• About
  • Sponsor / PR
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Houston Mommy and Lifestyle Blogger | Moms Without Answers

We don't have all the answers, but we have all the fun

  • Mom
    • Parenting
    • Mom Life
    • Faith
    • Fashion/Beauty
    • Health
    • Blogging
  • Kiddos
    • Kids Activities
    • Kid Fashion
    • Family Fun
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Appetizers & Sides
    • Sweet Treats
  • Projects
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Home Decor
    • Cleaning & Organization
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
    • Parties
    • Gifts
  • Shop My FAVES

Five must-haves for every photographer

March 23, 2016 By Faison Weiss 1 Comment

Hey friends! I am so excited to be a contributor for MWOA, and I cannot wait to share all of my tips and tricks for photography. As a family and lifestyle photographer by trade, I’ll be posting here once a month on all things camera-related: from learning your camera functions, to making a family photo less painful (can everyone smile together, please?!), to photographing food, and everything in between! 

Today I’m sharing my favorite must-haves as a photographer, and whether you’re an amateur or a pro, these finds should make taking photos (and keeping them) a breeze!

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 9.23.51 PM copy

( image from www.shopcinta.com )

Until about eight months ago, I had been on the hunt for years for a camera strap that I liked. Finding a camera strap that didn’t cut into my neck (dSLRs are heavy!) seemed to be impossible, but then I found Cinta straps on Instagram. I was drawn to their colorful canvas and leather straps, and I immediately clicked the “purchase” button when I found out that the straps are made in the US! I purchased the artista strap in “goldie” last July, and eight months later the leather strap has become butter-soft but still just as durable as the first day I used it. This is the only strap that I trust for long days, like weddings, and won’t leave me with a sore neck. In fact, I’ve been so happy with my straps that I’ve purchased one for each of my cameras!  I mean, how could you not love one of these?! 

 

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 9.32.15 PM copy

( image from Camera Creatures on Amazon.com )

This sweet little plush frog is called a Shutter Hugger, and it slips over the lens of your camera. This camera buddy helps to keep a child’s attention and keeps her looking directly at the lens. With its elastic body, it’s able to fit around any lens and on any camera, and there are several animals to choose from: giraffe, puppy, crab, an owl… you name it, it’s probably made! I’ve purchased several from Amazon, and for under $20 it’s worth every penny for a kiddo’s attention!

 

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 9.26.10 PM copy

( image from Altura Photo on Amazon.com )

Do you ever find yourself taking a photo in a wonky position to get the perfect photo, only to find out that the photos you’ve just taken are crooked? It’s the absolute worst feeling, knowing that having your camera level and straight is a guessing game. Enter the Altura Three Axis Bubble Level! This tiny cube slides into the hot shoe (it’s on top of your camera where you’d add an external lens) and it acts like a carpenter’s level. I use my bubble level for photos, like flat lays, that could potentially end up on my Instagram feed, and with Instagram’s cropping I have to make sure that my photos are straight. Who knew a $7.99 piece of plastic would save so much time and stress?! I purchased mine on Amazon.com for under $8 and haven’t looked back. 

 

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 9.26.55 PM copy

( image from Pelican on Amazon.com )

As a photographer, I am notorious for taking a ton of photos- photos of my child, photos of food… I always have a camera in my purse! My personal preference in photo format is RAW (also known as CR2, and about 30x larger than a standard .jpg file) and it takes up about 30x the space as opposed to a normal photo. That being said, I go through fragile SD cards very quickly. Did I mention that they’re fragile? And when those SD cards have clients’ photos on them, I have to be sure that nothing can damage them in any way. My husband gifted me this Pelican SD card case nearly two years ago, and it has been a lifesaver! All of my SD cards are in one place, and the case is completely weather-sealed. Even if you aren’t a professional photographer, having one of these Pelican cases to keep your precious photos is a must-have.

 

Screen Shot 2016-03-22 at 11.00.39 PM copy

( image from LensRentals.com )

 Cameras and lenses are an investment, and sometimes that investment can be some serious pocket change- you would cringe at the thought of some Canon L lens prices! So why not try out the equipment for a few days before selling a kidney to pay for a piece of equipment that you might not love? Say hello to Lens Rentals! This is a company that is based in Memphis, TN, and has all kinds of cameras, lenses, and accessories that are ready to ship to your front door. I have rented equipment from Lens Rentals for special portrait sessions, commercial shoots, and I’ve also rented equipment when I went in France earlier this month. Lens Rentals offers insurance (called LensCap) to cover equipment damage and theft, which makes leaving my camera at home and instead traveling with rented equipment a no-brainer. A few months ago, I rented the Fuji XT1 camera to see if I wanted a smaller and more purse-friendly camera for our trip to Paris in November. I ended up loving the Fuji XT1 camera so much that I purchased it outright from Lens Rentals, and the price was a steal! I maybe paid 65% of the retail price of the camera. If you’ve had a certain camera or a specific lens that’s been on your mind recently, click over to Lens Rentals and give it a try! 

So there you have it! These are my top five must-haves that keep me and my small photography business running, and happy too! Do you have any favorite things that make  it easier to capture photos of your little ones? Comment below! I’d love to hear about new pieces of equipment and your favorites! 

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday! 

