Gear and Sites I Use

GEAR:

Here are links to some of the gear I recommend in my online photography workshops! Enjoy!

Cameras:

Today, you have many choices. I’ve done the research for you, and here are my suggestions. I’ve divided them into DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras.

Also, if you’re an iPhone photographer, I recommend the Pro models. They come with an extra lens (camera) for photographers. Also, I’d start with at least the iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

DSLRs:

If you’re just starting out, I recommend buying a mirrorless camera. They are the future of photography. That said, if you already own Canon DSLR lenses that fit full-frame Canons, then I love the camera below.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM Lens: This is the professional camera I use, and I love it! It has a very sturdy body, which is handy when traveling. (My newest camera was only three weeks old when I tripped, walking up the steps at the Buddhist monastery in Oudong, Cambodia, and bounced it off the steps…Do not try that at home!!! 😱) It does not have a flash. It features a full-frame sensor and effectively handles digital noise beautifully. The lens included with this link is an “L” lens, Canon’s designation of professional lenses. Oh… and it’s considerably more expensive than some of the other models I recommend here. 😉 But mine is eight years old and going strong! I like things that last!

Mirrorless Cameras:

Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera with 18-45mm lens: This is an inexpensive Canon mirrorless camera that is a great place to start! It’s lightweight, compact and shoots both photos and video. It is a cropped sensor camera. I always recommend Canon cameras, since they are intuitive and consistent from model to model, making them easier to learn.

Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera with 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens W/Free ACC Kit: If you prefer a really small and lightweight camera, this Sony is a good choice. Cropped sensor.

Canon EOS RP Mirrorless camera with 24-105 F/4-7.1 IS STM Lens: This is a full-frame Canon mirrorless with a great price tag. If you add an additional lens mount, it is also compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses. If you’ve been a Canon shooter and want to try out mirrorless, this is a good choice since you can use your existing lenses! It includes a versatile 24-105 lens.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II with 24-105mm STM Lens: This Canon has a full-frame sensor and is compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses, using an additional lens mount. It is more expensive than the EOS RP, so it’s an investment. In fact, it’s more expensive than my pro camera! The lens included with this link is an “L” lens, Canon’s designation of professional lenses. I suspect that I’ll break down and add it to my camera collection before long. 😉

Fun Cameras:

GoPro Hero13 Black: This tiny camera takes incredible video with built-in stabilization. You can also take still photos. It’s waterproof, too, although you’ll want to get additional protection if you take it scuba diving.

---

Other Gear:

Backblaze: I use this online backup service and swear by it! Once you set it up, your disks will be continually backed up online. Retrieving lost files is easy, too! When one of my backup disks died, I was able to retrieve all the information on the disk! It’s a subscription service and well worth it!

Pocket Tripod Pro: This is a fun accessory for iPhone users! The size of a credit card, it unfolds into a table-top tripod for your iPhone, perfect for selfies and group shots. I always have mine with me, in my wallet!

Black Rapid Camera Strap for Female Photographers: These are definitely my favorite Black Rapid straps! They are designed for women, so they fit me better and take the pressure off my neck. I wear a heavy camera for hours and don’t feel the weight! When your strap arrives, remember to go to their website to see the video on how to fit it to your body.

Black Rapid Camera Strap for Everyone: I love these camera straps! They were the first Black Rapid straps I used. They fit everyone and take the pressure off your neck. I wear a heavy camera for hours and don’t feel the weight! There are many different designs, so you’ll be able to fit the strap to your personal needs. When your strap arrives, go to their website to see the video on how to fit it to your body.

Wacom Intuos Pro Bluetooth Creative Pen Tablet, Medium: I love editing my photos with this tablet. It allows me to control my edits with an electronic pen instead of a mouse, which is much easier. This is the size I use at home. For travel, I use a smaller version, the Wacom Intuos Pro Bluetooth Creative Pen Tablet, Small. The larger version has more controls that you can program to work with your software. I don’t know any professional photographers who don’t use a Wacom!

Samsung T7 Shield, Portable SSD Hard Drive – This is my new favorite external hard drive! I have three of them so far. This link is for the 2 TB version, but you can also choose a 4 TB version at this link. It is incredibly fast and has no moving parts, which makes it sturdier. Highly recommended!

Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2: This is a great tool to control white balance. You can use it to create a custom white balance calibration in your camera or in Lightroom Classic. (That’s where I use it!) You can also use it to warm or cool the white balance.

It is a good addition to your camera bag, especially when you are shooting in a mixed-lighting environment. What is that? Say you are shooting a birthday party inside your house. The indoor lights are tungsten, LED, and maybe, fluorescent. If sunlight comes through the windows, that introduces a fourth color of light. It’s hard for your camera to balance those different color temperatures.

Instead, you shoot a photo of the Calibrite ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 in the scene. Then, follow the directions to either set a custom white balance in your camera for that day or in Lightroom when you import your photos. I prefer to use it in Lightroom Classic. That way, I haven’t set a custom white balance and forgotten to change it after shooting. (Anyone who has ever set the timer on the camera and forgotten to unset it knows just what I’m talking about! 😉)

---

Books and Training:

The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic Book (Voices That Matter): This is Scott Kelby’s newest book about setting up and using Lightroom. I wouldn’t be without it!

How Do I Do That In Lightroom?  This is a great reference book from Scott Kelby. To quote Scott, “Don’t read it in order. It’s not that kind of book. This is more like an “I’m stuck. I need help right now” book…” It’s great to have on your desk for those moments when you can’t figure out how to do something in the software.

The Lightroom System: Great Lightroom training with Matt Kloskowski. You install this training on your computer. Matt is a fabulous teacher. He used to work for KelbyOne before he started his own company. I’ve learned from him in person and through his online classes.

The Photoshop System: You guessed it… great Photoshop training with Matt Kloskowski.

---

Sites I Recommend:

Adorama.com: Not only is this a fabulous online camera store, but they have a blog with training, too. If you’re like me and like videos, check out their Adorama TV.

Dropbox: Need to send photos? Use Dropbox instead of email. Your friends will thank you!!!  Also, great for online backup. And you can use it to sync your photos between your iPhone, iPad, and laptop! Highly recommended!

GoDaddy.com: Domains, websites, email, and more. This is the company I use to host my website. Their customer service is excellent!

Adobe Stock: This is the easiest stock site for uploading! I upload through the Publish Services panel in Lightroom Classic. This link leads to my portfolio there. It’s a great place to sell stock photography!

KelbyOne: You can’t beat the training you get on this website! And your subscription comes with discounts and a subscription to Photoshop User Magazine. This is, without a doubt, the best training deal on the internet! They release a new class every Thursday.

MailChimp: The perfect site for sending email and newsletters. I’ve used them for years!

MOO.com: The place to buy unique business cards, labels, and postcards, just to name a few. My business cards always start a conversation!

SmugMug: Looking for somewhere to put your photos online? This is where you’ll find my portfolio. They’re a great company to work with! You can post and share your photos and also sell them!

Most of these links are affiliate links. Clicking on them won’t cost you more… and I get a commission from the company if you click on the link and purchase something.  A win-win for all of us! Thank you!!! 😍