If you’re curious what’s in my camera bag, this post is for you!

Let me put a disclaimer on this post and say that good photography does not depend solely on your equipment, but good equipment does sometimes make it easier to achieve the results you’re looking for. Regardless of  equipment, a professional photographer also needs the skill to use that equipment, a  good eye for composition, the ability to pose people, and editing skills and style. In this post I share what I’m shooting with and some of the technical reasons why I chose my equipment.

CAMERA BODIES:

1. Nikon D750

I absolutely love this camera! I have 2 of these so I can have a backup and save time by not having to switch lenses all the time. I prefer Nikon over Canon just because that’s what I started shooting on. Here are a couple of factors that I took into consideration when choosing my camera:

• Sensor size: This camera is full frame. I prefer to shoot with a full frame camera because of the better low light performance, better depth of field, higher dynamic range, and the true angle of view without a crop factor. If you’re just getting started, definitely do some research before deciding on your sensor size, you’ll have to buy lenses based on what you choose!
• Manual controls: I love that this camera has two dials that I can easily control aperture and shutter speed with. This makes shooting in manual intuitive and easy.
• Dual memory card slots: Having 2 memory card slots is nice because I can set one slot to be a backup. This is important so I never have to worry about the memory card failing.
• Tilting screen: The tilting screen is great for shooting at odd angles. It’s handy for shooting down at the clients (the most flattering angle) and still being able to view the picture. It’s also nice for flat lay images.
• Video: This isn’t necessarily a factor that most wedding photographers worry about, but I wanted a camera with good video quality since I enjoy doing a little freelance videography, and my background is more in the videography area. This camera takes 1080p high definition video at up to 60 frames per second. This basically means that you can slow down the video without losing quality.

2. Fujifilm X-T1

I don’ take this camera to weddings, but I love it for traveling and documenting everyday life. This is a mirrorless camera with an electronic viewfinder. It’s water resistant and basically just a lot of fun to use.

LENSES: 

A good DSLR camera will eventually wear out after a certain number of shots. Good lenses on the other hand, last a lot longer. Because of this fact, I actually believe that buying quality lenses is more important than the camera you choose. My best advice to new photographers is to invest in prime lenses. You can’t zoom in with prime lenses, but you can achieve better low light performance and blurrier backgrounds because of the aperture.

1. Nikon 35mm 1.8 – This is my widest prime lens which makes it the best for bridal parties, family formals, and venue shots.
2. Nikon 50mm 1.8 – This lens is the most versatile focal length. If you had to buy just one prime lens, this should be the one you start with.
3. Nikon 85mm 1.8 – This is my most zoomed in portrait lens and I use it mostly for bride and groom portraits.
4. Nikon 105mm 2.8 – This macro lens allows me to get close up shots. It’s perfect for rings, earrings, and other little details.
5. Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 – This is my only zoom lens. I use this lens during the wedding ceremony and reception to get close up without having to stand close to the subject.