Wedding photography has become an extremely popular and profitable specialty. First of all, a wedding is a grand, once-in-a-lifetime, emotionally charged event, where expectations are high and anything less than the best shot cannot be accepted. Being a wedding photographer requires dedication and talent, but having the right photography equipment is crucial if you expect to get sharp, well-composed, well-lit images that depict people at their best. Here's a basic overview of what's needed to take your wedding photography to new dimensions, or fill gaps in your current equipment.
Full-frame camera
Higher-tier, full-frame DSLRs like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Nikon D810, and Nikon D750 are the cameras of choice for experienced wedding photographers. Their more powerful sensors offer superior definition, detail, and sharpness, allowing a greater degree of enlargement or cropping without loss of image quality and offer superior performance at high ISO settings, allowing faster shutter speeds and shallow depth of field to create striking painterly effects. Other advantages include rugged body construction, reliability in extreme conditions, weather sealing, multi-zone autofocus (AF) and autoexposure (AE) systems, full 1080p HD video capability with a variety of speeds framing and the availability of high frequency end accessories, such as electrical outlets and battery packs. Some more forward-thinking shooters may be looking for mirrorless cameras, and for full-frame, the Sony A7 series, including the A7R II and A7S II, is the way to go. With 4K video, excellent performance in shooting conditions low light and very powerful AF systems, as well as high resolution electronic viewfinders, the latest models can stand up to the proven DSLR.
Backup camera
Many leading wedding professionals also use upper- and mid-level APS-C format SLRs, such as the Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Nikon D500, and Sony Alpha A77II, as primary or backup cameras. With image sensors ranging from 16MP and up, they offer sufficient image quality for wedding applications and when using full-frame lenses they provide greater reach by a factor of 1.5x or 1.6x (canon), albeit with narrower angle coverage. Other advantages include lenses that are smaller, lighter, and available with longer zoom ranges, such as the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM. The high ISO performance of the latest APS-C cameras is remarkably good, making slow lenses in the f/3.5-5.6 range a viable option for available-light shooting. For mirrorless shooters, or those looking for more secondary cameras compact, there are the sony alpha a6300 and fujifilm x-pro2, which still benefit from the large APS-C format sensors, but do so in much smaller bodies.
Slow: the faster the better
Wide-aperture lenses allow you to shoot in low-light conditions at lower ISOs and higher shutter speeds for better image quality, but also offer a shallower depth of field for creating vivid painterly effects at wider apertures .Fast zoom and prime lenses are mainstays of veteran wedding photographers and emerging professionals.
If any lens can be called “the wedding lens”, it is the 24-70mm f/2.8. This lens is effective for capturing the entire wedding party as its members witness the event, the bride and groom at the altar, close-ups , detail shots and formal full-length portraits. Its large aperture offers brighter vision in darker environments and allows you to create artistic effects with beautiful bokeh.
The 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom is the most popular telephoto zoom among experienced photographers and integrates seamlessly with the 24-70mm f/2.8, offering seamless wide-angle coverage from wide angle to telephoto. Its long reach It's perfect for capturing intimate details and long-distance interactions, and is also ideal for headshots of individuals, couples and groups, both indoors and outdoors.
The lens's very shallow depth of field, at wider apertures and longer focal lengths, allows you to capture classic portraits with a traditional “large format” look that is in high demand.
High-definition (single focal length) lenses are excellent for candid low-light photos, HD video coverage, and casual or formal portraits without flash. They are easy to handle and take up little space in your camera bag. The most common focal lengths are 35, 50 and 85, the preferred portrait lens of most photographers.
Wide-angle zooms are crucial for group shots, setting up the chapel with all the guests in attendance, and capturing important moments on the dance floor, including the first dance. They are invaluable for taking candid photos that capture the essence of 'event.
Professionals gravitate to wide zooms with fast apertures that give them an advantage in available-light shooting at lower ISOs, but the excellent high-iso performance of today's DSLRs makes f/3.5-5.6 lenses a viable option.
The macro lenses are perfect for capturing interesting details in rings, dresses, couture and floral arrangements. The range's telephoto macro lenses can also do double duty as portrait lenses.
Fisheye lenses are an increasingly popular choice among wedding professionals because they allow you to capture unique images that set your work apart. You can't use them for more than a few shots, but a surprising percentage of them end up in wedding albums or wallets. Full-frame fisheyes produce a full-frame image covering 180 degrees, diagonally, with more barrel distortion towards the edges of the frame, while classic fisheyes provide a 180-degree circular image in the center of the frame for a more dramatic effect.
Lighting makes the difference
Flash drives
Many wedding professionals pack four or more flash units in their bags for multiple lighting setups, but the minimum is two dedicated high-power flash units plus a backup, to use as a backup or for three-light portrait setups .
