I will be the first to admit that I am an over-packer. When I go on 3 day vacations, I pack for an entire week! Even when I’m shooting a 20 minute mini-session, I bring the same gear that I bring to full-day weddings. You just never know what you might need, so I like to be prepared! I’ll show you a sneak peak of what I keep in my camera bag…

So what’s in my bag?

The Bag

I carry the Airport Roller Derby by ThinkTank. This thing holds EVERYTHING I need.

My Cameras

I carry a Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Digital Camera and a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera!

Camera Lenses

I always keep these camera lenses in my bag:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF (my personal fav)

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF 

Camera Holster

A camera holster is an all-necessary part of any session. I keep my hands free with a Holdfast Gear holster.

Battery Holder

I keep plenty of extra batteries fully charged and handy to make sure I never have to stress about a dead camera on your wedding day. I keep my batteries in a DSLR 4 Battery Holder by ThinkTank.

Lighting

I like to be prepared for dim lighting situations at wedding receptions by always carrying my Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT and MagMod Flash Kits!

Memory Cards & Holder

I keep extra memory cards with me at all times to make sure I never run out of shooting space. I keep my SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro CompactFlash Memory Cards and SanDisk 32GB Extreme PRO SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards secure in a Pelican Compact Flash and SD holder.

Other Random Things I Keep in My Bag

Camera Rain Protection

I won’t risk being stuck in the rain without a way to keep my camera dry! You deserve awesome photos of your big day no matter the weather.

Chapstick 

Wedding photographers put their bodies through A LOT on a wedding day, so I make sure to keep my lips hydrated.

Luna Protein Bars

Another lifesaver for long wedding days! It can sometimes be hours and hours in between eating meals on a wedding day, especially for a vendor. I come prepared with protein bars to keep my mood and energy up. (PS:  Don’t forget to feed your wedding photographer!)

Pen 

Pens are always handy for notes and keeping track of a photo list.

Phone Charger

I keep notes, important phone numbers, and more easily accessible on my phone, so it needs to be charged and ready to go for a wedding day!

Battery Charger

On top of my extra batteries, I pack a battery charger just in case.

Breath Mints

Chances are somebody is going to need a breath mint on the wedding day—whether it’s the groom, a bridesmaid, mom or dad, or me. 

Lens Wipes

Lens wipes help keep me to keep shooting crisp and clear images even if smudges happen throughout the day.

Hair Ties

Again, the chances of somebody needing a hair tie on your wedding day are huge! Hair ties are a must in my opinion.

HydroFlask

A girl has got to stay hydrated! My HydroFlask keeps water nice and refreshing, perfect for a hot California outdoor wedding.

JBL Clip Bluetooth Speaker

I love having the option to play music during sessions. It can be really fun to have an upbeat or romantic playlist playing during an engagement session, or you might just need some hype music throughout the day. Either way, I got you!

Have a question about any of my gear? Drop a comment below!

Being Prepared as a Wedding Photographer

Wedding photographers need to be prepared for just about anything your big day throws at us. That’s why I keep my camera bag fully stocked with essentials and just-in-case items. It’s my job to worry about all of these little things so that you don’t have to on your big day. Keeping my bag filled means that my couples have way less stress on their wedding day because they trust that I have everything covered!

If you are planning a Sacramento wedding or elopement, or if you are looking to have your engagement photos taken, I’d love to be the one to capture all of your special moments. I’ll come fully prepped with my camera bag so that you can sit back and relax! Get in touch with me here.