here’s an equipment list from essentials to luxury

This is what I’d buy if I lost all my equipment and had to start from scratch. Hope this is helpful to someone! The list is based 100% off of my contracts, clients’ needs, and my personal preferences, so make sure to not see this as a list to blindly follow.

Essentials (first things I’d try to re-purchase immediately)

• Camera, lens, spare batteries

• Laptop with card reader

• Speedlight

• Portable lighting kit (small light stand, umbrella bracket, small shoot-through umbrella, radio trigger)

• Back-up solution for files (hard drives, cloud, etc.)

Next in order of priority

• Larger light modifier (umbrella or softbox, for a softer light and larger groups and better shadow and contrast control)

• 5-in-1 reflector (that I’d only use for the black, white, diffuser options)

• Second speedlight

• Second light stand

• Portable backdrop (reversible black/white)

• Gels for speedlights

• More sturdy light stand (like a C-stand with arm)

• V-Flats

• Backup equipment

• More backdrop options

A bit more of a luxury

• Additional lighting modifiers

• Additional speedlights

• Tripod

• Continuous light

• Larger light sources

  etc.