“what gear would I need to get started in fashion\/beauty photography?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
That is really dependent on what kind of stuff you want to shoot, but what I will try to do here is give you a pretty good base that will allow you to attack most challenges.<\/p>\n
Camera<\/h2>\n
An entry or intermediate level DSLR with at least 10 megapixels.\u00a0 You may also consider one of the older version Canon systems with 8 mega pixels as well.\u00a0 They are extremely capable cameras. They should have a hot shoe or sync X contact to allow for attaching either a sync module or dedicated flash (which I do not recommend)\u00a0 Some DSLR’s will have a dedicated sync port which is preferable.\u00a0 Brands to consider that produce DSLR’s are Canon, Sony, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, Sigma, & Leica. These brands all offer products that you can grow a system with.\u00a0 However, it should be noted that they all use slightly different sensor formats and the output quality will be affected by their pixel size.\u00a0 It should be noted, that all of the current brands could be used to produce a professional looking quality output that easily outperform all film formats up to 6×6 Medium Format.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/00151_olympus_zuiko_lenses.jpg\" "\\"00151_olympus_zuiko_lenses\\"")
\nLenses<\/h2>\n
I suggest the following.\u00a0 A reasonably good medium wide angle to medium telephoto lens i.e. 18-55, 17-50, 17-40, 16-50 type that will allow you to work in relatively tight spaces.\u00a0 A fixed focal length 50mm lens with an aperture of f1.8 or faster i.e. f1.4, 1.2.\u00a0 This will allow you to shoot in lower light conditions and makes a great all round fashion and beauty lens in the APSC format of DSLR’s.\u00a0 I would also recommend a reasonable macro lens i.e. 100 mm or there about, for the occasional macro beauty shoots. Finally and this is for those who like shooting telephoto fashion, a 50-200, 70-300 or a variation of this type of medium telephoto to telephoto zoom lens.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/images.jpg\" "\\"images\\"")
<\/p>\n
Flash & Light Meter<\/h2>\n
A reasonably good flash\/light meter like Sekonic, Gossen, Kenko & Polaris are some examples of what is available.
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/87_1.jpg\" "\\"87_1\\"")
\nTwo or three mono bloc studio flash units. Most will do the job. Most strobe kits come with strobe trigger devices that attach to the hot shoe of the camera. Some brands to consider are Alien Bee, Multiblitz, Balcar, Dynalite, Bowens, Elinchrom, Profoto, Dynasun, Lumedyne, Hensel, Broncolor, Photoflex, Speedotron and Norman are some examples of what is out there.<\/p>\n
Continuous Light<\/h2>\n
A couple of 500 watt halogen lights with barn door modifiers. Or a couple of tungsten Mandarine lights. You might also consider the “Faux” Kino Flo lights out there. In fact I just purchased 3 Two Bank Kino Flo’s.<\/p>\n
Accessories<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/1116881708_350x350_header.jpg\" "\\"1116881708_350x350_header\\"")
<\/p>\n
Faux Kino Flo type lights<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/ib_p073_0_1.jpg\" "\\"ib_p073_0_1\\"")
\nA couple of umbrella\u2019s, a light box or two, a few 7\u2033 bowls with honeycomb grid modifiers and a couple of snoots. If in a studio type space, a few Styrofoam 4\u2032 x 8\u2032 panels, seamless paper support stands and a few colors like white, gray, black and what ever else pleases your fancy.
\nOh and a reasonably recent laptop with Photoshop or similar program for doing post prod work at least on a cursory level to commence with.
\n“How much will this cost me?” Well, without the strobes, you could get away with a reflector and the camera and kit lens for around 400-500 Euros. From the research I have done, you can get the whole system for around 1500-2500 Euros. A lot less than a lot of you probably thought.
\nWith this gear, you will have enough to do pretty much anything that your imagination can throw at you. That will be the biggest challenge of all. Not being afraid to explore the infinite possibilities.
\nHave a Ball!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I have been asked on several occasions – what gear would I need to get started in fashion-beauty photography – Here are Benjamin Kanarek’s advice<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[654,168],"tags":[663,38,665,726,17,721,992,662,682,727],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/87_1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paG8MM-2QW","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8179,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/bkblog\/bkblog-fashion-photography-contest-winner-regen-chen-podcast-interview\/","url_meta":{"origin":10970,"position":0},"title":"The BKBlog Fashion Photography Contest Winner Regen Chen Podcast Interview","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"May 29, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"All Photos \u00a9Regen Chen 2010 Today I had the opportunity to speak with Regen Chen, who won our first Benjamin Kanarek Blog Fashion Photography Contest.\u00a0It was a pleasure speaking with him and as with most interactions, it was\u00a0 a very illuminating experience for me. I appreciated that he was well\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BKBlog"","block_context":{"text":"BKBlog","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/bkblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/opener.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/opener.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/opener.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/opener.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1327,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/the-gear\/cutting-edge-photography-gear\/","url_meta":{"origin":10970,"position":1},"title":"My Cutting Edge Photography Gear","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"September 19, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"I have a Fuji disposable cardboard and plastic camera, but with built in flash. It comes with 27 exposures. 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I have based this list on items that I wish I had for several of my shoots, but were not on hand and would have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Photography"","block_context":{"text":"Photography","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/photography\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/photo-processing-420.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15163,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/bkblog\/no-excuse-not-winning-benjamin-kanarek-blog-westeast-magazine-fashion-photography-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":10970,"position":4},"title":"There is No Excuse Not to Win The Benjamin Kanarek Blog\/WestEast Magazine Fashion Photography Contest","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"March 25, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 I cannot count all of the Photographers that I have heard saying \"If only I had a chance to be published in a serious Fashion Magazine I would...\" Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah!\u00a0 Well, here it is March 25th and the opportunity to BE published in a Highly respected Fashion\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "BKBlog"","block_context":{"text":"BKBlog","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/bkblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/Issue-27.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":17328,"url":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/bkblog\/winners-westeast-magazine-benjamin-kanarek-blog-fashion-beauty-photography-contest\/","url_meta":{"origin":10970,"position":5},"title":"Winners of the WestEast Magazine-Benjamin Kanarek Blog Fashion-Beauty Photography Contest","author":"Benjamin Kanarek","date":"May 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"I am pleased to announce the Winners of the WestEast Benjamin Kanarek Blog Fashion-Beauty Photography Contest","rel":"","context":"In "BKBlog"","block_context":{"text":"BKBlog","link":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/category\/bkblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Regen-Chen-Neil-Snape-\u00c2\u00a92011.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10970"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/rebuild\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thebkmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/cameras_485.jpg\" "\\"cameras_485\\"")
<\/p>\n