BUDGET Photography Gear SHOOTOUT | ft. Irene Rudnyk | Ep 3
As a portrait photographer, I was recently challenged to participate in a budget photography gear shootout with another photographer, Irene Rudnyk. The challenge was to take self-portraits using only entry-level and affordable gear and lighting, then compare and pick our favorite photos. In this video, brought to you by Adorama, you'll see our setups and the final results.
For my setup, I used a budget-friendly mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS RP, paired with the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lens and an EF 2R adapter. I also used an old Canon 430EX2 speedlite for the on-camera flash and two Westcott Solix bicolor lights for additional lighting. I placed my phone on a stand to connect to the camera using the Canon Camera Connect app and trigger the camera for live view and manual focusing.
To add some interest to my self-portrait, I added a vintage dress I bought from Etsy and some dried weeds I gathered from a nearby park. I stood in front of the backdrop with the warm-colored solix bicolor light illuminating one side of my face for a classic, traditional look.
Once I finished shooting, Irene and I sat down together to review each other's photos. We both had a great time taking the photos and were impressed by each other's results. Our sponsor, Adorama, is not just a photography store, they offer a wide range of education through their YouTube channel, Instagram, and 42 West blog to help photographers at every stage of their journey.
Overall, this budget photography gear shootout was a fun and educational experience, showing that it's not the camera but the photographer that makes a great image. I hope you enjoy watching and comparing our photos as much as we did!
