WHAT WE PACK ON A WEDDING DAY

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6/22/17

what should you pack on a wedding day for camera gear

The age-old saying, “If you fail to plan, plan to fail” truly applies in all aspects of business and life. We make it a habit of creating an inventory of what we pack on a wedding day. Before we head out for any wedding session, we are sure to check, and double-check our equipment bags and are constantly making adjustments to fit our client’s needs. Currently, these are the items John and I have found to be most necessary to pack for weddings.  Each of these items serves a specific purpose on that day and makes the job run smoothly so that ultimately, we can get the images that the bride and groom will love.

What We Pack

Between the two of us, we carry three bags.  We each have one with our equipment and I have a separate bag on wheels with styling items that I have learned brides may need.  I do not lug this one around but tuck it away in the bridal prep area.  To find out more about what else I carry in this bag checkout Part 2 of What We Pack on a Wedding Day.

Each of our equipment bags contains cameras and lenses.  I carry the Mark III and the Mark II as my backup.  We make sure to keep two backup batteries in my bag.  John carries a Mark II.  My lenses include the Sigma 50 and 35 Art, 70-200 and 85 1.2 dreamy portrait lens. I love this lens for the reception too. It’s a wonderful tool for compressing details on the table, and who doesn’t love those memorable detail shots! I start off with the 100 macro lens in my bag to capture bridal details, like rings, but John and I share this one.  John carries a 50 1.4, 85 1.8 and 24-70 in his bag.

I also carry four flashes.  John and I each have one for our cameras.  The other two are used for off-camera lighting stands.

Be Sure to Have Plenty of Memory Cards On Hand

I like to start the day with a 64 Gig memory card and a 128 SD to copy JPGs to.  We use the 128 Sd backup because I don’t want to worry about changing it if it gets full.  We utilize medium JPG resolution on the backup and shoot RAW on the main cards. I also have lots of backup memory cards, and organize them into two Pelican cases; one with clean cards and one with used cards.  This system keeps the cards designated so I never get them mixed up. Needless to say, organization is my best friend on wedding days!

 Grand Traditions estate photographer wearing hold fast moneymaker Temecula wedding photographer Carrie McGuire photography gear

The last item you are sure to find in my bag is my most treasured investments from last season, my HoldFast Money Maker Camera Harness, queue the angel’s chorus!

TIP!! For on the HoldFast, If you have long hair order it WITHOUT the D rings as it tends to pull my hair out. Other items John’s bag contains include Pocket Wizards, Light Modifiers, tripod, and a Small Octobox.
Being prepared in what we pack on wedding days helps ensure that we are capable of capturing the variety of photos we need to capture on a wedding day!
What are some of your favorite go-to’s when it comes to wedding preparedness? We would love to hear from you!

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