• Selfie stick

There isn’t anything left to say about selfies. And whether they should be considered as a form of narcissism or a cool way of framing yourself in a time and place, selfies are here to stay. Especially now that selfie sticks have made it much easier to point, smile (or make a duck face) and click.

To help you get a head above the crowd, most selfie sticks extend to more than four feet, well beyond the normal range of your arm. Selfie sticks are especially handy when sightseeing. They adapt to smartphones and compact cameras and come with Bluetooth remote that is compatible with most devices.

• Tripod

A tripod helps you hold your camera still and at exactly the right angle so that your photos are sharp and full of detail. A tripod also allows you to place your camera at angles which you wouldn’t physically be able to achieve.

There are hundreds of tripods available and all essentially do the same thing: however, the key is to buy a quality tripod that offers sturdy and steady support. Also, choose a tripod that extends to near eye-level but which also allows you to shoot close to the ground.

A shutter release cable – a cable that plugs into the side of a camera and which controls the shutter release remotely – goes hand in hand with a tripod.

• Rocket blower

Dust can be a killer: if a dust particle gets stuck on the sensor or mirror, this may result in soft spots on your photos. Therefore, keeping your camera clean is essential for good photos and to ensure that your camera gives you a long and faithful service.

While cleaning your camera manually is fine, you can also invest in a rocket blower to clean the particularly small or narrow bits and pieces. Blow the dust away every time before changing the lens. Alternatively, you can buy a lenspen which cleans smudges and dust or water particles stuck on the lens.

• External flash

Light is key to photography. Sometimes, the camera’s inbuilt flash is not enough and you need an external flash to compensate for low light situations. An external flash will also allow you to be more creative with your photography and also ensures that your portraits are evenly lit. Just make sure that you pack spare batteries as external flashes tend to be quite power thirsty.

You can also buy LED lights that can mount on your camera or on a light stand: these give a flicker-free light that is daylight balanced and continuous. LED lights also have rheostats that give you full control over their output.

• Additional lenses

If you have a good camera, then the lens is good enough for starting out. However, if you need to shoot wider landscapes, want to experiment with macro photography, or want to specialise in portraits, then you need dedicated lenses.

• Lens filters

Lens filters are like sunglasses for your camera lens: they offer protection against elements such as dust, UV light, fingerprints, water and scratches. Moreover, filters help you take better photos since they reduce flare and reflections as well as add colour and contrast. Various filters are available, but if you’re just starting out, then the first step is to buy a polarising filter that reduces reflections and blow out areas.

• Post-processing software

To work creatively with your images, achieve certain visual effects, as well as correct your photos, you need post-processing software.

There are various tools and your choice depends on your budget as well as on what effects you’re after.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.