What’s In My Bag?
In the world of photography, there are many, many options relating to the products that professional and hobbyists alike use and desire! The photography market changes yearly, with new advances in technology and tools being developed and released all the time! The real difference comes from the profession of the person using the camera.
Now this blog could easily turn into a conversation on gear recommendations and how to shop for the best deals (as cameras can be super expensive), and while I might write a blog about that later, for now let’s get back to the point of this blog; What’s in my bag?
To answer that question I’m going to create a list which will include some side notes on some of the pros and cons and a note on whether or not I’d recommend each item on the list! With that, let’s begin!
Camera Body
Make: Canon
Model: 5D Mark IV
Release Year: 2016
Current Price: $1,800-$2,200 (Used)
I’ve been using this camera as my ‘daily driver’ so to speak for 3 years now, and it’s performed wonderfully! Once upon a time it was definitely a high tier offering from Canon and while the model is almost 6 years old it still performs wonderfully next to more modern alternatives. In fact you’d be hard pressed to find a photographer who’s used the 5D Mark IV and wouldn’t recommend it.
Pros:
Full frame
Fantastic low-light capability (I have shot and delivered images at 5,000 ISO)
Quiet shutter
Beautiful LCD screen
Dual card slot to instantly backup images while shooting
Cons:
Heavy
Sometimes autofocus misfires
Overall, the pros far outweigh the cons for this camera. I still use to this day to deliver beautiful images to all my clients! It easily gets my recommendation, especially if you can find one in good condition for a fair price!
Lenses
Make: Canon
Model: 24mm-70mm F2.8
The 24-70 F2.8 is a fantastic offering from Canon and honestly one of the best lenses to use for wedding photography. Again, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who uses this type of lens and wouldn’t recommend it, especially for wedding photographers. The price point on lenses varies so much, but the saying holds true here more than anywhere, with lenses you really do get what you pay for. I use this lens for a lot of shots on the wedding day; getting ready, processional and recessional, wide reception shots, and so much more!
Pros:
Decent wide angle without losing image sharpness
Built in macro switch
Fairly good at focusing on close-up shots
Cons:
Lowest F-Stop is 2.8
In my opinion it’s a great lens for any photographer and I highly recommend it!
Make: Canon
Model: 100mm Macro F2.8
Another stellar offering from Canon and one that I use every wedding! Macro lenses produce close-up images that you simply can’t get from any other lens. I specifically use this lens for detail shots of rings and jewelry. Nothing photographs details as nice as this lens!
Pros:
Nothing gets better close-up images
Cons:
Very expensive
Not used for many shots
While I do recommend this lens it’s not cheap, so if you have the extra income then I say go for it but it’s not a necessity.
Make: Canon
Model: 85mm F1.8
This lens is another very useful offering from Canon. Like usual it goes with me to every wedding I go to! I use it to shoot portraits, ceremony images, and reception details. I would highly recommend this lens for getting stunning portraits of the bride and groom.
Pros:
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Gorgeous, sharp portraits with backlighting
Opens wide @ F-Stop of 1.8
Cons:
Doesn’t have good close-up focus
Can’t use indoors due to focal length
Occasional focus misfire
Can be soft at times
This lens does get my recommendation but it’s more of a portrait lens than anything in my opinion, so I wouldn’t recommend it for other types of photography.
Make: Canon
Model: 70mm-200mm F2.8
This lens has its uses, especially if you photograph a lot of church/indoor weddings where you need to be out of the way. The focal length allows you to get nice close-up shots from a distance. The low-light performance is also steller, great for darkened indoor shoots! I use it mostly for ceremony and reception shots. Another great Canon offering!
Pros:
Good in low-light environments
Can capture close-ups from a distance
Cons:
Heavy
Expensive
I still recommend this lens, especially if you shoot a lot of indoor weddings. It could also be used by wildlife photographers, but I wouldn’t recommend it for landscapes.
Make: Canon
Model: 50MM F1.4
My final lens is a fantastic Canon offering and one that a fair amount of wedding photographer’s use. The ‘fixed 50’ as it’s affectionately known is a great low-light lens! I personally use it to capture portraits and reception details.
Pros:
Great in low-light
Phenomenal for bridal portraits
Cons:
Large and heavy
Expensive
Can be soft at times
I would recommend this one 100% of the time for portrait photographers. It does still get my seal of recommendation for wedding photographers but only if you have the extra income, it’s not a necessity.
Camera Bag
Make: ONA
Model: Canvas Shoulder Bag
This bag has been with me through more than half of years running KHP, 6 years to be exact. It’s a tough bag, it’s been through hundreds of weddings and even more engagements. It’s very professional looking and allows for quick access to gear for things like lens changes. That said it’s not without its flaws, mainly that it’s not comfortable to wear for long periods of time and it’s not a large bag.
Pros:
Tough
Professional looking
Allows for quick gear changes
Cons:
Not comfortable for long periods
Small
Honestly, while I’ve used this bag for many, many years I would only recommend it for photographers that don’t need extra gear or don’t have a second body with tons of alternate lens. It’s definitely not great for hikers or wildlife photographers.
Top 3 Notable Accessories
Peak Design Camera Clip
This is one of the best items on this list! This camera clip attaches to the outside of the bag and allows me to hang the camera freely and securely on the outside for quick access, giving me more storage inside the bag! In the 3 years that I’ve been using this clip I haven’t found one thing I don’t like!
Pros:
Versatile
Crazy useful
Sub $75
Cons:
None!
This clip easily gets my recommendation! Seriously go buy one right now!
Hand Strap
While I don’t have a specific brand I’d recommend, I do love my hand strap! It allows me to comfortably rest my grip during a long day of shooting. It also avoids the accidental strap-in-front-of-the-camera predicament. I’ve used one for 5 years now and I love it!
Pros:
Allows you to rest your grip
Avoids strap-in-front-of-camera
Cons:
Some of these straps require use of the tripod thread, blocking your use of the camera on a tripod without removing the strap
Overall, for wedding photographers I highly recommend it, but for other photographers I think you’d be more comfortable with a neck strap.
B+W UV Filters
Seriously, I don’t even need to say more than these are a lifesaver, or at least a lens saver. They don’t cut the quality of the images you take, and they can save your lens from damage! I’ve had one of my lenses fall onto a sharp rock while hiking and this filter took the damage for the lens! I’ve been using the B+W brand filters for over 20 years and they are worth the money!
Pros:
Great lens protectors
Don’t sacrifice image quality
Cons:
Expensive (around $100 each)
Do I recommend? YES! Nothing more to say.
Please bear in mind that all these opinions are my own. I have lots of experience with these products and brands but that doesn’t mean that other products and brands aren’t just as good or better! That said in the photography world you do literally ‘get what you pay for’.
I hope you found this blog insightful. While I might be recommending some products that seem a tad excessive and or expensive, that's because my business is at the point where I can afford to get a tool that holds a higher price and thus a higher quality. You don’t need all these things to start in the wedding photography business nor would I recommend a beginner go out and buy all these things. But they are all useful and they all have a purpose in my work, thus they were included in this list!
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