5 Pieces of Gear I use at Every Wedding

I’ve spent a lot of money on the wrong things. But that being said, I really love what’s in my camera bag today – right down to the camera bag itself.

Trial and error is how I’ve come across just about everything good in my business, and I’m writing this post in hopes that you can take advantage of my many attempts at landing on the right gear for the job and save yourself some money.

These are 5 pieces of my favorite gear that I trust to bring with me and use at every single wedding.

Some or all products listed on this page may earn a commission using affiliate links. 

MOSISO Camera Backpack

MOSISO Camera Backpack: Hardshell Case with Tripod Holder& Laptop Compartment Compatible with Canon/Nikon/Sony, Black

This camera bag is the jam. I fly about 8-10 times a year to shoot weddings throughout New England, and this bag is a perfect size for a carry-on. It fits in the overhead compartment and transports your gear in a safe way.  It has a semi-hard shell, which was something I’d been looking for in a camera backpack bag for a while. And, it’s a great price! Just to give you a sense of capacity, here’s what I keep in my bag:

• 2 Canon R6 Bodies
• 2 Canon 600ex II RT Flashes
• 50mm Lens
• 35mm Lens
• 24-70mm Lens
• Spare batteries, battery chargers, snacks, memory cards, more snacks…
• Also fits my 15″ laptop if needed

Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uxHGm

Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art DG HSM Lens

Sigma 50mm f1.4 Art DG HSM Lens

I LOVE THIS LENS. Hands down, my favorite of all time. It’s great for portraits and detail shots during the wedding and also performs well in low light. It lends itself to a beautiful bokeh, even without shooting wide open. I typically use it at f2.2 to f2.5, and I love the results. I actually purchased this lens on the recommendation of my favorite camera guys over at Garland Camera (if you’re local to Garland, TX check them out), while looking to buy the Canon equivalent. Comparatively, the Sigma Art 50mm f1.4 is slightly cheaper than the Canon, but I would have bought it even if it was more expensive. It’s a beautiful lens. You won’t be disappointed.

You’ll find that the majority of photos in my wedding portfolio were shot on this lens.

Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3F7lqVz

Panasonic Eneloop Rechargable AA Batteries

Panasonic Eneloop Rechargable AA Batteries

These are my favorite rechargeable batteries. I always keep a set of 16 AA batteries and two chargers in my camera bag to power my flashes. The battery life has been great with these and on a full charge, I only use one set of batteries per flash during a wedding and rarely have to swap them out.

Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Pcqeh8

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT

I am primarily a natural light photographer and honestly would rather not use a flash unless necessary. But when shooting weddings, I almost always need it during the reception. I carry two of these flashes and typically put one on a stand across from me and keep the other on camera. It creates a beautiful glow when lighting a first dance, and fills in the dark spaces in the reception room during toasts. I’ve owned a few other brands of flashes that have worked just fine, but I recommend sticking with Canon on these for ease of use and to prevent connectivity issues.

Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Hfyw5R

Coiro Leather Dual Camera Strap

Coiro Leather Dual Camera Strap

I always have at least two camera bodies with me at every wedding, and if I’m running around and don’t have time to access my camera bag, I like to keep both on my person. This strap is my go-to in those situations. My favorite things about this dual shoulder strap are: the safety clip feature (because I’m paranoid), the professional look (AKA look cool while shooting), real leather (quality material), and pretty darn comfortable (other straps definitely hurt your shoulders a lot worse).

Here’s the link to purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XY7lm1

Did you find this list helpful? Have recommendations on other items you love? Let me know in the comments!

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