FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

My Go-To Gear &
Studio Tools

If it’s in my kit or my workflow, it earned its place. Cameras, lenses, lighting, and the business tools behind every bold, elevated image I create as a Nashville commercial photographer.

Nashville, TN Commercial & Portrait Real Kit. No Fluff.

This is the kit behind every headshot, branding session, and commercial campaign I shoot.

I have been a working Nashville Commercial Photographer for over a decade. Every piece of gear and every business tool on this page has earned its place through real shoots, real client work, and a lot of trial and error.

Nothing here is theoretical. If it is on this page, I have used it.

- Tausha
Business Tools Cameras & Lenses Strobes & Speedlights Modifiers FAQ

TOOLS I USE EVERY SINGLE DAY

Slack
Canva
Photoshop
Lightroom
Zapier
Pinterest
Squarespace

BUSINESS TOOLS

The software that keeps this whole thing running

From first inquiry to final delivery, these tools handle the systems so I can stay focused on the creative work.

CRM
"My entire client experience lives here."
Dubsado
Contracts, invoicing, automations, and workflows. It runs the whole backend without me babysitting it. If you do not have a CRM yet, start here.
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Email Marketing
"The most beautiful emails I have ever sent."
Flodesk
On-brand email marketing that actually looks like your brand. I use this to stay connected with clients and build a list that opens every time.
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Gallery Delivery
"The client experience starts here."
Pixieset
Clean, professional, and genuinely easy for clients. First impressions after the shoot happen in the gallery and this one never lets me down.
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Tethering + Editing
"Glowy skin tones that hold up in print."
Capture One
My tethering and color editing go-to. The skin tones are glowy, the brand colors pop, and the tether is rock solid on every commercial set.
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AI Culling
"Thousands of images sorted while I drive home."
Aftershoot
AI-powered culling that sorts through thousands of images fast. A genuine time saver on selects without replacing your eye on the final picks.
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AI Retouching
"Batch retouching that still looks like skin."
Evoto
Smart batch retouching that smooths, cleans, and polishes without the over-processed look. Every final image still gets hands-on attention.
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CAMERA & LENSES

Mirrorless magic & glass that does the heavy lifting

Every lens here is one I actually shoot with. Crispy detail, dreamy skin tones, and reliable performance session after session.

Canon EOS R5 mirrorless camera body used by Nashville commercial photographer Tausha Dickinson
Primary Body
Canon R5
Fast, sharp, and beautifully reliable. My main camera for every portrait, commercial, and editorial session. The resolution and autofocus changed how I work on set.
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Canon RF 24-105mm F2.8 zoom lens for portrait and commercial photography
Workhorse Lens
RF 24-105mm F2.8
My most-reached-for lens. Flexible, sharp, handles everything from tight headshots to full-length editorial.
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Canon RF 50mm F1.2 prime lens for cinematic portrait photography
Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 telephoto lens for dramatic compression and bokeh
Portrait Prime
RF 50mm F1.2
Bold and beautiful. Razor-sharp with a cinematic background blur that makes subjects pop off the frame.
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Drama & Bokeh
RF 70-200mm F2.8
Compression and bokeh heaven. Ideal for events and dramatic candids.
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Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 versatile lens for cinematic commercial and location photography
Canon RF 85mm F1.4 portrait lens with creamy bokeh and edge-to-edge sharpness
Cinematic Versatile
RF 24-70mm F2.8
Versatile and fast. Sharp, cinematic results in any lighting condition or location.
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Portrait Powerhouse
RF 85mm F1.4
Creamy bokeh and edge-to-edge sharpness. A portrait staple for a reason.
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Canon RF 85mm F2 Macro lens for close-up storytelling and portrait photography with smooth falloff
Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro lens for detail shots and tight editorial environments
Close-Up Storytelling
RF 85mm F2 Macro
Dreamy depth and smooth falloff. Perfect for portraits with a storytelling close-up edge.
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Tight Spaces
RF 35mm F1.8 Macro
Small but mighty. Great for detail shots and tight editorial environments.
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REAL WORK, REAL KIT

Every recommendation here was earned on actual assets.

Shot on location for a fashion feature in nFocus Magazine, this image came together with a two-light setup using Profoto B10x strobes. A small Photek umbrella overhead handled the main light, while a medium Photek umbrella positioned high behind the model created a natural hair light and brought out the texture in the greenery around her. The setup was straightforward. The image was not.

Canon R5
RF 24-105mm F2.8
Two Profoto B10x
Photek Umbrellas

See the
actual setups

Budget kits, luxury kits, classic lighting patterns, Godox vs. Profoto comparisons. Every setup broken down from real sessions.

Lighting Setups Guide →

Want help using all of it?

One-on-one mentoring and small-group workshops in Nashville. Lighting, business strategy, and the workflow behind sustainable creative work.

STROBES & SPEEDLIGHTS

The light sources behind every bold, elevated image

Consistent, powerful, reliable. Whether in studio or on location, these are the units I trust on every shoot.

