5 Essential Photography Kit Items Every Creator Should Own

Naomi Katz
08/08/2026

A Creative Director once told me that, “a photographer is only as good as their kit.”

At the time, my kit consisted of a camera and some lights, and I thought that was adequate. Then I began to observe everyone else on set. Crew members carried tool belts and canvas bags filled to the brim with items I didn’t even know the purpose of. Early in my photography career, I assumed production would rent everything we’d need, but I quickly learned there are certain photography & filmmaking essentials every professional creative is expected to have on hand.

Here’s a rundown of the film and photography expendables that I never go to set without.

Gaffer’s Tape

There’s a common saying amongst production crews: Gaffer’s tape is the solution to everything. Despite the name, no, gaffer’s tape is not just for Gaffers. It is an essential in photography and filmmaking, and you’ll likely see it in every department from camera, to lighting, to art, to sound. What makes gaffer’s tape so versatile on set is that it’s high strength without leaving residue, making it stronger than painters tape, but easier to remove than duct tape. This makes it ideal for securing cables, adhering set dec, and marking floors for talent. Gaffer’s tape also comes in various different sizes and colours, which is ideal for organization, as well as camouflaging any tape that may be in the camera’s field of view.

Lens Cleaning Kit

A proper lens cleaning kit can be the difference between an unusable shot and a crystal clear image. Think of your camera and lens as the glasses of your shoot. It’s going to be much harder to see if it’s covered in dust and fingerprints.

Funnily enough, one of my very first industry jobs was cleaning lenses, filters and sensors at an Equipment Rental Room in college. Through this job, I learnt two things:

1. Even when treated carefully, lenses can get way dirtier than you’d think they do.

2. Lenses are much easier to clean when done with the right products!

Though cleaning your lens and camera between shoots is always good practice, I like to bring my kit with me to set so I am prepared for any mishaps.

Markers

Markers are the unsung hero of film sets and photoshoots. They’re used in all areas of production, such as slating, labelling, marking, and they’re especially helpful for the folks scheduling in the production office.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked around asking if anyone had a marker for a slate or equipment label, only to discover nobody had one, or the only marker available was completely dead! Keeping a few quality dry-erase markers in your kit is a small investment that makes a surprisingly big difference. You’ll feel more prepared, and you’ll probably earn a few brownie points with the rest of the crew.

Atmospheric Aerosol Hazer

Atmospheric aerosol hazer is used to quickly, easily and safely create a fog-like atmosphere for photography and cinema. Haze is great for getting a softer look to your image, emulating real fog, or creating a moody vibe.

Typically the three options for haze on set is to use a can, use a machine, or pray for the weather to align with your shooting goals. I prefer to stick to the cans, as they’re light and easy to transport on-the-go, they’re inexpensive, and don’t generate the noise of a smoke machine.

Keeping a can of atmospheric aerosol in your stock will come in handy more often than you may expect, especially when a client says they “just want the shot to have a certain… cinematic quality to it.” The quality they mean is atmospheric aerosol almost every time.

Photography Backdrops

With seamless paper backdrops you can turn any shooting location into a professional looking set, whether you’re shooting at home, in a studio, or on location. They are perfect for product shots, headshots, portraits, and apparel advertising. There are several different types of backdrops, but my favourite to work with are vinyl and paper. Both can be stored on a roll, making them compact and easy to set up.

Budget Camera Shop offers wide variety of colours to select from. As a lover of all things antique, I really love the vintage backdrops, which each have a unique texture to them that give depth and interest on camera. The solid colour backdrops are also an amazing option for a bright pop on screen, perfect for editorial or faking wall colours. The ease of use combined with their professional look makes them perfect for filmmakers and photographers of any level.

Budget Camera Shop also offers backdrop stands, which make assembling the backdrops that much easier.

Shop Photography and Filmmaking Essentials at Budget Camera

You spoke, and we listened.

There’s already enough running around on set, so the last thing a photographer or filmmaker wants to do is make extra stops before the shoot even begins. Many creatives know the struggle of making a last-minute trip to Walmart after picking up their rentals, hoping they’ll have the exact expendables you happened to run out of.

This is why we decided to open our new Budget Camera Shop – a shop curated by real creatives who know what essentials are needed on set. You can now pick up the photography and filmmaking essentials conveniently at the same location you’re renting your camera and lights from. A total one stop shop!

At Budget Camera Shop you can rent from a wide variety of film and photography essentials, including but not limited to: