Photo / Video /
Photo / Video /
Here you’ll find the gear we use for all of our photo and video needs.
Donnie’s Gear (Photography)
This is all of the gear Donnie currently has and uses. The Sony A7 series is an entry level “professional” camera, but any brand would be fine. We stick with Sony lenses and gear for the best compatibility, but there are some other 3rd parties you can use for lenses as well. We like Sony for the “eye autofocus”. Just make sure whatever you get is a “full frame” camera body and lenses.
A great camera when you’re serious about getting good photos.
Good for kids’ ball games or general outdoor use. Can also be used as a portrait lens.
Excellent “cheaper” alternative to the 70-200 and much lighter and can work in tight spaces as well!
About the best you can do for a portrait lens. It’s a prime lens that I use sparingly but it’s irreplaceable.
This is my favorite focal length! This one is quite pricey and the 50mm f1.8 is a great cheaper alternative. The “nifty fifty”! Buy this one first!
Great for tight spaces and general indoor use. I don’t usually shoot this wide though.
This is only compatible with the 70-200mm but useful when I need extra zoom.
This allows a better grip, vertical shooting buttons, and double the battery life.
This is the 15L size and it fits my 14 inch MacBook Pro tightly. I like to carry small bags, most people will probably want 20L or larger.
Love the way these can be easily removed from the camera. I prefer no strap at all when shooting and this allows that.
If I’m ever in a photo, this is the guy holding the camera! We’ve been through a lot of tripods and love this one. Danielle uses it in her studio, too.
This MacBook is overkill for photo editing, but I also use it for coding and light video editing. A MacBook Air would be great for any photographer.
Danielle’s Gear (Videography)
This is the gear you’ll find inside Danielle’s studio. This equipment shouldn’t be purchased until you’ve made a serious commitment to video creation and are already earning an income. Danielle started out with a much cheaper and simpler setup. Look for Sony’s “APS-C” cameras and lenses for something cheaper, or just use your phone (seriously!).
This is a Sony camera that is sensitive (hence A7S) to low light. Excellent for video (and low-res photos).
Pretty standard lens for videographers and serious YouTubers.
Danielle loves this light and even her viewers sometimes notice the star it creates in her eyes.
This is overkill for a studio but we use it for Danielle’s videos inside and when we go hiking outdoors.
Danielle has tried a few different mics and like this one the best.
Much faster than traditional SD card speeds. Make sure to get the card reader if you opt for it.
For when you run out of space while editing. For long term storage backup to a cloud provider!
Danielle’s editing workhorse. She still edits a lot of her YouTube videos herself. What can’t she do?