What's in the bag?

Happy New Year everyone!

I’m entering my seventh year of business as a photographer so I think it’s about time that I tell you what’s in my camera bag. After all, if you’re interested in hiring me as your photographer then it should certainly be of some interest to you. Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all technical on you, but having a simple understanding of what equipment I use for my sessions may be useful to you.

Because I shoot mostly outdoors and on location I travel pretty light and have everything I need in one small backpack. (ps thanks for the xmas pressie - nice upgrade mum!)

First and foremost - the camera. Most photographers use Canon or Nikon and for me, it’s always been Nikon. They are both leading brands therefore it’s purely down to personal taste which you go for.

The camera is obviously a vital part of equipment, however it’s actually the lenses that become the real game changers when achieving the results you desire. For example, a nature photographer will have a large telephoto lens in order that they can focus in very closely to their subject and not scare it away.

The lens I always, always carry with me has got to be my 50mm prime lens. (prime means it doesn’t zoom in and out) It provides images that are so beautifully sharp and enables me to focus in on the details in front of me whilst blurring out the background. (example above) This means that faces almost seem to pop out of the end image with eyes crystal clear. Ideal for portraits and fine baby details. It’s also a great choice for candid and documentary style shots as it performs very well in low light conditions meaning more realistic results and the sort of images where it looks like the photographer wasn’t there at all. (example below) It’s an absolute dream to use using natural window light. I just love it - It’s a very versatile wee lens and almost permanently attached to my camera!

I also carry with me the kit lens that came with the camera which is a good all-rounder. It’s got a small zoom on it and mostly I use this for group shots because I can pack more people in to the shot but it performs very well in many other situations.

The third and final lens I include in my ‘kit mix’ is a standard zoom lens which enables me to get close to the action from a distance. This is a fabulous lens for capturing for eg, images of kids at play and as you are not right in their vicinity their natural expressions and excited reactions appear in leaps and bounds! It’s also great for blurring out backgrounds, ensuring that the subjects are the focal point.

Lastly but essentially is my mountable flash. Do I hear you asking why I would need a flash if I shoot mostly outdoors? Not a daft question. It’s very good at filling in shadows on faces especially if the subjects have their backs to the light, (see below) and I can do this whilst still achieving a natural result. There’s flash used badly and there’s flash used well and the differences in results are staggering. Come to think of it, I probably use my flash more outdoors than indoors.

So that’s the main kit. Asides from this I have a smaller spare camera and flash as back-up just in case of technical meltdown but crossed fingers, I’ve never had to use it yet. Spare batteries, SD Cards and lens cleaners are also stored away in a wee pocket.

Hopefully I haven’t bored the pants of you by now. One last thing I may include is a bottle of bubbles! IF younger kids get a bit restless or they need an energy boost then bubbles is a welcome way to add a little magic into their faces.

Best get my bag packed for the next session!