I’ve been a branding photographer in Dallas for close to 4 years now…

… and I’d like to think I’ve just about perfected my go-to gear for any job. Being a bit of a minimalist and also being a photographer don’t really go hand in hand. There are a lot of things you need to have with you to be prepared for any type of location, client, and lighting situation. Whether you’re a branding photographer or commercial photographer, or you primarily shoot weddings and portraits, I’ve got the complete set of gear to get you through any job. How do I know that? I’ve refined my camera gear collection over the years by shooting weddings, portraits, events, families, branding sessions, commercial clients – you name it, I’ve shot it. So, if these things work for me, I have a good feeling you’ll love them too.

Before we start, I need to share the disclaimer that some or all of these items on this page may earn a commission using affiliate links. That being said, I wouldn’t share these unless I was 100% sure they’d make your life better as a photographer, as they have for mine.

Let’s get to it!

 

1. TWO Canon R6 Bodies

As a wedding photographer, you’ll get used to shooting with two camera bodies reeeal quick. You’ll also find out that shooting with two identical bodies will simplify the editing process when it comes to color profiles being consistent. Since I started my business as a wedding photographer back in 2017, I’ve had two camera bodies with me ever since. Now that I am primarily a branding and commercial photographer, I don’t really ever use both bodies at once.

That being said, I ALWAYS suggest being safe and building in redundancies wherever you can as a photographer. That means having a backup camera in case yours shits the bed at a shoot, utilizing both memory card slots for recording a backup of your images, etc.

Check out the Canon R6 here: https://amzn.to/3uMes3v

Now, why did I choose the Canon R6? There are 3 main reasons. First, the low light capabilities of a mirrorless camera are super important for me when I shoot in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Second, two SD memory card slots. SDs are just easy, simple, and cheaper than alternatives to record your photos. Third, the megapixels/quality is perfect for me without file sizes getting so large that they obliterate my computer.

I’m a Canon shooter, so all my lenses are Canon EF mounts. If you don’t want to switch all your lenses to RF mounts right away, just get the adapter and keep your current lens inventory. I went from a Canon 5D Mark IV to the Canon R6 and the sharpness and quality blew me away without swapping to RF lenses immediately.

Need an RF mount adapter? They sell them on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FNRsHv

ALSO: the new version of this body (R6 Mark II) is out now if you’d like to check that out instead. It’s available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3FsbHcn

 

 

2. Sigma Art 35mm Lens f1.4

Simply put, I’m obsessed with this lens. I’m a big fan of the whole Sigma Art lineup really. This lens is crisp and beautiful and much cheaper than the Canon alternative. Hands down my go-to lens for nearly all brand photography shoots from headshots to restaurants.

Shop the Sigma Art 35mm lens for Canon here: https://amzn.to/3UOn44c

 

 

3. Sigma Art 50mm Lens F1.4

Continuing with the Sigma Art theme, this lens is my #2 in my lineup. Equally sharp and beautiful as the 35mm, but a little tighter and creates a beautiful bokeh. The only reason it is not my #1 go-to lens is that I shoot in relatively tight spaces, and the 35mm allows for more working room. This lens is an absolute stunner when it comes to portraits especially. Definitely need to grab yourself this lens and you’ll see why I love the Sigma Art series so much. Also- they’re coming out with an RF mount soon so you can skip the adapter if you wait it out!

Shop the Sigma Art 50mm lens for Canon here: https://amzn.to/3FxfOUW

 

 

4. Sigma Art 24-70mm Lens F2.8

Another Sigma Art series lens? Me? No way.

You’ll hear me rave about shooting on prime lenses all day, but I promise you’ll want to have a zoom with a good overall range in your camera bag. Whether it’s weddings, events, or even brand shoots, sometimes zoom lenses are just necessary. If you’re moving quickly, shooting candids, and want to capture a range of depth of field in your images, get ya self a nice zoom. I (of course) love my Sigma Art 24-70mm lens for these scenarios.

 

Shop the Sigma Art 24-70mm lens for Canon here: https://amzn.to/3uT6fKJ

 

 

5. Two CANON SPEEDLITE 600EX II-RT Flashes

I am primarily a natural light photographer and honestly would rather not use a flash unless necessary. I also favor my Godox Ad200 strobes before I ever reach for my on-camera flash (more on that in another post). But nonetheless – you better have a good flash AND a backup with you at all times.

My strobes and soft boxes are the jam; but in super tight spaces, it’s just not practical (or possible) to set them up. That’s when I’m glad I have my on camera flashes. As a wedding photographer, these are must haves, and even now as a branding photographer, I pull them out from time to time. 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.

Shop the Canon 600EX II-RT flash on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Hfyw5R

 

 

6. Panasonic Eneloop Rechargable AA Batteries & Charger

These are my favorite rechargeable batteries. I always keep a set of 8 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 (they’ll last for multiple branding shoots) and rarely have to swap them out.

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

 

 

7. Back-up Batteries, SD Cards, and Chargers

Don’t get caught in an easily-preventable bad situation and just go get extra batteries, SD cards, chargers, etc. You never want to be at a shoot and look like some kind of unprofessional amateur because you didn’t A. charge ya shit and/or B. did not bring backup batteries for your camera, SD cards to record on, etc.

Get yourself AT LEAST 4 of these. Splurge for the larger size, it’s worth it. And get the faster writing speeds too (200MB/s or 250MB/s). Shop the 128 GB SD cards here: https://amzn.to/3Potoyg

Make sure to have 2 backup camera batteries. Always. I recommend buying the Canon brand vs the knock offs. Amazon’s got you covered again for these: https://amzn.to/3YjXnvn

Also a backup battery charger never hurt anyone. Pick one up here: https://amzn.to/3Hy3PJ1

 

 

8. Mosiso CAMERA BACKPACK

What magical bag holds all this gear, you ask? This cheap little cutie right here. I have a ThinkTank rollerbag I use when I travel, but this little backpack is my go-to guy year-round. It fits everything listed below, plus some other random things I keep in there.

• 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

Shop the Mosiso Waterproof Hardshell Camera Backpack here: https://amzn.to/3iW4aLw

I hope this helps you get a peek into the gear that sustains the workload of a full time branding photographer. I truly love everything listed above and I hope you’re able to add at least a couple of these items to your arsenal.

 

Happy shooting!

 

 

Did you know I offer photography mentorship and consulting sessions? I’ve been a full time, multiple 6-figure producing photographer since 2019 and I am passionate on teaching other creatives how to do the same. I learned things the HARD WAY y’all, and to save you time, hassle, money, and tears, I now offer photography and business mentorship courses to help you succeed in a fraction of the time it took me.

Interested in learning more? Check out my mentorship offerings here: https://monikanormandphoto.com/photography_mentorship/