If you’re a budding fashion photographer, you know that having the best gear is essential to taking great photos. Getting the best photos possible often comes down to having the right equipment. We all know that trying to be a professional photographer, we can’t just rely on our cameras and good lighting to take stunning portraits. We need the right accessories, lenses, and other gear to create professional-quality images. So what exactly should be included in a professional fashion photographer’s kitbag? Here is a breakdown of what every fashion photographer needs
Quality Lenses
Though your camera body is super expensive and outstanding in any aspects, the lenses make a huge difference in the final image quality. Quality lenses are essential for getting professional-quality shots, particularly in fashion photography.
A lens with a wide aperture will give you more control over the depth of field and create beautiful bokeh effects. Look for lenses with low distortion and aberrations, and make sure to buy lenses with different focal lengths to be prepared for any shooting situation.
Background
Since you want to really highlight the model and the clothes, having a neutral background is essential. Plain white or grey backdrops are common in fashion photography, but you can also look for interesting textures like brick walls or wood paneling. If you want to get creative, colored backdrops and fabrics can produce stunning results as well.
Reflector
Reflectors are a must-have for fashion photographers. They can reflect light onto the model’s face and body, fill in shadows, or add highlights to a particular area.
There are different colors of reflectors available depending on your needs. But the most common one is usually a silver/gold reflector, which can be used for both light and dark skin tones.
Monolights
Lighting is, without a doubt, the most important aspect of any photography. Monolights are powerful and consistent lights that can be used both indoors and outdoors, making them an excellent option for fashion photography. They come in various sizes so that you can find the right one depending on your needs. While they may be more expensive than other lights, they’ll give you the best results.
Light Modifiers
While monolights are powerful, you still need light modifiers to shape and direct the light. Softboxes can be used to soften the light, while umbrellas are great for creating a wide, soft light source. Snoots and grids can be used to narrow the beam of light and create interesting effects as well. Aside from that, you can use many other light modifiers to get creative with your photography.
And that’s it. With the right lenses, background, reflector, monolights, and light modifiers in your kitbag, you’ll have all the gear you need to produce professional-quality fashion photos. Setting the proper lighting and having the right pieces of equipment will go a long way in helping you create stunning images. So make sure to invest in good gear and start shooting.