I think we can all agree that being a beginning photographer is a lot of fun.

I think we can also agree that it can be a little overwhelming!

When I think back to my first days toting around my camera, I shutter at the thought of everything I didn’t know.

Back then, there wasn’t the wealth of information we have today right at our fingertips.

There weren’t handy guides to clue me in either!

Lucky you, though, because you have in your grasp a quick guide that will help you become a better photographer.

Of course, part of becoming a better photographer is building your skills.

However, you need to be properly equipped if you’re to build the requisite skills for becoming a solid enthusiast.

With that in mind, consider these three items as absolutely necessary for your photography adventures.

Filters

Photoshop, Lightroom, and other post-processing programs are definitely worth their weight in gold.

These powerful platforms give today’s photographers a great wealth of possibilities in terms of how their final images turn out.

But for beginners, these programs can add to the overwhelming nature of photography. There’s just a lot to learn!

And while you should definitely learn how to process your images, there’s something to be said for knowing how to get things right in-camera.

One of the best tools for perfecting your images in the field is a set of filters.

There are a variety of filters at your disposal, including protective filters and polarizing filters.

Protective filters do just that - protect your lens glass from dirt, smudges, or worse - scratches. Simply screw it onto the end of your lens, and you can rest assured that your expensive glass won’t be adversely affected by dust and other debris.

Another must-have is a circular polarizing filter.

These filters help reduce glare off of a reflective surface, such as sunlight off of a body of water. This action enables you to capture the scene in greater detail without the distracting element of glaring light.

What’s more, polarizing filters also create a more dynamic sky by enhancing the blue color of the atmosphere and making the white color of clouds pop, as seen in the image above.

Polarizers help dehaze landscape scenes as well. For example, if you’re photographing a feature that’s far away, like a mountain range, the mountains might appear to be hazy, or even bluish in color. A polarizing lens filters out that haze and decreases polarized light, resulting in a photo that has much more impact.

When thinking about filters for your photography kit, consider the Kenko Nyumon Starter Filter Kit, which comes with both a protective filter and a circular polarizing filter.

These filters come with coated and polished optical glass, so your images remain clear and sharp. Kenko’s filters resist elements like wind, dust, and rain that can cause smudges and damage to your lens’ delicate glass. The polarizer is mounted in a slim ring, so even if you use a wide-angle lens, you’re assured that vignetting will be at a minimum.

The Nyumon Starter Filter Kit is designed specifically with new photographers in mind. That means you get the lens protection you need and the power of a polarizing filter in one, budget-friendly package. With sizes ranging from 37mm to 82mm, these filters will fit a wide range of lenses. That means that no matter what gear you use, you can reap the benefits of better colors, less haze, reduced glare, and more dynamic skies today! Learn more by visiting Kenko today.

A Nifty Fifty Lens

No matter if you shoot with a Nikon, or some other brand of camera, a 50mm lens should be one of the first things you add to your photography kit.

But why?

It’s simple: 50mm lenses are cheap, but often have outstanding image quality.

In fact, if you could compare the image quality of a 50mm lens and your kit lens that came with your camera, you’d be convinced to buy a 50mm lens right then and there!

Part of the difference is that the optics in a 50mm prime lens are much better than those found in a kit zoom lens. The result is sharper images from edge to edge.

In addition to being cheap and sharp, 50mm lenses are versatile. Use it to take portraits, landscapes, photograph street scenes...you name it! It will quickly become your go-to lens because of that versatility.

And...that versatility extends into the realm of lighting. Many 50mm lenses have a very large maximum aperture of f/1.4 or f/1.8. That means you can shoot in a much wider range of lighting conditions, all with the same lens.

As if that isn’t enough, a solid 50mm lens with a large aperture gets you gloriously blurry backgrounds. That means you can blur the background of a portrait much more easily, bringing greater attention to your subject.

What’s not to like about that?

An External Flash

You know those big flashes attached to cameras you often see the pros using, like the one shown above?

That’s called a speedlight, and even if you’re a beginner, you should snag one.

Why, you ask?

For starters, like the 50mm prime lens, there are many budget-friendly speedlight options. That means you can get an essential piece of gear that will drastically improve your photos, all without spending tons of money.

Additionally, having a quality flash in your bag gives you much greater leeway in terms of when and where you can shoot photos.

With a speedlight, you’re able to take portraits in the dark. You can use it as fill light for a landscape shot as the sun is setting. Heck, you can even use it to add additional lighting to a macro photo of a flower or bug, and much more.

Better still, speedlights create much more pleasing light than the pop-up flash on your camera. If you’re going to learn how to use flash, do so with a quality speedlight so you can create better photos sooner!

With that, you’ve got a better idea of what tools you should seek to add to your kit sooner rather than later. Get one or get all three - either way, adding filters, a 50mm lens, and a speedlight to your kit will have a measurable impact on how your photos look.