Favorite Close Up Photography Gear

I will admit I am not a camera gear aficionado. I don’t like to carry a lot of camera gear. I want to keep it simple. I spend my time reading and studying the art of photography vs. the technical details of gear. However, it is critical to our craft to have camera equipment that works for the images we want to create. Here are some of the favorite items that I carry in my bag. 

First is my camera bag. I carry a Tenba brand backpack. I like to be hands-free when I am out shooting. I love the waist strap so I can flip the bag and remove gear if I need to change it quickly. I also really like the top compartment. It is great for storing my phone or other personal items that I can reach if needed while out shooting. 

For my close up work, I primarily use two lenses.  A Sigma Art 105MM Macro lens and the Lensbaby Velvet 56. They are my go-to for my close up work. I love the edge softness that both lenses give me and the focus of the Sigma. If you have not tried a Lensbaby lens I encourage you to read up on them and try one. They are amazing lenses that had so much creativity in your photography. This is not a lens that you can buy, pop on your camera, and get great images out of the box. It takes some practice to learn to master the lens. I encourage you to purchase one and take your time, practice a lot. There are a lot of resources online to help you learn to navigate this manual lens. 

Accessories that I carry. I always have a mini spray bottle with water, a mini circular reflector to help on sunny days, a copper coupling tube for shooting through, cleaning wipes or towels for my lens, and a small LCD light/flashlight. I also carry an inexpensive set of Marco converters. I use these with the Lensbaby lens if I need to increase my focal length. 

Tripods are something every photographer has to have. I have a love-hate relationship with tripods.  I prefer to shoot handheld at all costs. I don’t recommend any particular brand of a tripod. I would highly encourage visiting a camera store and trying them out. I have bought several online over the years and then really disliked them, so I encourage you to hold it and try it before buying. 

Overall I believe you can capture amazing images with just a solid camera base, a great lens, and a few creative tools. What sets an image apart is the composition, the light, and the emotion or story you are able to tell.