Sara Boychuk (@saraboychuk_) is an adventurous landscape and wedding photographer based in the Canadian Rockies. Frequently described as the “ice queen,” her favorite landscapes are those found during the coldest months and in the harshest mountainous areas. “I seek to find the stillness in wilderness and have been using Sony as my sole trusted system for over five years,” she says. We caught up with her to learn more about her kit – keep reading as she shares what’s in her bag.

Product Preview – In This Article You'll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7 III
–Sony Alpha 7S III
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 20mm f/1.8 G
–Sony 85mm f/1.8

Cameras 

Sony Alpha 7 III: The Sony Alpha 7 III is my go-to camera. It is an absolute workhorse and does everything I need it to (from landscapes to elopements). The quality is fantastic and not to mention it holds up on my crazy mountain adventures.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec., f/7.1, ISO 100

Sony Alpha 7S III: The Sony Alpha 7S III is my secondary camera. Typically I like to use this camera for video work and astrophotography. The 10-bit 4K 120p video capabilities are perfect for commercial and wedding work, while the CMOS sensor works beautifully for astrophotography work.

Lenses

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II: The Sony 24-70mm is my absolute favorite lens. It provides me a perfect range in the outdoors to get a variety of perspectives. I am comfortable using it for landscapes or portraits for that reason. The Sony GM II is particularly crisp and I trust it which is why it’s attached to my camera 90% of the time.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/200-sec., f/5.6, ISO 100

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: The 70-200mm is my second favorite lens. I am a big fan of the unique landscape perspectives I can achieve with this lens. From the great focal reach to the compression, I can force the viewer to look at scenes in fresh ways. While it is a bit “heavier,” I will hike up a mountain with this lens in order to tell different stories.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/320-sec., f/11, ISO 100

Sony 20mm f/1.8 G and Sony 85mm f/1.8: I normally will also carry a prime lens with me depending on the objective. Pictured in the “whats in my bag” here is the 20mm which is beautiful for astrophotography due to being able to open at 1.8, but I also love the 85mm for mountain portraits.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 20mm f/1.8 G. 1.6-sec., f/1.8, ISO 800

Accessories

My bag will change depending if I am photographing primary landscapes, hiking a mountain, or photographing an adventurous wedding.  I use a mix of Shimoda, DB, and Gregory. Other accessories vary but can include:

Bear Spray: As a photographer based in the Canadian Rockies, Bear encounters are a reality that we must be prepared for. Remote locations are rewarding however safety is always of utmost importance.

A Beanie: A beanie feels like a personal extension of my head at this point as I almost always have one. The alpine can be incredibly cold so I always like to have a hat in my bag.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7S III. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G. 1/320-sec., f/10, ISO 100

Manfrotto Tripod: A tripod will depend on the adventure (especially when trying to save weight) but always worth it to achieve long exposures, night images, and self/couple portraits.

Sony Teleconverter: Depending on the landscape, I love having my Sony teleconverter. That extra reach for small weight is the perfect balance to give me more range in the backcountry amongst distant landscapes (and potentially wildlife!)

Godox Flash For Weddings: Inside or outside, I will always carry a flash with me for wedding work. It provides a great image and while I prefer using natural light, it often comes in handy.

Extra Sony Batteries: Especially important on multi-day adventures, I will have extra Sony batteries with me and a charger. The Sony batteries hold up well in the cold, but I never want to miss a shot because I’m out of power!

Cleaning Kit: Going outside and changing lenses means a huge risk for matter to get into the camera/lenses. Always good to carry a cleaner just in case.

Blue Dress: This is for my ice queen series. Although the dress is quite heavy, I carry my blue dress up mountains and glaciers as part of my self portrait series.

Photo by Sara Boychuk. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/20-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

Snacks/Medical Kit: Snacks are an essential point of life, just as a medical kit is (I am also trained as a Registered Nurse). You can’t go out on an adventure without being prepared. 

Headlamp: As someone who wants the flexibility of hiking in the dark to reach an objective, a headlamp is a must. Even if I think I won't be out late/too early, I always like to carry it to be safe.

See more of Sara Boychuk’s work on Instagram @saraboychuk_.