I get a lot of questions about what kind of camera or lens I use to take my food pictures, so I thought I'd spill the beans about what is in my camera bag. My wish list is longer than my arm, but these are my go-to's.
1. Camera Body
When it comes to a camera body all of us here at Oh So use a Cannon 70D or 80D. The camera has some really nice features including wifi, a touch screen, and really great video quality.
Canon EOS 80D Digital SLR Camera
2. Lenses
As far as lenses, I prefer to shoot with a prime lens. A prime lens is a lens that does not zoom in and out. I find the picture quality a bit sharper with a prime lens. My favorites are my 35mm and my 50mm. Aubrey refers to her 50mm as the nifty fifty because its such a great versatile lens.
Canon has a luxury series of lenses that are phenomenal. They are pricy, but the quality is amazing. I've linked both the standard Canon lens, as well as the L series. The L series is a nice to have, but not a must have.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens
Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens
3. The Necessities
When it comes to shooting food, especially video - you need a tripod. The manfrotto has been a dream. It has an arm that allows you to shoot birds eye without having the tripod legs in the shot. You'll need either an adapter, or a ball head to go along with this tripod.
Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 055 Aluminium 3-Section Tripod with Horizontal Column
When shooting with a tripod I enjoy having a remote. It lets me get all of my food perfectly placed without getting behind the camera to shoot. Using a remote also reduces any shake that may blur your photo.
I always use something to reflect the light. You can use a light reflector, or my favorite is using White Foam Board Sheets.
For backdrops I have several boards that I've painted, or used contact paper for the look of a concrete or stone slab. This gives me the versatility to shoot on different surfaces without owning multiple tables and countertops. My marble background is my favorite by far.
4. Editing
When it comes to editing I do most of my work in Adobe Lightroom, however I do use Photoshop for a few things. I enjoy having Adobe's monthly subscription that contains both programs and allows you to always have the most recent version.
Adobe Photoshop CC + Lightroom
5. Camera Bags and Straps
Now for the fun stuff! Having a cute camera strap and camera bag is something I adore because It's a great way to add some personalization and flare to an otherwise boring piece of equipment. I really love this Personalized Leather Camera Strap and this Guatemalan Camera Strap. The guatemalan one is what I wear around my neck with my camera and I have yet to get sick of it after many many years.
Cute camera bags used to be so hard to come by - but now they are more readily available. Check out this Mint Camera Bag or this Brown Leather Camera Bag. My camera bag is red, which is my favorite color, but my next bag is definitely going to be mint though.
6. Extras
This little guy is my best friend when it comes to Facebook Live or doing any sort of tutorial using my mobile phone. It allows me to be hands free and clamps anywhere - the kitchen counter, my car, my stroller - you get the idea. :)
There you have it - my camera bag essentials for food photography. Do you have some items that you love that I need to add to my bag? Let me know because I'd love to add them to my wish list!
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