My Photography Equipment
After constantly being asked about this I thought it only right to set up a whole page dedicated to what equipment I use as a wedding photographer. I’ll break it down into several sections with links to sites where I recommend you buy them. Where the equipment is no longer available I will link you to the newest version or an equal alternative.
It’s important to note that I shoot with 1 camera pretty much all day as a wedding photographer. This will affect the equipment listing you read below. I do this purely because I believe 2 cameras are clumsy and cumbersome and my focus is so much better when I just have one camera body to focus on.
Wedding Photography Camera Bodies & Lens
The primary section is which I believe many will be interested in. I use Nikon for my wedding photography because I always have. No real reason there other than my first DSLR when I was 16 was a Nikon D70s so I’ve just stayed on the bandwagon for a while now. I believe the person behind the camera has more of an effect on the outcome than the actual body and lens. Wedding Photography camera bodies and lenses are still hugely important but I got to a point where I stopped caring as much because I realised I was the difference behind whether a photograph was rubbish or was incredible.
Camera Bodies
Nikon Z8 – My primary camera which I shoot on all day. The focusing is great the FPS rate along with the fast digital workings of the camera means I often don’t miss photographs. If I do miss wedding photographs then it’s usually not the fault of the equipment but my own.
2x Nikon Z6ii – Now my backup cameras. I used to have 3 of these and shoot exclusively with them originally having 2 on the go at once before I swapped to a 1 camera setup. I know they can cope with the quick pace of a wedding day and although they aren’t the Z8 I’ve delivered an abundance of incredible wedding photography galleries with these and these alone.
Camera Lens’
I used to shoot zooms then I was exclusively prime then I reintroduced the 24-70mm which I shot exclusively on for 10 weddings in 2022 and now I’m back to primes with an occasional use of the 24-70mm in fast situations. I like to have my second hand free to hold flash or help out and often with a zoom lens it’s a 2 handed job which is why I favour primes.
My Core Four Lens’
Nikon Z 24mm f/1.8 S Lens – My go-to dance floor lens when it’s all mad. I don’t use this for the first dance though. I also occasionally use this when things are a bit cramped in candid moments.
Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S Lens – My go-to number 1 lens of the day. I wish wedding venues were massive and gave me enough room to use 50mm all day but they just aren’t so that’s where the 35mm comes in as a great go-between when it comes to having the luxury of a wide with the slight flat portrait look of 50mm.
Nikon Z 50mm f/1.8 S Lens – If I have the room then I will always favour the 50mm over the 35mm but that is super rare and with only shooting from 1 camera body I often only put the 50mm on to get a little closer during candid moments or when shooting formal portraits aka group shots.
Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens – If I have the room I love to use this for formal portraits aka group shots and also confetti as you get a lot more layers of bokeh and cut out a lot of periphery mess. I also love to use this for portraits and step right back as it almost gives a wide-angled look but is flat.
Back-Up Lens’
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S Lens – When things get busy and I’m about to move through multiple rooms with varying focal lengths needed then I’ll use this. The f/2,8 is a drawback and often restricts me from using it more often but if I could only ever have 1 lens it would have to be this.
Flash & Constant Light Wedding Photography Equipment
It’s important to note that for me my flash equipment is where I want it to be where as my constant light equipment is not quite there yet. I’m hoping to make more investment so that my constant light equipment can provide the same quality as my flash gear.
Flash
I used to use Nikon’s own brand of flash but then I listened to the community and jumped on the bandwagon with Godox and it was a revelation. Such a great selection of flash guns which just work.
On Camera
2x Godox V860III – An incredible on camera speedlight. When switching to mirrorless I was faced with the same issue most were and that was focusing in low light. Some brands of bodies are better for this which gives a leg up but by far the best addition to help this problem was the Godox V860III. The Godox is one of the only speedlights I know of that comes with a constant forward facing LED light on the front. This means that no matter where the speedlight head is pointing the LED can always illuminate the subject. It has 10 variable power settings and it’s bailed me out of the worst scenarios.
Off Camera
Godox AD100 – By far my most used flash and if I could only have 1, this would be it. When you get further into the flash world you start to become familiar with the quality of light being produced. The quality of light from the AD100 is superb and it offers a great midway entry into off-camera flash. It can zoom the flash which the AD200 range can’t but the V860iii can. It has a round head as standard which both the AD200 or the V860 don’t come with. Finally, it’s super lightweight and resembles the size of a lens so it’s really easy to fit into your kit bag.
