What’s in my bag?

I might arrive at your wedding looking something like a pack mule - I’ll have at least one large backpack of major equipment, and likely a handful of other really useful items that can come in handy. So here’s what’s in my bag:

Every Wedding

• 4 cameras (1 40D, 2 20D’s, 1 350D)
• 2 shoe-mount flashes (1 580EX and 1 550EX)
• an arsenal of lenses (my main, and favorite, is a Tamron 17-50 2.8, especially paired with my Canon 50mm 1.4. Add to that two 70-200’s and an 18-55 and we’ve got every angle covered!)
• battery charger and extra batteries for the cameras
• battery charger and extra batteries for the flashes
• diffusers for the flashes (ask me sometime about their nicknames)
• a Shootsac and/or another camera bag for quick access during the ceremony
• a notebook chock-full of ideas and inspiration for your wedding, including all of the photos and ideas you’ve sent me, cell phone numbers, your shotlist, etc.

And sometimes…

• a large diffuser helps during outdoor portrait sessions where we want that extra sparkle in your eye
• if it’s expected to be a low-light reception, I’ll bring my tripod to keep things stable, especially if I’m doing long exposures to capture lots of movement
• a step stool or crate if there’s going to be a lot of large group portraits. We’re talking more than 20 people. It’s always easiest to find a set of stairs or balcony for me to use, but just in case, the step stool is there!

I’ve brought a million other accessories to weddings - Polaroid cameras, slide film, a Kodak Brownie, large black umbrellas in case we want a portrait in the rain, AA non-rechargeable batteries in case guests need them, safety pins and bobby pins for bridesmaids in need… the list goes on! Now all I need to do is master putting on boutonnières…