What’s in my camera bag?

Wedding Photography is such a complicated genre of photography. You in fact have many genres mixed in to one day. Portraiture, documentary, product photography, natural light and flash photography. You need to be creative and push yourself to try new things so you stand out in a very competitive industry. You need to be in the right place, right time holding the right camera and lens to get a shot you have only one chance to get over and over again through out a very high pressure 11-12 hours. This takes many years to hone. The kit is use now is what i’ve figured out what suits me best. I have literally tried everything! Zoom lenses, prime lenses, 3 cameras, 2 cameras and I’m very happy with what i’m running now.

Camera and Lenses

You’ve found me at a bit of a change with my cameras. I have recently purchased the Sony A7 IV. I have always been a Nikon shooter when I started changing from film to DSLR’s and then the newer mirrorless cameras. There isn’t anything wrong with my Nikon kit but other camera brands are a little quicker releasing updates. Sony have led the way with the mirrorless cameras so I got my self one of theirs! Now it’s an expensive job to switch camera brands as literally everything has to be replaced from flash guns to lenses so i’m currently finding out if I like Sony’s and I must say I do! Paired with the Sony 35mm 1.4GM its really impressed me (35mm is such a great focal length so I shoot 70% of my wedding images with this) The face detect autofocus is unbelievable at finding peoples faces and sticking to them like glue. I can shoot with this not looking through the camera and trust it will focus with out my help. Also the “look” it gives to my images is perfect for what i’m wanting to achieve. The one disappointing thing with the Sony is the EVF is fairly low resolution and the rear LCD could be bigger!

On to my Nikon Z6ii’s. I was an early adopter of the new mirrorless camera way back in 2018 buying the original Z6. I automatically found this style of camera suited me way more than a DSLR. By most part I've found my Nikons to be amazing and in some areas like the EVF and LCD screen are beautiful quality and superior to the Sony but the face detect is unusable. So I shoot them in single point focus mode. This is where I have manual control of where the focus point is which is very accurate… I just want face detection! Paired with the Nikons I have the Nikon 85mm 1.4G, an absolute gem of a lens. it needs a converter because it was originally designed for DSLR’s but that works seamlessly. The quality of this lens is beautiful. It’s on my camera all day. It’s great for group shots, portraits and candids where people are a little further away from me. The Nikon 50mm 1.8Z is a newer style lens for the mirrorless cameras. Last year I used this a lot but it’s barely on my camera now. The Nikon 24mm 1.8Z is an interesting one. I am starting to favour this over my 35mm at certain weddings.

Documentary/street photography is what really inspires me and this genre of photography tends to suit the wider lenses. Basically the closer you are to your subject the more the view feels a part of the experience of what is happening with in the frame. So you can be really close to the action and still see a lot of the scene around the main subject. I will be experimenting more and I can see my 35mm being used less. I primarily shoot with fixed focal length lenses (primes) so basically they don’t zoom. Theirs three reasons for this. Primes have a lower aperture capabilities. This lets in more light in to the camera so in less the ideal lighting situations (which happens a lot at weddings) you can get good images in low light. When you can’t zoom it means you have to use your feet to get closer. Not only does this make me think about the composition of photo it also means I burn more calories! The 3rd is BOKEH! Those lovely blurry background you see in wedding photos that removes all distractions is what bokeh is. I do tend to shoot at higher apertures but it’s a nice feature to have as well.

Now to my only use in an emergency lens. The expensive, ugly and very heavy Nikon 70-200mm 2.8. This is permanently attached to a camera and hidden away in my camera big. I WILL find my self in a situations such as a big church, a vicar that will only allow me to stand outside and shoot through a window or during the speeches an elaborate table lay out where I can’t get any near close enough to for my 85mm to have enough reach. It’s an extremely high quality lens and great at getting me out of tough situations but any more than an hour using it I risk a hernia!

Lastly the Sigma 105mm macro. This is only in my bag for one shot and that’s very close up details of jewellery aka the wedding rings. I don’t often need to get that close but it’s there just incase.

Most of the day I’m using the Sony A7 iv with the 35mm and a Nikon Z6ii with the 85mm. My next purchase will be another Sony and the 24mm and 85mm lenses. I will probably keep my Nikon Z6ii’s as backups to my Sony’s. Another camera I have that I don’t back with me is the Nikon D780 which im going to sell. It’s a DSLR, Mirrorless hybrid. A great camera but it’s not getting used.

The memory card pelicase is to store memories cards once they are full of awesome images. It stores my 128gb XQD cards the nikons use as well as the Tough 128gb SD cards the Sony uses.

The Cloverlily Handmade Leather Camera Harness (bought off etsy) is by far the most comfortable way to carry my cameras. I have used so many different systems. From other harnesses that gave me horrendous back ache to clips that attach to your belt. The clips were great but they end up pulling your trousers low and are also a little cumbersome when you try clip the camera in. Get the Cloverlilly harness if your a photographer looking for one, its as comfy as hell!

The Godox V1 flash is a great flash for the Sony. It uses a dedicated rechargeable battery which will last atleast 4 weddings between charges. The Nikon SB900 is super old. Its been glued back together after a drop but it works well and gives a great look on the dance floor so if its not broke!

Other things I use…

MOSISO Camera Backpack from Amazon. It looks nice, its sturdy, its cheap and it doesn’t do that thing where the velcro dividers detach and your kit falls around in side the bag. A great bag!

MacBook Pro M1. I tend to take this with me so I can get a head start on backing up images so i’m not up for hours when I get home.

3 Legged Thing and SMALLRIG L Brackets. These L shape metal brackets are strapped to my camera bodies and save them from knocks, scuffs and scratches. A must if you want you kit to look a little less bashed up

Dr Marten Combs Boots Gaucho Crazyhorse. Literally the most comfortable boot I can wear to nurse my feet through ten thousands steps I tend do at a wedding!

Thanks for stopping by and having a read. I hope this is of interest to someone!