Welcome to the world of photography, and what a great choice you have made for a new hobby. Once you have your new camera and lens or lenses, you’ll be itching to get straight into creating beautiful images.

However, it’s not as easy as pointing and shooting. To get the professional-grade photos you so admire, you need technical know-how on top of an eye for a good picture. Having the right accessories can go a long way to helping you achieve the shots you know you have in you.

Here's a look at some crucial photography accessories for beginners.

Crucial Photography Accessories for Newbies in 2023

A Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod with Ball Head
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod
Best Overall

The Most Essential Accessory for Newbies

$165 $227 Save $62

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod is an excellent choice for newbies. It's lightweight and durable, easy to operate, and has subtle features, such as twist locks on the legs, that make it a good choice for beginners to the world of photography. The versatile ball head can also accommodate all genres if you haven't yet decided on your specialty.

Pros
  • Durable
  • Easy-to-use twist locks
  • Versatile ball head
  • Portable
Cons
  • Heavier than carbon-fiber models

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod may have an intimidating name for beginners, but it is, in fact, simple to operate. It reaches a maximum height of 59 inches and can get down as low as just under 16 inches. This lowest height makes it a good shout for beginners who want to explore the world of macro photography.

This model features twist locks, which is a better choice for beginners than the models with lever locks. They are more durable, easier to use, and also don’t protrude as much, making the tripod less cumbersome for travel.

The aluminum body may not be as lightweight as the carbon fiber model, but it is solid and durable and can withstand the rigors a beginner might initially put the tripod through. It has a safety payload of 17.6lbs, which is ample enough for most cameras and large lenses, and includes a ball head, which is also a good choice for newbies.

Ball heads offer more versatility to those still unsure about their photography style, and they are pretty simple to use. The 494 ball head that comes with the BeFree Advanced has three independent controls with different functions. One controls how easily the camera moves (friction), another allows smooth panning, and the third secures the camera in place.

The book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
Best Book

An Essential Book for Photography Noobs

$19 $27 Save $8

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson is an excellent starting point for photography novices that seek to develop their skills quickly. It explains photography principles in an easy-to-understand manner and clearly explains all the technical jargon. 

Pros
  • Hard and digital copies available
  • Photos clearly explain how images were created
  • Useful practical exercises
Cons
  • Some sections are out of date

As a beginner, you need valuable resources to help you better understand composition, depth of field, and other crucial aspects of creating beautiful images. This book by Bryan Peterson will do just that and introduce the fundamental concepts of aperture, lighting, and shutter speed.

It’s an easy, inspirational read put forth in a straightforward manner with any technical jargon clearly explained. Beginners and intermediate shutterbugs looking to improve their skills will find this an asset to which you will frequently return.

The book is illustrated with an abundance of beautiful yet practical photos. They explain the author’s concepts with the helpful inclusion of exposure settings and lenses used in each. There are also numerous exercises scattered throughout the book to encourage you to put your learning into practice.

It serves as an excellent starting point for anyone’s photography endeavors and is available in hardcover, paperback, or eTextbook formats.

A 512GB SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC memory card
SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card
Best Memory Card

A Fast SD Card for Frustration-Free Storage

A solid and reliable memory card is essential when starting out in photography. Having higher storage gives you more time in the field, while the read and write speeds of the SanDisk Extreme Pro save you time and frustration and assist you in quality burst-mode shooting and UHD movies.

Pros
  • Fast read and write speeds
  • A variety of storage spaces available
  • Highly Durable
  • Recovery software included
Cons
  • Pricey

As a beginner to the art, you’ll want a memory card with high storage space. You could get a smaller one, but then you’ll spend a lot of time sifting through your photos, deleting the ones you don’t want, and transferring to your laptop. This is time you could be dedicating to your newfound passion.

SanDisk is one of the more revered card brands around. It has a solid reputation for making reliable products. Their memory cards are ubiquitous in camera stores and electronic retailers worldwide. The SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC is one of the fastest on the market, with read speeds up to 200mb/s and write speeds achieving 140mb/s.

