The Cameras, Presets & Lenses I Use for Blogging
photography6 years ago
Finally getting around to answering (in detail) the most commonly-asked question that I get comments, messages and DMs about: what’s in my camera bag, what presets I use to edit my photos and the best camera for fashion bloggers!
I’ll be honest: it’s taken me a while to get to this, mostly because it’s been a trial and error experience for me too! Like a lot of bloggers and creators, the first time I picked up a camera — I had no idea what I was doing. Even today, I still make use of YouTube tutorials to pick up new photography skills and learn as I go… but today, I’m sharing everything that I know with you!
Before we dive into details, here’s one tip you MUST remember as a creator: be inspired, but don’t copy! I used to stress so much about the fact that my photos never looked EXACTLY the way the the professional ones I found on Pinterest did… and it wasn’t until I let go, and let myself be me, that I think my photos started to take shape as a true reflection of who I am as a creator… and that’s what’s helped my personal brand stand out in it’s own unique way ❤️
camera body
I had been using the Canon 6D for over three years, and it was the first full-frame camera I had ever owned after having worked with smaller point-and-shoots and cropped frame cameras for years prior. HOWEVER, I recently upgraded to the Canon 1DX (obsessed with this camera!) because I really needed something that works fast and well in low light… but I highly recommend the 6D if you’re just starting out and getting into the world of Canon DSLRs! I do still have my 6D, and I bring it with me whenever I need a smaller camera that will travel more easily.
The 5D Mark IV is another super popular DLSR model that most bloggers own, so that one comes highly recommended as well! To complete my collection, I also own a Canon G7 X which I use as my vlogging camera when I travel. There are so many great options on the market today, that it can be tough to find the BEST camera for fashion bloggers… but I definitely recommend you compare and contrast each camera’s features to find the right one for you.
camera lenses
There are a lot of camera lenses out there, but if there’s one thing I would recommend to you, it’s that you should definitely buy the same lens brand that your camera body is! I know some photographers swear by Sigma lenses, but in my experience they just don’t work as compatibly as Canon’s own lenses do! I own a 50mm, which is great for portrait shots (here is another Canon 50mm that’s much more affordable) and I also own the 16-35mm which is great for shooting in enclosed spaces like indoors or in a car, where you might not have as much room to move around to get a full-body shot. Those are pretty much the only two lenses I swap back and forth to use, but I’ve linked two other ones (24-70mm and 35mm) below that a lot of photographers and bloggers also swear by! Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good old iPhone!!! I still use mine, especially when traveling… there’s a reason Apple keeps upgrading the camera capabilities with every new iPhone release — it really does keep getting better and better!
lightroom presets
Presets are basically like filters that I put on my photos, so that they all have a uniform look. I edit all of my photos in Lightroom and Photoshop, so I use presets that are specially built to be compatible with both of these programs. Before you guys start clicking away to shop, PLEASE remember that a preset is never a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s just a great starting point to photo editing! Even though I own presets from these four websites linked below, I do a lot of tweaking to each preset to customize them to a look that works for my brand… which basically means that sometimes, my photos will look quite different from the preset by the time I’m done editing it! Let me know if you guys would find it helpful for me to share a video of my editing process 🙂
And that’s pretty much it! I really hope this was helpful to you guys who are starting out, looking to get into fashion/lifestyle photography or just looking for the best camera for fashion bloggers… let me know if you have any questions about anything by leaving a comment below or shooting me a DM on Instagram! xx
header image by Jay McLaughlin
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