Studio Workhorse
Profoto D3
Studio beast. Crazy fast recycle time and dead-on consistent output. My primary studio strobe and it has never let me down.
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On-Location
Profoto B10x
Big power in a compact body. Polished results anywhere, studio or on-location, without the bulk.
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Godox AD200 Pro compact portable flash with interchangeable heads for creative location work
Godox V850iii speedlight flash for quick setups and bouncing light in tight spaces
Go-Anywhere Flash
Godox AD200 Pro
Compact and high-output with interchangeable heads. My go-to for creative and location work.
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Quick Setups
Godox V850iii
Compact and quick. My speedlight for simple setups and bouncing light in tight spaces.
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Profoto B10x portable off-camera flash for on-location and studio portrait photography
Profoto D2 studio strobe used by Nashville commercial photographer Tausha Dickinson
Profoto D2 studio strobe used by Nashville commercial photographer Tausha Dickinson
Aputure Amaran T4c RGB tube light for creative gels gradients and color lighting effects
Godox AD600 Pro high-powered outdoor flash for wide open spaces and demanding lighting conditions
RGB Tube Light
Aputure Amaran T4c
Bold color, sleek design. Perfect for gels, gradients, and creative lighting with full RGB control.
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Big Power
Godox AD600 Pro
Serious power on the go. My pick for wide open spaces or demanding lighting conditions.
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LIGHTING MODIFIERS

How light gets shaped into something worth seeing

The modifier is where the image actually lives. These are the tools I reach for to control, shape, and sculpt light on every shoot.

Headshot Key Light
Photek SoftLighter 46"
Soft, even, flattering. My primary key light for headshots and beauty work. It wraps light beautifully.
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Large & Soft
Photek SoftLighter 60"
Gorgeous falloff and big soft shadows. Ideal for full-length portraits and that all-over glow.
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Magnetic Softbox
MagMod MagBox PRO 36"
Total lighting control in a magnetic snap. Portable, powerful, consistently excellent results.
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Precision Light
Westcott Optical Spot
Pinpoint light exactly where you need it. Dramatic, direct, with endless creative pattern possibilities.
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Compact Octa
MagMod MagBox 24" Octa
Portable and powerful. Great for tight setups and sessions where you need pro results fast.
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Fill & Edge Light
MagMod Strip Box
Narrow and directional. Great for edge lighting, fill, and separation from the background.
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Budget-Friendly
Fotodiox 43" Softbox
Affordable and effective. A solid secondary modifier for soft fill light on the go or as a dependable backup.
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Dramatic Parabolic
Fotodiox 60" Parabolic Octa
Big, bold, and beautiful. Gorgeous falloff and soft shadows for fashion-inspired full-length setups.
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Photek SoftLighter 60 inch large umbrella softbox for full-length portraits and soft all-over glow
Photek SoftLighter 60 inch large umbrella softbox for full-length portraits and soft all-over glow
Photek SoftLighter 46 inch umbrella softbox used as primary key light for headshot and beauty photography
Westcott Optical Spot precision light modifier for dramatic direct pinpoint lighting with creative pattern possibilities
MagMod MagBox PRO 36 inch magnetic softbox for portable powerful studio lighting control
MagMod Strip Box narrow directional modifier for edge lighting fill and subject separation
MagMod MagBox 24 inch octa compact portable softbox for tight setups and fast on-location sessions
Fotodiox 60 inch parabolic octa softbox for dramatic falloff and soft shadows in full-length fashion photography
Fotodiox 43 inch softbox affordable secondary modifier for soft fill light on location or in studio

FAQ

Questions I actually get asked

From first inquiry to final delivery, these tools handle the systems so I can stay focused on the creative work.

Which camera do you primarily shoot with?
The Canon R5 with RF lenses. Fast, sharp, and reliably excellent for portraits, commercial work, and everything in between.
What's your go-to lens?
The RF 24-105mm F2.8 handles almost everything. For portraits I reach for the 50mm F1.2 and 85mm F1.4.
What do you recommend for someone starting with off-camera flash?
Start with a speedlight and learn to bounce. Get it off-camera as soon as you can. The Godox AD200 is a great next step when budget allows.
Do you use AI tools in your workflow?
Yes, selectively. Aftershoot for culling and Evoto for batch retouching. Every final image still gets hands-on polish.
What modifiers do you use for headshots?
Key light alternates between the Photek SoftLighter 46" and MagMod MagBox PRO 36". Fill is a strip box or Fotodiox umbrella depending on the look.
How do you shoot tethered?
Capture One via cable or wirelessly to my laptop or iPad. The live view and color tools are unmatched for commercial work.
What is one essential piece of gear every photographer needs?
A 5-in-1 reflector. It bounces, blocks, and diffuses light. One tool that works in virtually every situation, studio or location.
Strobes or continuous light?
Both, depending on the shoot. Profoto strobes for portraits and headshots. Continuous LED like the Nanlite FS-300 for video and creative effects.

SOME LINES ON THIS PAGE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.

LIGHTING SETUPS GUIDE →