The Gear Episode: What Really Matters and What Doesn’t

I'm diving into wedding photography gear—what you need, what’s optional, and how your kit evolves as your career grows. I share my own journey, starting with my first DSLR, moving through upgrades to full-frame and mirrorless systems, and my approach to lenses, lighting, and accessories. I cover my philosophy of keeping gear simple to stay present during weddings, the differences between Canon, Nikon, and Sony, and the rising popularity of film photography. I also give tips for traveling with gear, managing backups, and building a kit intentionally to support your workflow and style rather than chasing trends.

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Transcript

Welcome back to the wedding frame. Today we're talking about something photographers obsess over, compare endlessly and love to debate, gear. What you need, what you don't need, what's worth investing in and how all of this evolves as you grow in the wedding photography world. Before we dive in, I want to start with how it all began for me because it plays a huge role in how I think about gear today.

So I still remember the very first camera I ever bought. It was in 2011 and Costco had just started selling DSLRs to regular consumers. Like you could walk in for bulk snacks and walk out with the whole camera kit. And that's exactly what I did. I bought the Canon Rebel T1, also known as the Canon 500D. And honestly, that moment cemented me as a Canon girl forever. Something about holding that camera...it was just something that was just so new in technology to me.  It was just so inspiring and super cool to be able to use a professional camera when I had never really even been interested in professional photography. So from then on, Canon has felt like home. 

When I shot my very first wedding, as I've mentioned before, I had one camera and one lens. I'm pretty sure it was that Rebel T1, and the lens I used was a 50 millimeter 1.4. That's it, no backup body, no other lens. I think I did have a flash, I had to have. I'm pretty sure I was using flash right from the start. So anyway, I wasn't worried, I felt ready with what I had. And you know what? I created images that I was genuinely proud of. looking back, I still see these images and I think they're fantastic. Using one focal length taught me to move, think, and anticipate moments. So the simplicity actually made me more present and more intentional. But as I grew, the weddings I booked grew too. More guests, bigger venues, tighter timelines, higher stakes. Eventually using only one camera wasn't going to cut it. Not because the images wouldn't turn out well, but because redundancy matters, variety matters, and having options matters when you're working events that people experience once in a lifetime. So yeah, so not just having two bodies on me, but having a second shooter with either one or two bodies on them.

So sometime during my first year of weddings, I upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark IV. And I looked up the price recently to see how much it was back when it came out in 2016. And I was surprised to see that it was $3,500. Nearly a decade later, the newest cameras aren't even that expensive. it's kind of funny how tech works. Like we assume newer means a price jump, but now you can buy a Canon R5 for under $3,000 and the latest Canon R6 Mark II is around $2,000 depending on the retailer. So for the technology you're getting today, it's honestly wild how accessible it's become compared to 2016 or earlier, obviously. I think it's important to know this because photographers often feel pressured to get the most expensive thing, but expensive doesn't always mean necessary, especially with how gear has leveled out in price and performance over the years.

Moving into mirrorless and why it matters. My next big upgrade was into the mirrorless world, but I didn't jump immediately. I waited I watched I wanted to hear from photographers in the field if mirrorless really that much better. Is it worth switching lenses or reworking my whole kit? Eventually the answer became clear. Yes, mirrorless is absolutely worth it. Here are the biggest reasons why. 

It has eye detection autofocus. This was a game changer. Being able to lock onto a person's eyes instantly, it does take some pressure off. It also gives you consistency that DSLRs simply couldn't match. Okay, I although I do love that it has eye detection, I don't personally rely on it for fast moving moments just because I would rather be cautious than not. So I mostly use it for portraits where people are standing, like the family portraits during a wedding. But it's nice because I can frame a shot without worrying about where the focus point is gonna be.

Okay, and then there's low light performance for mirrorless cameras. I think this is probably the biggest win for me when it comes to mirrorless cameras. Wedding days are notorious for low light situations, candlelight dinners, dark dance floors, getting ready rooms without windows. Mirrorless sensors handle these conditions beautifully without too much noise.

It has an electronic viewfinder. So what you see is what you get - exposure, white balance, depth of field. You see it all in real time on that screen. So this alone made me feel like I leveled up my shooting. The mirrorless cameras are also lighter bodies. So when you're carrying gear for eight plus hours, this matters more than you think. Although the lenses are a little bit heavier, the RF lenses are heavier than the EF lenses. So to be super honest with you, it kind of levels out in weight, I do have a couple of super lightweight lenses that make the whole thing a breeze to carry during especially the dancing when I just have one camera instead of two.

So when I upgraded into mirrorless, I chose the Canon R6 and now I have two of them. And here's why. I only shoot photography, not video. So the R6 offers everything I need for weddings. Lower file sizes mean I don't fill SD cards or external drives as fast. My clients don't need gigantic megapixel files. The dynamic range, color science, and speed of the R6 are perfect for my style. I wasn't interested in having more megapixels just to have them. I wanted what fit my workflow and my style and the R6 is exactly that.

