Photography Gear on a Budget: What You Actually Need for Event Photography

You don't need ₹5 lakh worth of gear to shoot professional events. Some of the best event photographers started with a single camera body and one lens. Here's what actually matters — and what's just marketing hype.

The Minimum Viable Kit

This is everything you need to start shooting paid events professionally:

• Camera body: Any modern mirrorless or DSLR with good high-ISO performance. Used Canon R6, Sony A7III, or Nikon Z5 — all under ₹1 lakh used.
• 50mm f/1.8: The "nifty fifty." Sharp, fast, versatile. ₹8,000-₹15,000 new. This one lens can shoot an entire wedding.
• Speedlight flash: A Godox V860III or TT685 — ₹8,000-₹12,000. Bounce flash transforms indoor event photos.
• Memory cards: Two 64GB UHS-II cards. Always have a backup.
• Batteries: 3 camera batteries, 4 sets of flash batteries. Running out of power at an event is unforgivable.

Total: Under ₹1.5 lakh. That's enough to shoot professional events and start earning.

Smart First Upgrades

Once you're earning from events, upgrade in this order:

1. Second camera body: Backup is essential. If your camera dies mid-event, you need a second body immediately.
2. 24-70mm f/2.8: The workhorse zoom. Covers wide group shots to tight portraits. ₹50,000-₹80,000 used.
3. 70-200mm f/2.8: For ceremonies, stage events, and candid shots from a distance. ₹60,000-₹1,00,000 used.
4. Light modifier: A MagMod or simple bounce card for your flash. ₹2,000-₹5,000.

What You Can Skip

• Full-frame obsession: APS-C cameras like the Fujifilm X-T4 or Canon R7 produce stunning event photos. Full-frame is nice, not necessary.
• Prime lens collection: You don't need a 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, AND 85mm. Start with one or two.
• Expensive camera bag: A ₹2,000 bag protects your gear just as well as a ₹15,000 one.
• Studio lighting for events: Speedlights are enough for 95% of event work. Studio strobes are overkill.
• Drone: Nice for venue shots, but not essential. Most events don't need aerial photography.

The Real Investment: Software and Delivery

Gear captures the photo. Software and delivery create the client experience:

• Lightroom: ₹800/month. Essential for editing and culling.
• Photo delivery platform: Kamero for branded galleries, AI face recognition, and professional delivery. This is what clients actually see and judge you on.
• Real-time delivery: Kam-Sync for camera-to-cloud upload. A premium differentiator that justifies higher pricing.
• Photo sales: Sell Photos for earning from every event without chasing clients for payment.

A photographer with a ₹1 lakh kit and professional delivery will outperform a photographer with a ₹5 lakh kit delivering via Google Drive.

Buy Used, Save Smart

• Camera bodies lose 30-40% value in the first year. Buy one-year-old used bodies.
• Lenses hold value better — but used lenses from reputable sellers are still 20-30% cheaper.
• Check shutter count on used bodies. Under 50,000 actuations is practically new.
• Buy from photographers upgrading their kit — they take care of their gear.