Getting Restarted With Photography: The Essential Gear Beyond the Camera
Getting back into photography is exciting. Whether you’re dusting off an old DSLR, switching to mirrorless, or finally committing to the hobby again, one thing becomes clear very quickly: the camera is only the beginning. After all, what's the point in running Immich, if you have nothing to show off?
To truly enjoy photography - and to protect your images - you’ll want a few key pieces of gear beyond the camera body itself. This guide walks through the essentials you should have when restarting photography, from keeping your photos safe to editing them efficiently, plus a fun cold-weather tripod tip at the end.
1. A Reliable Computer for Photo Editing
At some point, every photographer needs to move images off the camera. While tablets and phones can work in a pinch, a desktop or laptop computer makes a huge difference when editing RAW files.
What to look for in a photo-editing computer:
- At least 16GB of RAM (8GB minimum)
- A solid-state drive (SSD) for speed
- A reasonably accurate display (IPS panels are ideal)
- Enough storage or expansion options for photo libraries
You don’t need the newest or most expensive machine, but older or underpowered systems can make editing frustrating.
Photo-editing desktops on Amazon.
2. Photo Editing Software (Free & Powerful)
Once your photos are on the computer, you’ll need software to edit them. While Adobe Lightroom is popular, there’s an excellent free and open-source alternative:
Darktable
Darktable is a professional-grade RAW photo editor available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Why Darktable is great for getting restarted:
- Completely free and open source
- Non-destructive RAW editing
- Excellent color control and exposure tools
- No subscriptions
For photographers easing back into the craft, Darktable offers powerful tools without recurring costs—perfect for hobbyists and enthusiasts.
A free alternative is RAWTherapee.
3. A Backup Hard Drive (Non-Negotiable)
If there’s one thing every photographer learns the hard way, it’s this:
Photos don’t truly exist until they’re backed up.
Cameras, memory cards, and computers can all fail. A dedicated external hard drive is the simplest way to protect your work.
Backup best practices:
- Use at least one external hard drive
- Prefer drives from reliable brands
- Back up immediately after importing photos
- Consider keeping the drive disconnected when not in use
For extra safety, many photographers follow the 3-2-1 rule:
- 3 copies of your data
- 2 different storage types
- 1 off-site copy
I recently purchased this 2TB Wd Digital drive from Amazon which works with Mac, PC and various consoles. The size is big enough for now and still portable for travel.
4. Memory Cards You Can Trust
While memory cards aren’t glamorous, they’re critical. Cheap or counterfeit cards can corrupt images or fail unexpectedly.
Tips for memory cards:
- Buy from reputable brands
- Avoid no-name cards
- Use multiple smaller cards instead of one huge one
- Replace cards that start behaving oddly
Affiliate opportunity: SD and CFexpress cards from trusted brands. You can never have enough memeory cards, and if one fails, you can at least carry on. They generally come in Compact Flash or SD Card flavours. Don't forget to check the maximum supported size of your camera, especially if it is quite old.
5. A Tripod: Practical, Creative, and Underrated
A tripod is one of the most useful tools a photographer can own - especially when restarting and experimenting.
Why a tripod matters:
- Sharp images in low light
- Long exposures
- Landscapes and night photography
- Self-portraits and group shots
- Better composition through slower shooting
You don’t need the most expensive model, but stability matters more than weight.
There are alternatives to a tripod. Sometimes, just using street furniture is enough, othertimes a monopod or indeed a bean bag will do.
Bonus Tip: Cold-Weather Comfort With a Hockey Stick Grip 🏒
Here’s a fun and practical trick - especially if you shoot outdoors in cold weather:
👉 Wrap a hockey stick grip or strap around one leg of your tripod.
Why it works:
- Provides insulation from freezing metal
- Makes carrying the tripod more comfortable
- Improves grip with gloves on
- Cheap, durable, and easy to replace
It’s a simple hack borrowed from the sports world that photographers in colder climates quickly learn to appreciate.
While night shooting the main image of the post recently in the UK, the hockey stick grip tape came in handy very quickly!
Final Thoughts
Restarting photography doesn’t mean buying everything at once. Focus on the essentials:
- A capable computer
- Reliable editing software like Darktable
- A solid backup strategy
- Trusted memory cards
- A tripod for stability and creativity
With these pieces in place, you’ll spend less time worrying about lost photos or slow workflows - and more time enjoying photography again. Now, time to get back at it and improve my image composition!
About the author
Tim Wilkes is a UK-based security architect with over 15 years of experience in electronics, Linux, and Unix systems administration. Since 2021, he's been designing secure systems for a telecom company while indulging his passions for programming, automation, and 3D printing. Tim shares his projects, tinkering adventures, and tech insights here - partly as a personal log, and partly in the hopes that others will find them useful.
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