I’ve been photographing weddings for years, so I get asked a lot about what gear is the best to use for weddings and elopements. I decided to put together a complete guide to all of my fave wedding photography gear. This goes beyond just cameras and lenses – this is literally every.single.thing. that I use, and why I love it! I always want to stress that the gear does not make the photographer. But I love to find out what other photographers use and if they have suggestions, good experiences or recommendations, etc.
—- Disclaimer: all of the Amazon links within this article are affiliate links to my Amazon storefront, where I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Know that I only recommend products that I personally use and love.
My Main Wedding Photography Gear
I used to shoot on Sony, and made the switch to Nikon a few years ago. While I do miss my mirrorless bodies, the D750s are great and I plan to keep using mine until next season.
I always shoot with two bodies on me at all times (with my fave harness linked down below!), so it’s just become a part of my workflow.
Nikon 24mm 1.4 Lens + Nikon 85mm 1.8 Lens
These are my two favourite lenses and what I use constantly. I love my 24mm and use it most of the time. The 85mm is great for closer shots during weddings and sessions, so I use it about half of the time.
Other Photography Gear
Nikon Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries
I have *cheapie* batteries and they DO NOT last very long. Even when I used to shoot Sony, I would only buy brand name batteries. The same goes for Nikon – even though they’re more expensive, I would recommend buying brand name so they don’t die as quickly. I also keep 5 (that’s right, five) batteries in my bag at all times.
Nikon EN-EL15 Dual Battery Charger
A dual battery charger is a must! If you’re running low during a wedding, you can swap out with some spares and charge another two while you’re shooting.
The higher the write speed to your card, the better (also the more expensive). I personally use the 64gb (with a write speed of at least 170mb/s). I LOVE having the 128gb cards for longer wedding days, so use those occasionally as well. I don’t even want to tell you how many freaking SD cards I have 😬😂 and I replace them every year…. It’s a big investment, but it’s worth it to have good cards.
Photography Home Office Gear
Samsung SSD External 1TB Drive
Just like it’s worth it to have good cards, it’s worth it to have good external drives. Unlike a typical hard drive, Solid State Drives are faster and are able to withstand more of a bruising (bonus if you travel with them or are rough with your gear). They’re more expensive than a lot of external hard drives, but they’re SO fast and so far I love them!
I have this adaptor to use with my Macbook. I primarily edit on my larger iMac, but this adaptor is great as a card reader and adaptor for my laptop when I’m traveling.
Accessories
THE BEST harness. My back used to get SO sore after a full wedding day. I’ve used this one for a full season plus, and it’s great!
Camera Backpack with Laptop Compartment
I’ve had this backpack for a few years and it’s great! If you’re shooting a regular session or wedding, it’s perfect. It’s waterproof, holds a lot, and has multiple compartments. The only time I wished I had another bag with me? When I’m on a long ass hike (the shoulder weight distribution is not the best).
Wandrd Prvke 31L Camera Backpack
I borrowed my friend’s Wandrd Prvke for a destination wedding and it’s SUCH a great bag. The weight distribution is awesome, it fits under the seat in front of me on a flight, and it has compartments for daysss. It’s just a *wee bit* on the heavy side, so once you fill it with gear… let’s just say lift some weights first lol.
Lululemon Belt Bag / Fanny Pack
I love Lululemon, and this belt bag is awesome! I keep a memory card holder with extra cards, an extra battery, my phone, and any other little items in it so they’re quick and easy to grab.
Other Gear
Waterproof Shockproof Memory Card Holder
I have several of these for all of my SD cards! My unused cards go face up, and cards that I’ve shot on and are full go face down (I also shoot with dual card slots as backup, so I keep one card on me and one card in my bag…. that way If I get separated from my bag after shooting, I still have all of the original photos on a card).
Fractals (direct, in USD plus shipping) or on Amazon
I love my fractals! I don’t use these every time I shoot, but I do love to play around with them! You can buy them directly from the site, or you can get them in CAD from Amazon.
Wonderboom Portable Mini Speaker
Depending on the vibe, playing some music can be a fun addition to a wedding day or session. I have Spotify playlists ready to go on my phone, so I just pair it and clip it to my backpack!
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