When it comes to wedding photography, having the right gear can make the difference between capturing a fleeting moment and creating a timeless memory. Below we delve into the carefully curated photography kits of five leading wedding photographers, each renowned for their unique style and breathtaking images. From cameras and lenses to essential accessories, get an inside look at the gear for five top wedding photographers:
Sony Artisan Zabrina Deng
What's Inside:
–Sony Alpha 7R V: Its incredible high dynamic range performance allows me to seamlessly transition from shooting in the midday sun to the golden hour and into the night.
–Sony Alpha 9 III: Utilizing the world's first global shutter camera, the Sony Alpha 9 III, I can use any brand of speed light to freeze the subjects in motion.
–Sony RX1R II: I enjoy using this camera for street photography during my days off. It is perfect for capturing the spontaneous, candid moments that make street photography so captivating.
–Sony ZV-E10: This versatile, compact camera is perfect for documenting my adventures and sharing them with my audience on instagram.
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: This lens is incredibly versatile for on-location shoots.
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: This is a fantastic lens for fashion photography from my point of view.
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: Its wide aperture allows me to capture stunningly crisp images even in low light, perfect for those intimate, moonlight private moments or stargazing vibe of some of my shots.
–Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master: This lens is an indispensable part of my gear, providing me with the versatility and precision I need to capture intimate moments.
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master: This lens allows me to capture stunning close-ups and detailed shots from a distance, making it perfect for both intimate portraits and dynamic ceremony moments.
–Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master: The wide-angle capabilities of this lens are perfect for sweeping landscape shots, majestic venue interiors while ensuring I can tell the full story of the event.
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: The wide f/1.4 aperture allows me to work in low-light conditions, such as evening receptions or outdoor ceremonies under the stars, without the need for intrusive flash.
–Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master: The lens's fast and accurate autofocus is crucial for capturing the dynamic, fast-paced nature of live performances, ensuring I never miss a moment.
–Sony TOUGH Memory Cards: I bring around 8-12 extra of these.
–Sony GP-VPT2BT Wireless Shooting Grip & Tripod: I use this as a tripod or when I am filming my kids.
–Sony ECM-B1M Shotgun Microphone: I use this with my ZV-E10 when filming documentary projects.
Read more in What’s In My Bag: A High-Res, High-Speed Kit For Fashion & Wedding Photography.
Sony Artisan Sara France
What's Inside:
–Sony Alpha 1: I use this a lot to photograph couples in bright sun on the beach but still with a wide open aperture to allow for a shallow depth of field.
–Sony Alpha 7 IV: The focus, flexible screen, and quality of the image, matched with a perfect RAW file size for weddings, makes this an ideal wedding camera.
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: I personally use it to photograph the ceremony site and reception as a whole, and I love to use it for detail shots to get the full environment as well as the detail I am focused on.
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: Whether it's capturing wide environmental shots, mid-range portraits, or candid moments, this the best 24-70mm on the market.
–Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II: Its flexibility in focal length allows me to switch from wide-angle to closer perspectives seamlessly.
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: It is indispensable for its versatility and ability to capture both intimate and environmental portraits. I use this lens during bridal preparations and candid moments, as it provides a natural perspective that is neither too wide nor too close.
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: I love this as a classic portrait lens – it has a very flattering perspective and is incredibly sharp.
–Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master: I use it the most during portraits, details of any kind, toasts, and formal dances.
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: I use this lens for close-up shots of rings, invitations, and other intricate decorations.
–Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master: I use this lens to isolate the couple during the ceremony, ensuring their emotions are highlighted against a soft, blurred background.
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: This lens is perfect for capturing distant moments like ceremonies and candid interactions during receptions.
–Sony TOUGH SD Cards: The TOUGH cards are amazing. The durability and speed is great.
–Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries: I keep about 10 batteries in my gear back at all times just in case! Not much you can do without power.
–Sony NPA-MQZ1K Multi Battery Adapter Kit: I love this for charging my batteries after a shoot.
Read more in What's In My Bag: The Top Tools For A Luxury Wedding Photographer.
Sony Artisan Kesha Lambert
What's Inside:
–Sony Alpha 7R V: My go-to camera specifically for portraits. I love to experiment with creative crops and this camera’s incredible high resolution gives me the freedom to do so.
