5 Photographer Tools for Beginners

We have a good idea of the basic photographer tools that every serious photographer needs.

This includes a camera, lenses, an external flash, a steady tripod, and a good bag to hold our photography gear.

But there are some other photographer tools and camera accessories that are a great addition to our basic photography equipment. Let’s review a few!

Useful Photographer Tools
Camera Accessories Photographer Tools
Lighting Accessories Photographer Tools
Lens Accessories Photographer Tools
Other Photographer Tools

Useful Photographer Tools

I’m going to separate my photographer tools ideas into three categories: Camera accessories, lighting accessories, and lens accessories.

Under the photographer tools umbrella of camera accessories, we’ll have camera stands and remote releases. Lighting photographer tools will include continuous lights and reflectors. Lens accessories photographer tools will have filters and cleaners.

At the end, I'll also point to some non-photography equipment that I consider as essential photographer tools.

Snaptiles just released a plastic-framed photo tile that allows you to swap out the photo in each tile. Not only do you have the ability to create interesting displays with multiple magnetic tiles, but you can also personalize the display over and over again. See it here!

Camera Accessories Photographer Tools

I know you already have a tripod for camera support. It may have come with your complete entry-level kit or perhaps you picked up one as a separate purchase. Sometimes, you need a camera support different from a tripod.

Octopad Camera Support

The Octopad camera stand is the perfect tripod alternative for when you need photographer tools for support, and a tripod is either inconvenient or impractical.

To get a clear picture of what makes the Octopad one of the most useful photographer tools and camera accessories, it may be helpful to explain what Octopad is NOT. It’s not a clamp, not a spike, not a bean bag, not a suction cup, and not a mini tripod.

Here is what it IS: a weighted, mostly rigid, circular disk of heavy-duty material with a flat bottom and a ¼-20 screw on top. On the bottom, it has a non-slip pad of material that lets you place a camera or other video and photography equipment on almost any surface, even if that surface is angled up to 45 degrees.

The semi-rigid construction of the disk allows it to conform slightly to the surface it’s placed on, such as a car hood, a tree stump, a stone wall, or a desk or tabletop. It’s not a bean bag, but there is a little bit of flex to it. Any slight flex is held in check by the thickness of the material of its non-slip bottom pad.

On top, that ¼-20 screw lets you attach a ball head or an extension, which is what really makes this one of the more useful photographer tools for both still photography and videography. With a simple ball head, we can mount a camera and lens, a smartphone, a video light, or a microphone, and place it wherever we need it.

Since the Octopad is low-cost and lightweight, we can keep one or two at the ready for use whenever we need to have long shutter speeds, macro focusing, or placing a light source.

JJC Wireless Camera Remote Release

Also one of the essential photographer tools for using whenever your camera is on a tripod or alternative mount is a wireless remote release.

I like the wireless versions of camera remotes whenever possible because of the extra freedom it gives for triggering the camera without me being tied to it.

The JJC Wireless Release seen here is made for Canon and Pentax DSLRs, but there are versions of it for all of the major camera brands and for both mirrorless and DSLR styles.

If we’re going to use photographer tools such as a tripod or other camera mount, we might as well use a remote shutter release, too. Doing so prevents any camera movement and also gives us room and opportunity to move around.

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Lighting Accessories Photographer Tools

Your camera has a built-in flash, and you likely also purchased an external flash for more power and versatility. Here are two excellent options for other photographer tools involving lighting.

Pixel G1s LED Light

Pixel G1s LED Light is a rechargeable continuous light with adjustable color temperature from very warm to super cool (2500K - 8000K) and variable power from 0% to 100%, all controllable by two simple wheels.

The power supply is a built-in rechargeable battery that holds a charge for 150 minutes (2 ½ hours) and recharges via USB, so you can charge it up just about anywhere, even with an optional car adapter making this a good choice as photographer tools for video or still photography.

Neewer 32” Collapsible Reflector

The longer you’re involved in any sort of serious photography, you’ll see the brand name Neewer on many of the best photographer tools for lighting. Like this item, a collapsible 5-in-1 32” reflector.

This reflector twists and folds into a 12” circle which fits into a small zippered bag and is lightweight enough to carry anywhere. A photographer tool like this one is usable for portrait photography and can also be used when making videos or taking pictures of small items for sale on online websites.

Lens Accessories Photographer Tools

You will want to read some of our lens filter articles for a full breakdown of how important lens filters are as photographer tools.

KF Concepts Circular Polarizer Filter

This is the filter everyone keeps telling you to get…

A circular polarizer filter is among the most important photographer tools for all types of photography. A circular polarizer removers glare and reflections and enhances colors of foliage, and just improves images all the way around.

Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth

Photographer tools for lens cleaning come in all shapes and sizes. I like a full-size microfiber lens cleaning cloth such as this name brand one with its own little carrying pouch. Reusable and washable, this photographer tool can clean your lens, viewscreen, sunglasses, and a smartphone.

As far as photographer tools and photography gear, you can’t ever have too many of these camera accessories.

Other Photographer Tools

In addition to the things marketed as obvious camera accessories, some other ideas for photographer tools are a camping stool, a really good pen, a compass, a rain poncho with pockets, and a really good pair of shoes.

As useful and beneficial camera accessories, you can’t go wrong with these photographer tools for beginners and advanced photographers.