I started my photography journey when I was sophomore in high school and it quickly became a passion. A passion my family saw in me and wanted to encourage and support.
My mom walked into a Ritz Camera in 2007 armed with no photography knowledge and money gifted from a bunch of members of my family with a goal of gifting me with my first DSLR for my high school graduation. After what I’m sure was much conversation with the sales staff, she walked out with one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given, a Nikon D40. I still own that camera body and even started my business with it but have since expanded and grown my gear (thankfully – as much as I loved that camera, it’s quality doesn’t fit my needs now).
It’s a question I get asked fairly often, “What equipment do you shoot with?” So I thought I would share with you all, “What’s In My Camera Bag?”.

I figured, it probably makes the most sense to start with my actual bags! I have three in total, each serving their own purpose.

My first one – Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW Digital SLR Camera Bag with Wheels

This bag’s purpose is to hold all of my gear all of my time. I leave everything in here in their designated slots and store it in my office. In addition it goes to weddings with me. It fits all of my gear perfectly, can be adjusted when I add other items and also had a compartment on the front for my computer when I need to bring that along for weddings or for traveling.

My second bag – Shootsac Lens Bag

I’ve had this bag the longest & I love it! I only use this bag on wedding days – I throw on my holster (see further down) and this bag and I have everything I need for the entire wedding day.

My third bag – Kelly Moore Bhobo Bag

This bag goes with me on portrait shoots. I throw in a camera body, the lenses I need, a backup battery, my SD cards, wallet and keys and I have everything I need for a portrait shoot. I don’t need to lug my entire rolling bag with me. Unfortunately you can’t purchase this bag anymore.

My holster – Money Maker Water Buffalo Leather in Burgundy

I can’t imagine shooting a wedding without this baby! I throw this on and it allows me to have two cameras with two different lenses right at my finger tips. I can shoot a wide shot and immediately shoot a close up shot & helps to keep me hands free to allow me to fluff the dress.

Nikon D750

I own two of these beauties.  I absolutely am head over heels in love with them.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm F3.5-4.5

This was a kit lens and came with the purchase of one of my camera bodies a few years ago. It’s not my favorite lens and I honestly almost never use it. The only reason I keep it, is for those wide shots.
The shot from Stephanie & Dexter’s wedding was created using the 24-85 lens.

Tokina Macro 100 F.28D 

This is my lens for rings mainly & for other little tiny details. I don’t use this lens for anything else.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm F1.8

This is my workhorse! It lives on my camera for portraits and weddings. I can and do shoot entire sessions and even an entire wedding with this beauty!

Think Tank’s SD Pixel Pocket Rocket 

This of course is used to hold and organize all of my SD memory cards for my camera.

San Disk SD Memory Cards

I only use San Disk & stick to Extreme Pro & Extreme Plus. The most important factors for me is the recording speed (the higher the speed the better) and I only use either 16GB or 32GBs. I don’t go higher than 32GBs to force myself to constantly change out memory cards throughout the day, as well as lessening the risk of them going corrupt. Rumor has it the larger cards go bad more often.

Neewer 43 in/110cm 5-in-1 Collapsible Multi-Disc Light Reflector

I use this during portraits or shooting details or any time that I need that extra pop of light on the faces or on the details but flash will provide too much light. The only downfall is that I need an assistant to be able to use this.

Yongnuo Digital YN622N Wireless Flash Trigger Transceivers

I use these for the reception with my flash set up. One goes on my camera underneath one flash, the other goes on the stand and underneath another flash. These triggers allow my camera and flashes to communicate between each other and allow me to use off-camera flash which gives you some really awesome reception images.

Yongnuo Speedlite YN 568Ex

These are my flashes. For the most part I only use these during a wedding reception. But sometimes depending on the lighting during other parts of the wedding day, I may take one of these out and use them to fill the room with more light.

MagMod Grip & MagBounce

The Grip forever lives on my flash, simply because it is incredibly difficult to take on an off! The Bounce however, I throw that on when the ceilings in a room are simply too tall for me to bounce the light from my flash. Or during the wedding reception for some really fun dancing shots.

Cowboy Studio W803 Light Stand

The light stand I use to set the flash up on during the wedding reception.

The below images from Brittany & Marcus’ wedding were created using the 50mm lens and my flash system.