So let's go into everything that is in my current kit and why I use it. So as I mentioned, I have two Canon R6 bodies. I use two because it gives me variety and I don't have to switch lenses constantly. And here are the lenses that I have. A 24 to 70 2.8, it's my versatile workhorse. A 50 millimeter 1.2 for that beautiful bokeh and the intimate feel. It's just, oh, it's just so beautiful. The 35 1.4 is my storytelling lens and it also doubles as a macro for details. Just this specific 35 millimeter that Canon has for mirrorless is also macro, which is super cool. My favorite lens, my 135, to give me that stunning compression for portraits. I don't know. It just makes everything look better. It's sharp and creamy at the same time. It's seriously my favorite lens. If you can check it out. If you're a Canon person, yeah, check it out. And then I have a 16 millimeter 2.8. I just got that one, and I actually really love it. just used it at my last two weddings. it's really, I can add even more variety. so I can get those wide shots during the ceremony. I've also done it during cocktail hour just to get a new perspective of the event and the venue. And I have two Godox on-camera flashes because simplicity matters for me and these get the job done every time. A harness, a leather dual camera harness from Holdfast. It is really nice for carrying those two cameras. It balances the weight and it makes switching bodies really smooth.

Alright, so I did mention that I have two on-camera flashes. I didn't say anything about off-camera flash. Well, this is my lighting philosophy. Lighting is one of those things photographers can get competitive or preachy about. So I'm going to be clear, there's no one perfect setup, in my opinion. Every photographer shoots differently. For me, I like to keep things simple so I can stay in the moment. I carry on-camera flashes and they're exactly what I need for the weddings I photograph. It's not about having the most advanced gear, it's about what supports the way you shoot. I rely heavily on natural light for most of the day. This is why I love my prime lenses. Going down to 1.2 allows so much light in. So I don't pull out the flash until it's genuinely needed. Usually during the reception, especially if it's indoor.  Outdoor receptions, I can avoid using my flash for a lot longer. And when I do put on the flash, I like to combine it with ambient light. So I use manual settings for my flash. But of course, I also do the direct flash for the editorial shots.

All right. So let's talk about the three major companies of the systems - Canon, Nikon and Sony. And this is one of the biggest questions new photographers ask. And you know, they ask which one is better. And here's the truth, all three systems are fantastic. Canon, Nikon and Sony each have full professional ecosystems, great mirrorless options, beautiful lenses, fast autofocus, great color science, even though each feels a little different. So the best system for you depends on what feels natural in your hands, the menus that you prefer, the colors that you like straight out of the camera, the lenses available at the price you want, and what your long-term goals are. There isn't a right answer. There's just what matches you.

So another piece of gear that is making a comeback is film cameras. Film has made a strong return in wedding photography since around the mid 2000s. Like I'd say around 2017. It's definitely gotten way more popular. Like back when I was shooting my first weddings around that time, I don't think I knew about film photography for weddings making a comeback. It's definitely been super popular in the last, I'd say, five years for sure. So what clients love about film is the nostalgic feel, the texture, the imperfect softness, and it causes you to slow down and have a more intentional pace during the wedding. The dynamic range is just so beautiful. There aren't as many harsh shadows and the highlights are softened. So it adds something special that digital can't replicate. It's not better or worse. It's just different. I personally offer film as an add-on, but I shoot mostly digital throughout the day.  Some couples just want a roll or two for fun, and others want a whole highlight section photographed in film. It's a really lovely way to add variety to a gallery.

Now let's talk about traveling with your gear from my experience. At some point if you stay in weddings long enough, you'll probably want to book destination weddings and once you start flying with gear the game changes. I've shot weddings internationally and here is what I've learned. Always carry on your gear. Never check it ever. Cameras go with you in the cabin period. Use a rolling bag instead of a backpack. Airport security is much easier when your bag opens fully, everything is visible, you're not digging through a tightly packed backpack. Brands like Think Tank, Pelican, and Lowepro make great carry-on approved rolling bags. I use Think Tank and I love it. I've been using it for over 10 years. Pack light. Only bring what you really need. Not because of weight, but because the more you carry, the more likely security will pull you aside and completely unpack you. Lens choice while traveling. I usually bring my two bodies, my 24-70mm, my 35mm, and my 135mm. I leave my specialty lenses at home unless I know for sure I'll use them. Have a plan for batteries and chargers. Batteries always go in your personal item, never in your tech luggage. 

SD cards and external drives, the back end gear people forget. This is the next topic. Moving on, sorry. This is such an overlooked part of your kit. SD cards. So I use 128 gigabyte cards in both slots of each camera. I don't want to swap cards during a wedding unless absolutely necessary. Less swapping equals less risk of losing or corrupting a card. After the wedding, when I get home, I upload everything into an external drive. I also upload to the cloud. I keep the images on the SD cards until they're full or I absolutely need to reuse them. I like having multiple layers of backups and this system has served me well. 

Your gear will evolve with you. This is what I want people to understand.You don't have to start with the perfect kit. You grow into it. What matters is knowing your camera, knowing why you're choosing certain lenses, understanding your style, building slowly and intentionally, upgrading when it truly benefits you, not because the internet or other photographers tell you to. The gear you choose should help you move with ease, stay present, and feel confident throughout the day. And you'll know exactly when it's time to upgrade. Your work, your clients and your comfort level will tell you long before the specs on a camera sheet will. Thanks for listening to my gear talk.