What's In My Bag - Essential Wedding Photography Gear

Introduction:

Hey there :) My name is Jessica Herrick, and I work with my wonderful boyfriend and business partner Jonah as professional destination and wedding photographers in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Today, I will answer a huge question we always hear, "What gear do you use for your business?" To answer everyone's question, I compiled a list of everything we use for weddings and why we use them!

I will address that we are natural light lovers and use flash as minimally as possible! The gear included here is based upon the mindset we have built, which is buying gear to provide the most phenomenal photos while keeping our equipment to a minimum.

When first starting photography, we had a small collection of gear that we built upon in the years that have passed. When buying near gear, we evaluate the quality with the price, so not all of our gear is with the brand name Fujifilm or Nikon, as we use both. If you can get a lens from a third party for half the cost or significantly cheaper but still top-of-the-line quality, that is the main goal when you're first starting!

So let's get into the gear!

Tip: We will have links to all the photography gear we use so you can easily access them and expand your collection of gear!

Camera Bodies

Fujifilm XT3:

The Fujifilm is what I use at every engagement/wedding/elopement, and I LOVE IT! From the mirrorless vs. DSLR and its capabilities to how lightweight it is, it is a GAME CHANGER! I switched from Canon to Fujifilm over three years ago, and I would never go back! Fujifilm is also fantastic for video and for photos!

Nikon D850 and Nikon D7200

Jonah used the Nikon D850 as his primary camera body with the Nikon D7200 as his secondary. The Nikon D850, priced at

$2, 796.95 on Amazon. This camera is arguably the best DSLR on the market so far, and Jonah is avid on bringing it to every photo opportunity; whether it be in travel, weddings, or elopements, this camera is stuck to his hip.

Now for the D7200, not only does it have WIFI (which is a HUGE perk for me), but it also has excellent autofocus capabilities and impeccable image quality!

Lenses

Our most used lenses are typically the 35mm and 50mm but the combination of all these lenses has met all the lighting and space conditions that we have faced in weddings!

Other Gear We Use

Fujifilm: Instax Mini

I love polaroid's whether it be in my personal life or with my clients. The magic in gifting couples with their polaroids and seeing the expressions on their faces is truly priceless.

https://amzn.to/3VRLla6

SD Cards: Sandisk Extreme Pro

It is always important to get an SD card that is compatible with your equipment and with the amount of storage you want to keep with you on the go! I tend to use the 64GB and switch it out during my weddings/elopements.

https://amzn.to/3iidWHO

Hard Drive: Lacie

Nothing beats Lacie Hard Drives! Just about everything is on them!

https://amzn.to/3iidWHO

Camera Bags

Some things to consider when purchasing your camera bags:

• how often are you traveling (flying, driving etc)
• How big are your lenses
• What type of cameras do you use (DSLR or Mirrorless)
• How much gear do you plan on having with you
• How long will you have your equipment on you
• How comfortable is the bag if its long hours like 8-10 hours weddings (strap, backpack, harness)

Digital DSLR Camera Bag Waterproof Sling Backpack:

This camera bag is one of the best bags I have ever used. Both Jonah and I use this bag for all day adventure elopements or weddings and it is lightweight and holds SO MUCH! I can stick just about anything but myself into it! I have tried many different bags, shoulder slings, and backpacks and this one trumps them all!

https://amzn.to/3Gr6OB5

Miscellaneous Stuff To Help You

A dual camera harness is perfect for dual camera wielders. Its the perfect way to have your two lenses and your two cameras readily available.

Dual Shoulder Leather Harness: A dual camera harness is perfect for dual camera wielders. Its the perfect way to have your two lenses and your two cameras readily available. https://amzn.to/3GLzExf

Microfiber Towels: Microfiber towels are great if you set your gear down anywhere dirty or your gear collects dust and dust.

Fractals and Prisms: Fractals and prisms are so fun to add a creative element to your shoot, adding to sun flares, and clients love them! This three pack is cost effective and do so much to expand on your portfolio.

https://amzn.to/3GLzExf

The Oh Shit Kit: The Oh Shit Kit is a kit for your brides and grooms that really is an "Oh Shit" moment. This kit has medicine, bleach pens, bobby pins, midol, tampons. Groom feeling sick? Toss him a liquid IV. Bride gets some dirt on her white wedding dress. Use a bleach pen! This is a way to give back to your clients and make sure they have a FULL and enjoyable experience where they can focus on getting married.