Want to photograph weddings? I love this job and wish I had this resource before I started this career. Here is my breakdown of what you need to show up to a wedding as a professional.
Disclosure: The links included are affiliate links. This is all the gear I actually use and love. I encourage you to support your local camera shops with this list. If you prefer to purchase online, please use these links to help me continue sharing this type of education for free!
Photographing a wedding is unlike most other photography jobs. We need to be ready for anything. We are documenting once-in-a-lifetime memories, and it is our task to ensure these memories make their way into the visual archive of our clients’ lives.
Why I Became a Photographer
My whole life, I collected antique photos and had a fondness for antique wedding images. I would always flip through stacks of old photographs at antique malls, looking for any images that resembled myself. Before I even knew I was queer, I knew I was different and could never seem to find any vintage photos that felt alternative. I know that queer people have always been here, but their images are widely missing from the world’s archives.
That’s why I love photographing weddings. I get the chance to fill in the missing gaps in the archives of images.
Essential Wedding Photography Kit
Now let’s get to the good stuff. The absolute minimum kit I would bring to a wedding includes:
- Two full-frame camera bodies each with dual card slots (I recommend mirrorless)
- Three lenses including one 24-70mm
- Two on-camera flashes
- One off-camera flash
- Light stand
With this kit, you would have a set of professional equipment and a backup set. Cameras are unpredictable, and you always need a backup plan.
Why I Choose Mirrorless
My first piece of advice to anyone purchasing a camera is to get the best mirrorless camera you can afford. There are two major types of pro-level digital cameras: Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) and mirrorless cameras. On eBay or Facebook Marketplace, there are hundreds of DSLR cameras available, often at lower price points than mirrorless. While DSLRs are often more affordable, the technology and innovation are all happening in the mirrorless world. Once you start building your photography kit, you will be adding lenses, bodies, and accessories, and you want everything to be compatible for the longest possible time. Buying a mirrorless camera (and mirrorless lenses) means you can continue to upgrade within that ecosystem. Most major camera manufacturers are phasing out DSLR technology, so you will likely no longer be able to upgrade within a DSLR ecosystem. It’s best to start mirrorless and stick with it!
Camera Bodies
Primary Cameras:
- Nikon Z8 – One of the best mirrorless cameras Nikon has to offer. This camera has great autofocus and a 45MP full-frame sensor. It is my go-to camera for tough lighting, quick moments, and reception work.
- Fuji GFX 50S II – This is my favorite camera, although it is also my fussiest. It produces beautiful files but is slow to autofocus and underperforms in low light. I use this for portraits, details, formals, and cocktail hour.
Backup Camera:
- Nikon Zf – I love this camera. Its cool retro aesthetic and physical dials make it a joy to work with. It is small and easy to pack as a backup camera. Technical aspects are important, but equally important is the tactile experience. The Zf is great in this regard.
- Nikon Z6II / Z6III – The Z6II has been my workhorse camera for years. My favorite feature is the in-body stabilization that lets me take handheld clear photos down to 1/60 of a second.
Film Camera:
- Nikon F6 – One of the last produced film cameras from Nikon! This film camera operates similarly to a DSLR, making it quick and easy to incorporate into a wedding workflow.
Lenses
If you could only get two lenses:
- 24-70mm f/2.8 (Nikon, Canon, Sony) – I use the Nikon Z mount version of this lens. It is by far the most versatile and useful lens on a wedding day.
- 50mm f/1.2 or f/1.4 (Nikon) – This is my favorite fixed lens. I find the 50mm incredibly versatile for everything from portraits.
Other lenses I love having in my kit:
- Nikon Z 26mm f/2.8 – This is a compact, quick lens perfect for a documentary approach.
- Nikon 85mm 1.4 – I used this one on my film camera all the time!
Taken on the Z6ii 50 1.2, the Nikon f6 24-70, Nikon Zf 26 2.8
Lighting Equipment
On-Camera Flash:
- Godox V1 – Hands down, my favorite on-camera light.
Off-Camera Lighting:
- Godox AD200 Pro
- MagMod Modifiers – I use these to correct the color of my lights to match the ambient lighting and at every single wedding.
Accessories
Camera Bags:
- Nomatic Sling – I love this for keeping an extra lens or camera body on me besides my harness.
- Camera Harness – This holds two or three cameras on me and is a super comfortable way to carry my gear.
- Nomatic Backpack – I have tried a few camera backpacks, and this one is my favorite.
- Think Tank Roller – This roller bag can carry my light stands, softbox, and so much more.
I spend countless hours researching every gear decision I make. I have found that this set of equipment has made me prepared for anything!
This is the first post in this series. Look out for more coming soon!
Theo Nash
