Some of it may be necessary, some of it may not. In this article, I am going to touch on some things to consider when you are just getting into photography. I encourage everyone to offer their own thoughts as well, as there are many different philosophies when it comes to the world of photography.
The Camera
There are tons of articles about selecting cameras, so I am not going to dwell on this topic very long. The key issue that I want to emphasize here is that you shouldn't fell overwhelmed by your camera. Only get as much camera as you're going to use. If you're just starting out, there's no reason you can't use a point-and-shoot camera. There's plenty you can do with it, and if you're not so interested in things like Macro Photography (really small subject material) or Depth of Field (only very specific things in focus), then it's a good place to start. If you are interested in taking it to the next level, Digital SLR may be the way to go. But cost is a major issue here, so you'll need to keep that in mind. Don't blow your budget on the camera. You can always upgrade later when you need a better camera. Beside, the technology is only getting better. By the time you need to upgrade, there will either be better cameras available, or they will be cheaper.
Quick tip: Many local camera shops offer rentals. You may be able to rent a camera you're considering to see if you really like the feel. If you can't find a shop, take pictures around the shop.
Essential Accessories
Lenses
The Lens is the real power behind your photographs. Depending on the type of camera you have and the type of photography you want to do, the right lens will make a huge difference. Wide angle lenses are great for landscape photography. Sports photographers may want a longer range with a mid or upper range zoom lens. Some cameras come with a kit lens which may very well be a great starter lens, but may not be what you need. Lenses are expensive, so do your research. Look for sample photos and try it out, if you can.
Case
Get yourself a good camera case. One that's sturdy. One that is easy to access in a hurry. Especially if you need a larger case for your D-SLR, make sure that you are comfortable carrying it around. Also make sure that you can access your camera without the possibility of dumping the contents of your bag. Very often, you won't have a place to set your bag down to access your camera, so assume you'll be pulling it out while the bag is strapped to your shoulder.
Memory Cards
While it is very tempting to buy one really large memory card for your camera, I would encourage you to consider otherwise. The truth is that memory cards will eventually fail. While that may be a long time down the line, you want to make sure you lose as little of your work as possible. Instead, I would recommend getting a few of the smaller cards. Note, however, that if you're using a 10 megapixel D-SLR, a 1 gigabyte card could be considered a small card. When you're considering your card options, you will likely get what you pay for. Pay attention to transfer rates. The speed of your card is going to impact how fast you can take pictures contiguously. This may be very important if you're a sports photographer as you will use burst modes regularly. While you're at it, get yourself a small media wallet for your cards. Many options are available that make it easy to sort your cards and stow them safely. The manufacturer of your camera case may make a media case that works well with your camera case.
Filters
Generally, filters are an optional accessory. The purpose of filters, in most cases, is to get an extra effect in your photography when you click the shutter button. However, depending on the type of camera you have and the type of photography you want to do, there area few essential filters to have. If you have a SLR camera with detachable lenses, get yourself a UV Filter, one for each lens. For digital cameras, the UV filter doesn't really do a whole lot. But it's a great way to protect the glass in your lens from dust, dirt or scratches. You can get a good UV filter for less than $20 (USD). Surely, that's not much to ask to protect your $300 lens.
For landscape photography, another great filter to have is a Circular Polarizer filter. Have you ever seen those landscape photographs where the sky is a deep blue? This is what the Circular Polarizer provides. It's also great at controlling reflections on water or glass. Two things to note: 1) There is also a polarizer filter out there known as a Linear Polarizer. These confuse your auto-focus, so you may want to avoid these. 2) Circular Polarizers can be expensive. Don't be surprised to spend $50-100 for a good filter.
