Photography is not a “cheap” hobby. There are plenty of lenses, camera bodies, and accessories that you could get. All of this photo gear is fun and wonderful. However, most things are not necessary.
I want to preface this entire post with two little reminders. First, any camera you have is the best camera. Second, knowing how to use that camera will significantly improve the camera. For example, a DSLR that you shoot in manual mode is no better than your smartphone!
So what photo gear do you really need to take good photos of your kids?
I’m sharing my recommendations as a Seattle newborn photographer and a mom who loves taking photos of her kids.
An entry-level DSLR or mirrorless camera with a 50mm lens is all the photo gear you need to photograph your kids.
When you are just starting out, you do not need anything fancy or super expensive. I suggest getting an entry-level camera and upgrading your lens to either the 50mm F/1.8 or if you can fit it in the budget a 50mm F/1.4
When I first began photographing families professionally, I had an entry-level Canon Rebel with a 50mm F/1.4 lens. It worked wonderfully. That is also what I used to photograph my kids on daily adventures. It worked beautifully.
This photo gear setup will allow you to photograph your children, your outdoor adventures, or if you’d like, even start a photography business. As you get more comfortable with your camera and learn about your style of photography you can look to add to your gear. (But remember, as a pro photographer who’s obsessed with photographing my own kids daily life, I only have a camera and three lenses, that’s it!).
But what about fun accessories for my camera?
Once again, I like to keep things simple. If you’d like to have a more comfortable shooting experience, I recommend getting a new camera strap or a camera bag.
Once you have your camera, find photo tips and resources on my YouTube channel and articles on the blog.