Specifications

Specialty Equipment

Changing Tent

A changing tent is a useful accessory when you’re working with models and shooting on-location or

somewhere where access to a bathroom or changing room isn’t readily available.

I used a pop-out changing tent to shoot headshots on the streets of NYC for a few years. It was a great,

easy alternative to stopping in the nearest fast food or coffee shop for an outfit change. It was also a

fun conversation starter with my clients and onlookers.

Unfortunately, I had already bought a bright blue pop-out changing tent before I saw the handy,

reflector-colored tent, which would have made this item even more multi-purpose. Still, I recommend

either unit as a very lightweight, portable, and useful addition to your kit.

Mirrors

The obvious use for mirrors is for your models or stylists to use for preparation. The lesser obvious but

still common use for mirrors or reflections in windows would be to shoot subjects in mirror, or subject

duplicated by their own mirror reflection. Serious professional use of mirrors can come into play when

shooting product photography, for example. There are techniques where a photographer can place

many mirrors around a product in order to reflect light and capture glistening details without seeing

extra elements accidentally in the frame. For example, nationwide product shots for items to be display

on billboards or full page in magazines might be captured using very skilled mirror arranging techniques.

Smoke machine

Surely, a smoke machine is a novelty item to own, but if you’re shooting for editorial (publications),

fashion, or art galleries, you may find yourself using one. You can even shoot products or video

production with some smoke running through the scene. The great thing about smoke machines is how

it can affect the light and you can experiment with different light gels or lens filters.

Fan

Now if you don’t have a smoke machine, you can make your own with a fan! A fan is also a necessity on

the set for those wind-blown hair shots. Sometimes, a client will want a fan to gently move clothing on a

model or you can use it in conjunction with a smoke machine to direct the smoke. Plus, a fan is always

helpful to cool the set.

Apple boxes

Apple boxes are sturdy wooden boxes used on shoots for a variety of things, such as to make a model

taller or give the model a step to use for posing. There are a lot of common sense uses for apple boxes.

Business Equipment

Computer

You need computer access and one with Internet access. That is not to say that you can’t drum up

business without one, as you could very well go “door to door” for example, and make personal

appointments for photo shoots. But, it will make life and your photography business launch a whole lot

simpler if you have a computer with Internet access.

This isn’t a computer eBook, so I’ll summarize quickly some of the many ways you’ll use your computer

for your photography business.