Tag Archive for: gear

Upgrade Your Photography Gear? When & Why!

Learn when and why to upgrade photography gear with smart tips for better photography results without overspending.

Learn when and why to upgrade photography gear with smart tips for better photography results without overspending.

If you’ve used your photography gear for a while, you’ve probably wondered when is the right time to upgrade your camera or lenses. It’s very tempting to think the latest gear will instantly make your photos better, but the truth is a bit more nuanced.

The “Good Enough” Principle

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is knowing when your gear is “good enough.” Before you spend big on new

equipment, ask yourself these questions:

  • Can my current camera or lens capture the images I want?
  • Am I limited by my skills or by the gear itself?
  • Will upgrading solve a specific problem I’m facing (Like struggling with fast action?)

If you’re confident your gear can handle what you want to shoot, your energy is probably better spent practicing, learning new techniques, and just generally improving your skills. This will be a lot more helpful in the long run.

When Gear Really Makes a Difference

There are definitely times when upgrading your gear can have a noticeable impact:

  • Shooting in challenging light: Newer cameras often have better sensors and noise control, letting you shoot cleaner images in low light. That’s especially true for action shots or handheld photography.
  • Fast-paced photography: That’s mostly for sports, wildlife, and events photographers who benefit from faster autofocus and higher frame rates.
  • Specialized needs: Macro photography, photographing for large prints and so on, can also be reasons to looking for some new gear.

If your photography style or goals don’t demand these features yet, consider holding off on the upgrade.

Learn when and why to upgrade photography gear with smart tips for better photography results without overspending.

Above: A photo taken in early 2019 with my old camera (left) and a photo taken in mid-2019 with my current camera (right). Can you spot any difference in the quality of the image?

Upgrading Gear For Two Reasons

When upgrading any photography gear, it can help you in two ways:

  • It can help you get a better quality of your image
  • It can improve the photography process

I personally often find the second reason is a lot more common for whenever I upgrade gear (It, of course, depends on the piece of gear itself).

How to Decide If It’s Time to Upgrade

Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide:

  • Is your current gear preventing you from capturing the shots you want?
  • Have you fully explored the capabilities of your current camera, lenses and other gear?
  • Will new equipment expand your creative possibilities?
  • Can you comfortably afford the upgrade without financial stress?
  • Are you ready to invest time learning and adapting to new gear?

If you answer yes to most of these, an upgrade is probably worth considering.

Remember: Growth Comes First

Ultimately, the best way to improve your photography is to focus on your skills (composition, lighting, storytelling) rather than chasing the latest gear.

Gear is only a tool that can bring your vision to life, but it’s your concept and creativity that make the final shot. Upgrade when it feels right for you, not because of pressure or trends.

Final Thoughts

Photography is a journey. The gear you have today can take you far if you use it well. When you do decide to upgrade, make it a thoughtful choice that aligns with your goals and inspires you to create more.

Invitation to the Food To Frame course

Food Photography Equipment You Need

Let’s talk about food photography equipment because who doesn’t love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?

Throughout this article, I will show you what food photography equipment I currently use and what I’m using it. So you’ll get a good glimpse into what a professional photographer needs to create their stunning work. But remember that building any collection, whether prop or gear, takes time. I only had some of this gear when I first picked up my camera!

Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?

Note: This page may contain affiliate links to products and services I love to use and recommend.

Camera and lenses

Ever since I started photographing food, I’ve been using Canon. I am currently using a full-frame camera, Canon EOS 6D mark II. However, I started with a hobby crop-sensor camera, Canon EOS 600D, which I still use for some of my behind the scene and styling session photos.

The lenses I currently use are:

Canon 100m 2.8 macro

Canon 50mm 1.8

Canon 85mm 1.4

Canon 25-70mm 2.8

I used to have a Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens, which I adored and would recommend anytime since it produced beautiful photos and which survived a huge fall. However, it is only applicable to crop-sensor cameras.

Unsure how to use your camera? Be sure to read all about Manual Mode. Or you might want to read about camera angles and which lens to use when.

Natural light gear

Working with natural light usually requires a modifier of some sort. I mostly use my large 5-in-1 120x90cm diffuser to soften the light coming through the window. I love that it can use covers in 4 different colors to use as reflectors or black flags. Often I don’t need such a big reflector, which is when I use a smaller Neweer 60x90cm 5-in-1 diffuser/reflector.

Whenever I need to modify light with smaller modifiers, I love using a cardboard self-standing A3 reflector or a 5mm white/black foamboard which I can cut to the needed size. (Note: The foamboards in the links differ from what I use since I bought them locally, so I can’t guarantee the quality.)

Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?

Artificial light gear

I prefer using a flash over continuous light when working on stills. You can check my Artificial Light for beginners workshop if you want to know why and learn more about working with artificial light. 

Currently, I’m using three Quadralite Stroboss 60 C units, which are 60Ws speedlights. And I use the Godox SL60 continuous light for video and some stills.

Working with artificial light requires careful manipulation. There are many options out there. The main softboxes and umbrellas I currently use are:

Quadralite 60×60 softbox

Foldable Godox 60×60 softbox (for on-location shoots)

Godox 70×100 softbox

Soonpho 22×90 cm stripbox

Godox 120cm octagon umbrella

Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?
Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?

Studio gear – tripods and stands

I started with very basic tripods, which I still own and use from time to time, but I’ve fallen in love with my Manfrotto 058B Triaut Camera Tripod (discontinued). Having a sturdy tripod makes work so much easier. I’m using the tripod with the Manfrotto XPRO Geared 3-Way Head, which is incredible for making precise adjustments. 

For on-location shoots, I use the Neweer tripod with a central column with a ball head; however, I prefer a geared head from Manfrotto, which is much more precise and easy to handle.

For top-down photos or as a stand for modifiers, I’m using the Neweer C-stand.

Another piece of gear I love are the Neweer metal clamps.

Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?
Let's talk about food photography equipment because who doesn't love a chat about what gear you need as a professional food photographer?

Editing software

I use Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop to edit my photos and DaVinci Resolve for video editing.

Join my free Lightroom webinar replay to learn a few tricks and some of my favorite Lightroom shortcuts and watch me edit a photo in Lightroom, 

Organizational software and more

In running a business, the organization of the process is crucial. I use Asana for my schedule, content, and business process organization.