–Sony Alpha 1: I can create noise-free images at high ISOs, and it has a comprehensive autofocus system that can keep up with the fast-changing pace of a wedding day.
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: It allows me to capture moments without inserting myself in their physical space to get the shot.
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: I'm ready for a broad range of scenarios with this lens. Whether it's dancing, portraits or a sentimental moment.
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: Exceptional performance in low light environments and beautiful bokeh, If I had to photograph a full day wedding with just one lens, this would be the one.
–Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: I use this to create dramatic portraits of the bride in her wedding dress with her bridesmaids. I also use this lens for dance floor action photos.
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: I use this lens to capture the small details on the wedding day. An inscription in the ring, the text of hand written bows…so much of the story is in the details.
–Sony TOUGH Memory Cards: With two photographers and an assistant each using two cameras and dual memory card slots for upwards of nine hours straight – we need fast, reliable cards.
Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Sony A7R V, A1 & G Master Kit For Wedding Photography.
Sony Artisan Jermaine Horton
What's Inside:
–Sony Alpha 1: For weddings I have two Alpha 1s so I never have to change lenses and worry about missing moments.
–Sony Alpha 7 IV: I eventually made this my travel camera and backup since getting the Sony Alpha 1s. But make no mistake about this camera, it’s still a beast of a machine and can be used for weddings, portraits and much more.
–Sony FX3: Along with wedding photography and portraits, I’m also a wedding filmmaker. The FX3 with the handle is one my favorite tools to use for handheld coverage.
–Sony Alpha 7S III: The Sony Alpha 7S III in low light is truly KING!
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: I cannot speak to how versatile this lens is. It's not only my wedding lens, but it's truly the second most important lens in my bag for sports at the pro level.
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: At weddings you are on your feet for 8-10 hrs a day and sometimes multiple days, so having lightweight gear is important for me. This lens is much smaller than the previous but packs a powerful punch.
–Sony 24-105mm f/4 G: I truly believe this is the most underrated lens in the Sony lineup, but it’s my go-to in the studio and I honestly can’t remember using another lens in a while for my studio work.
–Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: If you are looking for a wide lens, this is it and part of the trinity with the zoom lineup and a key one.
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: When I want to go prime and wide, this is the one. It is incredibly sharp edge to edge and SUPER lightweight.
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: This is a lens you can capture an entire day with – it’s great for documentary.
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: If you are looking for sharpness, true color rendering, and speed – this is it! There have been times when this lens would never leave my camera. From weddings to portraits and more…this is the one!
–Sony 85mm f/1.8: I still love using this lens for portraits when I want to go light or travel light. Still one of the best portrait lenses.
–Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master: The compression it gives you and bokeh – chef’s kiss. It’s so accurate, never hunts and is sticky on your subject.
–Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: This one only comes out for details and rings on wedding day, but it's so important to telling the story of the day. I can honestly say this lens is at EVERY wedding as it’s going to give you those macro shots you just can’t get with anything else.
Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Complete Photo Kit For Capturing Weddings, Portraits & Sports.
Alpha Collective Member Henry Tieu
What's Inside:
–Sony Alpha 7 IV: When photographing in blue hours and even into the night, the Alpha 7 IV and its low-light capability is stunning. I often joke with my clients when photographing in these situations where my cameras can basically see in the dark.
–Sony ZV-1: I am not a huge vlogger but since it’s always fun to capture behind-the-scenes of some of the most amazing places I get to see, I figured it’s always fun to just record random moments.
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: I love how wide the 24mm is for getting ready moments when my clients stay in small cabins or when we hike up the trails together and I can really encapsulate all the elements within the trail and the couple at the same time.
–Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master: A 35mm is such a wedding photographer “must-have,” and this particular G Master version is the one, the only and nothing else can compare to it. I love that it is super light-weight but so durable. I use this lens to capture most of my portraits.
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: My second most-used lens has to be this 50mm lens. And the fact that I can go all the way down to an aperture of 1.2 truly is life changing. I love how this lens allows my subject to really pop against the background and how creamy everything looks.
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: The 70-200mm is such an important lens in wedding work not just elopement photography work. This allows me to stay back and use my photojournalism skills to capture organic moments without my subjects feeling like I am interfering.
Read more in What’s In My Bag: A Ready-For-Anything Adventure Elopement & Intimate Wedding Photography Kit.
