elsie's camera list....

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies in the world! I receive questions about my equipment, toy cameras and photoshop techniques almost daily. I thought it would be lots of fun to create a gigantic informational post for you about my favorite cameras, some tips and tricks and lots of links.... This post may be a tiny bit nerdy, but hopefully super helpful to my camera shopping pals. Enjoy! 

My 'Real Camera'... I currently own a Canon EOS 40D. This is what I use to take most of the photos seen here on my blog. It's a great mid-level slr. I've been using it for a few years. The next upgrade I have planned is this beautiful camera. Super excited that the newest Canons have video capabilities. 

I, primarily, use two lenses with my slr camera. I like to keep my camera bag extremely simple. First, this wide angle lens. Here are a couple example photos taken with this lens...

I love my wide angle lens for interior decor shots (it's hard to get everything in the frame with most other lenses I own), outdoor photos (buildings, sky etc...) and 'arm's length' self portraits.

Any photo where i am holding the camera myself for the photo (excluding mirror photos, of course) is taken with this lens. It's very useful! 

Next, I use a 50mm f/1.8 lens for portrait and product photos. Here are a few examples...

This lens is better for photos of people and it works great in lower light.   

Another huge part of photography is PhotoShop. I use actions on lots of my photos to speed up the editing process and keep things consistent. The only actions I use are Totally Rad Actions. The set I own is "The Revenge". Here are some examples... 

The first photo has Brooklyn (B&W) on it and the second photo has Lux and Punch-Out! If you've never used actions you can learn how through tutorials on their site. They're really helpful and can also be a great tool for anyone not super familiar with photoshop. 

Next up.... my absolute favorite 'toy' camera. The Fuji Instax Mini! I have the chocolate one. It's probably the best thing I bought last year. I've already taken over 200 photos. It also comes in white, pink and blue. I take this with me almost every day! The photos look like business card sized polaroids....

SO adorable. 

Polaroids are so much fun. All throughout high school until recent years I used this camera so much. Film isn't as inexpensive as it used to be, but it's cool that it's available again! You can read about it at The Impossible Project. 

Hope you enjoyed seeing a peek at my favorite cameras! I had fun writing this post..... XO. elsie

Comments

[LolaDee]

This was really useful :) Thanks! x

[Emily Rose]

Thank you SO much for this post, Elsie! I love photography and had been wanting to compile a "wish list" of sorts. I'm also planning my wedding and LOVE the idea of the small Polaroids.

Thanks again! Someday my girlfriends and I are going to take a road trip down to your new shop :)

-Emily Rose
(Iowa)

[SophieSweetVintage]

Thank you so much Elsie! It's been superhelpful!! Really like that Fuji camera :)

xx

[elycia]

great post. i have been thinking about a wide angle lens. i have a 35mm/1.8 for my nikon and i love it.
i am on the edge of caving in and getting an instax mini. they are so cute.

[Regina Collier]

I'm a camera/picture taking fool, so this was great. Thanks!

[Karen G]

There's nothing nerdy about informative! :> Thanks for the share and any post o' yours with that many pix is also eye candy! :>

[ana]

Thanks for sharing your camera information. I am a camera junkie and have been considering investing in something new and now you've gotten me thinking about the 40D. It may be just the ticket. Thanks!

[Meg]

i have a cannon rebel t1i that i am wanting to get more lenses for, i am really wanting a wide angle lense. thanks elsie, this was helpful!! i hope you are staying dry down that way!!
xoxo~Meg

[rachel]

the perfect post! and i like nerdy...

i have another question for you. do you shoot exclusively in manual or do you choose av/tv mode or something else? i know you used to shoot weddings and so i am assuming you shoot in manual, but just had to ask. your shots are always so very well composed and the exposure (indoor images) is perfect. i know that can be "fixed" in photoshop, but only to a certain point.

you definitely rock the cameras!!!

[sansku :)]

thanks for the tips! i was just wondering what action did you use for the instant photo of you and your instant photo camera. :)

[Stacey]

I'm dreaming of the Canon 5d Mark II! Although, I'll most likely have to go for half the price with the new Canon 60d. I appreciate you posting lenses too! I never can tell which ones are best for what! Definitely excited to check out the photoshop actions too! Thanks for posting! =D

[Cookie-Fee]

oh wow, great collection you have there :)
I´d love to have a Fuji Instax Mini...but it´s hard to find where I live...but I wont give up :)

Have a beautiful day Sweety :)

[melina bee]

thank you for this amazing post! I never ask bloggers photo questions b/c I assume they are sick of being asked, so I' esp. grateful, esp for the lens info. Toy cameras rule!

[Lynne]

<3 this post Elsie, thank you :)

[Han]

I would love a Canon 40D lol I have a Pentax which is a DSLR and does the trick to take photos - I took like 200 over one week at holiday club lol. and took 100 at my Aunt's wedding (she said she prefered my pics to the professional guys which floored me completely lol.)

[Monina]

Hey Elsie you are my hero!

[Katy]

Sounds like we use pretty similar gear! I have a Canon Rebel XSI instead of the 40D, but I also use the 10-22 and the 50 1.8. My addition to that gear is my dearest love, a 100mm 2.8 macro. And I do own a few more Polaroid cameras than just the one you mentioned...though I do also own that model myself! (And love your tattoo of it!) I also have an SX-70 Sonar and a plain ol' boxy black OneStep 600, though.

[kelly*]

totally off subject but I can't wait to see what RVA brings to Renegade on saturday! I'm so excited to get down there!
<3

[esme]

Such a helpful post! It's always fun to see what a fellow camera-lover uses :)

[Michelle]

Great tips! My point and shoot is getting pretty depressing so perhaps I'll have to ask for a SLR for Xmas!