My Entire List of Photography Gear
If you’re just getting started as a professional photographer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the gear you may think you need to get started. I started shooting weddings almost ten years ago, but I remember well what it felt like to not know where to start and where my money would be best spent.
One thing I was sure about, though, even in the early years, was that I needed to produce quality images for my clients so I rented for many years. As my business grew and bookings increased, I was able to invest more money into equipment and, slowly but surely, I no longer had to rent.
If you’re just getting started as a photographer, know that you don’t have to have all the things in order to get started, but it’s great to have an idea of what you may need down the road if you are thinking of becoming a professional wedding photographer. Below you will find the list of photography gear that I currently own and use. I hope it’s useful to you in planning out your future investments!
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To start, I shoot Canon. My first DSLR was a Canon Rebel and it lasted me several years. If you’re just getting started in photography, the Rebel series is a great first DSLR. When it came time to upgrade, I purchased the Canon 7D and also loved it but quickly outgrew it and upgraded to the 5D Mark IIIs. A few years ago, the Canon 5D Mark IVs came out and that’s what I shoot with now.
I have two 5D Mark IVs and they are my workhorses! I shoot with two cameras at all times so they get a pretty equal amount of use.
The Canon 5D Mark IV is simply amazing. It is a full-frame camera that works extremely well in low light, which is especially important for church ceremonies if you’re trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. My favorite feature of this camera is the dual card slots which allow me to produce a back-up to my images right in the camera! One slot holds a memory card to record one copy of the image and the second slot holds another memory card to record a second copy of the image simultaneously. So if I ever get a corrupt card, which is a possible although extremely rare occurrence, then I have a second one with the same exact images on it. This gives me such peace of mind on a wedding day!
I have two of these! They’re my old cameras, but they still produce beautiful images, so I kept them as backups in case something ever happened to one of my Mark IVs. When you upgrade your camera, I highly recommend avoiding selling your old one, but instead keeping for backup purposes, or for personal use.
This lens has the perfect focal length for tight spaces during getting ready photos on a wedding day. I also use it during the processional when the bride walks down the aisle, during family formals, and on the dance floor when I want to capture lots of people in the frame. It’s also my preferred lens for newborn photography since it allows me to get wide shots of the baby while still being within arm’s reach.
This is my favorite lens, although the 85mm 1.4L comes in at a close second. This was my first L series prime lens and it was love at first click. I use this lens primarily for portraits and love the sharpness and bokeh that it produces, plus it is amazing in low light. It is definitely my go-to lens for both weddings and portrait sessions and I could shoot a whole wedding with it if I had to. But luckily, I don’t have to! 🙂
This lens is my fancy lens! It has creamy bokeh and is tack sharp at f/1.4! It comes out for portraits and I’m always so sad when it’s time to put it away. It’s a dreamy lens!
This is the lens I use for close-up shots of engagement and wedding rings and I use it for jewelry as well. It’s a must-have for key parts of the day, but once I’m done with bridal details, it does spend most of the day in my suitcase. I do take it out to get close-up shots of reception details! When I’m doing newborn sessions, I sometimes use it for close-ups of newborn baby lips and toes!
This is a wide-angle lens that rarely comes out but it does come in handy for wide angle shots of the ceremony, crowded reception dance floors, architecture, and churches.
This lens is great for its versatility, performance in low light, and sharpness. It’s perfect for tight spaces, but it also allows me to zoom if I need to. It also comes in handy for large group shots when the 35mm 1.4 isn’t wide enough. I use it mostly during the reception for dancing shots because you can fit so many people in the frame.
The 70-200mmL 2.8L IS II is an amazing lens, and a must-have for wedding photographers. This lens allows me to get close-ups of the bride and groom at the altar and during portraits, of their family members in the church pews, of the first dance, and so much more.
These flashes have wireless transmitters built into them so I can control both the flash on my cameras and the ones on my light stands right from the flash we place on the camera. During receptions, I use three of these at once so that I can shoot with one on my camera and two off-camera.
Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter
This transmitter comes in handy when I want to trigger my off-camera flashes without using the on-camera one. It’s not 100% necessary since one of my 600EX-RTs can be used to trigger the off-camera flashes but it’s a nice lightweight alternative.
I use my Nissin Power Packs to provide extra power supply to my off-camera flashes during church portraits and reception. These are what you would see hanging on my light stands, plugged into the off-camera flashes.
I love shooting with two cameras at all times, and my Holdfast moneymaker makes this possible.
These guys hold my off-camera flashes during family formals and reception.
Kelly Moore makes the best camera bags! Plus they don’t look like camera bags so that’s a perk.
This suitcase fits so much yet it is light enough for me to carry up and down steps when I can’t get to an elevator, even when it’s packed with gear.
Accessories
I have an endless supply of accessories such as rechargeable batteries, memory cards, lens cleaning supplies, etc. and even though they are essential, they aren’t as exciting as some of these other items. I have listed some of these items on my Tools and Resources page here.
I hope this post was interesting and helpful to new photographers, or even experienced ones who are looking to add a new lens to their arsenal!
