We have had so many questions about what gear we use and what lenses we would recommend, so we wanted to provide ya’ll with a guide for wedding photography gear. What we use now is not what we started with — everyone starts somewhere, but this is the gear we would recommend you collect over time as you are able, in order to provide your clients with the best photos possible. If you want to dive deep, keep reading. Or if you’re in a shopping mood, here’s our Amazon list!
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What Cameras do we use?
Both of us shoot with 2 bodies. Our primary cameras are Sony A7RIII. We chose this for several reasons.
- We love that it has a dual card slot. Nobody wants to tell a bride that her memory card corrupted — so this is fail-safe #1. Every photo is saved twice right from the beginning.
- We love its lowlight capabilities. We’re able to shoot ceremonies (and other moments) with no flash even when it’s super dark — which we think is essential for two reasons. One, some churches don’t allow flash. Two, natural light allows you to feel what it was actually like for the people sitting at the ceremony. There is definitely a place for flash — we just don’t prefer it during the ceremony.
- Eye auto-focus is on point. It actually can tell where eyes are and focus on faces seamlessly.
- We love that live preview on the viewfinder. It takes all the guess-work out of your settings and you can see exactly what you’re getting as you shoot.
Jack’s backup in an A7III for those wondering.
What lenses do we use?
Ok this has grown over time, so if you’re just starting out, don’t be super stressed out about this list. It is essential for you to have a lens that will work for amazing portraits, moments throughout the day, and a lens that allows you to see closer up during the ceremony – so prioritize those. Some people prefer a zoom lens like a 24-70mm f/2.8 which gives you versatility throughout the day without switching lenses. We actually prefer prime lenses for their amazing aperture and sharpness. This is what we use:
- 85mm f/1.4 for dreamy classic portraits and candids.
- 35mm f/1.4 for large group portraits, wide angles, and candids in tight spots (lives on Chelsea’s left-hand camera).
- 50mm f/1.2 for traditional portraits and candids where we need a bit of a wider lens but not the 35mm (lives on Jack’s right-hand camera).
- 90mm f/2.8 macro for detail shots.
- 24-70mm f/2.8 for wider angles of the ceremony and reception, and as a backup lens (lives on Jack’s left-hand camera).
- 135mm f/1.8 for ceremonies and toasts.
If you’re just starting out, we would suggest purchasing these 3 to get you started:
- 35mm f/1.4 for wide angles, dancing, and candids.
- 135mm f/1.8 or 95mm f/1.4 for portraits, ceremonies and toasts.
- 24-70mm f/2.8 as a backup for if you break one of your lenses.
We started out with just a 50mm f/1.8 (HEY NIFTY FIFTY) and a kit lens as backup. Everyone starts somewhere! With that said, the most important thing about your wedding photography gear is having the right lenses in your arsenal, so don’t be afraid to invest!
What harness do we use?
After years of killing our backs, we switched to the Rose Anvil Bandit Harness. WE ARE IN LOVE. They’re super cute and work so well! We love that they fit our bodies perfectly – distributing the weight so that we don’t feel like we got ran over by a bus at the end of the day. And we love that you can hook your cameras onto your belt when not in use! It distributes the weight into your core instead of your back or neck. It’s life changer.
What flash do we use?
Flashes can be scary, but don’t let that paralyze you! When things go dark, you have to have a way to light things up! Your list of wedding photography gear has to include some kind of flash! We use the Godox V1-S and Godox TT600S flashes. When necessary, we will also use a tripod flash stand and remote to trigger some dreamy back or side light. We also bring a basic Softbox light with us for emergencies or extra hard light scenarios.
What posing strategy do we use?
Your wedding photography gear list means nothing if you don’t have a strategy for getting consistently amazing, meaningful photos for your clients. That’s why we use Candid! We don’t believe in flying by the seat of your pants and hoping for great photos. We believe that with the right strategy, you can walk away with photos your clients will love every single time. Candid helps you think through how to flatter your clients’ bodies, but also have them interacting in authentic ways. It’s also sooooo easy and fun for both you and your clients! I seriously wish I had a resource like this when I was starting out, it would have saved me sooooo much time and would have jump started when I could start charging more $$$$. You’ll find some of these cards in my fanny pack whenever I’m shooting.
Accessories + In Our Bags:
These are the other little things that we couldn’t live without.
- Fanny pack (I got mine from Roolee but this is cute too).
- Memory Card Wallet.
- Memory Cards.
- Extra batteries.
- Micro fiber and air puffer for keeping things clean.
- Snacks (veggie straws, dove chocolate, nuts)
- Pens
That’s it! The best guide for wedding photography gear out there! And guys, this is so cool! You can actually browse all of our gear on our Amazon shopping list so you can easily get what you want straight from there without copy/pasting a bunch! Happy shopping!
