Garrette Baird is a seasoned professional photographer and filmmaker based in Indiana. With almost three decades of experience behind the lens in both filmmaking and photography, the Sony Artisan has dedicated his career to capturing moments and crafting heartfelt narratives that resonate with my clients. “My journey began exploring the art of photography and filmmaking which has evolved into a passion for dog portraits among other captivating subjects,” he explains. “As far as my bag is concerned I thrive on versatility and mobility, preferring a nimble smaller camera bag that allows me to adapt swiftly to diverse shooting environments, and my goal remains constant: to create stunning visuals that inspire and endure the test of time.” We caught up with Baird to learn more about the gear he uses for the dog photography business with his wife and fellow Sony Artisan Amber Baird…keep reading as he shares what’s in his bag.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 1
–Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master
–Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master
–Sony TOUGH CF Type A Memory Cards
Camera
Sony Alpha 1: The Sony Alpha 1 is the perfect tool for my fast and unpredictable moving subjects. For the most part the pups I photograph are always excitedly moving all over the place with little or no interest in what I’m trying to accomplish. The 50 megapixel Alpha 1 with its impeccable AF animal face detection and 30fps RAW gives me capture opportunities that no other camera can.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master. 1/1500-sec., f/1.8, ISO 640
Lenses
Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master: I arrive on location with my Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master attached and ready to go. Nothing compares to the look of the 135 at 1.8, it can take the mundane and turn it into something magical with its shallow depth of field and compression. The XD Linear Motor system makes focusing insanely fast and helps me capture fleeting moments that are otherwise challenging to get.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master. 1/1250-sec., f/1.8, ISO 2000
Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master: The Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master is the perfect focal length for when I need to get a bit closer to my subject while still preserving that shallow depth of field with just a touch of compression. It also works well for capturing a bit more of my subject's environment for when I want more information in frame to help tell the story.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/1.2, ISO 125
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: They love to run, and when they do the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II is ready for action. Some of my favorite dog photography isn’t the elegant or regal golden hour picture perfect poses but instead a perfectly timed capture of dogs just being dogs. We often bring pups to a very large fenced in field and let them run free at top speed. For this the 70-200mm is my go to, the unpredictable free spirited running of a dog makes for some gorgeous and memorable imagery.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/1600-sec., f/2.8, ISO 4000
Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: This is more of a specialty lens that I use from time to time for locations and environments that need an additional bit of width. Most of the time I can just “zoom out” with my feet, but there are instances where there just isn’t room and that when the Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master comes in handy.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/800-sec., f/2, ISO 1000
Accessories
Pelican Memory Card Case: Weather and crush protection is crucial for my images while in the field.
Sony TOUGH CF Type A Memory Cards: The fastest cards I've ever owned! With almost no buffer I can keep that shutter button hammered down for as long as I need. It’s rare that I need so many but I do get carried away capturing 30 RAW 50 megapixel images a second, and a single session will really “chew up” the space quickly.
Polar Pro Variable ND Filter: On occasion I love slowing down my shutter and taking a dog as they run giving the background a beautiful motion blur effect. Also great for adding motion blur to moving water such as a creek or waterfall.
Photo by Garrette Baird. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/2.5, ISO 2000
Extra Sony Batteries: Typically I never use an entire battery during a shoot but my old filmmaking habits make me always bring more than I’ll need.
Bird Calls: These are crucial for those pups that simply refuse to look at the camera. Having a diverse collection of organic bird sounds (instead of a phone app) is a great way to attract the pups attention. Don't use them too frequently as the dog will only give you a couple looks before figuring out there's “foul” play afoot.
Squeaky Toy: A new and unfamiliar squeaky toy is bound to get their attention.
See more of Garrette and Amber’s pet photography on Instagram @hearts_and_hounds and on their website heartsandhoundsphoto.com.
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