With these speeds, you can practice burst-mode action photography without delay and record 4K video without lag. With the inclusion of Quickflow Technology, transferring your images and videos to your laptop is also rapid, while playback is smooth. And, once you are at the stage of editing your high-resolution videos, the faster write speed ensures your videos save quickly.

This card is also a bit of a monster when it comes to the elements. If you plan on taking your new hobby to extreme environments, the SanDisk Extreme Pro can resist water, shocks, x-rays, and high temperatures. Not only that, but it comes with RescuePro Deluxe recovery software. You can easily rescue any files you accidentally delete–a common occurrence when starting out in the world of photography.

A Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L camera bag with tripod attached
Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L
Best Camera Bag

An Essential Camera Bag for All Your Essential Gear

A camera bag is an essential accessory for beginners to photography. The Peak Design Everyday Sling is the ideal choice with its 10L volume, durability, and versatility. It will house your camera and lenses, as well as securely hold your tripod with its sturdy external straps.

Pros
  • Water-resistant
  • Stylish and durable design
  • Easy-adjusting straps
  • Room for two lenses
  • External straps for a tripod
Cons
  • Pricey

The Peak Design Everyday Sling is a 10L bag perfect for carrying your camera and accessories, or it can even double as a daypack when you’re not snapping away. It’s made from durable materials and is weather resistant should you get caught in inclement weather. However, be sure to have a waterproof cover or get the bag out of the rain once it starts, as its IPX4 rating won’t protect your gear for long.

It will hold any type of camera and up to two lenses. In addition, you can also squeeze in some small accessories and a laptop or tablet up to 13 inches in size. It also features external straps perfect for holding your tripod and a sling with seamless adjusters for optimum comfort and security.

The side-loading main compartment provides easy access to your bulky gear, while there’s also an outer pocket you can expand to accommodate more. The internal FlexFold dividers allow for creative compartmentalizing and stacking. And there are also numerous little pockets inside for small items like a cable release or spare battery.

A Giottos AA1920 Rocket Air Blaster
Giottos AA1920 Rocket Air Blaster
Most Affordable

A Tiny Blaster for Tiny Particles

The Giottas Rocket Air Blaster is a small, lightweight accessory essential for camera and lens care. As opposed to a microfiber cloth, this device simply blows dust and debris away from those critical areas to help maintain functionality and boost the longevity of your gear.

Pros
  • Small and lightweight
  • Durable rubber construction
  • One-way valve prevents dust redistribution
  • Quick-release air stream
  • Doubles as a keyboard cleaner
Cons
  • Won't take care of streaks and smudges

This lens cleaner is one of those simple, small accessories essential to both beginners and professional photographers alike. The AA1920 Rocket Air Blaster is small, lightweight, and has a thin 2-inch nozzle to help access those hard-to-reach places. A simple squeeze produces a blast of air that blows away harmful dust and debris from your lens and sensor.

While microfiber cloths are a good choice for smudges, they aren’t the best idea for dust and debris. When using them, you effectively drag those tiny particles across the lens, which opens it up to potential damage. This cleaner ensures minute nuisances get blown away, while it also features a one-way valve that prevents the dust from getting sucked back inside, thus preventing any annoying redistribution.

A Yongnuo YN560 IV flash
Yongnuo YN560 IV
Best External Flash

An Excellent External Flash for Standalone or Complex Setups

The Yongnuo YN560 IV is a wireless flash speedlite ideal for both beginners and experienced photographers. You can use it as a command center for a series of flashes, as a member of a complex flash setup, or simply as a standalone unit. 

Pros
  • 3-second recycle time
  • 24-105mm zoom support
  • -7 to 90-degree tilt and 270-degree swivel
  • Automatically saves your settings
Cons
  • Interface takes a bit of practice
  • No TTL metering

Beginners will quickly find that using a camera’s built-in flash doesn’t produce the best results. You have limited control over direction and intensity, while the lighting can be harsh and produce red-eye effects. An external flash gives you more power and features, as well as more flexibility and creative potential. You can even link external flashes together for more complex setups.

