Taking your own photos for your blog is not only a great way to give your website more of an authentic feel, but over time, you may develop this particular skill to a point where you can even include it in the services or products that you offer.
Choosing the camera body that you’ll capture your shots with is only one part of the thought process, though. You should also ensure that the lens you pick is a good fit. Today, you’ll learn what you should consider when choosing a camera lens for your blog photos.
1. Your Photography Style
You can make manymistakes when taking photos for your blog, and one of them is not having an idea of the type of pictures you want to capture. Before purchasing your preferred camera lens, you’ll need to consider the photography style you want to aspire to.
Creating your own unique aesthetic will likely take years of experimentation, but you can at least have an idea of the route you want to take. For example, if you know you’d be more interested in street-style portrait photos, you may wish to pick a lens with a wider aperture.
You’ll also want to think about whether you’d like to capture photos from further away, such as shots of wildlife. If that is the case, a telephoto lens is a better option.
2. Your Blog’s Niche
You should always blog about topics you’re interested in, but having a focus will allow users to come specifically to you when they need resources and recommendations. When picking a camera lens for your blog photos, your blog’s niche will have more of an impact on your purchasing decision than you think.
If your blog specializes in interior design, for example, you should pick a camera lens that produces sharp photos indoors—especially in low light conditions. Similarly, you’ll need something that gets close to the subject but doesn’t overwhelm it. Something like a 35mm or 50mm lens with an f/1.8 aperture is a handy starting point for these situations.
In some instances, you may need a lens that has more versatility. For example, as a travel blogger, you’ll take pictures in numerous situations (and also need to think about your luggage allowance). You might want topick a zoom lens over a prime lensif you feel like the circumstances are necessary.
3. Your Budget
You probably won’t have a huge budget when you first launch your blog, and that will naturally limit the equipment that you’re able to buy. It is possible to speed up the process of buying a camera lens that you want, such as putting together a savings plan orusing second-hand photography websitesto purchase your gear.
If you’re still funding your blog through your day job but have some valuable skills, you can consider freelancing on the side. Doing so will allow you to put more money toward your blog photography equipment, which ultimately gives you more power to purchase the lens you truly want more quickly.
You can also considerselling, buying, and trading used photography equipment with MPBif you’d like to save some money on your purchase.
4. Maximum Aperture
The aperture, also known as the F-stop, controls the depth of field in your image. For some types of photography on your blog, you might need a wider aperture. Product photography is one such example.
If you have a kit lens, the aperture normally stands around f/5.6. For many types of street, urban, and landscape photography, you likely won’t need to drop below this number. And considering that lenses with a wider aperture often cost more money, you can save some cash on features that wouldn’t have been necessary for you.
We’ve gota full guide to aperture in photographyif you want to learn more about how it works.
5. Does the Camera Body Come With a Lens?
Many camera lenses are just as—if not more—expensive than the camera body. With that in mind, one of the best ways to save money on your purchase is by picking a camera and lens bundle.
A lot of manufacturers offer a kit lens, which often ranges between 18 and 55mm (or similar). If you don’t yet know your photography style,the kit lens is still valuable for finding your feet.
You can also check to see if you’re able to get a discount on lenses when you purchase a camera, as might be possible with some electronics stores. Around holidays like Christmas and Black Friday, you might also discover good deals.
6. Do You Need Image Stabilization?
Have you ever taken photos that are incredibly blurry, regardless of what you try? Your lens is probably capturing too much motion if that’s the case. This can frequently occur with lenses that don’t have image stabilization.
When picking a camera lens for your blog photography, determine whether you need image stabilization. If you normally use a tripod, you may probably ditch the feature. But if you prefer shooting handheld, stabilization is helpful.
7. Do You Need Weather Sealing?
When you’re interested inrainy day photographyand other adverse conditions, protecting your lens is crucial. Extreme cold, too much moisture, and excess debris can all cause problems with how your lens functions if you aren’t careful.
Weather sealing is especially useful if you plan to photograph regularly in regions with challenging conditions. This could be the case if you run an outdoor blog about the Pacific Northwest or Lapland in Sweden or Finland, for example. Fitness bloggers might also want weather sealing to deal with the moisture in humid gyms.
Although weather sealing lets you work in more adverse weather than normal equipment, they’re not damage-proof. Learn weather-sealed cameras areto understand the limitations.
Select the Best Camera Lens for Your Blog Photos
The photos you take for your blog are just as important as the articles you post. Many people don’t like websites that don’t look attractive, and they’ll be quick to click off if your images aren’t up to scratch. Although photography largely comes down to the photographer, picking the right lens will help you achieve better results.
Once you understand your niche, style, and budget, you’re able to focus on the technical aspects that’ll help you take better images for your blog.
