Kesha Lambert is an international wedding and portrait photographer who has documented several hundred weddings. “I love photographing people and I love the fast pace of a wedding day," she says. "As a wedding photographer I encounter every type of setting and lighting condition imaginable. In many ways working in an uncontrolled environment presents opportunities to grow in my understanding of light and push myself to create something new. Having gear that can keep pace with the challenges and the opportunities of the wedding day is a must. Having back up gear in case of the unexpected is also a must. For this reason my bag is so much more robust when I am photographing a wedding.” We caught up with the Sony Artisan to learn more about the Sony Alpha gear in her wedding day photography kit.

International wedding and portrait photographer and Sony Artisan of Imagery Kesha Lambert shows us the Sony Alpha cameras & Sony lenses she uses to capture the quickly-unfolding action of a wedding.

Cameras

Alpha 1: This camera does it all. The Alpha 1 is a staple for me because it is feature rich. The renderings from this camera are striking and the camera itself is compact and lightweight. From dimly lit churches to dance floor action shots, the Alpha 1 puts all of the features that I love and need into one camera body.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α1. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/1.4, ISO 320

Alpha 9 II : On the wedding day I typically wear two cameras on a double harness and the Alpha 9 II is one of those cameras. The auto focus is fast and reliable and the wedding day is full of fast unfolding action. Be it a flower girl running instead of walking down the aisle during the ceremony processional, or a garter toss tussle the Alpha 9 II is up for the task.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α9 II. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000

Sony Alpha 7R IV : With 61 MP, the Alpha 7R IV is my go-to for portraits, close-ups, and macro shots of details like jewelry and decor. Although I only typically use two camera bodies, I use this camera for these specific types of photos and also as back up.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α7R IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/200-sec., f/5, ISO 2000

Lenses

Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master: This lens is a staple for me. I use it at every wedding and it is almost always in use on at least one camera on my harness. The compression of this lens is ideal for portraits and it’s perfect focal point for capturing moments allows me to get close, but not too close. Images captured wide open at f/1.4 always wow our couples because of how razor sharp the images are along with the beautiful bokeh. This lens is also my preferred focal point for the wedding processional.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α7R IV. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master.

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master: This fast zoom is my go-to when I can’t, or don’t want to get too close to a moment like the first dance or an intimate exchange between mother and groom. It allows me to fade into the background and capture things my client isn’t aware I’m capturing.

Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: I had a chance to use the 12-24mm G Master before it was introduced to the public (see Wedding Pro Kesha Lambert Tests The 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master HERE) and it's been with me since. I love using this lens for sweeping shots of the ballroom photos, dance floor action and dramatic portraits.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α7R IV. Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/160-sec., f/3.2, ISO 800

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G: This macro lens is a must-have for wedding detail shots like jewelry, capturing engraved text, and small decor items. I also use the 90mm for makeup shots during bridal prep.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α9 II. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/100-sec., f/5, ISO 500

Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master: The 24mm f/1.4 G Master is one of my go-to's because wide angle portraits are a staple in my portfolio and it’s also the lightest weight lens in my bag. The 24mm GM is a lightweight and compact wide angle that opens up to f/1.4 and renders a smooth circular bokeh. It's the perfect choice for location sessions involving long walks or long hours standing.

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: The 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master is a wedding photography staple. It's a great all-around lens to leave on one of my cameras for wedding reception candids, or any situation where space to move around is limited or where time won't allow for swapping out lenses. It has all of the features I've come to love and expect from GM lenses; durable build, beautiful contrast and color.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α7R IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/100-sec., f/2.8, ISO 2000

Accessories

The wedding is full of beautiful plot twists courtesy of the people and environment. Moments and magic won’t wait for your gear. Moments that touch hearts unfold quickly and I need to be prepared to capture those spontaneous bits of magic the instant they happen. For this reason, you will also find many other things beyond cameras and lenses in my bag on the wedding day. I carry two types of lighting systems; flash and continuous lighting, light shaping tools, and random things like glitter and atmosphere in a can. When it comes to weddings, it’s better to be over-prepared.

Photo by Kesha Lambert. Sony α1. Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/1.8, ISO 320