31 Days Blog to Biz / day 11 - what equipment should YOU get?

I recently ran into trouble with a photoshoot. I've been needing a macro lens forever and decided to bite the bullet and get what was needed to do the job.

I tend to do that. I need things but wait till the 11th hour because #1 they're expensive and #2 I wait for my blog to pay for my blog things.

Once I was there, I realized I needed a few more things on my long overdue list as well. I gulped hard, picked it all out and came home with a bagful. And yes, my blog paid for it all. :)

While you don't need ALL these things for a blog business, here's a run down on the things I now have in my arsenal.

Digital recorder - $60ish - London Drugs, Chilliwack

I'm planning to do an interview for FOLK magazine that entails me either developing a speed writing technique overnight or record the whole thing. I chose this.

Diffuser flash - $400ish - London Drugs, Chilliwack (BC Canada)

After 3 photoshoots gone bad for an overdue article, I knew I had to try and end the deep dark cave dilemma of shooting indoor photos in rain country.  So I picked up this diffuser flash to try. You can bounce the light off the ceiling.

Don't even ask me what those colored lenses do yet. I've yet to read the booklet.  Or try the flash! :)

iPhone - mall store - free with a 2 year plan (valued at $600!)


This guy has gotten me out of lots of pinches. I'll retrieve email, check the blog, and have gone to publish posts when my internet was down, all while on the road. I've even shopped for clients and have sent them a picture of the item before I purchased. The screen is amazing and so are all the helpful apps you can get.  If you're upgrading your cell, consider an iPhone. The screens are AMAZING.

Nikon D3100 - $1000 is with body and 2 standard lenses - London Drugs, Chilliwack


You don't have to have an SLR, but you do need at least a decent point and shoot. Get what's affordable, just don't choose bottom of the barrel this round. One with settings including macro is a must.

I'm very happy with my camera choice. I went to the store with full intent on bringing home a Canon, however soon learned you need to 'feel' it. This one fit me like a glove and I knew within seconds of holding it that it was coming home with me.

iMac 27" - $1500 and up - Mac Station, Abbotsford

If' you're still using an itty bitty computer that's as old as the hills, I beg you to upgrade as soon as you possibly can. You can get a new laptop for $500 these days! But I do suggest to get the biggest monitor you can spring for.. it'll change the way you blog and work with photos. I prefer to do my blogging on a stay put computer vs. a laptop myself.

I LOVE my 27" iMac with my whole heart and soul! :) The 21" is VERY nice too and a bit cheaper. But I still vote for the 27.

Please compare a mac screen to a pc if you work with photos. I was a PC girl until I did the comparison. You can read my pc vs mac review linked to the bottom of this post.

Nikon Micro Lens SB-700 - $350ish - London Drugs, Chilliwack

I was badly in need of a macro lens. I was having to revert back to my point and shoot for closeups and felt that I shouldn't 'have' to be doing that with that fancy schmancy SLR I now have.

Point and shoots don't need this fancy option but SLRs do. What's nice about this lens is it's a fixed one (you can't zoom) that will shoot to 40mm (vignette shooting) as well.

Tip - this is actually a micro lens, not a macro. It supposedly zooms to resemble microscope close.

TechPro tripod, TP 242B62 - $100ish - London Drugs, Chilliwack


I've been without a tripod for some time after mine broke. But after running into issues with indoor blur, I knew I had to smarten up and get with the program. A stationary camera is the ONLY way to take blur-less photos. Just do it.

Especially if you have a point and shoot.  Their lenses aren't lenient to movement at all, especially in macro mode. 


This particular tripod performs neat tricks. It will allow you to lower the legs to nearly ground level for low shots. You can also remove and replace the middle post upside down for amazing ground level closeups. I really liked the feel of the clips and the way the components seemed to turn with air cushiness.


Go play with tripods and you'll soon know the one you can't live without. My dream tripod is a magnetic one (not sold in Canada) but this was the next best thing in a hurry and came highly recommended by another camera buff. And wasn't even that expensive!

13" macbook pro - $1199 and up - Mac Station, Abbotsford


I wanted something for on the road and when we went travelling but denied myself. It wasn't until my son needed a laptop that I bit the bullet and got this little thing. In hindsight, I wish I went for the bigger screen, (I was too cheap!) but this does travel extremely well.

