Equipment: The gear we use
The tools of our trade
It is said that every photographer has their brand of photography gear they love and are forever loyal to it. Well, we are part of the Canon family through and through. We have used Canon for many years now and have had a range of different cameras of theirs. Recently, we have upgraded to mirrorless equipment, and of course, stayed Canon!
It is commonly misunderstood that if you have a fancy, expensive camera, you can take beautiful photographs. Now, the misconception comes in how you use and operate said camera; if you don't know how to use it, just keep it in auto mode and don't look for aesthetically pleasing compositions, the chances of getting a beautiful photo as a result is minimal. Having said that, there are a few advantages of having good-quality gear if you know how to get the best from it…
Canon R6
This new mirrorless camera body goes everywhere with us. It is our main camera that is the firm foundation for our lenses. Being full frame means the sensor is bigger and better than crop sensor models, resulting in high-quality images. We have configured the buttons so the settings are all quick to hand which is vital in fast-paced environments like weddings. The colours it produces are natural and the focusing system is excellent.
85mm prime lens, f/1.4
Our photography style creates soft, blurry backdrops so our wonderful couple's stand out and are the focus of the image. This is acheived with longer focal lengths and lower apertures, hence why this is my new favourite lens for portraits! Being a prime lens means it doesn’t zoom in and out which leaves me running and dancing about to get all the great shots, but it creates super sharp pictures that are worth the extra exercise!
24-70mm lens, f/2.8
A reliable and trustworthy lens. This is what is required when we are working indoors in smaller spaces when there isn’t much distance from us and our subject. The shallow depth of field it provides is perfect for use in low-light conditions and also produces creative images with beautiful background bokeh (blur).
70-200mm lens, f/2.8
This large, telephoto lens helps us at weddings to capture the special moments between people while maintaining a comfortable distance from them. It aids us in observing but not interfering during these events. The low aperture value means we can shoot in low light conditions such as in churches while preserving the detail in the shot.
50mm prime lens. f/1.4
Every photographer has to own a 50mm prime. This lens is small, light-weight and perfectly formed so is an ideal addition to our kit. As you can see, the aperture goes right down to 1.4 so we can be creative with the depth of field with this lens, creating beautiful images.
Godox TT685 Flash
Our mobile flash system is always in our bag, so we are prepared for any circumstance. We can use this item attached to the camera for quick and easy lighting solutions or ‘off-camera’ for more controlled lighting. Included with this piece of equipment are flash modifiers such as diffusers, soft boxes and umbrella’s.
Written by Eleth Mageehan, (c) 2020, all rights reserved.