A professional-grade universal mount that securely holds smartphones from 2.2” to 3.5” wide. I like that you can attach a phone with or without a case. This grip features a robust locking mechanism and rotates smoothly between portrait and landscape orientations. It also features a cold shoe mount for attaching items such as lights or microphones.

I use dozens of SmallRig products in my studio and on the road. They’re well-designed and well-built. SmallRig’s comprehensive cage system transforms smartphones into professional photo and video rigs with multiple mounts, cold shoe attachments, and comfortable dual handles. Built from durable aluminum with a modular design that accommodates most phone sizes and cases.

I’ve been using this for years because the handles make it much easier to hold the camera without hand shake ruining a shot.

Moment’s aluminum cage provides professional rigging capabilities designed explicitly for their lens system. Features include an integrated lens mount, multiple accessory points, and a comfortable grip design optimized for mobile content creation workflows.

This one is really aimed at video users, but I think it’s an excellent choice for photographers who also plan to create video content for social media or clients.

You may not be familiar with the name Tilta, but it produces exceptional products for high-end video production. I reviewed plenty of Tilta products when I ran HDVideo Pro magazine, and they were all bulletproof.

Tilta brings its cinema camera expertise to smartphones with rosette mounts, 15mm rod support, and compatibility with professional follow-focus systems. Built to cinema industry standards with modular expansion capabilities.

Moment makes some of my favorite add-on lenses for smartphones. This wide-angle lens offers genuine optical wide-angle performance with a multi-element glass construction and minimal distortion. The 18mm focal length captures significantly more of the scene than your phone’s built-in wide lens, making it perfect for landscapes, architecture, and group photos where you need to fit more in the frame.

An adjustable neutral density filter that clips over your smartphone lens, allowing you to control exposure in bright conditions. The variable design lets you adjust from light reduction to significant darkening, enabling longer exposures for smooth water effects or motion blur in daylight photography.

A high-quality macro lens made from aircraft-grade aluminum with premium optical glass and multi-element coating. Sometimes find myself bumping my camera into a flower or insect I’m shooting in macro mode because of how close the phone has to be. This lens captures macros at an equivalent 100mm focal length, which provides a better working distance for photographing insects, flowers, and small objects with incredible detail and minimal distortion.

Freewell is another company that’s not well known, but which I turn to for bulletproof gear. Their tripod is my favorite travel tripod ever, and every product of theirs I’ve tested has been best in class.

This is a professional magnetic filter system explicitly designed for smartphones, featuring high-quality CPL and ND filters with quick-change magnetic mounting. The system offers genuine circular polarization, reducing reflections, enhancing colors, and managing glare in challenging lighting conditions with smartphone-optimized optics.

This tiny tripod comes with many Manfrotto accessories, so I have four of them. I leave one in my studio, one in my bag, and one in my car. Manfrotto’s ultra-compact tripod doubles as a comfortable handheld grip with push-button ball head adjustment, which I use for selfie videos. Despite its tiny size, it supports up to 2.2 pounds and features premium construction with rubber grip surfaces and durable aluminum legs. Since it’s low to the ground, it might need to be on a high surface to get the same look as a full-size tripod, but it’s a great solution… Read more

This “tripod” has been around as long as I can remember. I’ve wrapped them around parking meter poles, street signs, and used them to photograph on uneven surfaces, such as rocks.  

This model features Joby’s GripTight mount for secure phone attachment and flexible positioning in locations where traditional tripods are not suitable.

The professional version of Joby’s flexible tripod supports up to 6.6 pounds, featuring improved leg strength and a robust ball head. This is like the Godzilla of Joby tripods as it’s oversized and super strong. It features rubberized grip rings and enhanced durability while maintaining the signature flexibility for wrapping around objects.

This is the best travel tripod I’ve ever used. I just brought it on a trip to Australia with me and used it for everything from landscapes to astrophotography. It has more features than I’ve ever seen in a travel tripod. Every time I thought “I wish this tripod could do this” it turns out it could. 

Quick to setup, quick to break down, and it also converts into a monopod. It also has smart accessories, including an AirTag compartment and multiple mounting points for lights and microphones.