Some popular high-tech choices are the Nikon SB-5000 AF Speedlight, the Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite with built-in radio remote control for multi-flash applications, and the Sony HVL-F60M External Flash and Video Light.
Monolights and small LEDs
Monolights are high-power flashes with built-in modeling lights, and kits include one or more heads plus reflectors and battery. Some photographers use two or more monolingual AC units for formal portraits or to light a dance floor. LEDs are versatile continuous light sources that can also be used for still images or video and have the added benefits of being energy efficient and cooler than warm light sources. The Impact Light Trek 4.0 DC Monolight and Mini Lite Trek (LT) Battery Kit, also available in a 2-monolight version, is a good example. Additionally, the Profoto B1 500 AirTTL battery-powered flash is an excellent choice thanks to its performance fast, high performance and TTL integration. An example of a solid LED kit is the Genaray Spectroled Outfit 500 bi-color LED light kit, which includes two LED panels, supports and battery-operated cases.
Bracket flash
Flash brackets allow you to place the light high enough above the lens to eliminate shadows behind the subject for a more professional and natural look while still allowing you to hold the flash and camera as a well-balanced and easily handled unit.
Some allow you to position the camera vertically or horizontally on a rotating platform, an advantage when shooting portraits. Suggested examples: promediagear bbgv2 boomerang flash bracket or vello quickdraw rotating flash bracket.
Wireless radio slave
Radio slaves are extremely useful because they allow you to synchronize multiple flash setups, trigger flashes and turn off cameras remotely. Some are simple triggers; others provide I-ttl or e-ttl flash control with dedicated speed lights. Non-TTL systems are typically used with a light meter that offers flash metering capabilities, such as the Sekonic Litemaster Pro L-478DR-U, which can connect to Pocket Wizard units and control flash output using PocketTech Controll technology. Examples of ttl are: pocket wizard flex tt5 and pocket wizard mini tt1. Examples of non-ttl are: power impact sync 16 or pocket wizard plus x transceiver.
High-speed, high-capacity memory cards
UHS-I Class 1 and Class 3 SD cards and UDMA 7 rated CompactFlash (CF) cards are essential for shooting HD video or rapid-fire sequences or explosions. And if you have a new camera, you may be able to Take advantage of the latest media advances, the XQD or CFAST cards, each of which have significantly improved speed over SD and CF.
High-capacity cards of 32GB or larger can allow you to capture an entire wedding on a single card, but many professionals prefer to use a number of smaller high-speed cards because they don't want to put all their eggs in one basket.
Cameras with two memory slots, such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, allow instant file duplication and automatic backup to a second card, and can even be set to automatically switch to the second card when the first fills. Many dual-slot systems allow you to record raw images on one card and jpeg images on a second card simultaneously. More memory is always better, so bring more than you need.
Extra Batteries: Be Ready!
Battery grips
Battery grips are dedicated accessories that provide additional battery capacity for shooting many more frames per charge, and also have a secondary set of controls (including a well-placed second shutter release) that makes vertical shooting much more convenient.
Battery backup
Be sure to pack at least one extra set of fully charged batteries or a power supply (or more than one of each) capable of powering every battery-powered device in the kit, including cameras, flash units, lighting fixtures, wireless remotes, and flashlights electric .Power packs also offer faster recycling times, a big advantage when shooting stocks. Be sure to pack the appropriate cables for each battery.
Light diffusers and modifiers
Diffusers and light modifiers can make a real difference in creating soft, natural-looking light that flatters your subjects. Some also offer a range of interesting color effects. There is an incredible variety of umbrellas, reflectors, diffusers and modifiers on the market, but here are a few popular choices: Westcott 43″ Collapsible Umbrella Kit with Stand, Rogue Flashbender 2 Reflector and Gary Fong Lightsphere Collapsible with Speed mount .The impact reflect 5-in-1 folding reflector disc - 42" is an adjustable reflector with five color options that folds to a third of its size.
Tripods and monopods: stability equals sharpness
Experienced wedding photographers include a sturdy medium tripod and monopod in their kit. There's no better way to ensure sharp images when you rely on natural light and need to shoot at slow shutter speeds. Selected examples are: the Manfrotto BeFree Compact Travel Carbon Fiber Tripod and the Oben AT-3441 Tripod with BA-111T Ball Head. If you're shooting HD video, as well as still images, choose a tripod with a horizontal pan-tilt head. Smooth three-way tripod, like the Davis & Sanford Magnum Good choices are: the Oben ACM-1400 and Davis & Sanford TrekkerPro Professional.
Transport bags
Wedding professionals use a wide variety of methods for carrying gear, including lens bags, flash pack cases, light stands, accessories, and multiple sizes of task-oriented cases, camera shoulder bags, and backpacks. transport what they need on site. What works for you depends largely on your workflow, location, and whether you're working with an assistant.
As you can see, diversified and sophisticated equipment is required to complete the work properly!