Compatible with EOS R and EOS RP so that you can use your EF lenses on your new mirrorless camera.

Now, let’s talk LENSES!!!

While I LOVE Canon native lenses, I also REALLY love
the Sigma Art Lenses for Canon EF mounts!
Being a wedding photographer who prefers to shoot with prime lenses, I need a few lenses to get the job done.

THESE ARE MY TOP PICKS FOR EVERYDAY USE.
Whether you are a family portrait photographer, landscape photographer, wedding photographer, whatever…. THESE ARE THE LENSES YOU NEED IN YOUR CAMERA BAG!!!

-35 mm Lenses-
–Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II  (an absolute dream of a 35mm lens!)
–Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens (I. LOVE. THIS. LENS. It is what basically never leaves my camera, other than my Sigma 50 mm F1.4 Art)

-50mm Lenses-
–Canon EF 50mm f/1.4  (a great lens without the L series price tag)
–Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens (this is what I use and I LOVE it)
–Canon EF 50mm f/1.2  (amazing L series lens!)

-85mm Lenses-
–Canon EF 85mm f/1.8  (don’t let that f/1.8 fool you!!! this lens is BEAUTIFUL and will not disappoint!)
–Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L  (I do not personally own this lens, BUT I WILL. I have had the opportunity to shoot with it *thanks Ashlee, I love/hate you for making me love this pricey lens, haha*, AND IT IS DREAMMMMY! Well worth every penny!!!)
–Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens (another great choice in the 85mm family! A fellow photographer uses this lens, and her images are just beautiful!)

I could get into all the other amazing lenses on the market, but I’ll save that for another day! While I do prefer to shoot with prime (fixed) lenses, there are so many great options for those who want a bit more
versatility with less movement!

Here is a short list of ones that I have shot with and love:
–Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II
–Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens
–Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III 

A few of my other favorite must haves (besides the all-amazing ExpoDisc Professional White Balance Filter) include:

thoughts to end on…

So, whether you are an aspiring photographer, a casual photographer, a semi-professional photographer, or an expert photographer, there are so many amazing products on the market! Obviously, I am a Canon snob, but I have many friends who use Sony, Nikon, and other brands that love their cameras! I just prefer the creamy, traditional film look of a Canon- something I believe Canon has strived to keep in their brand.

If you have any questions on any of these products, I would be more than happy to help guide you to making the best decision for YOU!

xoxo,
Whitney