Got a New Camera? My Six Must Have Camera Accessories

While getting a new camera is definitely a lot of fun, there are a few extra things that you may want to pick up that will really enhance your new-camera experience.  I purchased my first DSLR camera in 2006, and quickly realized that it was not at all like having a point-and-shoot camera!  For one thing, it was much heavier.  It had a lot more parts and pieces, AND fun things to buy to go along with it!  Here are my six must-have camera accessories for your new DSLR.

1) Camera Bag

Once I took the plunge with a bigger camera and all of its parts and pieces I realized that I needed a bigger bag to carry it all in.  I opted for the Snugglens large hobo bag, which is really well-padded and can hold a TON of gear!  I can fit my camera body with lens attached, external flash and three additional lenses.  There’s also an interior pocket for little things, such as extra batteries and memory cards.  There are two pockets on the exterior of the bag that are perfect for my phone and lip balm.  Everything’s easily accessible by simply unsnapping the middle clasp.  Oh, and the bonus – it’s made by another small business owner in the good old USA!  I am in love with this bag.

2) The “Nifty Fifty” 50 mm Lens

Aside from the kit lenses that typically come with your first DSLR camera, the first lens that photo enthusiasts will generally purchase is the 50mm prime lens, which is considered a great starter portrait lens.  “Prime” means that the lens is fixed, and if you want to get closer or farther away from your subject, you must do it with your feet.  The bonus to a prime lens is its ability to perform in lower light, its sharpness, its ability to create beautiful bokeh (the blurry backgrounds that typically require large apertures to achieve), and its low price point (you can snap up an entry-level Canon or Nikon 50mm lens for about $200).  Check out this really informative article from tuts+ for more info on why a prime lens is a great investment.

3) Remote Trigger

This little device was picked up on a whim, but it’s an incredible bang for your buck – ESPECIALLY if you, the photographer, ever want to appear in any pictures, or if you are interested in low-light photography that requires a very slow shutter speed. You really need to use this in conjunction with a tripod, but since I have yet to find one of THOSE that I really dig, I don’t have one to share here.  You could always place the camera on a flat, sturdy surface, or try this trick with a table lamp.  You’ll have to change your shooting preferences via the camera’s menu or a dial (dependent on your camera model), but it should allow a delay for you to hit the button, hide the remote, and grin for the camera.

4) Camera Strap

This one, admittedly, wasn’t something I initially bought out of necessity, but after about 30 minutes of shooting, I am really glad to have this camera strap! The camera strap that comes with your camera body (aside from advertising your particular camera model for all the world to see, like it or not) is thin and can dig painfully into the back of your neck and make your neck über-sweaty, especially when worn for long periods of time in the heat (shooting a wedding in Charleston?  pics of my kids on vacation at Disney World?).  Another Snugglens purchase, I love this one because the fabric is very soft, and it has extra padding built into the strap itself for comfort.  It is machine-washable and even has a cute pocket sewn on the inside of the strap to rein in your lens cap.

5) Magic Hour App (for iPhone)

This particular app is fun, and (even better) FREE.  Have you ever heard a photographer use the term, the “magic hour”?  It is the time of day that surrounds sunrise and sunset, and is widely regarded as some of the most beautiful lighting of the day, flattering for photography.  There are definitely physics involved (angle of the sun based on your latitude and time of year), but this app makes it effortless to determine the best times of day to shoot outdoors in your exact location.

6) Cleaning Kit

I shoot at the beach.  A lot.  And with the beach comes a bucket-load of sand.  Many evenings I’d come home from a session with tiny grains of sand stuck in every crevice of my camera, careful as I was.  Instead of vowing never to take pictures at the beach again, I learned how to properly clean my camera.  I highly recommend the Giotto Rocket Blower to gently blow away sand and dust.  This kit actually comes with a soft brush (not pictured below) to brush away debris, a microfiber lens wipe and lens cleaner spray.  If you shoot anywhere outside or have a pet or simply DON’T live in a bubble, you will be so glad you have something to keep your camera cleaned properly. NOTE: Canned air is BAD BAD BAD for the inner workings of your precious investment and their use can actually void some camera warranties.

my last piece of advice . . .

One final piece of advice to help you enjoy your new camera is to learn HOW to USE it.  Like many things in the digital age, your equipment has far more capabilities that you know what to do with right off the bat.  I haven’t found the camera manuals that come with my camera bodies to be very straightforward, and so I have supplemented that information from other sources.  The book that I purchased with my first Nikon DSLR was the “For Dummies” version of the manual.  I advanced with my second camera body to the Magic Lantern family of books, which was also quite enlightening and very helpful in learning about my particular camera.  However, I have found there to be no better substitute than hands-on training with a real teacher.  If you are local to Charleston, South Carolina and would like to learn more about shooting with your new DSLR, I’d LOVE for you to join me for my fun and interactive Snap Happy: Photography 101 course, held on January 25, 2014.  Click HERE to learn more and get signed up before all the seats are gone.  Enjoy your new camera!