10 bits of helpful photography gear which you won’t get in a camera shop


Gaffers tape

Just over a tenner from Amazon for Pro Tapes Pro Gaff matte cloth tape – Black. Invaluable. It is just dead handy to stick anything anywhere. And when you take it off it leaves stuff behind.

Head torch

Really handy for anything when it is dark.  I have had a couple of Peztl head torches for so long I can’t even remember where I got them from. They just work whenever I need them.

Carabiner

I have a couple of Carabiners which live in my Peak Design Everyday backpack. Like the head torch they have been with me for years. You can them at Go Outdoors.

Flask

One of the most important bits of kit for any kind of photo shoot. Especially early morning jobs and sunrise shoots. My current flask is a good old Thermos flask.

Shoes

Cold feet = unhappy grumpy photographer. For everyday photography work any time of the year apart from those rare scorching hot days I use these understated bomb proof boots from Clarks.

Hat

My North Face hat goes with me everywhere. My hat of choice is red. And yes it will be appearing in photos I take soon. Big update. I have treated myself to another one.

Groundsheet

Yes a groundsheet. My current groundsheet cost me a fiver from Blacks in Poole. I use it to lie down anywhere I need to get low down for a shot, which is quite often. 

Cable ties

Another cheap but invaluable piece of kit, used to attach things to other things, and sometimes to secure my camera in place. I have used cable ties to fix various accessories, including Speedlites and camera brackets to various things including trees.

Lots of different lengths for less than a tenner from Amazon.

Leatherman

My old faithful tool. This lives in my camera bag too. Just invaluable and always comes in when you don’t expect it too. I have used my Leatherman to fix all sorts of slightly unfinished stuff on recently completed buildings.  Mine is the Wingman.

Rope

Yes I have a short length of rope in my camera bag. Para Cord to be precise. £7.49 from Amazon for 100 feet of the stuff.

These are all things that I carry along with my camera gear, lenses and tripods. I use these things whenever needed, and often these make a shot possible more than the expensive camera gear I own.

Many of these things cost less than a tenner! 

Rick McEvoy – Photography Tips

Rick McEvoy

I am Rick McEvoy, an architectural and construction photographer living and working in the South of England. I create high quality architectural photography and construction photography imagery of the built environment for architects and commercial clients. I do not photograph weddings, families, small people or pets - anything that is alive, moves or might not do as I ask!! I am also the creator of the Photography Explained Podcast, available on all major podcast providers. I have a blog on my website where I write about my work and photography stuff. Rick McEvoy ABIPP, MCIOB

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