My blogging essentials

I'm sure we all have our little gadgets and gizmos that make blogging easier for us. Although we don't actually need a huge amount to blog, I like having equipment to help me become more organised, take better photographs and just generally blog away. They may not exactly be essentials but they certainly help me a great deal! 

1. Laptop
Let's start with the obvious things. Of course I need a laptop to blog, but I'm talking about this specific laptop. It's set up exactly the way I want it, with the trackpad disabled so I can use the nubbin (it may be strange but I prefer it that way). My folders are all set up perfectly so I know where absolutely everything is. My spreadsheet is organised to perfection. If I lost everything, I wouldn't even know what to do. Luckily it's all backed up in multiple locations because I'm my tech-minded husband is sensible like that. 

2. Phone
Another obvious one. Who doesn't need their phone to blog? I don't actually use mine to write posts or read blogs since it annoys me using such a tiny screen and a phone keyboard. However, I do use the Twitter app incessantly when out and about. My Google Analytics app gets a lot of use. Since it's synched with my phone but not my laptop email address, it's much easier to look up stats on my phone. I use my phone camera to vlog, to take little candid snaps to go on Twitter, to take fancy photos for Instagram. Don't forget using Google Maps to get to event locations! 

3. Nikon D3100
I'm not massively attached to my camera model. It's a decent little camera and it has video, which my previous Nikon D40x didn't, but there are some things that annoy me about it. I needed to buy a separate remote plug in and I'd prefer a flip screen. I also plan to buy a new lens for it in the coming months. Nevertheless, it's the camera I've got and I certainly couldn't blog without it. I take it absolutely everywhere with me!

4. Tripod & remote
If I remember correctly, I've had my tripod longer than my blog. It was in early 2011 that I first decided to buy a DSLR (I have no idea why but I'm glad I did!) and asked for a tripod as a birthday present. It's ended up being hugely useful. I usually use it for my outfit posts but lately I've been utilising it more for product photography too in order to get a crisp, sharp image. The remote goes hand-in-hand with this. Not only is it perfect for taking outfit photos when Rich isn't here to help but I can also take photos on a slow shutter speed without touching the camera and wobbling it.

5. Pluggy SD card thing

I asked Rich what this is called and apparently it's an SD card reader but, to me, it will always be the pluggy SD card thing. For some reason, and I have no idea how it happened, my laptop refused to accept any cable linking it with my camera. Even when we tried different cables, it refused to work, although the actual USB port works perfectly. In the end, we just bought an SD card reader so I can plug the card straight into my laptop.

6. Spare batteries & SD cards
The problem with my pluggy SD card thing is that I always, always, leave my SD card in the reader. I take it out of my laptop, throw it in the bowl of USBs and other techy bits, but forget to pop the SD card back in my camera. Then I leave the house for an event or something and realise that I've got no SD card. Well done, Becky! To get around this I bought another SD card and store it in this cute little pouch with two spare batteries because they always seem to die the second you leave the house. Why is that?

7. Studio lights

For Christmas, Rich bought me two softboxes and it's the most amazing gift ever. I will never, ever go back to relying on natural light. I don't care what anybody says about natural light being the best, my softboxes (which admittedly have daylight bulbs) have solved all my problems. Taking photos on a grey, rainy afternoon? No problem. How about 3am? Sure! My lighting is so much more effective now and I can take photos with no restrictions whatsoever. I'm still getting to grips with them, as you can no doubt tell, but it's already a whole heap easier! 

8. Photoshop

Where would I be without Photoshop? I've been using it 10 years now so I'm pretty comfortable with it, despite the fact that my A level graphic design teacher literally said "Just play around with it" and that was the extent of our education on a programme we'd have to use every single day for the next two years. Thanks for that! I have my own little set of actions that I use for each image as well as the little tweaks that need doing. I love comparing before and after images once they're edited. 

9. Calendar

Why is it always that you have a quiet month and then suddenly everything comes around at once? With so many events, previews and plain ol' social activities taking part at the same time, I need to be able to see at a glance what I've got when. Last year, I printed off a really cute calendar but I'm still looking for the perfect one this year. Rich bought me a Keith Lemon calendar as a joke gift this Christmas though, so that will do for now! 

10. Filofax
I live for to-do lists. When I have a huge amount of stuff to get through, nothing makes me feel more prepared than jotting it all down. I was mostly using scrap paper and the backs of envelopes until I bought my Filofax in the sales after Christmas. Now I can write down exactly what I need to do every day and cross it off (with the handy little ruler) once it's done. Organisation makes me happy! 

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It's crazy when you think just how many items help make an efficient blogger. Of course all you really need is an internet connection and something to type on, but I'd be lying if I said all the extras didn't make it easier!

I'd love to know what your blogging essentials are!