 

0 Shares

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: photography

About Faison Weiss

Hi there! I'm Faison (pronounced fay-sun), and I'm a wife, mother to a wild toddler named Walter, and I'm a professional photographer. We recently moved to Orlando, Florida and we're loving it so far, especially because Disney World is so close! We take Walter to Disney World at least three times per week, and it's been an absolute joy capturing his excitement at the happiest place on earth. I fully believe that a handwritten note is the best way to show someone that you care, and that listening to Backstreet Boys in your car on loud is the best remedy for a crummy day.

« How to Host the Perfect Easter Egg Hunt
Feeding the Toddler: A Week of Smoothies »

Comments

  1. Stephanie Olive and Tate says

    March 23, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Oh, I need that SD Card case! I save all of my SD cards (after I wipe the weird blogger style food photos!) so I have all of the original files of baby photos (why? I don’t know.) Thanks for the rec!! xo

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hi, friends! I’m Channing. I am mom to 3 amazing girls and wife to my fire fighting hubby, Eric. I loving sharing all things mom life related – recipes, DIY’s, real mom talk, crafts and more! 

Insta-Moms: @momswoa

Instagram post 17951785348338518 Happy 4th from these little cuties. It looks A LOT different this year but we are still having fun.
.
.
.
#happy4thofjuly #happyfourth #fourthofjuly #redwhiteandblue #momblog #houstonmomblogger #momofgirls
Instagram post 17856710153004179 #blackouttuesday
Instagram post 17864637601827512 This is what happens on day number 3,568,743 of quarantine: ice cream sundaes for DINNER. We have been spending endless time together and decided it was time to start a new family tradition, so we picked up the new DIY Sundae Kit from @baskinrobbins! The kit comes with 2 pre-packed quarts of ice cream, 3 toppings, an entire can of whipped cream and cherries! Ice
cream for dinner will now be a weekly staple. The kids are definitely not complaining! It’s a fun day with a Sundae! 
Comment below and tell me your favorite Baskin Robbins flavor!

#QuarantineCreations #IceCreamforDinner #FamilyTraditions #ad
Instagram post 17855065096958471 Some of my #DisneyMagicMoments have been with some special moms in my life! So, I’m playing along and sharing some of these moments with you.

I have spent time with old friends and new and the magic is always there. 
If you scroll back far enough, you will see my first Disney experience and the moment I fell in love with Disney with my own mom! 
I would love for you to play along and share your favorite Disney moments with the moms in your life! Don’t forget to use hashtag #disneymagicmoments! I tag @pixiemousemichelle, @fivefortheroadblog and @mrsblinks! 
Happy Mother’s Day! 😘😘
Instagram post 17873430769680209 Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🌮 What is your favorite Mexican dish?

I could eat Mexican for every meal of everyday! If your looking for the perfect recipes to make for dinner, I’ve got you covered. 
Head on over the the blog for all of my favorite dishes! These enchiladas NEVER disappoint! I promise you will LOVE all of these recipes! 🎉
Instagram post 17885629336528535 May the 4th be with you! We cannot wait for the day that we get to be back at Star Wars Galaxies Edge. Batuu, we miss you! #maytheforcebewithyou #may4thbewithyou #disneycreators #batuu #bluemilk #wemissdisney
Instagram post 17850899390014309 Disney is challenging us to share our first pictures with characters! I had to join in the fun and it was the best trip down memory lane. Disney has been threaded throughout my entire life. I pulled a few of my most favorite memories over the years. From partying in the streets during the most epic dance party and meeting our most favorite princesses to me being a kid at Disney myself. Oh, I also had to add a picture of Cinderella’s Castle. She really is the most beautiful cast member of them all! 
@waltdisneyworld we miss you more and more each day. You’ve brought us joy beyond words and we cannot wait for the day when we get to walk down Main Street USA again! 
Ok, now it’s your turn. Find your old photos of your favorite Disney characters and share the magic. Also, don’t forget to tag me. I want to see all your memories too! 
@pixiemousemichelle @ericaligenza and @prettyprovidenceblog it’s time to share yours!#disneymagicmoments #myfirstdisneycharacter #disneycreators #disneyfamily #disneykuds #disneyworld
Instagram post 17904777073435611 EASY EASTER SUGAR COOKIE BARS! [AD] With Easter looking a little different this year, I teamed up with my friends at @hersheys to create a fun Easter treat using items you probably have in your pantry!
These Easter Sugar Cookie Bars are so easy to make. Store bought sugar cookie mix and cute colorful icing is the perfect foundation for @cadburyusa eggs and @reeses eggs. 
Looking for more treat ideas? Check out the fun recipes at https://Hershey’s.com/kitchen/en_us/home.html

Comment below and tell me your favorite Easter recipes! #cadburyusa #reeses #eastertreats #springdessert
Instagram post 18019712191263346 I’m joining my friend @andhattiemakesthree for #happymondaymemory to share some joy and fun around here!
.
.
.
Let’s take it back to the #happiestplaceonearth and our time in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge! Y’all, I don’t even have words for how amazing it is. And #riseoftheresistance is everything! Check out our video to see for yourself. We miss you @waltdisneyworld and can’t wait to make more memories soon!
.
.
.
Now it’s your turn! Share your favorite memory and let’s spread some joy! #evereveambassador #disneycreators #starwars #disneyhollywoodstudios #stayhome
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

As Seen On:

Keep in Touch

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Copycat Disney Churro Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Teacher Approved Educational Resources for Kids
  • 20 Fun Things To Do At Home with Kids

Blog Archive

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled