Gear & Tools

Photography Tools and Gear List

Photography ToolKit

Camera

  • My primary camera is a Nikon Z6ii mirrorless camera.

My Lenses

  • Primary lens - Nikon PC-E 24mm Tilt Shift F Mount

  • Secondary Lens - Nikon Z 24-120mm f4s Zoom Lens

Other Lenses

  • Nikon F series 50mm f1.8 prime lens

  • Nikon 105 Macro 2.8 Portrait Lens

Neewer SL90

Neewer MS60c

Ulanzi Cute Light

Neewer RGB 190

Godox Ad200 Pro

Ulanzi RGB Cube Light

My lighting cjoices have a lot to do with whether I will be shooting in studio, my back yard or on location some place else more remote, also the amount of given space I have to place lights into my scene. sometimes you need a really big light, others a smaller accent light is the right approach or no light at all and just use the sun or my mini reflector.

Lighting is entirely up to the look and style and space and budget that you have in your shoot.

One thing I always tell people getting into any kind of photography, alway get into it as cheap as you can experience the art form and learn how to take great photos then worry about expensive equipment later. Only buy what you need and know how to use effectively right now. Spending a 1000.00 on lights is a waste if you dont like what you are doing or find out you like a different style of photography all together and don’t need that equipment anymore.

Go shoot, have fun, be creative and enjoy yourself in a beautiful form of art and expression :)

Lighting

I use Neewer Lights mostly for my photgraphy needs, they are affordable and good quality lights, also Godox for my more expensive lights and strobes. I can highly recommend both brands. I also use lights from Ulanzi but I don’t feel they last as long but if you need a really cheap light that you don’t care if you beat it up and destroy it theses are good light for that.

  • Godox AD200 Pro Photo Strobes
    These are mini studio flash strobes, when I need a lot of light these are amazing but they are pricey at around $300.00-400.00, they also require some sort of flash sync or wireless transmitter to fire them off. These little lights can be used as off camera flashes as well they also with an adapter accept full size modifiers.

  • Neewer SL90 Flat Panel Light
    This is my primary go to light for on location shoots when I need a small light that fits in any bag or pocket, its very comparable to the Apurture and Lumecube lights, but offers more features for the same or less price point. Its a very robust light and I feel it will last a long time.

  • Neewer RGB 190 Mini Panel Light
    This light is 2.5x the size of my SL90 but its also 3x as bright and makes a great light for on location or in a small studio setting with limited space and its great on the budget you can buy several of these and they make great key and fill lights. I find myself often using this when I dont need the power of my larger studio light or strobe and don’t want the hassle to set all that up. it is an RGB light and a Bi color light.

  • Neewer MS60c RGB Studio / Video Light
    This is my favorite new light I use this one a lot and would like to get a couple more of them. These can use studio light modifiers just like my Godox strobes but the are constant light source.

  • Ulanzi Cube Light (waterproof)
    the quality of these lights are decent, much lower quality than neewer

  • Ulanzi COB RGB Video Cube Light

  • Misc Panel and ring lights
    I have several cheap $20.00 panel and ring lights, I bought these a long time ago and they were my first panel lights, they have lasted quite a while but build quality and light quality isn’t the best but they do work and are mountable lights.
    There is nothing wrong with these lights for figure photography if you are getting started and looking for a cheap solution. though I would suggest to spend a little more and spring for the Neewer lights if you can swing spending the extra cash.

Accessories

Some of my favorite accessories for my camera are not expensive at all, others will cost a bit of an investment.

  • Wireless Transmitter
    I love my wireless transmitter and could not live without it having the ability to control my camera, lights and anything else I can attach to it is a dream and it works up to 300 feet away not that I need that kind of range.

  • Wired Remote Trigger
    Even with my fancy wireless transmitter sometimes a low tech approach gets the job done and for most people this is all they will ever need, its realiable and it works well, I have a Nikon one and it also has a lock feature that allows me hold the shutter down and walk away from the trigger. I recommend everybody who is into photography getting a simple remote for their camera. Nikon also makes a really inexpensive wireless IR remote and these are a great alternative to the wired approach but no where near as expensive and full featured wireless transmitter.

  • Pocket Reflector
    A mini photography reflector is great because it doesn’t take up much space in your bag, I have a 12 in foldable photo reflector, but there are free options as well below.

  • Mirror (pocket size)
    I always carry a pocket sized makeup mirror, the kind without the makeup part, in every camera bag that I have they are great for all sorts of things. with my old camera I would use it a flip out screen my one has one of those so I don’t need it like that, but its handy if you don’t have that feature.
    You can use it a reflector as well, to reflect light onto your miniature subject which is primarily what I use it for now.

  • Cardboard Wrapped in Tin Foil
    This is a completely free reflector, provided you already have cardboard and tin foil. You can cover this with different colored plastics, goto Walmart or similar store and buy the clear plastic cellophane film in the gift wrapping section, this will give you a nice colored light reflector.

  • Smoke Machine (Ulanzi)
    There are types of these but I use one from Ulanzi, but there is consumable products like atmospheral which is canned fog spray, or you can get or make a dry ice machine. The list in this area goes on forever

  • Canned Air
    I use this for the pre-mentioned fog effect, it is also useful for well blowing air! This is useful for blowing capes or dust or moving or pretty much anything. Turning the can upside down will you and quick burst of fog or if you feel like freezing your figure you can add a nice temporary ice effect by spraying the frozen gas all all over your figure, I sued this in my mando dino shot to add temporary ice crystals to make it look like he was on a frozen planet.

  • Electric Canned Air (NITECORE BB Nano)
    This is an electric air gun designed for cleaning PC and electronics it works great if you want a compact non consumable air blowing device.
    I don’t find that these blow as strong as canned air at least not the version I have.

  • Compressed Air Toilet Plunger
    thanks “Sir Dork” for this one, I saw this on his YouTube channel and its simply just a tube that you compress and releases a blast of air. I actually find that this much more powerful than canned air though it takes up a bit more space in the bag if your bringing it on location.

  • Waterproof Camera Cover (Think Tank Brand)
    I carry one of these incase it rains, but also its great if you are going to be doing a wet photoshoot with lots of water involved I feel safer if my expensive camera is protected.

Model Making Tools & Supplies

Modeling Making Supplies

Sculpting

  • Metal Wax Carving Tools

  • Millput

  • Epoxy Putty

  • Green Stuff

  • Exacto Knife & Extra Blades

Im working on a full list

More Coming Soon!…