My favourite tools for photography and content creation as an interior and lifestyle commercial photographer
Map
Sections
6
Gear I love and use
Software
Bags and transport
Content creation
Tech accessories
Alternative photography gear
Gear I love and use
My essentials for interior photoshoots
My go-to camera for work
Nikon Z 7ii mirrorless camera
I use this versatile lens for interiors, portraits, and lifestyle
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
A fast prime lens like the 50mm is great for portraits, details, and low light situations
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S
Powerful flash with modeling lamp, Useful for all kinds of shoots like interiors, product, food, lifestyle
Godox AD400 Pro
Powerful flash that I use for interiors, food, portraits, and events. Battery can last a whole day for most shoots other than events (e.g. weddings)
Godox V1 flash (Nikon)
This trigger works well with the Godox AD400 Pro and can control the power of multiple flashes
Godox X2T-N (Nikon)
Good light modifier for creating a large, soft light source
Godox 51-inch Parabolic Reflective Umbrella
Lightweight, portable, fast and reliable external hard drive used for editing
Samsung T7 2TB portable SSD
Sturdy light stand that's versatile
Light Stands
Love this light collapsible cart for photoshoots. Carries laptop, lenses, cables, etc.
Olympia Folding Service Cart, 150-lb Capacity
Memory card for one of the Nikon Z7ii slots
Lexar Professional CFexpress 256GB Type-B
A UV filter for the lens is a must to protect the lens
K&F Concept 82mm HD UV Scratch-Resistant Filter
Multiple backups of my work are a must
Seagate Expansion 14TB USB 3.0 HDD
Portable, wireless speakers are great for photoshoots, working at your desk, or on the go (e.g. at the beach, cottage, etc.). Comes in different sizes
Ultimate Ears: Portable, wireless, bluetooth speaker
3-2-1 Rule of thumb: 3 copies, 2 types of backups (hard drive, cloud, etc.), and 1 in a different location
Seagate Expansion Desktop 14TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
I use an older model of this monitor and the 27" is a good size for me. It's not too big that I need to turn my head from side to side, but has enough real estate for multiple windows
LG UHD/4K/5: monitor
Fun little Instax camera + printer. Print directly from the camera or send photos from your phone to the camera
instax mini Evo™ | FUJIFILM
Software
Software and apps are a key part of my work and these are my favourites
I prefer CaptureOne when I'm shooting tethered to a laptop. It connects to the camera and reconnects much quicker than Lightroom.
Capture One
I like Lightroom for editing photos. However, I don't recommend the tethering feature because it takes longer to connect/reconnect than CaptureOne
Adobe Lightroom Classic (Desktop)
For retouching and blending photos
Adobe Photoshop
My go-to app for editing photos on my phone
Adobe Lightroom (mobile app)
All-in-one platform: Deliver full resolution galleries, send invoices, track projects and payments, communicate with clients in the platform, create your own website
Pixieset
Free/pro tiers: Bookkeeping platform for businesses, send invoices, track payments, set up payroll, tax reports, etc.
Wave Financial
Bags and transport
Gear bags of different shapes and sizes
A solid roller bag can protect your gear and last for years. It also makes it easier to transport gear
Tenba: Rolling Cases, Roadie Hybrid Roller, Cineluxe Roller
Use a bag like this for your lightstands and tripod
NEEWER 41.3"x9.84"x9.84" Studio Carrying Case
A larger wagon for carrying gear, groceries, and even small furniture. So useful to have one or more of these
Woods Outdoor Collapsible Folding Garden Wagon
This colour didn't exist when I got my wagon, but it looks nicer than the bright red
A must-have for photoshoots to move gear. This is a smaller wagon than the other one I listed, but it's sturdy and folds up easily for storage
Seina Outdoor Collapsible Folding Utility Wagon with Cup Holders, 150-lb
Content creation
Easy-to-use wireless mics that connect easily to your phone or camera
DJI Mic Mini
Portable wireless mini LED light that can be used to fake light bulbs or practical light
NEEWER BL60C 360° Magnetic RGB Video Light
This sturdy metal phone holder folds up in to a compact piece that fits in your palm.
It comes with a Magsafe ring and a cold shoe mount works with both an Arca-Standard tripod and your camera's flash shoe mount.
Smallrig: Arca-Standard Phone Support with Cold Shoe Mount
This SmallRig mini tripod is lightweight compared to the all metal ones so it's good for travel.
Feature: It comes with a built-in handle which is also a caribiner so you can hook it onto your bag or on a fence. It can hold your phone (you'll need a phone holder to attach to it) or your camera.
SmallRig: Mini vlog tripod
A phone tripod or stand is very useful so you can film yourself or while you're doing something without holding your phone
EUCOS 62" Phone Tripod for iPhone & Selfie Stick
Tech accessories
With all the gear you have, you'll need accessories to go with them like batteries, cables, chargers, etc.
Compact 3-in-1 MagSafe charger for your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. Folds up compactly for travel
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station, foldable 3-in-1 for Apple
For tethering, make sure your cable is fast enough (10 GBPS) and has enough power to handle data transfer
USB-C to USB-C Cable, 100W, 10Gbps, 10ft
Alternative photography gear
Other great options
A great full frame camera for photo and video
Nikon Z6iii mirrorless camera
New version of the Nikon Z 24-70mm f2.8
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II
Another wireless mic with good audio quality that can connect to both your phone and camera.
It doesn't stick out as much as the DJI Mic Mini.
The magnet is very strong and this mic doesn't weigh down your clothes as much.
It also comes with a clip option so you can clip the mic to other parts of your clothing.
Hollyland LARK M2: Wireless Microphone (Phone and camera)
