What's In My Bag

I often get asked,  “Nikon or Canon?”, “What do you shoot with” or “What all do you carry with you to a session?”

 

The answer to the biggest question is simple… NIKON… always, always, Nikon. I am a born and bred Nikon Girl, my Mother was a Nikon user, I grew up on Nikon Film SLR Cameras, so when the time came to switch from film to digital, the decision was easy… time for another Nikon!

 

Anyone that knows photography knows the next big debate (after the Nikon vs Canon debate) is Crop-Sensor or Full Frame. I have had BOTH! Nothing is like Full Frame (to me). I can only describe it as looking at the outside world through your eyes on a sunny day, its great, nothing to complain about, but then, you put on your sunglasses and BOOM! your world just got better! It was good before, but now…. NOW ITS AMAZING!!!

 

My camera bag has had an extreme makeover recently! So much so, that it should have been featured on that TV show. I went from 1 full frame camera and 1 crop-sensor camera and 5-6 lenses, to 3 full frame cameras and 5 totally different lenses.

 

So I am finally answering the big question- WHATS IN MY BAG!!

• Nikon d5 (my DREAM camera)
• Nikon d810 (Brandon’s camera)
• Nikon d800 (our backup camera)
• Sigma Art 24-70mm f/2.8 (my primary indoor lens)
• Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 (Brandon’s primary indoor lens)
• Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII (my primary outdoor lens- this lens is INCREDIBLE!!!!)
• Tamron G2 70-200mm f/2.8 (Brandon’s primary outdoor lens)
• Tamron 90mm f/1.8 Macro (great for those beautiful ring shots at weddings)
• Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
• Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4 (this is an AMAZING lens)
• Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8 (I use this lens mostly for Real Estate Photography, or for really wide angle portraits)
• Nikon SB-700 Speedlight with diffuser
• Yongnuo Flashes (off-camera flash for wedding receptions)
• MagMod Off Camera Flash Diffusers/Tools
• Paul C. Buff Einstein E640 Strobe Light - Paul C. Buff 64" PLM (Parabolic Light Modifier) & 50×50 Westcott Apollo Recessed Soft-Box Modifier (used for all sessions inside my home-studio)
• Neewer Video Light
• Expodisc, 77mm (def. a lifesaver when it comes to editing) and Gray Card
• 5-in-1 reflector – 24″ round and 36×48″ oval
• Westcott 7 Ft White Parabolic Diffusion Umbrella & stand (sand bags for support)
• Peak Design Slide Straps & Clutch Straps
• Multiple Light/FLash Stands and other lighting tools
• Batteries (EN-EL18a, EN-EL15, and AAs) & Chargers
• Memory Cards (CF and SD)
• Multi-Purpose Tool
• Lens Cleaner/Cloth
• Square Card-Reader
• Pens/Paper – Pocket Notebook for ideas/notes
• Business Cards
• Other Misc. Items
• Hand Sanitizer/Baby Wipes/Tissues
• Makeup Touchup Items
• don’t forget the bribery/reward goodies for good boys and girls (and parents)

and I carry all these goodies in my locking ThinkTank Airport International V2.0 Rolling Bag… and when I don’t need to carry quite as much gear… my House of Flynn Black Leather Evermore…

 

MY CUSTOM “Photographer’s Emergency Kit”

• Oil Absorbing Sheets & Matte Powder (for oily faces)
• Chap-Stick (new sticks of course)
• Sewing Kit/ Safety Pins/ Scissors
• Shout Wipes/Shout Pen
• Lint Roller
• Static Spray
• Wrinkle Reducer Spray
• Baby Wipes/ Sanitizing Wipes/ Boogey Wipes (for snotty noses)
• Tissues
• Hand Warmers (for cold/outdoor sessions)
• Sunscreen/Bug Spray (for warm/outdoor sessions)
• Rain gear/umbrella/camera & lens covers

I also have a “Wedding Day Emergency Kit” too… this has saved the day a time or two. It contains lots of items you may need on your Wedding Day but forgot/ran out of. I also keep extra safety pins, needle and threads (of various colors) and lots and lots of bobby pins.

 

For Studio Sessions, I love using my Einstein E640 strobe with a Paul C Buff 64" PLM (Parabolic Light Modifier) or with a Westcott Recessed Apollo 50×50 Softbox Diffuser. 

 

I hope this helps answer some of your questions about gear, and I already know your next question… EDITING!!

I use both Lightroom and Photoshop to edit my sessions, I have created my own presets & actions that fit my style and preferences… but some of my favorite ones I have purchased are from Pretty Presets (Presets and Brushes for Lightroom) and HLP Secret Sauce & Sorcery Sauce Actions, and Lemon Sky Actions (for Photoshop). The most amazing skin editing tool is Portraiture (for Photoshop). I think as long as you know HOW to use actions/presets/brushes they can be a valuable tool which you can tailor to suit your needs/style, and to help you save valuable time/energy, HOWEVER, they are easily OVER-USED and should be used as a tool to help finish off your images. Getting the image right in camera is the key to beautiful portraits, then you only need to make minor tweaks when editing.

 

As with any profession, “You get what you pay for” buts its not all in the WHAT as it is the WHO! A photographer doesn’t have to have a 6 thousand dollar camera to take a good photograph, you need proper exposure, composition and GOOD LIGHT... GREAT EQUIPMENT DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN GREAT PHOTOS! Just because you bought a fast car, doesnt make you a race car driver. Know your gear, Learn your manual settings, LEARN PHOTOGRAPHY.. then and only then will you succeed!