Blissdom – the premiere conference for women bloggers – is going down in Texas and I’m serving as a Photography Community Leader, y’all! I can’t wait to meet, greet, network and get my bliss on with my fellow bloggers and photography enthusiasts.

I’ve been organizing my photography gear, cleaning my lenses and getting my camera bag ready for the big day. It’s chock full of my favorite photography must-have items. I’m all set and ready to go!

Capturing conference happenings, memorable moments (and maybe a few wine-fueled photo ops that shouldn’t make it to the blog) are an important part of a blogger’s conference experience. Wondering what photography gear to bring to Blissdom besides your DSLR? Don’t worry, girl. I’ve got you covered.

Photography Must-Haves for Blog Conference Attendees

Grab your DSLR camera, the following must-haves and photograph the hell out of Blissdom, y’all!

Extra batteries and memory cards

These basic essentials are an absolute must. You’ll want to have them on hand, just in case. 

Air blaster and lens pen

Keeping lenses free of smudges and dust is of the utmost importance. Lens pens are great for cleaning on-the-go, equipped with a soft brush for removing dust particles and a sponge-like applicator infused with a non-liquid cleaning compound. An air blaster is a powerful little tool that annihilates dust. Both items, $10 each.

White balance aid

Achieve proper white balance with the help of white balance aids, like a white balance lens cap or ExpoDisc.

Versatile lenses

I’m a huge fan of packing lenses that can hold their own in a variety of shooting situations. Constantly switching out lenses during events just isn’t my thing. I want to laugh, enjoy the company of others, shoot and enjoy the experience. The last thing I want to worry about is switching out my lens. I’ve got two favorite lenses that are great go-to options:

Tamron 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 – A great everyday all-in-one zoom lens with a wide shooting range and Vibration Compensation. Learn more about the lens in my review.

Tamron 24-70mm F/2.8 – Fast, sharp, quiet as a mouse and performs well in low light situations thanks to Vibration Compensation. Simply put, this lens is a sweet and sexy piece of glass. Check out my review to learn more.

Speedlite/Speedlight

Up the ante of your flash photography by investing in a speedlite/speedlight. They pack a powerful punch, preserve your camera’s battery life and offer flexibility – allowing you to change the power and direction of your flash’s output.

Flash diffuser or bouncer

If you opt to use your pop-up flash in lieu of a speedlight, I suggest investing in a flash diffuser. Snap the Puffer onto your camera’s hotshoe to soften the harsh effects of your pop-up flash. Or, abolish that unsightly too-bright-washed-out-look by using Professor Kobre’s Lightscoop to redirect and bounce your flash off the wall behind you.

Camera bag

You’ll need a durable camera bag to store your gear. SHUTTER|bag camera bags are my absolute favorite. Stylish, available in a variety of styles and colors and made with genuine leather – not the fake stuff that’ll tear, yo. Sling it over your shoulder, wear across the body,

fill it with your photography must-haves. Don’t worry there are lots of pockets and compartments for all of your gear.

I can’t wait to photograph my way through Blissdom with y’all!

Are you coming to Blissdom? What are some of your photography must-haves?

Thank you so much to Tamron Lenses, SHUTTER|bag, DownEast Basics and Invitation Consultants for sponsoring my blissful weekend at Blissdom 2013. My sponsors rock, y’all! You should check them out.

*Disclosure: All product links (except SHUTTER|bag camera bags) are affiliate links.