13 Must-Have Camera Accessories for Photography in 2022

^{photo by ugurhan via iStock}

What are the most important accessories for photography? What accessories are needed for photography?

Well, the best photography accessories for beginners are going to be pretty much the same as what advanced photographers or pros would like.

I’m going to separate the list by camera accessories for photography, lens accessories, and lighting accessories. I’m also going to use a fairly broad definition of accessories for photography.

Camera Accessories for Photography

This is a broad category, but I’ll put straps, bags, and stability devices here.

As for stability devices, let’s take a look at tripods and handheld gimbals. For tripods, versatility is just as important to me as stability. And stability is why we’re using a tripod in the first place. I also like my tripods to be usable both in the field and in the studio.

#1 Manfrotto MK055XPRO3 Tripod

For those reasons, I recommend a medium/heavy duty tripod with an adjustable-to-horizontal center column, such as the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3 tripod with a 3-way head. Having a horizontally-adjustable center column is nice for flat lay or food photography in the studio. It is also very useful for macro photography in nature.

#2 DJI RONIN-SC HANDHELD STABILIZER

The DJI Ronin-SC handheld stabilizer is great for smooth video recordings with either a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

#3 MoneyMaker Solo & Original MoneyMaker From Holdfast

One of the best straps for any camera is the MoneyMaker Solo from Holdfast. Holdfast makes fine leather straps and also bags for all levels of photographers, from beginner to advanced professional.

It’s a cross-body strap with a wide shoulder pad for extra comfort with DSLRs or mirrorless cameras from small and lightweight up to very large and heavy. The bridle leather is as gorgeous as it is strong, making this strap one of the best camera accessories for photography. There is also a two-camera version, the Original MoneyMaker. It can actually accommodate a third camera with an additional accessory.

#4 Sightseer Camera and Lens Modular System

Holdfast also makes a versatile and durable camera bag and pouch system. It’s called the Sightseer Camera and Lens Modular System, and it can be expanded by adding several lens pouches and accessory holders. Constructed of waxed canvas, bison leather, and Aztec fleece, it’s as good-looking as it is usable.

Learn More:

Lens Accessories for Photography

^{photo by dem10 via iStock}

Let’s move on to our lens accessories. I’m actually going to include a lens in this category because of how versatile it is.

#5 Nifty Fifty

The lens I’ll recommend as one of the most important accessories for photography is the Nifty Fifty normal lens. In the Full Frame format, 50mm is considered the “normal” focal length. For crop format cameras, the focal length of normal is shorter, 35mm for APS-C and 25mm for MFT formats.

#6 Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

If you are using a Full Frame format Canon EOS DSLR style camera, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is a perfect example of this versatile, compact, and relatively inexpensive lens. Check out independent lens makers, too. There are some great versions for various cameras, including mirrorless.

#7 RIGID LENS HOOD

A rigid lens hood is another of the most important lens accessories for photography. They reduce image-degrading lens flare. They are also a safety feature for our cameras and lenses. They act as a bumper against things that could scratch or chip the front element.

#8 K&F Concept Filter Kit

Also on the list of best photography accessories are filters, specifically a filter holder system with ND and GND filters. A filter system such as this K&F Concept filter kit with holder, adapters, and two filters is a great addition to a landscape photography gear bag.

Lighting accessories for Photography

^{photo by gorodenkoff via iStock}

#9 Neewer 18” LED Ringlight

Among the first accessory items, a photographer buys besides lenses and filters is likely going to be a flash unit or other lighting gear.

A ring light is a valuable lighting accessory for still photography as well as videography, allowing for virtually shadow-free lighting of people or objects. They are useful for small product photography, portraiture, and creating vlogs. The Neewer 18” LED Ringlight is a prime example.

#10 Godox V859III

It’s hard to beat a good auxiliary flash unit, especially one that matches up with camera automation for effortless exposure calculations. An amazing flash for several different brands of cameras is the Godox V859III which has tilt and swivel bounce, TTL metering, and rechargeable batteries.

#11 Neewer 43 inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Reflector

With flash, continuous light, or sunlight, sometimes the best accessories for photography are simple and inexpensive. A cheap, useful accessory such as the Neewer 43 inch 5-in-1 collapsible reflector is a great example. Reflectors can be anywhere and for all types of photography.

General Accessories for Photography

^{photo by hobo_018 via iStock}

Some of the most important accessories for photography aren’t obviously photographic in nature, but you’ll recognize their value to you once you start using them.

#12 Gerber Gear

A multi-tool is one of the best things to keep on hand whenever you’re shooting pictures, hiking, riding a bike, or doing just about anything actually. Gerber Gear makes one that can fit in a jeans pocket or on a belt. It has 12 integrated tools and is super easy on the wallet.

#13 Timberland Mt. Maddsen

^{photo by deimagine via iStock}

An excellent pair of durable and comfortable shoes is an active photographer’s best friend. There are lots of fashion choices here, but I tend to like hiking boots. They are wearable indoors, too, and are an absolute necessity for outdoor photographers. I really love my Timberland Mt. Maddsen mid-length leather boots.

There are many other accessories for photography that can help you work better for indoor and outdoor photography. Let us know what your favorite examples are!

Printing Your Photos

Of course, having all these camera accessories can help you take better photos, but the process of making an image doesn't end when you press the shutter button...

To finish your image the right way, you need to print your best work, and for that, you can turn to Artbeat Studios.

I've worked with Artbeat Studios for many years, and have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of the prints I've gotten.

I'm a particular fan of their HD metal prints because they are such a great option for printing my landscape photos.

Not only does Artbeat Studios offer tons of customization options (e.g., various surface options, sizing options, and wall mount options), but they also use the finest aluminum (ChromaLuxe®) to ensure that your metal prints look their finest.

Additionally, Artbeat Studios infuses the images directly into the metal, which results in a print that has an incredible level of vibrancy - far superior than anything I've seen from other metal print companies. After all, that's why Artbeat Studios was the big winner in our 2021 metal print shootout!

Yet another reason to love Artbeat Studios is that they offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. If you don't love your metal print, just return it for a store credit.

High-quality materials, meticulous construction, and great customer service - Artbeat Studios has it all!