Do You Need a Tripod?

Not every photographer requires a tripod to successfully capture images, but for certain photographic tasks they come in very handy and, in some cases, are necessary. Before you purchase a tripod, ask yourself if you need one for the type of photography you do. If not, save your money, for they can be quite expensive. If you do need one for your work, you will be glad you have it when you need it.

Tripod Uses

Most photographers can get by without every needing a tripod. Professionals and those who dabble in different types of photography do need one. Tripods are primarily used for portrait photography and for taking overexposed pictures. Whenever you need to hold the camera steady for more than a split second—in nighttime photography, for instance—a tripod is needed. Otherwise the shot will come out blurry. It is next to impossible for anyone to hold a camera perfectly steady while the shutter is open for 10, 5, even 3 seconds. Portrait photographers who set up a single backdrop and take similar pictures continually use tripods so they don’t have to keep repositioning the camera.

Photographers taking overexposed shots and those who cannot spend time repositioning the camera for every shot need a tripod to secure their camera and keep it perfectly steady. Otherwise, for the most part, tripods are not necessary.