the blog
A photographer’s camera bag is practically their life line. It holds our most important equipment, those go-tos that we seriously can’t live without. I’m currently packing all my good stuff in a g-raphy bag that I bought off amazon. I love it because it’s a backpack so it’s super easy to throw on my shoulders and keep moving around. It doesn’t look too big but it holds SO MUCH!
Most important items
My number one thing that I always have is of course, my camera. I use a Canon 5D Mark IV, she’s my baby. She also looks huge because I like to keep a battery pack (holds two batteries instead of one) on my camera just to ensure I’ll have enough charge to last all day long. Then I have my trusty 24-105mm lens and my nifty-fifty lens (50mm). I also pack my Yongnuo YN560 III speedlite for all those tricky lighting situations and my newest addition to my toolkit my MagSphere which helps diffuse my flash to give me a wider more flattering light. My flash was going through a ton of batteries so I have officially made the switch to reusable batteries, I had a few other photog friends recommend the batteries sold at Ikea (I know I was shocked too, who would think ikea would be the place for batteries?) I carry two sets of 4 batteries with me and their little charger so I can always charge on the go.
Another thing that never leaves my bag is my handy SD card holder, I bought it off amazon too and it holds up to 12 SD cards so I can always have a back up. The more SD cards I have, the more amazing photos I can take of my clients. The rest of the stuff in my bag is what I call the “fun stuff” I have a little bag of confetti incase a celebratory photo needs a little more sparkle, an extra white ribbon because you never know when you’ll need it. My absolute favorite things in my camera bag are my Mrs. Box, which is the cutest little light pink velvet ring box, and my Gem Pen which can clean up any stone in a ring to make sure it shines as bright as it can.
Extras
The rest of the stuff in my bag is pretty basic, extra cards, my camera battery charger, business cards, and an incase of emergency granola bar (this may or may not be over a year old, but hey if it’s an emergency I’ll still eat it… just don’t tell my mom 😉 )
Links
My Bag
My Babies (Cameras)
5D Mark IV
My lenses
My Flash
Magmod -sphere + grid
Extras
The Mrs. Box
The Gem Pen
It’s ok to be nervous but there are ways to feel comfortable in front of the camera
I totally get what it feels like to step in front of a camera and immediately have no clue what to do. Is my smile weird? What do I do with my hands?? Getting your photos taken is sometimes an uncomfortable experience… but really only if you’re working with a photographer that’s not the right match for you. If you find a photographer that you vibe with- the process is easy, effortless, and actually pretty fun.
My sessions end up being entirely unique because each client, each person, is different. My goal is to find that perfect balance of directing and letting you be your self. I want to find those candid moments -the real ones, not the fake candids you see all over instagram. In order to do that I try my best to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera . We’ll chat and laugh until you almost forget there’s a camera in between us. That’s when I swoop in and snag that perfect picture of your genuine smile. Some people are more comfortable just sitting and smiling directly at the camera, other people need something to do- like walking, twirling, or using a prop. I love using prompt based directions to add a little movement to my sessions and to switch it up.
Stepping in front of a camera can be nerve racking, I do this for a living and when I go to get my picture taken I still get a little anxious. But I promise you- together we will find your best angles, your natural smile, and get you the best new profile picture you could ever hope for.
