Even though a camera does not make you a photographer, the equipment you use can make a huge different in the quality of your work. Here are my top 5 tools for taking professional portraits.

1. My camera... okay, no brainer. But this is the one I use: Canon R5

   • Don't choke, it has a pretty high price tag compared to my Canon 5D mark iv, but it is worth the money. I am seeing much more vibrant colors and sharper focus, especially with the eye detection setting

2. My lenses - for now, I am keeping my SLR lenses but I hope to upgrade those in the near future. The good news is I have the adapter and it works just fine for me. My favorite lenses are:

   • Canon 85mm

   • Canon 50mm

   • Sigma 35 mm.

3. My reflector: I prefer to get my shots lit correctly in camera so I use a Lastolite Trigrip reflector

4. My Expodisc: White balance can be a battle, but I have found that using the Expodisc and setting a custom white balance in camera makes a huge difference - it is still not perfect, but it is soooo much better than trying to play a guessing game with light temperature.

5. My Spider Holster: If you have neck or back trouble from carrying your camera, this is a perfect alternative. I love having my camera attached to my hip rather than around my neck or shoulder. I also use the Spider Grip to make sure I don't drop it!

These 5 things are with me at every session no matter what. Have questions? Leave me a comment below! VVV