Today I am answering my #1 most asked question: WHAT CAMERA EQUIPMENT DO I USE? I am breaking all of that down for you in today’s post! I understand camera equipment is a HUGE investment and can get really pricey! I do want to assure you though, that investing in great quality equipment is one of the best moves you can make as a creator or business owner. You will definitely get your money’s worth out of the products I will be recommending. Also keep in mind, when you improve the QUALITY of the content you are producing you will be able to increase the QUANTITY of $$$ you are charging to create it! With that being said, I will be including cheaper alternatives for those of you who aren’t trying to break the bank or maybe just beginners in this whole creation world! I will also be sharing some camera accessories I CANNOT live without, so be sure to stick around until the end! LET’S JUMP IN!
My Current Set Up
First things first, my go-to camera equipment! These are the items I use on a daily basis to create content for my instagram!
Nikon D750
This baby is my ride or die. I have been using this camera for over a year and a half now and it has totally changed my content for the better. This camera has a full frame censor which I think is HUGE when it comes to top notch content. This is considered a professional level camera, however it is actually on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Some full-frame cameras can get up to $5,000 for the body alone! Personally, I think this camera is the best for anyone wanting to get serious about content creation as a career. It has all the qualities you would want as a content creator and even comes with wifi to take wireless photos through your phone! (Click HERE to check out my Tripod Guide where I explain how I use this feature to take my own photos). Retail price is around $1,600. You can shop it here: Nikon D750 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body
Basically any photo I posted from July 2018-Jan 2020 was shot on my Sigma 24mm lens.
SIGMA 24MM F/1.4
This lens has been my baby for the past year. I have loved every minute with this baby. I get a ton of questions about the lens that I use because it gives a nice wide angle effect! I think it not only takes beautiful artsy photos, but is also just a great lens for everyday and even portraits. I have convinced many of my bloggers to buy the exact set up that I have and they have found it to be a total GAME CHANGER. I will forever love this lens. You can click here to check it out, it typically costs around $800: SIGMA 24MM F/1.4 DG HSM ART LENS FOR NIKON F
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS SHOT ON MY 16-35MM
I purchased this in Jan 2020 so I don’t have a ton of images with it but I will update it as I get more!
Nikon 16-35MM F/4
Meet the new girl in town! Although I love my 24mm, I decided it was time for a change. Tezza once said “buying a new lens is like buying a new perspective” and I could not agree more. I got this lens so I could get some versatility out of my photos when I go to shoot! The 16mm also really intrigued me. I was ready for some even wider angle shots and I can achieve that amazing effect with this lens! This lens runs for around $1,100! NIKON AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35MM F/4G
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS SHOT ON MY 16-35MM
I purchased this in Jan 2020 so I don’t have a ton of images with it but I will update it as I get more!
Other Lenses I Love for My D750
Nikon 35MM f/1.8
This was my go-to lens when I first bought my D750. I love the feeling the lens gives my photos because it is pretty true to real life. This lens retails for around $500 and you can shop it here: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G ED Fixed Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
HERE ARE SOME SHOTS ON MY 35 MM
Nikon 50MM F/1.4
This was my go to lens for my photography biz back when I did weddings and senior photos! It is beautiful for portraits and family photos. This lens has a beautiful blurred effect since it is a 1.4! I do not use this on my personal instagram because I like to give that a fun and in-the-moment feel. However sometimes it is fun to switch it up for some cool shots. This lens makes photos look EXTREMELY professional. Any of you aspiring photographers out there… you NEED this lens! And best part… you can get for around $400! Shop it here: Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.4G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS SHOT ON MY 50MM
BEGINNER EQUIPMENT
These next few products I mentioned were actually equipment I started out on. They are really great quality and you get a LOT of bang for your buck!
Nikon D5600
I have nothing negative to say about this camera. Not only does it take great photos, but AMAZING video as well. It has a touch screen, bluetooth, wifi, AND a flip around screen. It is really amazing for youtube videos which is what I used when I was first starting out! It also was the camera I used on my instagram up until January 2018! This is a phenomenal camera for anyone wanting to step up their photo game! It is a cropped sensor camera, so it is not considered a professional camera, but nevertheless produces amazing content! It retails for $550! I also believe it has brother camera that came before it with less bells and whistles but is much cheaper because it is an older model! You can purchase the D5600 here: D5600 DX-format Digital SLR Body
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8
This is the lens I recommend pairing with the Nikon D5600 camera! They pair great together and it gets the job done! Since this lens is for cameras with cropped censors (such as the D5600), it actually shoots more like a 50mm would on a professional level camera like my D750. Long story short, “non-professional” level cameras have sensors that crop away some of the frame from your shot. It is VERY hard to explain and make sense to people who have a hard time understanding camera lingo, so just take my word for it: this lens its the way to go;) It retails for only $190 which is a STEAL! You can shop it here: Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon DSLR Cameras
If you go back to my feed in 2016-17, you are looking at photos set on this setup! Here is an example of what my feed looked like back then!
TRIPPY THE TRIPOD
Meet my tried and true little pal, Trippy (yes i named my tripod)! This is the BEST tripod I have ever come by for the price! It is extremely sturdy and doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of plastic that is going to blow over when a wind gust comes by!
Targus Black Lable 60 inch Tripod
I get SO many questions on what tripod I use! For those of you who follow along with my self shooting tripod sessions on instagram, you know that a lot of my photos I take on my own on a tripod! So this is my baby, I could not do it with out this piece of equipment! There are so many features, it really makes my life a breeze! It gets up to 60 inches tall and you can move it in all sorts of directions and angles! It retails for $60! You can shop it here: Targus Pro Series 3-Way Panhead and Bubble Level Tripod, 60-Inch, Black (TG-P60T)
I also sell a guide on Tripod Photography that explains how I self shoot my photos! Click here to buy!
HOW I EDIT MY PHOTOS
With Josie Presets of course;) . Incase you didn’t know, I sell my own presets which is what I use to edit every single on of my photos! My recent favorites have been Sweet Summer and Pastel Pop! Click here to start shopping!
OTHER FAVS
Before I go, I want to share a few last gadgets that have made my life SO much easier as a creator!
APPLE LIGHTNING TO SD CARD CAMERA READER
this product is LIFE CHANGING!!!!! I swear it was one of the best purchases I have ever made. This product imports photos from your SD card straight into your Iphone! But get this… it will import your RAW images too. Whenever I am traveling or on the go I pop this in my phone and edit my RAW photos in lightroom mobile while I am out and about and they are ready to post! No more waiting until you are around your computer to edit or lugging your computer unnecessary places to get a photo edited in time. Trust me, this product will change you LIFE. You can buy it here!
Affordable Lighting Setup
This whole set retails for only $52 and they are great quality! I love having these handy for filming videos or extra lighting for an indoor shoot! If you are on the market for some lighting, check this one out!
Fujifilm Quicksnap disposable camera
This is just a fun one! I love disposable cameras! They are a fun way to get creative or capture a fun event! I love to get them and use them at friends birthdays or concerts! It is so fun to develop them and look through all the memories later! You can find a link to a two pack I found here!
SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card
This is my personal favorite SD card. It comes in my different storage sizes, but the SanDisk extreme pros are just so reliable. I have had MANY sd cards crash on me, but never this kind! I only use this specific sd card now!
THAT IS ALL FRIENDS! Hope you found this post helpful and informative! If you ever end up trying out any of the products I recommended, let me know hoe you like it!
XO Josie
