Best Camera Accessories for Photographers: 20 I Actually Use

Every photographer has the obvious accessories: memory cards, spare batteries, a cleaning cloth. This post isn't about those. These are the best camera accessories for photographers that I actually use week to week as a portrait and travel photographer, including a few slightly weird ones that have saved my shoots more times than I can count.

I've made two videos about my favourite camera accessories, so I've combined both into one list here, grouped by what they help with: shooting, carrying, filming on your phone, printing, editing and staying comfortable on location. You'll find links and rough prices for each one, and the videos show them all in action.

Nothing here is sponsored. Some of the links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Camera accessories for better photos

1. An external viewfinder

An external viewfinder pops onto the hot shoe or cold shoe of pretty much any camera, so you can frame without relying on the screen or EVF. I have two: a standard optical one (similar to the TTArtisan 35mm viewfinder) and a top-down Retropia waist-level viewfinder. I especially love them on the Lumix S9, which has no built-in viewfinder at all, and the waist-level one makes street and travel photography really fun.

An external viewfinder on the hot shoe.

2. A mini flash

I keep this tiny Ulanzi SL01 mini flash in my camera bag, or even my handbag, whenever I go out with a camera. It has just four strength settings, so it's really simple to use, and it's perfect for filling in light in dark spots like tunnels. It looks great outdoors near sunset too. With long lenses you can see the lens shadow, but there's an easy hack to get rid of it, which I show in the video.

Unedited, lit with the mini flash in a dark tunnel.

If you'd rather avoid flash altogether, my online workshop Mastering Natural Light for Portrait Photography walks you through getting the best results with natural light and nothing but your camera.

3. A pocket LED light

One of my favourite lights is also one of the cheapest. A tiny SmallRig RM120 RGB pocket light fits in your pocket, so you can always have one in your bag. It's obviously not very strong, so it works best indoors or in darker situations, but it adds a little fill light and some extra pop to your subject.

No light (left) and with the pocket LED (right).

4. A portable COB light

Even as a natural light photographer, I think everyone should have some kind of lighting for tricky situations. I use the SmallRig RC 60B and the newer, more powerful SmallRig RC 100B, which work well on location even when there's some sun. See them out on a shoot.

The SmallRig RC 100B on location.

5. A circular polariser

A circular polariser cuts glare and reflections, and you rotate it to control the effect. I use the PolarPro Helix because the magnets are strong but it's still quick to take on and off. I had it on every single day hiking in Oregon, shooting forests and waterfalls, and it never fell off once.

Ways to carry and support your camera

6. A quick-release camera clip

I used to hike with my cameras dangling from long straps, which was super annoying. Now I attach a Peak Design Capture Clip to my bag strap, put the plate on my camera, and slide it on and off in seconds. It works with small cameras on any bag, even a sling bag that isn't a camera bag at all.

7. A dual camera harness

I always get asked about these: the Holdfast Gear MoneyMaker straps. They're amazing when you need two cameras at once. At weddings I shoot primes, so I'll have a 35mm on one camera and a 135mm on the other, and I never waste time swapping lenses. We've used ours heavily for about 10 years and they still look great, though there's one change we had to make for mirrorless cameras.

Two cameras ready to go with the Holdfast MoneyMaker.

8. A camera gimbal

This one's more expensive, but the DJI RS 4 Mini keeps my footage stable on hikes and uneven ground, where in-body stabilisation just isn't enough. I use it with my Sony A9 III in a cage with a microphone on top. The older Mini 3 couldn't handle that weight, but the RS 4 Mini has been on four trips now and it's still going strong.

The DJI RS 4 Mini with my A9 III setup.

9. A heavy-duty tripod

Every photographer should own a good tripod. Mine is the INNOREL RT90C, with heavy-duty carbon fibre legs and a centre column, rated for around 40kg (about 90lb). It holds a huge video rig perfectly still, even in the wind. I swap between a heavy-duty ball head, a lighter head for hiking and a gimbal head for telephoto lenses. When I travel I take the smaller INNOREL RT75C instead.

My tripod comes in handy almost every single day.

10. Magic arms

It's actually a bit alarming how many of these I own. Magic arms let me attach monitors, microphones, phones for behind-the-scenes footage and lights to my tripod or rig, in pretty much any position. My favourite is the SmallRig rosette magic arm with HawkLock quick release. They save you buying a pile of dedicated mounts, cages and brackets.

A magic arm holding my phone on a camera rig.

Several accessories in this list come from my first accessories video above, which has more examples of each in use.

Accessories for filming on your phone

11. A magnetic selfie screen

Your phone's back camera is much higher quality than the selfie camera, but you can't see yourself while filming. This little magnetic selfie monitor sticks on with MagSafe, connects wirelessly and has its own battery, so I can check my framing during longer talking-to-camera clips. It's saved me from reshooting so many times. Android users will need a MagSafe-style case.

The magnetic screen on the back of my iPhone.

