Most photographers admit to being gadget freaks, hence the affliction known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S.), and it’s often difficult to collect new photo accessories without feeling guilty. The 10 accessories described in the following video are affordable and extremely useful, so you can open up your wallet and grab a few while setting your qualms aside.

Photographer Mike Rogala began his journey shooting film back in the 80’s and he’s now convinced that “digital photography is far less stressful”—in part because all the modern accessories that make our craft more enjoyable and creative. His goal for this episode is to “explore 10 must-have accessories that will elevate your photography game and help you capture stunning images.”

This comprehensive guide is particularly helpful for beginners who want to invest wisely in their hobby without breaking the bank. Rogala’s 10 picks include everything from tripods to bags, and he discusses their importance, functionality, and how they can enhance the shooting experience.

Rogala’s begins with the simple L-Bracket that that can be incredibly handy when mounting your camera atop a tripod. They’re typically equipped with Arca-Swiss compatible plates on the bottom and one side of a lightweight frame. The L-bracket enables you to quickly switch between portrait and landscape orientations without adjusting your tripod setup.

Another way to make these adjustments is with an adjustable lens collar, and these are often included when you purchase a long telephoto lens. These can also be purchased separately at nominal cost, and they’re lightweight, compact, and very easy to employ. A full camera cage is another option if you want to attach other small accessories like microphones, lights, supplemental battery packs, and more.

Rogala’s other favorites include wired or wireless remote triggers that enable you to capture a shot without ever touching the camera, and a battery grip that doubles power, provides more secure handling, and has conveniently placed shutter release buttons for vertical and horizonal shooting.

Then there’s the ND lens filter that Rogala considers “crucial,” a portable LED light panel with constant/adjustable illumination, versatile quick release plates, and several more guilt-free accessories that you may want to consider. And while Rogala’s list was compiled with beginners in mind, more experienced shooters will also find much to like.

After watching this episode head over to Rogala’s YouTube channel where you’ll find more gear tips, as well as straightforward shooting and editing advice for photographers of all skill levels.

You also may want to watch the tutorial we posted earlier this with several important maintenance procedures for keeping your valuable photography equipment fresh and working like new.

One sure way to ruin a great landscape scene is to miss focus entirely or focus on the wrong area within the frame. We’ll solve that dilemma in the next seven minutes with a tutorial from Landscape Photography University— a curriculum designed “to inspire you with helpful tips that leave confusion and burnout behind.”

Instructor David Johnston puts it like this: “There’s no worse feeling in landscape photography than thinking you got the photo in focus and then learning that you didn’t.” His goal for this episode to help you achieve proper focus every time under a variety of outdoor situations so you can concentrate on other elements that contribute to successful images.

One critical consideration is the concept of depth of field. And this involves understanding how to expand or contract the zone of sharpness as pertains to the foreground, background, and midrange of a shot. Johnston demonstrates how this works, and why the f/stop you choose is a key contributor to getting things right.

You’ll also learn why your camera’s orientation—namely level to the ground, pointed up, or aimed down—factors into the effect you create. For example, “if you’re shooting vertically and tilting the camera forward you’re creating a larger foreground and pulling more of the subject into the bottom of a photo with more elements closer to the camera.” And this has serious implications for where focus falls.

In this situation it may be impossible to achieve sufficient depth of field, even when shooting at f/16 or f/22. The solution that Johnston provides is to capture two images of the same scene, one focused on the foreground and another with the focus point set further back. Then it’s  simple matter to merge the two shots during post processing by following Johnston’s straightforward instructions.

This is a popular technique known as “focus stacking,” and Johnston walks you through the step-by-step procedure. You see why enabling the Auto Align Layers option works wonders to register the two images—just in case you moved the camera slightly from one shot to the next. This approach also corrects another potential misalignment problem known as “focus breathing.”

There are a few more valuable tips in the remainder of the video, and by the time you’re done watching there’s a very good chance that you won’t have to suffer the disappointment of missing focus and spoiling an otherwise great shot. The Landscape Photography University YouTube channel is a great resource for everyone who shoots outdoors, so be sure to take a look when you have time to explore.

We also recommend watching our recent tutorial with several powerful autumn landscape photography ideas and techniques from a successful Romanian pro.

Earlier this month we featured a photo-gear maintenance guide with the best practices for keep your cameras and lenses working like new. Today’s episode from the Be More, Do More, Have More channel takes a close look at caring for your oft-ignored memory cards so they last as long as possible and don’t fail in the field

Many photographers take memory cards for granted and, worse yet, don’t carry a spare—ignoring the fact that an unexpected breakdown will turn a camera into a very expensive brick. The 12 tips you’ll learn in the next 12 minutes are essential for every photographer who values their work—whether they’re a hobbyist or working pro.

This essential guide is based upon instructor Shawn DaVinci’s 12 years of experience, as well as specific recommendations from memory card manufacturers. DaVinci covers it all, from safe handling tips, proper storage and careful maintenance for preventing data corruption and the headaches that follow.

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make (apart from failing to carry a spare) is this: While it’s a good idea to reformat cards regularly, NEVER do so on your computer. Instead, follow DaVinci’s advice for reformatting in the camera. And do that using the camera to which the card belongs. If you regularly switch cameras and swap cards, be sure to reformat a card every time you do.

If you’re one of those shooters who invests in high-quality cameras and lenses, but skimps by purchasing low-cost memory cards, it time to stop this dangerous habit now. DaVinci provides several reasons why he always uses high-quality cards from reputable brands. Bottom line: resist the temptation to put your hard-earned photos at risk with cheap no-name substitutes.

At this point DaVinci is just getting started and there’s much more to learn, including why it’s best not fill a card to maximum capacity, how clearing a card often will prevent potential file-system errors, and the safest way to delete unwanted files.

It’s also a good practice to transfer images directly from your camera, rather than removing the card and using a reader. There are several more tips regarding proper storage, handling, and care that are crucial to understand. The Be More, Do More, Have More YouTube channel is a great source of information about choosing and using the equipment that will serve you Best.

And if you missed the camera and lens care guide mentioned above, be sure to check it out.