Canon's entry-level camera. It's the most compact D-SLR out on the market, lightweight and can take your photography a long way before you'll need to upgrade.

There are always deals, coupons and rebates on these little cards, so shop around a bit before purchasing. Brands that I recommend are SanDisk, Kingston and Lexar. Check out bhphotovideo.com and adorama.com for competitive pricing.

I needed a tripod, but I didn't want a silver one. This tripod by Sony is compact, lightweight and black. I don't need a shiney brushed aluminum tripod. Black = stealthy!

If you've made it this far down the list, you're probably doing a decent amount of shooting. The Canon battery is much more expensive that the knock-offs on ebay. But Canon batteries have a much longer life span and will be useable two years down the road. In the long run, it's worth the extra investment

Not only are these batteries rechargeable, they allow your flash to cycle faster than non-rechargable batteries

This is the newest lens in my stable and is quickly becoming a favorite, especially since I'm a huge fan of negetive space and dramatic angles. I've been told that it would qualify as an "L" lens if it were an EF with contained weather stripping. Judging from the sharpness of the photos it produces, I wouldn't be surprised.

It adds a little weight to the camera which is a good thing, especially if you've mounted a heavier lens. Not only does this balance the weight of the camera, it also adds redundant camera controls for better portrait shooting. Make sure to select the proper grip according to which camera you purchase.

The Wacom tablet reduces stress on your wrist (a plus if you plan to work in front of a computer for a few years...). Plus it's much faster and more accurate than a mouse. It took about 2 weeks to adapt to it, but now I can't imagine working without one. I wouldn't be exaggerating to claim that it has boosted my efficiency at photo retouching by at least 50%.