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A workspace with a vintage wooden desk and chair, with an old typewriter on it.

Camera gear + Software

Our equipment and software at a glance

Building a business takes time. Finding clients, executing shoots, and figuring out the right equipment.

We have been through a lot of trial and error and are glad that is now behind us. Therefore, we have listed everything we use, so you do not have to reinvent the wheel.

It is quite a story. Want the short version? Scroll all the way to the bottom.

By sheer coincidence, our first cameras were both Minoltas. We weren't a couple yet back then: Guillaume's was brand new, and Nicolet's was a sixth-hand model. Those were still analogue cameras. After that, again by coincidence, we both switched to Canon. When Canon released the 300D in 2003, the first affordable consumer model, we both made the switch to digital photography, by which time we were a couple.

It always remained that brand. Not necessarily because Canon was so much better, but the EF lenses were cheaper than Nikon's at the time, the range was larger, and because we use the same lenses, we can share everything. We've stuck with Canon ever since, although we did have a brief moment of doubt when upgrading from a crop sensor to full-frame.

Nicolet works with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV , a DSLR camera. Yes, it's an elderly body. But there is one reason why she still works with it every day: the Angle finder . More on that later.

Guillaume photographs and films with the Canon EOS R5 , a mirrorless camera, which is a lot more compact and convenient for his work as a corporate reportage and heritage photographer.

Both cameras are full-frame, and that's the only thing we recommend. A larger sensor means less noise, a wider dynamic range, and sharper images. Are you buying something new now? Then still the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV our first choice because of the Angle finder that can go on it, we will come back to that later. The Canon EOS R5 Mark II our second choice, or the Canon EOS R6 Mark III if you have a slightly lower budget. The latter lacks a screen on top of the camera where you can see your settings, and we would really miss that ourselves.

We don't know much about Sony and Nikon ourselves, but the Nikon Z 6II and the Sony A7 V are comparable full-frame options if you are already invested in that system for another reason.

Camera bodies

Lenses

For interior photography, you really only need two lenses. Nicolet has been working for years with the Canon EF 17-40 F4 as a wide-angle lens and the Canon EF 24-105 F4 as a second lens. Besides the 17-40also the Canon EF 24-70 F2.8 , which via a EF-RF adapter ring just fits on his system camera. If Nicolet were to choose again, she would also go for the 24-70 F2.8: just a bit sharper, although it is a lot more expensive.

There is nothing wrong with an aperture of F4. You photograph everything at a minimum of F11, because the entire image needs to be sharp, and you are on a tripod anyway. The lower the aperture number, the more expensive the lens, and you simply do not need that extra light output here.

The Canon EF 17-40 F4 is unfortunately no longer available new, which means you end up with the Canon EF 16-35 F4 . It is more expensive and misses 5 mm on the long end, which you notice with detail shots. Can you get a second-hand 17-40grab it, do it! Guillaume is also still working with his EF lenses via an adapter ring, because RF lenses are shockingly expensive and the focal lengths of the old lenses are just more comfortable.

One warning for inside the camera shop: advisors there are often great photographers, but have rarely photographed a property. Don't let them talk you into buying the wrong gear.

An oak kitchen with a soapstone countertop and red accessories. In the foreground, a vase with red peonies and green bowls.
A view through to a bathroom with double doors and an oval concrete bathtub.

Tripod

Nicolet photographed for nine years with a Manfrotto tripod that Guillaume had bought as an 18-year-old. The thing is now 32 years old and still indestructible. When she eventually bought a new tripod anyway, a lighter one with a better head, it was another Manfrotto.

Never skimp on your tripod. A cheap model is unstable, you will much more frequently take photos with motion blur using it, and you are mounting your expensive equipment on it. Finally, a cheap tripod is largely plastic fantastic and therefore not durable. We both use the Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head ,combined with the Manfrotto 190 Go! M Series Carbon : unfortunately, this is no longer available in the Netherlands, but it is available via Amazon in the US. Importing is a serious option, even with import duties. This is the alternative with clip-locks: Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 carbon tripod .

Low budget? As an entry-level model we recommend the Manfrotto MK290XTA3-3W aluminium tripod kit . The better option is the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-3W . Ensure that your tripod, including head, is at a height of approximately 105 cm: that is the ideal working height for interior photography. Register your tripod with Manfrotto for a 10-year warranty!

360-degree camera, drone and gimbal

For 360-degree photography we use the Ricoh Theta Z1 . We have tried quite a few 360 cameras, but this is the only one in its class that shoots in RAW and stitches the images properly. It is getting a bit older, but many newer models are mainly developed for video. There is still no better option for our type of work.

For drone photography Guillaume uses the DJI Mavic 4 Pro . He has obtained the necessary certificates for this. If you do not have those papers yet or do not want to obtain them yet, then the DJI Mini 5 Pro is a great alternative: under 250 grams, which means lighter regulations apply.

