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THE ESSENTIAL GEAR

For the majority of the wedding day, I only

shoot with two cameras and two lenses:

• Canon 5DMKIII• 35mm f1.4 • Old-school Canon EOS 1DMKII • 85mm f1.8• (2) Canon 600EX-RT Flashes

Having two cameras – one with a wider lens

DQG�RQH�ZLWK�D�ORQJHU�OHQV�²�HQVXUHV�WKDW�,·OO�be ready for nearly any moment.

Both lenses are super fast too, which is criti-

cal to a documentary approach. I like to shoot

with one full-frame sensor camera and one

crop-sensor camera, because it gives me

more versatility with my lenses. Even though

I go to a wedding with only two cameras

and two lenses, it feels more like I have four

lenses (since I use a combination of full-frame

and crop-sensor cameras!). The full-frame

camera does not magnify my focal lengths,

but the crop-sensor camera does magnify my

focal lengths by 1.3. So I essentially have 35,

46, 85, and 111 mm lenses at my disposal.

When I need more focal length than my

35mm allows, I put that lens on the crop-

sensor camera and it turns into an almost

50mm lens. The same is true for the 85mm

lens – it becomes a 111mm lens on a crop-

sensor camera. There are many times when

having this ability has helped me capture an

important photo!

It has taken me years of trial-and-error to

get where I am today with the gear I use. I

UHPHPEHU�WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH�,�XVHG�D���PP�OHQV��Usually when you try a new lens, you face a

learning curve while you get used to the new

perspective. But when I used the 35mm for

WKH�ÀUVW�WLPH��LW�IHOW�FRPSOHWHO\�QDWXUDO��,W�ZDV�a “where have you been all my life?” moment!

And I never looked back.

Canon EOS 5d Mark III

Nikon D810

Sony a99

Full-frame bodies

I prefer to travel as light as possible. It not only helps me physically, but also mentally. Not having camera bags or belts full of gear allows you to move swiftly and less intru-VLYHO\�WKURXJK�D�VFHQH��6R��ZKDW·V�HVVHQWLDO�IRU�D�ZHGGLQJ�SKRWRJUDSKHU�ZKR�ZDQWV�WR�IRFXV�RQ�UHDO�PRPHQWV"�+HUH·V�P\�PXVW�KDYH�OLVW�RI�HVVHQWLDO�JHDU�

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Canon EOS 1D Mark IVIn fact, if I could only have one lens, it would

be the 35mm. It is a perfect lens for docu-

mentary photographers. It is wide enough to

include all the information I need, but not so

wide that it allows clutter to sneak into the

photo. It also provides just enough compres-

sion to separate my subject from the back-

ground perfectly, which helps me get closer

to my subjects without being too intrusive.

My other favorite lens is the Canon 85mm

I�����,W·V�DQ�DIIRUGDEOH��ZRUNKRUVH�OHQV��(Canon makes two different 85mm lenses:

the 85mm f1.2 and the 85mm f1.8.)

Besides the fact that the 85mm f1.2 is much

more expensive than the 85mm f1.8, it is

also much heavier. Conversely, the 85 f1.8

is affordable, light-weight, compact and fast

focusing.

7KH�ÀQDO�SLHFHV�RI�WKH�SX]]OH�DUH�7KLQN7DQN�V.2.0 camera straps.

1.3x Crop Bodies

Canon is no longer making a 1.3x crop camera, but still continues to manufacture full-frame and 1.6x crop cameras. The button above will show \RX�$PD]RQ·V�VHOHFWLRQ�RI�XVHG����[�FURS�FDP-eras from Canon. Nikon users are in luck; the '����KDV�D����[�FURS�PRGH��VR�LW·V�HIIHFWLYHO\�two cameras in one. Nikon makes other models that are 1.5x crop.

Sony users can purchase full-frame cameras like the a99, or 1.5x crop cameras. I believe the 1.5x crop factor is too “tight” and limits the use-fulness of the lenses you carry, but that is just my personal opinion.

Canon EOS 5D Mark IIEF35mm f/1.4 USM

1/500 sec, f/2.0, ISO 1600

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Canon 600EX-RT SpeedliteCanon EF 85/1.8 USM Lens

Sony 35mm f/1.4 Asph G

Canon EF 35/1.4 L USM Lens

35mm Lens 85mm Lens Flash

Nikon 35mm f/1.4G AF-S FX

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G AF-S

Nikon SB-910 Speedlight

Sony 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss

Sony HV-LF60M Flash

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THIS GUIDE JUST SCRATCHES THE SURFACE!6HH�ZKDW�HOVH�,·YH�JRW�LQ�P\�EDJ�ZLWK�WKHVH�RWKHU�JXLGHV��

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