What’s in my Bag?
I see these posts around when other photographers do them, and I’m always fascinating and SO into all the little things that photographers use when they photograph weddings. So I thought I’d throw together one of my own! Here goes 🙂
The Important Stuff: Cameras, Lenses + Flashes
- 2x Canon 5D Mark IV’s: I switched to these in June of 2018 after a brief stint with some Fuji gear, and Nikon D750’s before that. I don’t have particular loyalty and will jump to another system if I think it will offer my clients the best tech available to them and help me make photos I love. Right now, I’m loving the Mark IV for its focusing system, and the truly amazing lens line up Canon has built over the years.
- 1x Canon EOS R (backup body): MAKE THIS CAMERA WITH DUAL SLOTS CANON. I adore this camera and use it when I can, but it doesn’t have two memory card slots. That means I can’t be simultaneously backing up my photos to two places while I’m shooting. Memory cards fail, so for now this is my vacation and travel camera. Rumor has it there will be a dual slot version next year, and when that happens the Mark IV’s will be out the door.
- Canon prime “L” lenses: There are too many to list all at once, but my work horses are my 35mm and my 85mm. I love prime lenses (vs. zoom lenses) because they inspire more of my creativity and give you that gorgeous subject separation that the iPhone “portrait mode” tries oh so hard to replicate.
- Godox V850 II Flashes + Triggers: I LOVE these flashes SO much. I use them at every wedding to light up the reception space and make sure I can take awesome photos late into the night. They’re powered on a huge lithium battery which replaced literally hundreds of rechargeable AA batteries from my previous flashes. Never going back.
- Godox AD200: I break this guy out when I need a little more power and for sunset portraits! It’s a hybrid flash/studio light with more power than the regular flashes, but a softer more natural look to it.
Aaaaaaall The Lighting Add Ons (AKA an ode to MagMod)
- MagMod MagShoe: THE BEST and I mean it. Way of attaching a flash to a light stand ever made. Seriously. I don’t know how I lived without it.
- Small Lighting Modifiers from MagMod (MagSphere, MagBounce, MagGrids, MagBeam, and MagGels): I could write love sonnets about MagMod and how much easier they have made my life as a photographer. It used to be to change the quality of light from your flashes, you had to tape colored pieces of plastic over the light, cut up tupperwares, drape napkins over the top… seriously, I did it all. Now MagMod has made an awesome line of modifiers that magnetically attach to the flash so they don’t fall off, and attach/detach within seconds. LIFESAVERS.
- MagBox: MagMod also made this beast of a collapsible softbox. Again, they came up with an option that replaced what was already out there by making it easy to set it up, move it, and make the prettiest light ever. I normally use it for sunset photos at weddings, or to add some fill light if I want a little extra drama.
The Weird Stuff
I’m always looking for ways to add a little something magical/weird/fantastic to my photos, and have some wacky objects in my bag to do it.
- 6” Glass Triangle Shaped Prism: It makes rainbows, reflections, and sparkles and brings me so much joy.
- Fractal Filters: Again, rainbows, reflections, kaleidoscope effects… prettyness.
- Small Compact Mirror (Circular): More reflections, but these ones are a little tamer and a mirror works better than a prism for when I’m using flash.
- Google Pixel Phone: Do I use it as a phone? Of course, but it’s also a reflective surface so if, for some reason, I don’t grab one of the above, this is always in my pocket. The best tool you have is the one that’s with you, right?!
Alright, now on to wedding day survival. There’s no beating around the bush here; wedding days are hard. They’re physically and emotionally demanding, and there are some necessities (peeing, eating, drinking, sitting for more than five minutes) that just don’t happen. These things soften the blow.
- Ibuprofen: See above. My body hurts by the end of the day! Also, I get migraines, but taking a couple when I feel symptoms coming on will help me get through the day before I have to hide under the covers of my bed when I get home.
- Sewing Kit: Does it need explaining?? I’ve sewn together bridesmaid dresses and sewn a bride INTO her dress when the zipper broke. I don’t leave the house for a wedding without it.
- Box of Large Safety Pins: See above. You need them. Especially when the bustle on a wedding dress breaks!
- Schmidt’s Deodorant: Sweat happens, but my pits don’t need to be poisoned by aluminum.
- Bobo Bars: MY FAAAAAAAV snack on wedding days. The perfect blend of filling but easy to eat and carry. I usually have one in my purse on the day-to-day as well.
- Tasty Bite Chickpea and Potato Curry: I have gluten and dairy allergies (like bad ones) so I usually avoid catering unless it’s a company I know well AND there are other people who have allergies at the wedding. My sister works in catering and because of that I know there’s no guarantee unless it was on their guest list. These are great because they are healthy, vegan, shelf stable, and taste good whether they’re cold or hot! I’ve always got one in my car and in my bag.
How do I carry it all??
- House of Flynn Evermore: A super cute GIANT bag that normally has my whole lighting kit in it. It holds all the flashes and MagMod gear… as well as all the snacks and wedding day necessities above.
- Billingham Hadley Small: Hangs out on my shoulder as I’m crusing around on the wedding day. It has my extra lenses and all the weird toys that make sparkles and reflections in it.
- Fanny Pack: DUH. I often will switch to the pack when I’m shooting the reception and don’t need the lens bag anymore, or if I’m not using extra lenses when I’m second shooting for other photographers.
- Custom Spider Holster Belt: I rock this giant leather belt to carry my cameras around all day! It helps my back a ton to have the weight on my hips instead of on my shoulders, and the clips are solid enough that I can run, crouch, jump, or do weird photography ninja things to get cool photos.
Running the Business
- Pic-Time: My gallery hosting company!! Thank goodness there is a beautiful, easy to use, and relatively affordable way to keep all my photos online for my amazing couples forever!
- Tave: Keeps me organized. Contracts, invoices, to-do lists, and automated emails. My sanity is thanks to Tave. Seriously.
- Custom USB Drives: I love having custom drives for when my couples need them! The color of the wood drive is so pretty, they say my name so you don’t accidentally erase your wedding photos and put a powerpoint presentation on it, and they have these little magnets that keep the top of it on. It’s all in the little details.
- CrashPlan: It just works away in the background making sure that all my photos are backed up in the cloud in case I have a hard drive fail or something is stolen. Peace of mind for me, but insurance for my clients. Weddings only happen once, and I take keeping my couple’s photos safe super seriously.
- Squarespace: This website is super pretty, right? Thanks Squarespace 😉
- Plum Paper Planner: Like Tave, my sanity and organization are thanks to my planner. This year it’s a Plum Paper, but I bullet journal when that feels like too much. I’m also a big fan of monthly goals, reflection, and other journaling!