I think we can all agree 2020 is NUTS! In my world of models, content creators, and influencers, the restrictions the pandemic has brought on being able to work in person with creative teams has driven many of us to become our own one-stop-shop! Shooting our own photos for social media is not new. Sooo many of us, if not all of us, do it regularly. (Below are a few sample images all recently shot by me @ home) Scroll down to skip straight to my list of 15 Amazon items to Upgrade Your DIY Home Photoshoots!
With brands all of a sudden looking for models that can deliver images of comparable quality to pre-pandemic shoots, the pressure was on to level up my at-home production value! At the same time, if you’re new and aspiring to grow into that world of modeling and influencing, being able to take your own quality images will put you ahead of the game.
WHY YOU NEED TO UPGRADE YOUR DIY PHOTOS!
Hiring photographers can get expensive!! Professionals are great but you don’t want cost to be a factor every time you want to create.
Quality is everything!!! Look at your IG right now - are you posting blurry photos, grainy photos, or snapchat filter photos? Good light and a good camera is the baseline for leveling up!
Growth! Being able to create high quality photos whenever you like allows you to focus on building your portfolio and your brand (a.k.a, posting more, growing more, booking more!)
THE LIST
I’ve compiled this list of 15 items I love and use in my DIY studio to create Instagram (and client!) worthy content! And I got all of them on Amazon! Click each image to shop! (By you shopping through my affiliate links, I receive a small commission which enables me to bring you more content!)
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
1. TRIPOD Top of the list, must have item to make your life easier and give you versatility (and stop having to lean your phone on the nearest shelf!) I’ve gone through a couple tripods but I really like this one a lot and it comes with a carrying case.
2. PHONE ATTACHMENT FOR TRIPOD Another must have! Perfect for shooting TikToks, IG stories, etc! It fits my iPhone 11 Pro Max, but I’m not sure if it fits the larger phones. Screws right onto the tripod mounting plate.
3. REMOTE I remember the day another model told me she took her own pics with a handheld remote and my mind was blown. You can sync it up to your smartphone via bluetooth, take off the strap to make it easier to hide it in your hand and shoot away!
4. SONY a6300 So far so good with this camera! Very lightweight and the Sony Imaging Edge Mobile app allows me to turn my phone into the remote - a game changer! Now, if you’ve got a good camera phone, you do NOT have to splurge on a pricey DSLR camera right away. I shot my pics using my iPhone until just this year. Note that the lens you use with it key! See next item!
5. LENS After some YouTube research, I settled on this 30 mm F1.4 lens and it’s been exactly what I needed to make the clarity and quality of my images pop! This one specifically is an E-mount to fit my Sony a6300, so make sure you know the mount type you need!
6. SD CARD READER This little tool has been sooo convenient to have in my kit! I’m able to quickly upload photos shot with my DSLR to my phone. I’m also always using to quickly check what’s on an SD card and clear it for the next shoot!
STUDIO SET-UP
7. RING LIGHT Another must have! Unless you have amazing natural light at home, then you’re going to need supplemental light. I use this in the studio but I also bring it anywhere I need it for indoor content, whether I’m shooting an IG live, Tiktok, or whatever!
10. BACKDROP PAPER This one size has been perfect to accommodate everything from portraits to full length shots! But if you’re not sure, there is a helpful guide on the brand’s website to determine what size you need!
8. SOFT BOX I’d suggest at least one if not two of these! The light you’ll get with a soft box will be more natural than with a ring light. To shoot client worthy e-commerce images in our garage studio, I use a mix of natural light, 2 soft boxes , and a ring light.
11. GAFFERS TAPE I use this for many things lol, but I got a new roll in a fun color specifically for when I needed to tape down the roll to the floor for full length shoots.
9. BACKDROP STAND This has worked great so far! It goes plenty tall to clear me for full-length photos. I keep my backdrop roll on it ready to use anytime I need it, but I’ve also used it to drape a fabric backdrop.
12. STANDING FAN How are you going to get your Beyonce moment without a fan to blow your hair?? Models know to expect someone to be holding a fan on set, so I just use a simple standing fan whenever I shoot against the backdrop. Even if I don’t need it for the shot, it’s handy if you run hot like I do.
WARDROBE
13. ROLLING RACK This was such a useful purchase. I keep all my “to be shot” looks hung up and it makes it so easy to keep organized and to steam out/keep out wrinkles. It’s also been very helpful when I’m packing for a trip!
14. SLIM SUIT HANGERS Since we’re talking about hanging looks, these are the only hangers I have in my closet. They’re sleek and great space savers.
15. PORTABLE STEAMER Last but not least, one of my most convenient purchases from last year. It’s tempting to skip this step when you shoot but wrinkles are not as easy to edit out as you might think. It’s super easy to bring with me anywhere I might need it. I haven’t used my iron since!
I hope this is helpful! I’d love to hear your thoughts and happy to answer any questions you might have!