Ugh, I almost hate writing this post, but I feel like it will be good for me to share. The first step is to admit you have a problem, right? Anyway, if you read my blog post at the beginning of the year about my goals, one of them was to spend like $1000 on equipment for the whole year. Well, I’m past that…by a good chunk and we’re only in March, so I’m writing this post about the wedding photography equipment I’ve bought to share what I’ve purchased and maybe explain things (to myself or maybe my wife). Alright, here we go. This is all I can remember, and maybe not even all of it.
Wedding Photography Equipment
Canon 6d, 85mm, and Printer
As I said in a previous post, I’m looking to expand my business. I’m hoping to train and have another photographer that is capable of shooting weddings for me. Lots of times I get booked and then I have to turn brides away. With another photographer, we could still help. I’m also thinking the other photographer could be a lower starting point in price to help some budget minded people. Anyway, with all that said, I bought a Canon 6d to hopefully compliment this photographers current equipment. I do have one person in mind to help with this, but if she doesn’t come through, I’m just going to push the new person toward Canon gear. I already owned some Canon lenses, so the 85mm fit in the gap of what I already own. Now, I also plan on using this camera for video, so it will definitely serve a purpose. The printer drove my wife insane, but there is a reason behind the madness. B and H was doing this deal. You buy this package with the Canon 6d, the printer, and some paper. Then, you do a rebate and get $350 back. The package was the same price as just a 6d by itself, so I basically am getting everything for $1150 and a free printer. It makes sense to me.
Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 and Mini TT1, Canon 580ex II
So, I do flash a lot at weddings, and my current triggering system is ok, but it definitely had some annoying bugs. I bought this new one to hopefully make my life easier and of course, get better pictures. The cool thing that I’ve talked about before is the hypersync capabilities. It allows me to use my big flashes to get some crazy skies. I also bought a pair for my Canon equipment and another flash to help with the system. Unknown to me at the time, there’s so weird issue with the Pocketwizard and Canon’s flash, so it doesn’t really work well. With all that said, I will be selling the Canon Flex TT5’s and keeping the Mini for triggering big flashes while shooting Canon.
Nikon Sb-910, Cactus V6 and RF60 flash
Like I said, I love flash. One of my current flashes is annoying. The power output is all over the place and more annoying is that it has a super slow recycle. I’ll take one photo with a flash, and then the next won’t have a flash. I already own a SB-910 and love it. It rocks. It’s the best flash I’ve used. I saw Adorama was having a deal on refurbished ones. It was $380 and new ones are $540. Now I can either have two amazing flashes on camera (one for each body I carry around) or really reliable flashes off camera. I also bought another trigger system for my Canon gear (to replace the Pocketwizards I plan on selling), and it came with a flash.
Delkin Fat Gecko Mounts
This was the cheapest of my purchases. When we shoot video, I like to have two cameras on the sides, aimed at the couple. The problem is that tripods take up space and sometimes there is no space at all. To fix this, I plan on mounting cameras to the walls with these Fat Gecko mounts. This will mean I can have those side angles in almost any situation, and I also won’t have to worry about people kicking my tripods. Another cool thing I plan on doing is occasionally mounting a camera up high at the back of the church to get a wide shot of everything.
I know I promised I wouldn’t buy a bunch of stuff, but as I have explained, all of this wedding photography equipment had a purpose. It will either make my life easier, allow me to have another photographer, or help me created beautiful photos. Now, I feel like I have everything I need, so I won’t be buying anything else….I think.
