Gear Guide | 5 Photography Accessories I Regret Buying
I've spent a lot of money on photography gear over the years. Some of it has lasted for years. Some of it has made my job easier. And some of it probably deserved to be thrown directly into the trash.
After more than 15 years as a professional photographer, I've learned that expensive doesn't always mean better, and cheap doesn't always mean bad.
But there are certain pieces of photography equipment where reliability matters more than saving a few dollars.
My rule today is simple:
Spend more where failure gets expensive.
If a cheap accessory breaks and mildly annoys me, fine. If it can drop a camera, destroy a light, interrupt a client shoot, or create a safety problem, I'll happily pay more for something I trust.
Here are five photography accessories that taught me that lesson the hard way.
Cheap Shoulder Rigs
The Flashpoint DSLR Shoulder Rig II is more than likely why I have trust issues as a human being. Within an hour of opening the box, I had pieces scattered around the studio because it came apart that quickly.
I wouldn’t trust a GoPro on that thing, much less a DSLR or mirrorless camera worth thousands of dollars.
Lesson learned: if a piece of gear is responsible for keeping your camera off the floor, this probably isn’t the place to save a few bucks.
Save your money and buy a shoulder rig you can actually trust.
Consider buying this instead:
FILMCITY DSLR Camera Shoulder Support Rig Kit
Cheap Light Stands
Note to self: Stop buying cheap light stands.
I’ve made my fair share of cheap light stand purchases over the years, and every single one has eventually failed me.
A light stand might not be the most exciting piece of photography gear, but it has one very important job: keeping your expensive strobe from bouncing off the floor and becoming an unfortunate insurance claim.
Lesson learned: don’t skimp on the equipment responsible for supporting your other equipment. Invest in a sturdy light stand, and when necessary, weigh it down properly with a sandbag.
Your strobe will thank you. So will your insurance company.
Consider buying this instead:
Manfrotto 5001b Nano Stand
Cheap Gaffer Tape
I don’t think there’s anything quite as frustrating as cheap gaffer tape. I mean, why even bother buying it? It doesn’t stick, it doesn’t hold anything down, and somehow it always fails exactly when you need it most.
You’d have better luck using a wet napkin to hold things down on set.
Lesson learned: good gaffer tape is one of those boring pieces of gear you don’t appreciate until you’ve bought the bad stuff. Buy something that holds when you need it to and removes cleanly when the job is done.
Trust me. This is not where you need to save $6.
Consider buying this instead:
Gaffer Power Gaffer Tape
Cheap Lighting Modifiers
I once bought a Photek Softlighter II after seeing a well-regarded photographer use one on set. Then, while I was teaching a class, it caught on fire.
Yes. On fire.
In the middle of a class with 40–50 people, I suddenly found myself putting out a lighting modifier instead of teaching photography. Thankfully, no one was injured (aside from my pride).
Lesson learned: make sure your lighting modifiers are designed and rated for the lights you’re using. Pay attention to materials, heat limitations, construction, and manufacturer safety guidelines, especially when working with lights that generate significant heat.
A lighting modifier catching fire makes for a great story years later. It’s considerably less entertaining when you’re standing in front of 50 students.
Consider buying this instead:
Profoto Umbrella Shallow White
Cheap or Kitschy Camera Straps
I’ve owned well over a dozen camera straps over the years. Only two have really stood the test of time.
One was made by Vulture Equipment Works, and somehow the strap actually outlasted the company that made it. (You made a great product, William!)
The rest have probably made their way to a NYC landfill by now.
Lesson learned: a camera strap has one very important job: keep your camera from hitting the ground. Look for strong attachment points, durable hardware, comfortable weight distribution, and something you’ll actually want to wear for hours.
If a camera strap can outlive the company that made it, I’d say I got my money’s worth.
Consider buying this instead:
