Photoshop CC only, plus a few plug-ins...I went for the bargain of the photographer's plan in 2014 since it became available, and It is STILL a bargain at $10/month USD with all the new features that have been added since then.. May photographers are "somewhat" intimidated by Photoshop, but it is easier to use than they think..And I am NOT a geek! (HA!)

I had a Microsoft surface pro given to me as a birthday present a few years ago..The device was a total piece of junk, with screen colors that really sucked, and 0 % technical support from MSFT!!..Never again will I purchase another example of Microsoft hardware!

I use a gimbal headed tripod or an old Bogen (Manfrotto) monopod, and ALL legs are wrapped in weightless pipe insulation foam, and then overwrapped with "Hockey Tape"..I discovered this solution a couple of years ago, and all is still intact, including my 74 year old shoulders!! The trick is t find the balance point on your camera with mono or tripod placed on your shoulder with ALL wrapped TIGHT, and you'll hardly fee the weight!!

YUP..Flash fill is the easiest to learn and will get you consistently good images of people!..Set it up for distances not too far away from your subject(s), and don't be afraid of high speed Sync!!

I purchased a MovoFoto gimbal almost 2 years ago from Amazon for use with my 150-600mm G2 Tamron..I got the original aluminum version at about $100 USD..It's service has been EXCELLENT for my purposes..No it's will not be as smooth as a Wimberely..But for my money , it is an absolute bargain at a great price point! It has seen a lot of use
, and it hasn't failed me!!

A complete set of "filter wrenches"..Really inexpensive on eBay or Amazon A friend just borrowed mine for a stuck filter, and was so impressed he bough
t a set of his own!!

I've been on Adobe's subscription plan for Photographers since 2014 when it 1st became available, and I jumped at the opportunity..And for just $10/month it is indeed a bargain, including all updates and new features..It does include Lightroom and it's updates as well, but I currently use Photoshop CC 2018 exclusively with Nik and Topaz plug-ins. I also print 99% of my own work up to 13x19", and use Nations Photo Labs for anything larger.Many other companies are also developing processing apps, but have a long way to go in attempting to catch up to Adobe, and the support of years of on-line videos from the real experts in the field..I say "Just DO it"!!

BM (for Big Mike) on Amazon..Just make sure you go for the premium ones-2 for around $30!..Been using them for 1.5 years..No problems with my D500 and Nikon Grip;..Also PRO-Master has worked fine as well during the same period..If anything, I've noticed that both of these alternates seem to be good for about 10-20% more shooting than the OEM Nikon battery!

You'll get used to it..I find that BBF is the BEST for ALL my shooting(except of course for long exposure macro!) I've been using BBF now for over 3 years with both my Nikon d7000, and my D500!

I have 2 Epson printers, and use Red River Paper almost exclusively..And they DO have a great library of ICC profiles that really do work!!

After trying most others, i finally landed on"Denoise" From Topaz..It does the BEST job for me when I'm shooting at up to and even greater than ISO 6400 with my Nikon D500. I tried DXO's noise program, and dropped DXO altogether after I discovered DeNOISE on the advice of many other photographers, and I'm happy I took their advice!!

I've been EXCLUSIVELY using Adobe Photoshop ONLY, since Photoshop version 5.0 (1996??), and have adopted the PHOTOSHOP CC path since the inception of the "Adobe Photoshop for Photographers" at $9.99/month (around 2014?)..I have never had need to challenge that decision!!.. It is by far the BEST tool out there, which BTW ALSO includes "Lightroom" (which I have no need or desire to load onto my computer).. Photoshop CC 2018 is one heck of a BARGAIN!!

For birds and other wildlife, I use manual mode with auto ISO 99% of the time, set with a ceiling of 3200, which I have over-ridden to 6400 or 12,500 on (rare) occasion. Picked up this method along with back-button focus and other slick tricks from Steve Perry at http://www.backcountrygallery.com Steve's website is the absolute best I've found for nature and wildlife photography, especially for Nikon! ( I own a Nikon D500)..

From my own personal experience with my Nikon D500 and a Tamron 150-600 G2 mounted to a gimbal head, I just leave my VC set on #3 all the time....GREAT results with this setting since I've purchased this equipment over a year and a half ago..I also use VC #3 for hand held shots as well!

I have Arca-Type plates and clamps for ALL of my gear that connects to just about anything!!..I dropped the Manfrotto/ Bogen type connectors about 10 years ago, and I have not looked back.. The Arca-Style plates and clamps have become so commonplace, that even the rotating lens-collar on my Tamron 150-600mm G2 has an arca plate built into the mount so it eradicates the need to add an additional plate to mount on a gimbal type or ball headed tripod (or monopod!!). I say go "ARCA"..It's here NOW and in the future!!