I've had some people ask what I carry in my gear bag for sessions, and although it might vary for smaller sessions or weddings and events, you'll likely find most of these items with me:
Camera Bodies:
1) Canon EOS R
I bought my R a few months after it came out, and have loved it ever since. I would love to upgrade to an R6 or R5, once the bugs are figured out, but I also have had very few problems with the R and feel no immediate desire to swap it for anything. It has been incredibly reliable and easy to use!
2) Canon EOS RP
I actually bought the RP before the R when I was wanting to experience the swap to mirrorless. It is a good backup camera and can offer some of the same customizations as the R, but I do think the R is better than the RP in a lot of ways. The RP is still great for when I need to dual carry!
3) Canon AE-1 (for film)
When I first started playing with 35mm film, I was using two different AE-1's and loving all the experimentation that came with learning how to use them. I highly recommend the AE-1 for beginners looking to learn film!
4) Canon D750
My uncle happened to give me a few 35mm film cameras, and the D750 was one of them. I had no idea what it was for the longest time, then decided to google it and found out it was a super easy to use fully automatic 35mm film camera. Of course I had to start using it! I love the simplicity of it, and you can technically manipulate its focal range with one of its more advanced settings, but also great for auto focus and light metering and whatnot. I love it as a simple point and shoot!
Unfortunately, I cannot find an Amazon seller for this camera, but you may be able to find some on eBay or camera stores like B&H Photo, Adorama Camera, etc. These might pop up at random as refurbished vintage cameras. The last time I looked for its worth, I found some D750's for around $25-$30 for the body.
5) Canon G7X Mark III
I love bringing this point and shoot camera to weddings because I managed to create a picture profile that can emulate a filmic look and a monochrome look, which I use to capture random moments throughout the day as candidly as possible. I deliver these candids to my clients the night-of. The great thing about this point and shoot is that the megapixel count is still really large, so if clients want to print off any of these they can print bigger images!
6) PaperShoot Camera
Another fun camera I use is the PaperShoot camera, which emulates a point and shoot 35mm film kind of look. It runs on rechargeable batteries and uses an SD card, so it's a lot faster than waiting for 35mm film to get developed. I love bringing this to sessions just for fun candid shots. I also have some distortion lenses to attach to the main lens.
Camera Lenses:
1) Sigma EF 24mm f/1.4
This lens is super sharp and great for wide angles and/or tight spaces.
2) Canon RF 28-70mm f/2
I LOVE this lens. It is my go-to for 90% of my sessions and it is incredibly versatile and great with low-light. It is one of my favorites I've ever had!
3) Canon EF 50mm f/1.2
This is another all-time favorite lens. It is crisp, it is amazing in low-light, the depth is insane and honestly it is still the best lens I have (butting right up next to the 28-70). This could be my only lens in my bag and I'd be happy.
4) Canon EF 85mm 1.8
This lens is great when you want more bokeh in your background or need more length for your wedding photos. The color shift is a little dull but overall a really clear image and great lens!
5) Canon EF 135mm f/2.0
I use this mainly for weddings when I need to keep distance between me and the ceremony. It's a great length for when I want to stay discreet but be able to have up-close images. The color shift is really dull compared to my 50mm 1.2 but other than that, a good lens!
6) Lensbaby Sol 45mm f/3.5
This is a creative tilt-shift lens that I love when I want to feel a little artsy for some shots. Learning how to use it can be a bit of a curve but very worth the trials and errors!
7) Macro Lens Extensions
I use macro extensions because macro lenses are pretty expensive and I usually only need the macro abilities for details shots of wedding rings and such. These are a very cheap alternative to buying a multitude of macro lenses. Please note that these may cause stripping if you're not careful, I only use mine sparingly and carefully and slowly attach and dethatch in MF.
8) Film lenses
I do have a variety of lenses for my 35mm film cameras. My Canon D750 uses my EF lenses but I keep a Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lens on it. For the Canon AE-1 I have a Canon FD 50mm 1.4, Makinon 28mm 2.8, JCPeney 135mm 2.8, Tiffen 35-105mm 3.5-4.5, and Toyo 80-200mm 4.5 lens. I know the Canon FD 50mm 1.8 is a little easier to find refurbished. I would recommend checking Amazon, Adorama Camera, and B&H Photo for whatever they have in-stock. You can also always check your local camera stores and vintage camera stores.
Filters:
1) Sedremm Star Filter
I love this filter for nighttime shots under string lights and candles, but it also can catch direct light on things that sparkle. I have found it to be a better option than even high-priced lenses, and you get 3 lenses for $20!
2) PrismLens FX Dream filter
I have the CineSoft FX Filter in a 1/2 and am completely in love with it! It's a bit stronger than their traditional Dream Filter (which is often out of stock anyway) but creates the most beautiful hazy effect. You can get it a bit more subtly with the 1/4 if the stronger haze doesn't suit your style as much.
3) UV filters
I use a variety of UV filters to protect my lenses. Most of them come from Amazon for a low price. I have not seen major issues with sharpness.
Flash:
1) Sunkpak
I have invested much in external flashes for my camera since I really only use them during wedding receptions or styled shoots. These flashes will get the job done, but with some setbacks. The light output will range if you take a lot of consecutive photos, and they do drain batteries depending on your usage (I use between 4-8 batteries per event). I have a few models of the Sunkpak DF series but am so used to them and how they operate. Solid 7/10 for me.
2) Diffusers
I use a couple different light diffusers depending on my needs. Both of these are decent for its price.
3) Batteries
I've ranged on batteries I've used from Duracell, Best Buy Essentials, Amazon Basics, PowerOwl, Eneloop and more. If you want decent rechargeable batteries, Eneloop is a good option. When I'm in a pinch, I have a lot of Amazon Basics batteries in storage.
4) Battery Holder
I love having this holder in my bag because it keeps batteries from being loose and keeps them from losing charge off themselves.
Storage:
1) SD Cards
I normally use SanDisk Extreme Pro/Plus 128GB or 64GB 170mb/s speed or Lexar 128GB 250mb/s speed SD cards. I have about 30 of these SD cards and have good experiences with them for years.
2) SD Storage
I use a storage book to carry cards to sessions and a grid container to keep them sorted during the editing process.
3) External Hard Drives
I have 7 external hard drives from either Seagate or Western Digital. I have found to have fewer issues with the Seagate but I've only ever lost one Western Digital drive before. I've always been careful with them at my office and during travel and have been happy with them.
4) Camera Bag
My dad got me this bag for Christmas a few years ago and it has held up really well during a lot of travel and sessions. It is time for a size upgrade though.
5) Fanny Pack
I use a fanny pack to store things I need throughout the day during weddings or sessions. This particular one has been a favorite.
Halter:
1) I've only ever used one halter, and it has lasted for over 4 years. It is comfortable and functional, and I've never had issues with cameras slipping off of it. The brand that I use is no longer in service but this is a very similar product:
Film Stock:
1) Kodak Gold 200 & 400
2) Kodak Portra 400
3) Fujifilm Fujicolor Superia 400
Film is still relatively new to me but I have fallen in love with Kodak Gold 200 and 400.
It can be hard to find film in stock but always try your local camera stores, Adorama Camera, B&H Photo, Amazon and eBay if you need to find something ASAP.
Desktop Monitor:
I know this is not something that qualifies for going into my bag but I could not edit without my monitor. This has been the best one I've ever used and can color calibrate for easier editing. I highly recommend it!
Feel free to contact me if you have questions about any of these products or want more detailed experiences with them!