12. A MagSafe SSD

When I record ProRes on my phone, footage goes straight onto a magnetic external SSD instead of filling my phone's storage, and ProRes RAW needs an external drive anyway. When I get home I plug it straight into my computer and start editing. Mine is a 1TB ORICO magnetic SSD, and I also built one myself from an NVMe drive and enclosure.

A MagSafe SSD for recording ProRes on iPhone.

13. Smart glasses for behind-the-scenes

I bring my Ray-Ban Meta glasses whenever I head out with a camera. They film vertical clips of up to 3 minutes, so I can hit record and capture a few poses without thinking about it, and the audio is good enough to use as is. Behind-the-scenes clips like these are great for showing potential clients what it's like to shoot with you.

Mini photo printers

14. Canon Selphy CP1500 and Canon Ivy 2

I own way too many mini printers. My favourite for proper prints is the Canon Selphy CP1500, which makes 4x6 inch dye-sublimation prints with ink and paper sold together in matched packs. Prints I made two years ago still look fresh and vibrant.

The Canon Selphy CP1500 and its 4x6 prints.

For fun, I use the pocket-sized Canon Ivy 2 (sold as the Mini Photo Printer 2 in Australia). It uses Zink sticker paper, so there are no cartridges at all. The prints aren't professional quality, but they're great little extras for friends, family and clients.

The Canon Ivy 2 and a sticker print.

Accessories for editing and storage

15. SSDs instead of hard drives

If you ever edit at a cafe or travel with your files, stop using traditional hard drives. They have a spinning disc inside that can be damaged by drops or even vibration. SSDs have no moving parts and are faster too. I put NVMe drives in ACASIS NVMe enclosures when I travel. They cost a bit more, but the peace of mind is worth it.

NVMe SSDs in enclosures for travel.

16. A retouching tablet

I upgraded from my old Wacom Intuos to the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium for a bigger surface and to stop hunting for micro USB cables. I retouch with AI now, but I still use the tablet like a mouse to give my hands and wrists a break, because holding a pen is so much more ergonomic.

The Xencelabs tablet on my desk.

Comfort and safety on location

17. A silicone mat

I don't know how I lived without a large silicone mat. If I ask someone to sit on the ground, I put it down so their clothes stay clean, and unlike a towel it stays dry on wet or cold ground. It's great for kneeling on for low tripod shots too, and it folds up small.

On location at a portrait shoot, where the mat lives in my bag.

18. A foldable camping chair

Wildlife and landscape photography can be a game of patience, so I keep two of these Slacker tripod chairs in my car. They're perfect for bird photography, resting my elbows on my knees with a heavy telephoto lens, and small enough to hike with. We have to take care of our knees!

The foldable camping chair I keep in my car.

19. A multitool

Camera plates, cages and tripods all need tightening and loosening, so I keep a multitool in my camera bag, suitcase, office and car. It's also handy for snipping stray threads and tags on clothes at a shoot.

20. A mini hard case as a first aid kit

This one's a bit weird, but I think every photographer should have one. I keep a small waterproof hard case in my car with basic medication, first aid items, sunscreen and a few small tools. Photographers end up in some pretty random situations, from a wedding when you're not feeling well to a hike in the middle of nowhere with no shops around.

My mini hard case, packed like a first aid kit.

Camera accessories prices at a glance

Prices checked in October 2026. They change often, so check the links for the latest.

Which camera accessories should you buy first?

If you're starting out, I'd begin with the cheap ones that make the biggest difference: a pocket LED or mini flash for dark locations, a silicone mat, and an SSD for backing up your photos safely. A solid tripod is the next big one, since you'll use it for years. The gimbal, smart glasses and printers are lovely extras once you know you'll use them. For more of my favourite gear, see my best beginner camera for portraits comparison.

Camera accessories FAQ

What are the most useful camera accessories for photographers?

Beyond memory cards and batteries, the accessories I use most are a small light (a mini flash or pocket LED), a quick-release camera clip, a sturdy tripod, magic arms, a silicone mat for location shoots, and SSDs instead of spinning hard drives.

Is a mini flash worth it for portraits?

Yes, a small flash like the Ulanzi SL01 is cheap and easy to carry, and it's great for filling in light in dark spots or near sunset. It has just four power levels, so it's very simple to use.

What's the best mini photo printer?

For proper 4x6 prints that last, I use the Canon Selphy CP1500. For fun sticker prints, the pocket-sized Canon Ivy 2 is great, though the quality isn't professional.

Why use an SSD instead of a hard drive for photos?

Traditional hard drives have a spinning disc that can be damaged by drops or vibration. SSDs have no moving parts and are faster, so they're much safer when you travel or edit away from home.

How do you record ProRes on an iPhone without running out of storage?

Attach a MagSafe SSD and record straight to it. ProRes RAW needs an external drive anyway, and you can plug the drive straight into your computer to edit.

Are these camera accessories sponsored?

No, nothing in this list is sponsored. Some links are affiliate links, which may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The portraits in my accessories videos were edited with my presets, including Havana, Hazel, Amalfi and Aspen. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.