People often ask me what type of camera equipment I use or recommend. I’m not a professional, by any means, but I am an avid hobbyist photographer, constant learner, and lover of the arts. I love to study my craft, whether it is photography, design or even blogging. I am an information junkie, so I have done my share of research.
I have decided to share some of the camera equipment I use to document the lives of my family, both through photography and through video. While educating yourself on photography and practicing and understanding the basics is key, good camera equipment can help you achieve the type of photos you are aspiring for as well.
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What’s In My Bag?
Cameras
This is my baby, my big girl camera, the one I take the majority of my photos with. After learning to shoot manual photography several years ago, I talked my husband into investing in this camera. It has been my single favorite purchase of all time. My love for photography skyrocketed after getting this camera in my hands, and I haven’t looked back.
The Canon 6d is a 20.2 mp full frame camera and does not have a flash. That is important to know because if you do not shoot manual or if you don’t have an external flash, then this may not be the camera for you. I will talk about my prior camera below which may be a better option if you are a beginner photographer.
Side note: You can now purchase the Canon 6d Mark II, for an additional $500 or so. I have not used this camera, nor have I done any serious amount of research on it; however I did want to mention it as an option.
The camera I used for several years before investing in the Canon 6d was the Canon Rebel T4i. They now offer a Canon Rebel T7i, and it is, without a doubt, a great camera for beginner photographers. I highly recommend this camera if you are just getting started with photography and looking to purchase your first DSLR.
I bought this 24.2 mp mirrorless camera about a year and a half ago. It is much smaller in size than my Canon 6d. I bought it primarily for video which I LOVE, but I’ve also greatly enjoyed using it for photography when I don’t want to carry my DSLR with me. It is lightweight, easy to carry and has become a dream to shoot with. I typically take this camera with me when I go to restaurants, the zoo, parks, walking trails… anywhere that I want to be an inconspicuous photographer. The video is so dreamy, too, which has been a great plus to this camera as well. Win-win.
Lenses
This is a prime lens and only has one focal length. You guessed it, 35 mm. But don’t let that turn you off. The first time I put this lens on my camera was for our beach vacation in 2016. I rented it for the week, and from the very first photo, I fell in love. This lens is tack sharp, superb in low light, creates beautiful bokeh and blurry backgrounds and overall, is perfect for documenting the lives of my family. It rarely leaves my camera body. It was a bit of an investment, but the reward has been substantial.
This lens came as a kit lens when I purchased my Canon 6d, but it is not like most kit lenses. It is a great lens and creates beautiful photos. Although it isn’t ideal for low light, it is a great option for outdoor photography. I use it often, especially when I need a good zoom lens in a well lit or outdoor setting.
The Canon 50 mm f1.8 was the first lens I purchased when learning manual photography. It is a very affordable lens and great in low light. It creates beautiful bokeh and is perfect for portrait photography. This is an ideal lens if you are getting started with learning manual photography.
Lensbaby Composer Pro II with Sweet 50 Optic:
I discovered Lensbaby lenses a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. Lensbaby lenses are all manual lenses that capture artistic results with their unique features. I bought this lens after ooh’ing and ahh’ing over dreamy photographs taken by fellow hobbyist photographers like myself. Let me just say that while this lens has a steep learning curve, it can produce images that will leave you in awe. I love to bring this one out when we are hiking or out on an adventure. It works well for capturing sweet moments inside as well.
This Lensbaby lens is my newest lens and is quickly becoming one of my favorites. If I had to choose just one Lensbaby lens to take on a trip with me, this would be it. It’s unique features create out of this world images that speak directly to my soul. I can’t say enough about this remarkable lens.
This Lensbaby lens is one I bought to pair with my Sony a6300. It was created solely for pairing with mirrorless cameras. It has three optics, each resulting in a different visual oasis. Included is a sweet optic, a twist optic, and a velvet optic. It is a fun lens resulting in a plethora of photo possibilities.
I bought this lens about a year ago to pair with my Sony a6300. It is super sharp, fast and great in low light. The bokeh created by it is so beautiful and dreamy. It is a perfect walk around lens for documentary type photography as well. The Sigma 16 mm takes up residence on my Sony 95% of the time.
The GoPro is actually my husband’s baby. He is the expert of all things GoPro. I just love what it can create. Beautiful, out of the box video of my family. This thing goes everywhere with us. Hiking, to the beach, in the pool, under waterfalls, attached to bikes, scooters, and helmets…you name it, it has been there. It has captured moments in our lives that otherwise would have gotten lost in the shuffle of life. Our GoPro is a big part of how we document our lives.
So there you go! A quick rundown of my camera equipment. Do you have any of this equipment on your must-have list? What do you have in your camera bag that you would recommend to a fellow photography lover?
Holly is a 42 year old wife and mom to 3 boys, from Nashville, Tennessee. She is a hot tea lover, book reader, journal keeper, Pinterest pinner, podcast listener, y’all sayer, self-taught graphic designer, hobbyist photographer, writer and dreamer of all things big and small. You can find all of her ramblings here at Blu Nest Bloom.
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