Regardless of how long you’ve been in the photography game, I’m sure you know the struggle. You hop online to look for new gear, and you’re just overwhelmed by the millions of options out there! Between lens, tripods, flashes, SD Cards, and backup drives, you can literally be scrolling for hours.

It’s overwhelming to say the least.

So today I’ve compiled some of my top gear purchases, and we’re gonna play “Buy this NOT that”! Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

Our first stop is SD Cards.

BUY THIS: In the world of SD cards, having more is always better, but the size and quality of the SD card makes all the difference. For weddings, I recommend the SanDisk Extreme or Extreme Pro. I usually go for the 64GB or 128GB cards with a write speed of 120 mbps or higher. They’re a little pricier, but they’re worth it.

Here are some options for you:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H42L4TJ?ref=exp_dawn.charles_dp_vv_d
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NUB2RPW?ref=exp_dawn.charles_dp_vv_d

NOT THAT: Anything too small, that has a history of crashing, or has a small transfer speed. In general, smaller and cheaper cards aren’t meant to house DSLR or HD Camera quality files.

Next let’s chat backup drives.

When shopping for a backup hard drive, you have to have something that’s reliable, durable and isn’t just going to stop working at a moment's notice. Your backup drives are ultimately your lifeline as a photographer!

BUY THIS: There is only one brand I trust to back up my work, and that’s LaCie. The Rugged Mini is a great place to start. It comes in a variety of sizes so you can purchase one based on the amount you shoot / how much storage you think you'll need. (Pro tip: Always keep an extra one on hand as well! I like to have all my images backed up in two places at a time, in case something insane happens.) LaCie is one of the most well-known and trusted in this industry, and their rugged line is perfect if you’re constantly on the go.

Here's the one I love to use:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01789QMUW?ref=exp_dawn.charles_dp_vv_d

NOT THAT: Don’t go for budget-friendly here. The truth is, there’s always going to be a cheaper option out there. But just because it’s cheaper, doesn’t mean it’s better! I recommend investing in a product that is tested and trusted for photographers.

The bottom line - While quality gear doesn’t ensure that everything will be perfect, it does decrease your chances of having issues with any of your editing, backup, and workflow. Technology will always have moments of failing us, and that’s ok. If you get stuck in a situation where one of these products fails you, give yourself grace!

But there are ways to have a solid backup system, to where if one fails, there’s always another route. If you’re interested in learning more about my workflow and backup processes, as well as how I integrate these products into my business, then check out The Workflow + Backup Course. This is meant for you if you’re ready to create systems, organize your files, streamline your workflow, and create a fool-proof backup system.

Lastly, if you’d like to see a list of all my gear, click here! I have so many more recommendations that we didn’t even get to cover in this blog.