Once in a while, I get asked what kind of gear I use for my weddings. Although I initially felt it was an odd thing to ask about, I quickly realized that it’s a very legitimate question! I mean, think about it; everyone has access to at least one camera of some sort these days – even sheep now have some experience with camera technology! PS, as a full disclaimer: I do not recommend hiring sheep to photograph or film your wedding, but you get my point 🙂 – there are cameras for virtually everyone and every purpose!

So what’s in my camera bag on every wedding day? All of this:

In this iPhone photo: Canon 5DmkIII w/ battery grip, 5DmkII, 24mm f/1.4L, 35mm f/1.4L, 50mm f/1.2L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 600EX-RT flash (1), 580EX II flashes (2), Battery Packs (3), Pocketwizard Transceivers (3), CF + SD cards (184GBs), Android Nexus 7 tablet, Lenspen, Flashlight, Hold Fast Money Maker harness, Single-use lens wipes and Ear Plugs

I absolutely love my set up: it’s both efficient and reliable as it incorporates backups for everything that I would need for a full wedding day. Knowing that almost all my equipment is within arm’s reach, while I’m on the run all day, gives me the peace of mind I will always be thankful for. For those of you who have no idea what on earth all these fancy toys are, I’ll go into a bit more detail about each of them:

Canon 5DmkIII (w/ BG-E11 battery grip)

I don’t even know where to start with this amazing beast of a camera. The Canon 5DmkIII blows my mind every time – this might be the greatest camera Canon has ever produced (for it’s worth). With its amazing ISO range, super fast burst speed, freakishly accurate focusing system, abundant focus points, silent ninja shooting mode and life saving dual memory card slots, what more could any wedding photographer ask for? This is definitely my primary camera body. Combined with the BG-E11 battery grip, I can shoot perfectly vertical portraits with enough juice for days 😀

Canon 5DmkII

The Canon 5DmkII, predecessor of the 5DmkIII, is a camera I’ve been shooting with for the past 4 years. Although I consider it as my ‘backup’ camera, I still put it to full use throughout the day. Having another lens mounted on a second camera saves me from the hassle of stopping to switch lenses in the middle of big moments. And no, the 5DmkII isn’t that ugly… I enclosed it in a Camera Armor protective case during my early days of pro shooting (I constantly feared breaking my camera back then and never took it off ever since). It also helps me keep a low profile, especially when I travel 😎

Canon Lenses

From left to right: 50mm f/1.2L, 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II, 24mm f/1.4L and 35mm f/1.4L

During my groom and bridal preparation, I often shoot with my 35mm as my story telling lens. At the end of each prep, the 50mm is my portrait lens of choice for both the bride and groom. During ceremonies and receptions, I mainly shoot with both the 70-200mm and 50mm to cover both the bride and groom, as well as their guests’ reactions, without being intrusive. The 24mm comes in really handy whenever I have to shoot large family portraits or scenery from the day. These aren’t strict rules, I constantly make adjustments depending on the different scenarios… weddings are sometimes unpredictable! Just in case you’re already wondering: I mainly shoot with prime lenses (fixed zooms) because they are significantly sharper and faster than most other zoom lenses. They are also amazing under low light conditions where I’m unable to use a flash!

Canon 600EX-RT & 580EX II Flashes

Although I prefer to shoot without flashes during the day as much as possible, the Canon 600EX-RT and 580EXII are major lifesavers during very dark indoor ceremonies and reception halls. I plug my Pocketwizard Transceivers into my flash(es) and mount them onto 1 or 2 separate off-camera lightstands (not pictured above) during receptions. I absolutely love this set up because it gives a lot of ambiance and dimension to my photos while I use another on-camera flash for fill. As a personal opinion, I believe this set up makes a HUGE difference in my photos… that’s just the techie in me 😎

Other Accessories

• Hold Fast Money Maker – This leather harness brilliantly combines functionality and comfort while rocking a fashionable look. I love it so much that I always wear a matching leather watch and belt, seriously 😉
• Android Nexus 7 Tablet – LTE Internet access that doubles as a mobile hotspot is really useful, especially while traveling! Not to mention watching videos on how to tie a tie or bow tie whenever I hang out with some of the groomsmen (true story, bro).
• Lenspen and Lens wipes – Clean lenses are a must – these are really handy when little accidents happen.
• Ear Plugs – The dance floor can get pretty loud sometimes, these save my head from ringing in the morning!
• Flashlight – Packing up my gear in a dark corner of a reception hall without this would almost be impossible

Well, there you have it! I hope you found all this information helpful. I know it’s a lot, but I always love sharing any little knowledge I have with everyone! If I’m missing anything, please feel free to ask in the comments below 🙂

Cheers.

T.