The Yongnuo YN560 IV is an affordable wireless flash speedlite that doesn’t compromise on build or performance. It's simple to use for beginners, but as you develop your skills, you can gain manual control over complicated flash setups.

You can use it as a master (control unit) or slave (controlled by a master unit) in an extended setup or as a standalone flash. As a master unit, you can simultaneously control the modes and power outputs of up to three flashes. It’s designed to work in this mode with Yongnuo YN560 III and IV flashes. However, in slave mode, it’s compatible with other Yongnuo flashes and some 3rd party wireless transmitters, including RF-602 and RF-603 (I/II).

Its wireless trigger system is compatible with all the leading camera brands. You can trigger it with your camera’s built-in flash, a 2.4GHz wireless transmitter, or S1/S2 pre-flash cancel modes.

The UV/CPL/ND filters in the K&F Concept Lens Filter Kit
K&F Concept Lens Filter Kit
Best Filters

A Fantastic Lens Filter Kit for Beginners

The K&F Concept Lens Filter Kit is an essential starter pack of filters for beginners. It contains three crucial filters, including a UV filter, a CPL polarizer, and an ND4, to get you kick-started and on your way to high-quality images.

Pros
  • High-quality materials
  • Pouch and cleaning cloth included
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Stiff filters can be tough to remove

This lens filter kit from K&F Concept contains three essential filters for photography novices. The first is a UV filter that protects your lens from ultraviolet rays, which can lead to long-term degradation. When shooting in bright environments or at high altitudes where sunlight is stronger, you should attach this filter to your lens. It also reduces haze and maintains contrast.

The kit also contains a CPL polarizer which can reduce glare reflecting off non-metallic surfaces, such as sunlight on the ocean or reflections on windows. It also increases contrast and color saturation in specific shooting scenarios, making your skies bluer and grasses greener.

The last filter is an ND4 that aids you in using slower shutter speeds and wider apertures when shooting in bright conditions for long-exposure effects. The kit comes complete with a microfiber cleaning cloth and a pouch. You should also note that the filters come in various sizes, and you need to ensure you have the right fit for the lens you will use the kit with before buying.

What You Need to Consider Before Buying Photography Accessories in 2023

The most pressing concern is how dedicated you are to your new hobby. It’s all very well splashing out hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on a top-of-the-line camera, but if you give up after a few weeks, it’s a lot of wasted money. This squandering will be even worse if you also splash out on accessories that are only going to take up shelf space.

Take your time and learn your new hobby. You will enjoy it a lot more if you are getting results. Learn how to use your new hardware effectively and take pride in the results. If you have someone showing you the ropes, great! If not, educate yourself. A book such as Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson will go a long way to helping you understand the basics and get started.

However, you will most likely be very enthusiastic once you get going. You’ll be shooting everything you deem to be interesting and then some! And, with most good cameras recording 4K video, you’ll need an SD card with a lot of storage space. The SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC has a storage space of up to 1TB and has fast read and write speeds that ensure you can enjoy frustration-free shooting, transferring, and editing.

Once you are in the swing of things, you’ll want to consider getting more serious equipment. A tripod is easily the next step, and as a beginner, you’ll want one that is simple to use. The Manfrotto BeFree Advanced Tripod is sturdy and lightweight with simple twist locks and a versatile ball head. It’s perfect for beginners and seasoned pros alike and comes with a reasonable price tag to boot.

A Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod with Ball Head
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod
Best Overall

The Most Essential Accessory for Newbies

$165 $227 Save $62

The Manfrotto Befree Advanced Tripod is an excellent choice for newbies. It's lightweight and durable, easy to operate, and has subtle features, such as twist locks on the legs, that make it a good choice for beginners to the world of photography. The versatile ball head can also accommodate all genres if you haven't yet decided on your specialty.

Pros
  • Durable
  • Easy-to-use twist locks
  • Versatile ball head
  • Portable
Cons
  • Heavier than carbon-fiber models