Imagine yourself behind the lens of a camera, snapping professional, quality photos. Is this a dream of yours? Photography is a fun hobby and a skill that can be useful in practically any situation, and it’s not hard to get started—all you need is a few basic pieces of photography equipment. Before beginning your first photography session, be sure you’ve gathered all the equipment you need to take quality photos.

Camera

This will come as no surprise—if you want to take quality photos, the first piece of equipment you’ll need is a camera. If you’re just starting out, a smartphone with a quality camera can be sufficient. But if you really want to get into the hobby and take even higher quality photos, use a traditional camera instead. Your first camera doesn’t need to be the most expensive one, but for those planning to get serious about photography, a DSLR camera is a good option.

Tripod

One trait of a quality photo is a clear image with no blurriness. Sometimes, achieving this is difficult, especially if you’re using a handheld camera. For this reason, all photographers should add a tripod to their photography equipment. Tripods are inexpensive and will help you professionalize your photography and effortlessly shoot from different angles.

Camera Lenses

If you decide to shoot with a traditional camera rather than a phone camera, invest in a few different camera lenses to improve your photography. At the very least, you should have a good prime or zoom lens, depending on whether you want the ability to zoom in or out on your subject. While there are countless lenses to choose from, two types that are particularly helpful for beginners are macro lenses—which allow you to capture extreme close-up shots—and a lens that allows you to capture wider shots.

Lighting Equipment

Even if you do everything else right, your photos will look off without the proper lighting. That is why it’s very important to purchase the right lighting equipment when you’re getting started. Consider investing in an external flash to light your shots. These devices can easily be attached to your camera to create more natural and professional lighting. If you’re going to do photography in a studio, you may benefit from a full light kit, including a few bounce cards to direct and soften the light on your subject.

The key to taking professional photographs is to make sure you have the equipment you need to take quality photos. If you’re really committed to great photography, invest in this equipment as soon as you can. Similarly, if you want to improve your filmmaking, you’d do well to pick up a few pieces of professional filming equipment. Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or filmmaker, check out Glide Gear’s selection of film and photography equipment for the tools you need to improve your art.