I receive a lot of questions about my photography, either in DMs or via email. While I do occasionally shoot some blog/social media posts myself, I normally work with a photographer. And for the past 1.5 years, I’ve mostly worked with the food photographer extraordinaire, Tom McGovern.
Tom shoots with a pretty pricey camera (a Canon 5D Mark IV), and to be perfectly candid, I wouldn’t go off and purchase that camera unless you were 100% serious about photography. It’s an incredible piece of equipment, but you don’t need to spend that much in order to produce amazing photos.
I asked Tom what the best camera gear under $100 was — here are some budget-friendly tools that will help you elevate your photography game!
Best Camera Gear Under $100:
One // Memory Card Storage: Tom doesn’t delete images off of his memory card, and keeps the raw images on the card indefinitely. If you know you’re going to be shooting a lot, consider picking up this memory card case. It can hold up to 12 SD cards and is waterproof and shock resistant.
Two // Micro USB Battery Charger: We all have the old school wall outlet that comes default with our cameras. However, this Micro USB Battery Charger makes it easy to charge a camera on the go. Just add a battery pack, and you’ll never have to worry about dead camera batteries again!
Three // Polarizer Lens: If you’re shooting outdoors, a polarizer lens is a must. It reduces glare, deepens the intensity of blue skies and reduces reflection.
Four // Wireless Remote: I’ve had to shoot a few blog campaigns by myself, and the best bet is grabbing a remote, a tripod and working things out. This Amazon remote is super inexpensive, and a must-have for any blogger!
Five // LED Light: Repeat after me: the camera’s built-in flash is not your friend! If you need to shoot in a low-light setting, consider picking up this LED Light that’s under $50. It’s great for both still photos and video!
Six // Portable Battery Pack: In addition to using this pack for camera batteries, you can also use it for your phone, drone, iPad…really anything! This brand, in particular, is super solid, and charges with lightning speed.
Seven // Collapsable Reflector: This reflector pack is under $20, and comes with all five colors you see above — get the right lighting for your photos, even during the worst conditions!
Eight // Lightweight Tripod: If you need to take a shot on your own, or if you have shaky hands (like me) and need to steady your camera, Tom would recommend picking up this tripod. It’s lightweight and compact, and is perfect to travel with as well (you can even fit it in your suitcase!)
What is on your list of the best camera gear? Let me know in a comment below!
