One of the most common questions I get from friends and bloggers alike is: “What kind of camera do you use?”

I’ve loved photography since I was a kid, and this is the third version of the Canon Rebel I’ve owned. (The first was a film camera, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!)

I spent a ton of time researching before I bought this one and was considering upgrading to one of the more professional Mark versions. Everything I read led me to understand that I did not need a more expensive camera; I just needed an $125.00 50mm lens and Lightroom CC.

My favorite thing about this camera is that it has Wi-Fi, which allows me to get the photos off my camera and onto my phone within minutes… and thereafter onto Instagram. I also love that it’s lightweight and not overly expensive, so I can lug it around on vacations and to my kids’ sporting events without worrying about something happening to it.

The 50mm f/1.8 lens is the one I use most for Instagram photos and portraits of my kids. It gives you that perfect blurred background, and the detail in the photos is amazing. I also got a zoom lens with my camera, which I use to get action shots of the kids at their sporting events, school performances and dance recitals.

Here is the exact camera I have, as well as the lenses and tripod I use: