I'm really glad
Amazon Prime Day is HERE, y’all! What better day to talk about what’s in my camera bag than today when you can score some extra rad savings for yourself!
If you’re a professional photographer or even a hobbyist, you know that photography gear is NOT cheap. Skimping on stellar equipment can lead to breakdowns during your sessions or even family vacations. High quality gear is a must when documenting those precious milestones as a professional or even personal sweet every day moments. There is no worse feeling than plugging in your memory card to find that your images are corrupted or going to finalize editing on a session to see that your external hard drive has crashed.
While technical gear failure sometimes happens, you can do everything in your power to beat it while you’re still ahead. To say that I’m kind of obsessed with this is an understatement. Take it from me, you’ll want to invest in some of these key pieces to ensure your gear is running smoothly and your photos remain safely intact. Today is the PERFECT day to check out some of those deals.
These are my tried and true professional equipment pieces that have lasted me for years. When you purchase these items, you’re purchasing them FOR LIFE (or a really, really, really long time) which is why it is so important to invest in the QUALITY pieces that will grow with your photography skill set!
Meet my camera body, aka, “The Tank.” The Canon 5D Mark III is my ride or die, people. This full frame professional bad ass will be with me forever. She’s missing a toggle button on the back from intense adventuring and shooting, and has been loved more than any piece of gear I have ever owned. I know this thing like the back of my own hand…it feels like an extension of my own body at this point. We’ve been through hundreds of sessions and weddings together, and whenever I pick this up, I feel like I’m coming home.
Arguably my most loved lens, my Canon EF 35mm f/2 rarely comes off my camera body. I love having a little bit more space around my subject without the warping of the 24-70mm lens. A prime lens usually offers more of a crisp portrait than a zoom lens, which makes this an excellent choice for folks comfortable getting up close and personal. Other art lenses have let me down with softening of focal points, but this baby has stayed sharp through the years, giving a subtle bokeh. Paired with the Mark III, this makes a reliable combination in low light settings when flash is not permitted for use.
The nifty 50. What professional photographer doesn’t have this lens on hand? The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 was the first lens I fell in love with, and oh what a love affair it was. I remember swooning when I plugged that bad boy on to my Rebel after using the kit lens for a few months. The bokeh on this is nuts…it really is beautiful. Find some dappled light and watch this thing go to WORK on portrait images. More sturdy than the 1.8mm, this lens focuses faster in low light with a full frame camera, but does fairly well on crop sensor cameras like the Rebel series.
Receptions, bright beaches with harsh shadows, not an ounce of shade to be found? Meet my favorite speedlite! The Canon 600EX II-RT is a breeze to shoot with, and it fires QUICKLY without misfiring like some other speedlites I’ve used. This makes my job super easy during weddings when I cannot afford to miss a beat. The light is cool and natural when shooting with or without the bounce card/diffuser. There’s no need for gels if you’re searching for a clean and crisp color. With over ten other lighting systems to use, this is my favorite on and off camera system. It’s powerful, durable, and doesn’t overheat at high speed shooting like other off-brand systems. Bonus: The TTL system on here is a breeze to use making first dances in dark scenarios super easy to set up.
Ensure that your images are safely recorded and can transfer without issues with my favorite memory card. The SanDisk Extreme/ Extreme Pro CF cards are the only way to go. They shoot and record FAST making it easy to move quickly from one set of images from the next. When we roll through family portraits at weddings, I sometimes only have 20 minutes (or less) to shoot multiple family combinations. I have NO time to waste on my camera recording an image, which is why I depend on these cards to get the job done. When I’m not shooting on my cards, I keep them stored in this Pelican CF case for safe keeping!
When it comes to backing up images, there is absolutely no room for error. Western Digital has been my reliable way to ensure my clients images (and my own) are safely stored. Buying them in smaller sizes such as the 2TB version helps me run a backup system that works for me! On the go? I make sure my external hard drives are equally as protected using these travel cases.
As a traveling photographer, I take zero chances when it comes to packing my gear safely and securely. My hard drives are well protected in the Pelican 1200 Case no matter where I land. Custom cut foam allows my external hard drives to fit snugly and securely.
Hitting the road, my camera equipment goes into a rolling Pelican Case. It doesn’t matter if I’m traveling by plane or road tripping to the other side of the country, this case is what I’m using. The outside of this case has been well loved, but my gear inside remains untouched. Perfectly crafted for multiple camera bodies and lenses, this travel size gear box is designed to be a carry on roller bag.
Although the version I have is more difficult to find, the newer Air Case is 40% lighter. When hauling around gear for hours on end, that makes a huge difference.
If you’re looking for something larger, the Pelican Storm iM2975 Case is perfect (and waterproof) for hauling more gear or larger items.
As a final option, this Pelican 1520 case can house one body and one lens. It’s PERFECT if you’re traveling light, or have other options for storage. It’s also on sale for 26% off making this a piece you can invest in right away.
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