3x Godox AD200Pro – Incredible flash power in a sensible size body. It can’t zoom but it does have an option of the standard rectangular head, a traditional bulb head or you can purchase the round head which I have for all 3. These are my go-to flashes for providing backlight to the dance floor and also lighting group shots indoors.
Triggers
Just a heads up that the N stands for Nikon so if you’re a Sony shooter you’ll want the S and Canon it will be the C.
Godox X2T-N – I used to use the Xpro but the X2T allows me to mount my behind-the-scenes camera on top.
Godox Xpro-N – This is my backup trigger should the X2T fail. If you don’t want to shoot behind-the-scenes videos or have a flash on camera as well then I recommend you save money and get this instead of the X2T.
Constant Light
As I said above my constant light equipment is the only part of my gear which I’m not completely satisfied with. I need strong lights that could light up a ceremony space for at least 30 minutes.
2 x Aputure Amaran AL-MX Pocket Size – These are perfect little constant lights if you’re close to your subject. I will often use them to match the temperature of a wedding breakfast room and just provide a little bit of fill light to the details on the tables. I also use them for speeches but if you’re holding them or using them on camera then you won’t be able to use anything longer than a 35mm lens as the light drops off after that.
Light Stands & Poles
3x Manfrotto Nano Stand – These are great lightweight light stands which are perfect weight-wise to carry around and also move around. I often will use other objects at venues to shield them because they are so light they could fall if knocked not only potentially breaking your gear but injuring a person too.
Manfrotto MM290C4 Carbon Fibre Monopod – I use this exclusively with my AD100 as a boom pole to reach subjects with my flash on the dance floor.
Behind the Scenes Wedding Photography Equipment
This is the newest section of gear I now take to weddings following its super successful run when I first started using them in 2022.
Primary Behind-the-Scenes Camera
2x Insta360 X3 – My primary behind-the-scenes camera. The weight and record quality align nicely to make this the perfect camera to attach your main shooting camera. If you want to save a bit of money the ONE X2 is perfectly capable and a great intro BTS camera.
Back-Up Behind-the-Scenes Cameras
Insta360 Go3 – Despite its name, it’s not a 360 camera but more of a point-of-view camera which I attach to my chest with the magnet pendant to give an alternative view when my camera is on my hip.
Insta360 One RS One Inch – The big sensor version of the X2/3. This is much larger and thus is a little intense to use. I tend to use it when the memory on either of the X3s I have is full.
Additional Behind-the-Scenes Equipment
Insta360 Invisible Selfie Stick – If I’m walking between places this provides a great view for transitional moments within my behind-the-scenes videos.
128 GB Micro SD Cards – With the X3 you can hold about 120 minutes worth of footage with a 128gb micro SD card. I tend to shoot anything from 30 minutes to 90 minutes of footage on a wedding day.
Miscellaneous Equipment
Just those other random bits that I couldn’t live without.
Peak Design 6L Sling – My go-to bag that I can wear all day. The size is just perfect as it only fits so much in thus reducing the weight and making it manageable for a whole-day wedding. I can fit
- nikonz6ii (Backup Camera Body)
- 2x of my Core Four prime lens
- AD100
- X2T-N Trigger
- 10x Nikon Camera Body Batteries
- 1x Insta360 X3
- 1x Insta360 “Invisible” Selfie Stick
Pelican SD Card Case – Fits 12 SD cards in and is crush/waterproof. I also have this tethered to my belt loop so that it can’t fall out of my pocket.
Spider X Holster Set – I have one holster and two mirrorless camera plates. The holster sits on my belt and the plates connect the cameras to them. It allows me to be hands-free at the drop of a hat without the constraints of a harness or strap.
Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Pocket Knife – Perfect mini tool to help you along with anything. I’ve cut more labels out of dresses and opened up Groomsmen’s jackets with this than I can remember. It gets you some easy hero points at the start of the day.
13x Nikon EN-EL15a/b/c batteries – You don’t need this many batteries. I’ve just accumulated them over the years through different camera models. Having more than enough batteries is important though. It’s a quick and easy save and super painful if you’re surviving on less.
Software
Use all of these on a daily/weekly basis.
Aftershoot – My AI editing which does my basics so I can then go on and edit everything in more detail.
Pic-Time – My gallery hosting platform that automates all my sales emails to my clients and their guests. This platform pays for itself 10x over every year.
SmartAlbums – My album building software. Super simple and helps me design albums in minutes not hours.
Adobe Lightroom Classic – My go-to photo editor for the last 20 years. I wouldn’t be where I was without it.
LR Super Keys – Keyboard mapping software I use for Adobe Lightroom Classic. I adore this and have it fully customised to fit my taste.