Gear / Kit
Here’s a current 2024 list of all the kit I regularly use for Photography and Video.
Being completely transparent, out of all the kit listed here I am linked in with Westcott and TetherTools as one of their Top Pros and am also a BenQ Ambassador. That said, I use it because it’s fit for purpose and does exactly what I want it to do! I also used Westcott, TetherTools and BenQ kit before I became associated with them in any way.
Oh and just so you know the links below will take you (mainly) to Westcott, TetherTools and Amazon and this means you pay the same price you always would have done but because they’re Affiliate links, they also give me a commission ranging anywhere from 3% – 8%
Thanks for the support.
*** WESTCOTT DISCOUNT ***
As a Westcott Top Pro I am able to help with Discounted Pricing on the Westcott Product Line.
If you’d like to know more or have any questions just drop me a message through my CONTACT PAGE
Lighting , Modifiers & backgrounds
*** WESTCOTT DISCOUNT ***
As a Westcott Top Pro I am able to help with Discounted Pricing on the Westcott Product Line.
If you’d like to know more or have any questions just drop me a message through my CONTACT PAGE
Backgrounds
I get asked about the background I use on a very regular basis, and this is it … the X Drop Background Pro Background Stand from Westcott.
The Original X Drop Backdrop Stand I have used for a few years now; it’s what you may have seen me using in my Veteran’s Portrait Series because it’s so incredibly portable along with my Signature ‘Glyn Dewis Vintage Grey Canvas’.
This was originally only available on a roll and measuring 7’ x 5’ HOWEVER this has all now been upgraded and updated to the X Drop Pro; still light and portable but also incredibly sturdy with a completely new design. Also, the backgrounds are available as 8’ x 8’ and 7’ x 5’ but now in a machine washable and dryer safe , non reflective material that you can fold up … making this even more portable and convenient!
Monitors & Calibration
10% DISCOUNT OFF BENQ SW AND PD RANGE OF MONITORS
•Note: As an AQColor Ambassador I do have the opportunity to help with the purchase price of an SW or PD display.
Check out this ( LINK ) to find out more.
Not much to say here really other than I simply couldn’t be happier. Yes I am linked in with BenQ as one of their Ambassadors but I was using their monitors way before that relationship began. Great price, great colours and I’ve never had a monitor fail on me. What more could you ask for?
The SW272U is my latest display and is actually a brand new model from BenQ with new hardware and faster processor. Amongst other things it’s 27” , has a matt screen to minimise reflections, a wireless hot key puk , 4K , 90W USB-C. With the NEW Palette Master Ultimate Screen Calibration software, it’s an absolute dream to work on and with.
As a 2nd display I use my BenQ PD3420Q which has a vast 34” Ultra Wide Screen making it great for editing video and having multiple apps open at the same time on the same screen, when LIVE Streaming etc …
CALIBRATION
As for the Calibrate products (made by X-Rite), for years I wasted time and money trying to get my prints to look as good as the images do on my screen. Now though I’ve totally nailed it. I mainly use the Calibrate Studio because with that I can not only calibrate my screens BUT also profile the paper I use with my Canon printer.
If you’re looking to correctly calibrate your screen / monitor but not create your own paper profiles, then the Calibrate Display Plus is exactly what you need.
DESKTOP SET UP
I’m often asked about my office / desk set up for day to day use including what I use for LIVE Streaming, recording content, Podcasting, Zoom etc … so I thought I’d list everything below that I use at the moment and makes it so much easier …
iPhone photograph by my friend Anthony Crothers
Check out the video below from a LIVE Broadcast that I did over on my YouTube Channel going through ALL of the kit I use for LIVE Broadasts, Content, Podcasting. Zoom etc …
•Note: since this LIVE Broadcast I added the Streamdeck+ (shown below)
MICROPHONE FOR YOUTUBE / ZOOM / LIVE BROADCASTS
“If you want better video, then get better audio”
I can’t remember who it was said this but it’s something I’ve always remembered and has caused me to spend more money on microphones than I dare to think about.
