CAKE PHOTOGRAPHY
Canon EOS Rebel T6 Digital SLR Camera — A lot of food bloggers start off with a simple point and shoot camera, which you can totally do too. I really, really, REALLY wanted to start off with a DSLR camera so I bought this camera. This camera is pretty cheap in the world of DSLR’s, so if you can afford it, I highly recommend it as a beginner DSLR camera.
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens — Instead of buying the DSLR body separately, I bought the lens kit and this is the lens it comes with. I’ve had my ups and downs with this lens, but I’m almost certain it’s my own doing. I’m still working on improving my food photography skills, and I’ve gotten some gorgeous photos from using this lens. This is a cheap lens and, as they say, “you get what you pay for”. However, it’s great for beginners, but if you want to get the best photos, you can’t depend entirely on the lens. As long as you have a great setup, great lighting, and delicious-looking food, you’ll get great photos.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens — I just upgraded to this lens, but I haven’t gotten a chance to use it yet. When I do, I’ll let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed!
Sandisk Ultra 16GB Memory Card — Myself having absolutely no knowledge on cameras, had no idea that I needed a memory card to save my photos. I was so angry when I had to buy one, especially after spending so much on the camera, but it was worth it! I have a really small budget so I bought a 16GB card and I have to delete my photos after uploading them to my laptop in order to free up space. If you want a memory card with more space, I recommend the SanDisk 64GB Extreme SD Memory Card.
Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom — Photoshop is pretty darn expensive, but it’s an amazing photo-editing tool. I mainly use it to create my long Pinterest images and touch up photos. Lightroom is my favourite! This is where I edit a majority of my photos. It’s super easy to get a hang of and you can take your photos from dull and boring to vibrant and stunning! If you can’t afford to purchase the software, you can either get a free trial, or preferably purchase a monthly subscription, like I did.
MUST HAVE BAKING TOOLS
If you’re a new baker looking for the best tools to stock your kitchen with, then look no further. Here’s a list of tools every baker needs:
Kitchenaid Stand Mixer — I know they can be quite expensive, but if you’re serious about baking, this is a must! This is the stand mixer I have, but you don’t have to buy a kitchenaid. There are a lot of great stand mixers out there with many different brands. I love the colours and look of the Kitchenaid mixer, and it makes baking a breeze! My favourite kitchen tool ever!
Kitchenaid Hand Mixer — Before I purchased my stand mixer, I bought a hand mixer. I still use my hand mixer regularly since it’s perfect for mixing up smaller batches. I definitely recommend this for beginner bakers. It’s completely affordable, great quality, and it’s a lot easier than mixing by hand.
Silicone Baking Mat — Parchment paper is great for lining cake pans and all, but when it comes to using baking sheets, these silicone mats are unbeatable! I love these baking mats because they can be used over and over again, they’re non-stick and they’re easy to clean! Whether I’m baking cookies, dipping truffles, roasting nuts or rolling dough, I always do it on a silicone baking mat.
Baking Sheets — Every baker needs to own at least 1 or 2 of these. I own 4 right now, and I don’t know what I would do without them! I use them for baking cookies, biscuits, sheet cakes, roasting nuts and vegetables, making chocolate barks and so much more! The ones with a rim are best because they prevent any batter or liquids from dripping off the sides.
Cake Caddy — This is a great thing to have if you need to transport cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, or any other dessert. It’s also a perfect storage container for your cakes.
Cookie Scoops — Don’t let the name fool you, these aren’t only for cookies. You can buy one in each size and use the large ones to evenly divide cupcake batter or scoop ice cream. The medium ones can be used for cookies, and the small ones can be used to scoop out truffles! These are the scoops I own and adore!
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