Damian Chlanda (@coffeewithdamian) is relatively new to the field of wedding photography, having taken it up over the last two years. In that time, he's developed a distinctive doing-more-with-less style that stems from his simplified approach to his gear. “I’m trying to take a minimalistic approach to the wedding day, which I’ve learned allows me to create best from my travels," he says. In his bag, you'll find only essential pieces of gear that he says allows him to cover 90% of the wedding day and most of his content-creation needs. Chlanda takes us through his bag and the Sony Alpha camera and single Sony zoom along with the few key pieces of gear that he uses not only for weddings but also travel photography, street photography around his native Chicago, and vlogging around the world. Keep reading as Chlanda shares what’s in his single camera and lens kit.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7 IV
–Sony 20-70mm f/4 G
Camera
Sony Alpha 7 IV: I was thinking about upgrading my Sony Alpha 6600, and there are endless possibilities, so I was researching for a long time to make sure I got a camera that's best fitted for my needs. I'm picky, and I mean picky! I want to know that every dollar I spend will pay me back. So after a few months I decided to go with the Sony Alpha 7 IV. I’ve used it for two years, taking over 40k photos. Why does it fit my needs? For a several reasons:
–Full-frame sensor
–Compact ergonomic body
–4k 10-bit videos
–60 fps/120 fps
–Dual card slot
–33 MP sensor
The Alpha7 IV is a perfect hybrid camera that will cover any needs I have in the photography and videography world. Starting with a full-frame sensor that has great dynamic range, connected with 33MP is a sweet spot in terms of the size of the files and resolution, and I can crop a lot while maintaining plenty of resolution. It sits well in my hand which very important for me if I am going to spend a 10 hour wedding day holding my camera. All the buttons are easily accessible. Traveling with this body is easy as it's light and easily fits in my backpack. I never travel without this camera, whether it's for vacation or for work.
Photo by Damian Chlanda. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/250-sec., f/4, ISO 320
I also shoot videos, starting with weddings but also shooting interviews and more documentary-style films, and the Sony Alpha 7 IV provides all I need. The 4k 10-bit gives me perfect quality videos. For me that's unbeatable. Of course I could get 8k, I find those file sizes aren't efficient for me to work with. I can slow down the footage at HD quality with 120 fps, but I take this trade-off for so many other things I'm getting. The dual card slots were a big reason why I went with this camera. They give me peace of mind that I always have a backup of my footage. Not many other cameras have this feature.
Lens
Sony 20-70mm f/4 G: I needed a compact lens that would cover as much as possible, after long research (again) I was debating between the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G and Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G II Master. I ended up choosing the Sony 20-70mm f/4 G lens for a few reasons – it’s lighter, smaller, and cost-effective for me and I really like having the extra range at the wide end. The Sony 24-70mm G Master II is a piece of art, but the 20-70mm f/4 is a better fit for me and the way I work at this time.
Photo by Damian Chlanda. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/1000-sec., f/4, ISO 600
I shoot a lot at 20mm. I think it's a great focal length, especially for vlogging, which I will occasionally also do. With this lens alone, I am able to shoot entire films, travel with a light kit, and have amazing quality. The combination of the Sony Alpha 7 IV and Sony 20-70mm f/4 G is unbeatable in so many cases. Of course in low light I could use a faster prime, but the Sony Alpha 7 IV allows me to bump the ISO while maintaining a good quality image.
Photo by Damian Chlanda. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/1000-sec., f/4, ISO 500
I'm planning to use this combination for years, and I plan on taking the Alpha 7 IV and the 20-70mm f/4 G everywhere I go!
Accessories
Peak Design Sling: Wish such a small setup and few accessories, I’m able to fit everything in sling bag.
ND Filter: This is a lifesaver when it comes to videos or vlogging, impossible without it!
Flash: In case I need some extra light.
Extra Batteries & Extra Memory Cards: It’s always a good idea to have extras of these on hand.
iPad Air With Card Reader: I found this most efficient for me when editing on the go. I can quickly make a selection of photos and edit them on the plane, train or just sitting in the coffee shop. It is super light so it does not add a lot to the overall weight.
Photo by Damian Chlanda. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 20-70mm f/4 G. 1/100-sec., f/4, ISO 3200
Mic: In case I want to vlog during my travels or create videos.
See more of Damian’s work on his Alpha Universe Profile and on Instagram @coffeewithdamian.
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