For video Guillaume used for years his Canon R5 on a DJI RS 4 gimbal. Stunning 4K footage, but holding about seven kilos a metre out in front of you all day long, let's just leave it at that. By now he mostly films with the iPhone on a DJI RS 4 Mini combo , which also makes post-processing in DaVinci Resolve a lot simpler.

A living room with a sofa and armchair in the foreground and a wooden display cabinet in the background. Everything in natural tones.
A view through to a bedroom with ensuite doors. Vintage furniture and a blue throw on the bed.

Angle finder

A Angle finder is a sort of ridiculously expensive mini periscope that allows you to look through your viewfinder from above. Nicolet has been using it for years and if she ever leaves it at home with her absent-minded head, she drives back to pick it up. Don't be startled by the price: the original Canon Angle Finder C is heading towards €200. But without Angle finder you'll be bending over your tripod in an unnatural posture all day long, and sooner or later you're going to feel that in your back.

The big advantage is that you shut out all stray light: you see small bits of mess, crooked lines and other imperfections that you easily overlook on a small LCD screen. Unfortunately, there is no equivalent alternative for mirrorless cameras, which is why Nicolet still works with her every day 5D Mark IV despite it being a 10-year-old camera.

Memory cards

Always buy multiple smaller cards instead of one large one, and pay close attention to the write speed: at least 90-95 MB/sec for SD cards. SD cards are a lot more fragile than the older CompactFlash cards: our first SD card had to be thrown in the bin after just a year because a corner had broken off. Since then we always have a few spare cards in the bag, because unfortunately that breaking happens more often.

Choose cards from Lexar and SanDisk: reliable, lifetime warranty upon registration, and they include recovery software. So keep the packaging until you have safely stored that code somewhere.

Which cards you need depends on your camera: the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV uses CF Type I and SD/SDHC/SDXC ,The Canon EOS R5 Mark II and R6 Mark III use CFexpress Type B and UHS-II SD .

A plywood kitchen with an attached dining table. Modern look.
A workspace in a bedroom with built-in plywood furniture and green accents.

Other accessories

For batteries: buy at least two and choose ones with a USB-C port , so you can charge them on the go with whatever is to hand. We use the batteries from Smallrig (available for Canon, Nikon and Sony) and are very satisfied with it.

A gray card you rarely need, but the moment you need it, you'll be glad it's in your bag. In houses without white walls or ceilings, a universal grey card or the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport Photo is indispensable for properly correcting colours in post-processing.

Finally: keep your equipment clean with a lenspen , a lens cloth and a Giotto Rocket Blaster air blower. Don't forget the back of your lens, and always blow with the camera upside down so that dust particles are not blown against the sensor.

Computer + software

We both work with Apple. Nicolet has a MacBook Pro 16 inch (1 TB, 48 GB), Guillaume a Mac mini connected to an Apple Studio Display . We switched in 2008 after a Dell laptop got a heavy virus and haven't regretted it for a second since. Stable, fast, and everything works seamlessly together with iPhone, iPad and CarPlay (super handy for navigation!).

To be honest, we know very little about modern Windows computers. We stay well away from them because of the many viruses and malware. But we know that many photographers choose Windows because of the price. We understand that. In that case, at least make sure you have 32 GB RAM, 1 TB storage, and a fast processor. Tell the advisor in the store that you will be using the machine intensively for photo editing: that places different demands on it than a computer on which you only type some text.

For software, the standard in our industry is Adobe Photoshop CC and/or Lightroom Classic CC , available via the affordable Adobe Photography Plan . For video, Guillaume uses the free version of DaVinci Resolve : just as powerful as Adobe Premiere Pro , but without the extra costs.

A detail of a cabinet in a workspace with a collection of unique accessories.
A view through an old door with beveled glass, looking toward a hallway with a wooden staircase.

Sending files

We use pCloud and have been very satisfied with it for years. We discovered it via Appsumo and were initially hesitant, because you are entrusting such a company with your files after all. After reading the reviews we were convinced: a Swiss company, servers in the EU, GDPR-proof. And you pay a one-off fee instead of monthly, which results in significant savings in the long run.

Handy extras: you can track links, secure files with a password, and you can share an upload link so that students can easily submit their homework. Google Drive and Apple iCloud Drive are fine alternatives for €9.99 per month, with 2 TB of storage space.

What about that TB included with the Adobe photography subscription then? Sorry, nice of Adobe to include it, but you have absolutely no use for it because you cannot upload zip files. Great for a single photo, but for large quantities of photos it is completely useless.

We hope that with this list we have been able to give you an overview that will help you make a good choice for your equipment.

Would you like to learn more? Then we look forward to seeing you in the training course Interior Photography with Natural Light and of course you can also start with Nicolet's book of the same name.

 

The clear list

Camera bodies
Lenses
Tripod
Angle finder
360-degree camera
Drone
Gimbal
Memory cards

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Canon EOS R6 Mark III and Canon EOS R5 Mark II

Other accessories
Computer
Software
Sending files

Everything we recommend here, we use almost daily or they are great (cheaper alternatives); otherwise it wouldn't be here. The links you see are affiliate links (advertising links). If you buy something through such a link, we receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.