I'm a coffee loving, travel-obsessed, twenty-something based out of Central Illinois. I'm lucky enough to make a living doing what I love - photographing people! I specialize in weddings (destination + local), senior portraits, + boudoir.
I’ve wanted to write this post for FOEVAAAA and I’m just now getting around to it. Typical. But we’re here, and I want to share with you the main gear I take with me on a wedding day. I won’t bore you with the entire inventory (hello memory cards and batteries) but today we’ll walk through the BIG stuff. I get asked allllll the time what camera I shoot with or what lenses I use, and now, there’ll be a blog post for that! Though this isn’t to be confused with my “What Camera Should I Get?” post for beginners wondering what they should buy first! This post will cover each camera and lens (I can cover reception lighting in another post! I use on a wedding day – I’m much more minimal for an engagement session or boudoir session!
To start, I currently shoot with my Canon 5D Mk IV as my main body. When Brandon’s with me, he shoots with my Mark III, and I also bring my Mk II for backups. Rule #1 for any photographer, allllllwwaaayyyyssssss have a backup. And maybe a backup for that backup, just in case. 😉Trust me, the dropsies happen, as it happened to me at a wedding last December! (all was saved thanks to my baaccckkkuuup!)
Now, I used to be a loyal Canon Customer. I mean, I still am, I don’t foresee ever switching to Nikon or Fuji or whatever, but I don’t exclusively shoot with Canon Products. I used to though! I switched from using all Canon prime lenses (meaning these bad boys don’t zoom) to renting, falling in love with, and ultimately buying Sigma lenses! If you’re looking for a new lens or camera, always rent first! It’s so much cheaper! Anyways – I was recommended by a friend to check out the Sigma Art line of prime lenses, and let me tell you. Game. Changer. In my opinion, they are faster, sharper, creamier (bokeh-y-er??), and handle the light SO much better. I can’t STAND haze in my photos (with a few exceptions) and when dealing with sunlight, haze is bound to happen. But with my Sigmas, it’s handled MUCH better and there’s not near as much hassle to handle the light with these babies. So here’s what I’ve got:
This was my first Sigma lens purchase. I was SO over my Canon 1.2 Lens producing images with haze in them, and after some time, it just kept coming out with soft, slightly unfocused images. My pet peeve. So after some research and talking with a photog friend, she suggested I try out the Sigma line. I rented one for my next wedding and within 2 hours of using it I was SOLD. My 50 is my go-to lens for almost any situation, where with my full frame camera it’s just wide enough to get what I want and shooting close to 1.4 produces images with some pretty great bokeh! You also have a great range to shoot close up shots or farther back wide shots which is why it’s the most common focal length for any photographer, especially beginners.
Ahhhh, the 85. The lens that everyone talks about, but when I rented the Canon 85, I HATED. I felt like there was something I was missing! I mean, it took nice photos but was SOOO SLOOOOWWW. If you’ve ever seen me shoot, you know I am NOT. 😂I hated the idea of my gear slowing me down so I forgot about it until about a year later (after trying the 50mm) and I decided to rent the Sigma version. It’s SO much better. It’s fast, sharp, and the bokeh is so so so creamy with great compression for a prime lens.
Before we left for Iceland, I knew I wanted a wide prime lens to take with me. Of course at this point was thinking Sigma, and ultimately landed on buying the 24mm focal length. This lens is what 90% of my wide shots are taken with, and perfect for those landscape photos or for when I want a shot of the whole ceremony space. I also love to play with how fun it can be to shoot SUPER close up. With this lens being the newest to my lineup, there’s still a lot of figuring out to do yet!
This lens is Brandon’s go-to when we shoot together! I love this lens, it’s just HEAVY and bulky! It’s the perfect zoom lens (esp. during the ceremony when you want to be invisible) for close ups or when you can’t get as close as you wish. I’ve had this one for years and it’s still tac-sharp and the compression with this lens is amaaaaazing.
Besides the “nifty fifty” camera every beginner should have, the 24-70mm 2.8L was my first “BIG” lens purchase. It is a workhorse for sure. It doesn’t come out of the bag much anymore unless I want to experiment with light on the dance floor at a reception. The zoom feature of this lens allows for me to drag my shutter to get some funky lit dance floor scenes! It’s not often done because it’s difficult and time consuming to catch a decent shot!
That’s all of my gear! But wait, you think I’m missing something? Ohhhhhh, you may be wondering where my macro lens is for all my ring shots! That’s my bonus secret, I don’t have one! Yet I can get ring shots like this:
What’s my secret you ask? Macro filters! I couldn’t justify spending $900+ on a lens I’m really only buying to take out once in an entire day, so for $20 I found filters that fit my lens and with LOTS of practice have been able to get ring shots that I LOVE, at a fraction of the price. 😉
What else would you like to know about what’s in my bag? Comment below!
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