Intermediate to Pro Photography Gear
Here is a list of gear and accessories that I recommend for Nikon and Sony camera users looking to upgrade.
Cropped & FX Cameras and Lenses
This is a pretty good cropped sensor DSLR that will still give you good quality images
Decent full frame DSLR and one of the least expensive in the line. Good balance between features and price
If you have the budget for a beast of a full-frame DSLR camera, go for this one
Every photographer needs a good 50mm prime lens in their kit. This one has an aperture of f/1.4 for beautifully blurred backgrounds but a f/1.8 is pretty good also.
This is a great mid-range zoom lens, very versatile with an aperture of f/2.8.
Another great prime lens option for portraits, has an aperture of f/1.8.
I loved this especially for wedding portraits and detail shots. Max zoom at f/2.8? *Chef's kiss*
This is a good wide-angle lens perfect for group photos or landscapes, a little niche for general portraiture though.
This is another lens that I loved for weddings, with an aperture of 2.8 and a wide angle for venue shots and groups.
Tamron is a good affordable option for Nikon cameras if you don't want to spend too much on an OG Nikon lens. This one is very versatile and can be used for wide-angle or telephoto shots and has a floating aperture of f/3.5 - f/6.3.
Mirrorless Cameras & Lenses
If you're just getting started with a mirrorless option, this is a good starting point. It's on the less expensive side of the mirrorless options and the ISO range is pretty wide.
Once you get further into the mirrorless realm, opt for the Z8 over the Z9. Not a super big difference overall in terms of specs and almost $2k cheaper.
The Sony a7 iii was my love back in 2018 but this is its more refined cousin. Great if you want a Sony mirrorless and have a bit of money to burn.
Of course you need a 50mm
Mid-range lens, great for portraits
Of course you need the big guns for your mid-range to telephoto needs
Accessories
For an extra layer of security against your camera dropping
More comfortable and secure than the OG camera straps
Get yourself a card reader that you can use with different memory card sizes
A 64GB memory card should suffice for most projects, even in RAW
Keep all your memory cards organized and protected
Lighting
Perfect lighting kit for a studio setup, it comes with 2 strobes, light stands, an umbrella, 2 soft boxes and a carrying case.
Resources
I got the Perfectionist - sounds about right