FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHY FINDS
After 5+ years shooting weddings and 3+ years as a full-time wedding photographer, I decided it was time to share my tried and true favorites for shooting, editing, creating content, and working from home. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, so all of the following links help support my business! I only ever share products I have tested and LOVE, so let me do the tedious work of finding the best deals and devices. Checkout this list and let me know what you love!!
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First off is my #1 main camera body. I shoot with two of the Canon R6’s, which is a mirrorless frame DSLR. This means the camera is lighter and smaller than the old common type digital camera with a mirror component. Since this camera does not have the mirror inside, it uses a digital scanner to display what your image will look like through its digital viewfinder. That’s a lot of camera vocab, but basically this means the small rectangle you look through to see what your lens is seeing is now digital and the advantage of this is that your eye will see not only the lens view but also how your camera settings are affecting the lighting and focus of your image. If your settings are too underexposed will see a darker version of what the lens is seeing, and likewise if your settings are overexposed you will see a lighter version. I love that this camera has this feature because it allows me to make changes to my settings before I even take a photo, which also leads to less test shots and less culling later.
My GO-TO Lenses
Canon 28-70mm f/2.0 - This lens is for the Canon RF models, and I hardly ever take it off my camera (Canon R6)!!! I love shooting entire wedding days on it because it zooms in for amazing bokeh/blur in portraits but lets me capture 20+ person wedding parties too! This lens can literally replace all your other lenses. It’s heavy, but INSANELY sharp and versatile!
Canon 35mm f/1.4 - This lens is for the Canon EF models (so you will need the adapter below if you are shooting on a mirrorless canon) but I had this previously to use on my Canon 5D Mark IV and it is a perfect lens to get both amazing wide scenery shots and large groups of people. The other benefit of this lens is you can use it in smaller rooms and still get almost the entire wall-to-wall image.
Canon 50mm f/1.2 - My favorite lens before I purchased my Canon 28-70mm was this 50mm lens. Most photographers don’t know this but almost every lens will distort a person’s face either making it look wider or too narrow, but the 50mm is the closest lens to our human eye, meaning the photos you take with this lens look most like the person you are photographing. I never go to a shoot or wedding without my 50mm and this one specifically because it performs INCREDIBLY even in low light situations. I love still using this lens (with the adapter below) on my Canon R6 at wedding receptions after a long day shooting with the 28-70mm because it is so SO much lighter and at that point in the night I no longer need super-wide shots.
Canon EF-to-RF Lens Adapter
Since I previously had a Canon 5D Mark IV camera body, my lenses are primarily EF lens mounts. These will not directly fit on my Canon R6 cameras, so I purchased one of these lens mount adapters which allows me to use any of my EF lenses (what work with the Canon 5D Mark I, II, III, or IV, and the Canon 6D I & II models) on my RF camera mounts (on the Canon R6). There are off brand types of these adaptors but I have found it is best to use the Canon brand, and this specific adaptor has an additional ring which you can customize in your camera’s settings to control any setting. I use this ring to control my Kelvin Temperature setting since I shoot in Kelvin White Balance. If you have questions about this, comment on this post or DM at @beccagrimmphotography on Instagram!
Profoto A10 On-Camera Flash
For years I have been shooting wedding receptions with on-camera flashes that may have saved me some money but left me with 5 dark photos for every 1 flash photo that I actually needed. I lost precious moments due to poor lighting and won’t be able to get them back. This flash is pricy but EXTREMELY RELIABLE which is exactly what my clients expect from me and deserve.
My top 35mm film
If you know me you know 35mm film is my JAM! I love using these film stocks because they are pretty natural in their color profiles and not too pricey! Plus Amazon is great with quick delivery times or ordering while I travel!
Photo Storage & Backups
8TB WD Elements - I use this for backing up my computer and all my external hard drives! For each gallery I backup one main copy to my current portable external hard drive and then pickup the entire hard drive to this drive (so each of my portable hard drives are different but all are backed up to this main drive!)
Lacie Hard Drive - 4TB external hard drive, I love that these are drop proof and rugged! Pro tip: I always use a label maker and label each Lacie drive with the year or season I am uploading to it (ex. Spring and Summer 2023)
Accessories & Organization
Portable case for memory cards (holds SD, micro SD, and CF cards)
Portable padded case for Lacie Hard-drive (includes space for a few memory cards and power cords)
LP-E6N Canon compatible off-brand batteries (includes 4 and charger)
All-in-One card reader! Includes 3 USB ports, SD/Micro SD/CF card slots, are more. The only adapter I need and use!
My favorite camera backpack by Langly - this backpack is HUGE and has chest and waist straps which is perfect for traveling through airports or hiking to adventure sessions and elopements. It is full of pockets and dividers inside for all my lenses and cameras, plus it fits in the under-seat storage on planes so you can use it as your personal item or carry-on bag. My favorite hack is to use this backpack as my personal item, and bring just a roller carry-on for my clothes! I have traveled to shoot weddings out of state with just these two bags and it saves me a lot of money!
MISCELLANEOUS Products
Polaroids are NEVER going out of style and I love using this classic polaroid film for my vintage polaroid my grandparents passed down to me, but if you are looking for your own vintage polaroid camera see #2 below!
I prefer the square vintage polaroids over the newer mini 2X3 inch models, so I linked one like mine if you are in search of one! It uses the 600-type polaroid film linked above.
Screen cleaner for computers and phones - This 3 pack of reusable screen cleaners are perfect for anyone who works from home or on their phone! The liquid cleaner easily refills each of the 3 pocket sized containers, which are made with microfiber material (all 4 sides) to wipe down your screens with. I LOVE these!
To clean my lenses and camera body I love these cheap cleaning wipes and use TONS of them during and after each shoot or wedding. It’s always handy to have a big box of these at home to refill your bag with!
JBL Bluetooth Speaker - This is my go-to speaker because it’s charge lasts forever and it clips onto my camera bag or belt loop. I have had it for years and it’s the only brand I trust!
Best Wedding Photographer Outfits
Nothing is quite like shooting a wedding for 8+ hours and being uncomfortable. Try my favorite go-to outfits or blazers to feel confident, comfy, and professional at your next wedding!
If you have questions or are looking for more recommendations from me comment below! Thanks for shopping with me (-: Follow along with me on Instagram for more @beccagrimmphotography