Let’s be honest, you’re unlikely to need a tripod this expensive or this well-built when shooting with your smartphone, but the Manfrotto Befree Live Carbon is my go-to for a high-end tripod. In addition to using it for your smartphone, you can attach your regular camera to it, making it a dual investment. 

There are other high-caliber carbon tripods, but the Manfrotto lineup has long been an excellent value for the tremendous performance they offer.

Another of my favorite tripods is overkill for smartphone photography. Gitzo’s legendary build quality meets smartphone photography with this professional travel tripod that converts to a monopod, working seamlessly with both smartphones and traditional cameras. Features premium carbon fiber construction, exceptional stability despite its compact size, and Gitzo’s renowned durability, which makes it a lifetime investment for serious photographers.

I’ve got one of these tripods in my collection, and you’d have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I did a comprehensive hands-on review of this light on our YouTube channel. A compact RGB LED panel offers full-color control from 2500K to 9900K with 21 built-in lighting effects and magnetic mounting. Features 60 high-quality LED beads, a CRI of 96+ for color accuracy, and a 2000mAh rechargeable battery in a pocket-friendly design.

You’ll need to use a smartphone cage to use this light or hold it off-camera, as there’s no place to mount it on a phone. See our picks for cages above.

Godox’s ultra-portable RGB LED light combines professional color accuracy with creative effects in a magnetic, pocketable design. Features app control, HSI color adjustment, and 15 built-in effects with aluminum construction and professional mounting options.

You’ll need to use a smartphone cage to use this light or hold it off-camera, as there’s no mounting option available for a phone. See our picks for cages above.

Aputure isn’t a household name, unless you’re a studio photographer. I’ve tested many of their lights, and they’re an excellent pick for any lighting need.

One of the best compact LED lights, it has full RGB and white light control, wireless app connectivity, and exceptional color accuracy. Features magnetic mounting, USB-C charging, and professional-grade build quality in a compact and portable package.

A professional RGB panel light with magnetic mounting, long battery life, and smartphone app control. Features high color accuracy, multiple mounting options, and rugged construction designed for professional use in various shooting conditions.

You’ll need to use a smartphone cage to use this light or hold it off-camera, as there’s no place to mount it on a phone. See our picks for cages above.

The SmallRig RC 120B is not a portable light, so it’s a bit out of place here, but it’s a spectacular studio light. Since many people use their phones as studio cameras, it’s beneficial to have a pro-grade light to enhance the quality of their images and footage. 

A professional bi-color LED panel delivering studio-quality output with precise color temperature control, excellent build quality, and consistent performance. Features multiple power options, professional mounting, and the reliability needed for commercial productions.

A compact and affordable power bank that delivers reliable charging without breaking the bank. At just 0.6 inches thick, it slips easily into your pocket or camera bag while providing enough power to charge most smartphones twice fully. Features fast charging technology and multiple safety protections for worry-free daily use.

I have the previous version of this PowerCore, and it has held up well over years of use. 

There are numerous battery power banks on the market, but we’ve selected items from Anker because they’re renowned for their high build quality and minimal overheating issues.

The gold standard for iPhone users, this MagSafe-compatible power bank snaps magnetically to your phone for seamless wireless charging. Features complete 15W Qi2 wireless charging, 30W wired charging, and an ultra-slim design that doesn’t add significant bulk while providing reliable power throughout your shooting day. This is another product where I’ve got the previous version in my computer bag. The only downside to this charger is that the magnetic wireless charging is slow, and it never gets the iPhone past 80%. However, it helps preserve the iPhone battery’s charge during use, allowing you to finish the day with a fully… Read more

This is more than a smartphone charger; it’s an everything charger. The ultimate power solution for serious photographers who need to charge multiple devices simultaneously. Features a massive 250W output, dual USB-C ports, a bright display showing real-time charging data, and sufficient capacity to charge laptops, cameras, and phones multiple times while staying just under airline carry-on limits.

When I went on a photo safari to Africa several years ago, I had to bring multiple chargers to equal the functionality of this device. It’s heavy, but it can replace your laptop charger, phone chargers, and camera chargers.