I’ve had a number of microphones over the years but now my main microphone is the RØDE PodMic USB and I could not be happier. This combined with the RØDE Streamer X means I have great sounding audio BUT also my editing workflow has improved without the need to go through certain editing tasks to improve the audio taking out breaths, plosives and any background noise. The PodMic can be used with either XLR or USB-C.
The RØDE Wireless Pro is easily THE most popular wireless microphone kit there is. Quality of audio , ease of use and reliability is superb and with 32 Bit Float Recording no matter how quiet or how loud the recording, the results are superb. Comes complete with 2 Transmitters, 1 Receiver, Compact Charging Case, Compact Storsge Case for included magnetic clip, lavalier microphone, windshields and all the cables you’d need. I use these on location and also in my studio when recording or doing LIVE streams as they connect easily to the RØDE Streamer X (below)
LIVE STREAMING + YOUTUBE
The RØDE Streamer X is a fairly new addition to the kit I use and I’m so glad I have it. This is an ‘all-in-one’ audio inteface for streaming, recording and so on. It does so much and so easily, but best of all is the in-built processing that you can fine tune to make audio sound so good meaning less editing.
As for the Stream Decks they are invaluable! 32 keys on the XL and added dials on the + that you can programme to perform any number of taks depending on the software you’re using but it really shines when doing LIVE presentations such as on YouTube making the whole process incredibly slick.
MOBILE PHONE / SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY
If you read my blog and / or follow me on social media you’ll have likely seen that I am thoroughly enjoying taking photographs with my mobile phone.
As I’m often get asked what kit I use such as phone holder and tripod, I thought I’d share it here.
*Note: The ULANZI holder is what I now use ALL the time when taking photographs with my iPhone. It’s a solid metal construction and has a VERY good grip on the phone which you can lock tight using the red metal dial, and you can lock the orientation of the phone mount ( vertical / horizontal ) using the inner black metal dial.
PEN TABLET
A tablet is a tablet, right? Exactly what I thought until I tried this one from Xencelabs.
For years I muddled along with my Pen Tablet from Wacom but there was so much I found frustrating and put up with: Bluetooth dropping out constantly, driver issues causing the device to freeze or needing a computer restart, the touch sensitivity remaining active despite having it switched off. Also, being a left handed person, even though you could set the device to be used that way, it was pointless as I position it to the left of me when I’m working meaning I’d need to reach across the front of myself if I ever wanted to make use of the built in buttons.
All that is gone with this and I couldn’t be happier. My workflow has never been so slick and structured.
VIDEO / CONTENT CREATION
Over the past couple of years or so I’ve been trying out and searching for kit that would make video capture and content creation much more portable and convenient. there have been countless times when I’ve been out on location that would have made for great content but for one reason or another (i.e. not that portable and not that convenient / practical) I never managed to capture anything.
However, I sorted it! The kit I’m using now is incredibly portable and convenient and most importantly, is able to capture great quality footage and great audio. It enables me to capture more content, more often and with more creativity.
DRONES
I absolutely LOVE the footage that you can capture with a drone; I use it all the time in my YouTube videos.
My favourite of all is the DJI Mini 3 Pro which although small and lightweight (249g) is a BEAST! … LOVE IT!!!
Tethering
There is just no way I’d go on a photo shoot without tethering. It’s so much more than just having the ability to see your images on a larger screen. It’s made me take more care. It’s given me confidence. It’s made me a better photographer.
printer
I absolutely LOVE the Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300 , A3+ printer! The quality of the prints are outstanding. Easy to set up. Couldn’t be happier.
The Canon PIXMA TS3450 is my everyday printer for printing letters etc… Great little printer. Great quality printing.
TRIPODS
POWER SUPPLY
I simply couldn’t / wouldn’t be without one of these units; a U.P.S. (Uninterruptible Power Supply) which is basically a sophisticated battery backup that keeps your system up and running in the event of a power cut and / or a power surge.
In the past I’ve suffered the consequences of a power cut that resulted in damaged hard-drives and lost files. This unit prevents that happening again.
