Not to long ago when I was engaged to be married to my now wife and I had to search for a photographer just as you are now. One of the website pages I loved most while browsing for a photographer was the “What’s in my bag” page.
This page certainly isn’t for everyone and I’d actually expect that most people couldn’t care less about what kind of equipment their photographer uses…..just so long as the pictures are beautiful. That is a very fair attitude to have….your choice in a photographer certainly shouldn’t be based on their tools but rather the quality of their images.
However to some extent, just as a carpenter can’t hammer a nail if he only has a screwdriver. There are some “must-haves” in the wedding photographers bag that you’ll want to look for. First and foremost you’ll want to make sure your photographer has redundant equipment! Additional cameras, flashes, batteries etc. Your wedding day doesn’t allow for “re-do’s” and the simple fact is that camera equipment can (however rarely) malfunction.
Below is a list of equipment that I bring with me on every job. If you know a bit about photography or are a photographer yourself you’ll understand much of the verbiage.
Nikon D4s
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This is the newest addition to my camera bag and it’s a beast! Nikons flagship camera & the reigning king of high ISO and lowlight performance. Durability, reliability and outstanding image quality are just a few of the reasons why this is the choice of so many professionals!
Nikon D700 – This was my first full-frame (FX) digital camera. I purchased it about 4yrs ago and for a long time it was my go-to workhorse. Its not my “primary” camera anymore since the D4s has some additional bells and whistles that I prefer, however when it comes to image quality and speed, I’ve never had a complaint!
Nikon 24-70 2.8 – This was one of the first lenses I purchased as I started to turn my hobby into a business. Along with it’s big brother below (70-200) it’s an absolute must have. Nothing beats the 24-70mm focal range. Perfect for wide angels, group shots and especially for capturing the action on the dance floor.
Nikon 85mm 1.4 – This was one of the toughest purchases I made as a professional photographer. This lens is considered by most professional photographers as the sharpest and highest quality lens on the market today. The 85mm focal range is great for portraits and the super fast f1.4 allow lots of natural light with a VERY thin depth of field.
Nikon 105mm 2.8 – I’ve always been fascinated with macro (close-up) photography, so when taking some of the details shots throughout the wedding day I LOVE this lens on the front of my camera. The 1.1 magnification gives you such an amazing perspective and detail when photographing objects like the wedding rings. The 105mm focal range is also helpful when you want a real close-up without getting really close-up
Nikon 50mm 1.8 – This was one of the first lenses I ever purchased and to this day is still in my camera bag. I can’t say I use it much but given it’s small size it wouldn’t make sense to leave home. It’s truly “tac-sharp” with a super fast auto-focus. Strange characteristics considering it’s by far the least expensive lens I own.
Quantum Trio “Q flash” and Turbo Battery – Years ago when I was just an assistant wedding photographer. My boss would swear by the “Q-Flash”. Yes it’s expensive and yes it’s a little bulky but it provides the most diffused, natural flash on the market. It’s power and recycle speed are unmatched providing me with the most beautiful light under some of the most difficult conditions imaginable.
Custom Bracket- Yes its a bit cumbersoom but I love love love my Custom Bracket! Lightwight and easy to hold, it allows my Q-flash to sit well above my camera (relieving pressure from my hotshoe) and preventing any chance of red-eye. This bracket also allows for the camera to rotate in a circular axis always keeping the flash head above the camera. This is a MUST for any photographer that wants to eliminate the ugly shadows that can sometimes be cast behind your subject.