You can get a decent PC laptop for as low as $500 these days so there's really no reason to suffer as long as I did with 2nd hand junk.

I shop local 


I choose to shop local for these kinds of things. I can hold what I like, view the selection avail and be near a place that also troubleshoots for me if need be.

I won't apologize for having these nice things because I've worked hard to earn each one. And I'm more committed than ever to work them hard to pay ME back one day soon. :)

If you wanna turn pro, gear up right.

What's on your wish list for equipment? 

Bad computers go bye bye in 2 weeks

My pc to mac review

Our new mac toy

All 31 Day posts to date can be found HERE.

Day 1 - intro

Day 2 - money isn't first

Day 3 - take time to RESET

Day 4 - submitting work for magazines and websites

Day 5 - my top 5 photo tips

Day 6 - my big announcement (offer something)

Day 7 - all about sidebar sponsors
Day 8 - how I do it all
Day 9 - be original

Day 10 - an unexpected lesson (ask for advice)

Day 11 - what equipment should YOU get? - this entry

My sick camera plus 4 magazines equals one awesome day!

First off, thanks so much for all your advice on the blog and Facebook about ideas for my downstairs office.You've given me so many wonderful ideas to work from! I can't wait to try a few and I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Moving along...

Guess most of you have figured out by now that I like to fiddle around with photography.

And you KNOW how important cameras are to a blogger. So what would YOU do if you found your camera very sick one day?

Check this out. I wouldn't know how to do this if I tried.

Know what else was equally horrifying? The photo shoot I was taking for the Copy Me! Challenge started cranking out pics just like this. Freak. Me. Out.

So I attempted a full blown photo shoot anyway. And it didn't work out. Everything looked pretty bad. Even the colours and tones were on their way out. So I borrowed a friend's camera to get by. And in no uncertain terms, I got it in both ears...

"GET THE CAMERA YOU WANT. NOW. TODAY. GO."

Such a nag. :)

You may say I'm pretty cautious about big ticket items. I wait and wait until I'm dragging myself along the ground complaining and whining and fussing about how awful my bad junk is to everyone that's within earshot before I'll budge and allow myself something cool.  And my friend had had quite enough and gave me one good final kick! Just what I needed.

So, my son and I set out to get a shiny new camera. The sales flyer showed us a great deal on one that was just begging for a new home.

And once we got there? Out of stock. NOOO! THIS WILL NOT DO.

I then asked her to show me ALL the brands, not just the one I asked for. Well now, I felt like that episode of I Love Lucy where all the chocolates go too fast on that conveyor belt.




Told you I was old. :)

Anyway, I burned away that sales girl's hours until they flicked off the lights in the store. She'll never forget me. :)

BUT. I got one I loved BETTER than the one I was after! I did it! I really really honestly went ahead and did it!

 Look Miss Mustard Seed! Even our cameras are friends! :)

I may wear ripped jeans and farmer jackets, but by golly, I have a smokin' Canada's Next Top Model kinda camera I do! This one fit in my hands just like a glove.

And when I figure out how to drive it, you'll be the first to know.

Gotta say, this was one of the last trinkets I had a goal to purchase to make some future dreams come true. I'm now working towards getting Photoshop and Illustrator for Mac.

Know what else I'm very proud of? This camera was purchased soley from money made from the blog. This is a true blue Funky Junk purchase. It took a long time to save for, but I did it! And I couldn't be more proud of that fact. I'm so very glad I waited and paid for it the right way. This means so much more to me than just a camera.

And right when you couldn't think my day could improve more, I landed these too. And bought the last 4 they had. :)

 Why? Because I'm totally beside myself that I can say I'm available on the newstands now.  EEEE!

 I still can't get over MMS on the same page. VERY VERY cool.

 Dear Romantic Homes... you rock! And have great taste. :) It's such an incredible honor to be recognized this way. And if I can do it, (with a point and shoot no less) so can you.

And for those curious, an editor from RH contacted me. So make sure every photo shoot counts.

Right... back to the camera.

 Guess a post is in order soon on how to buy an SLR. And what this baby all needs to stay happy. She's a little high maintenance she is... opposites attract, yes?