My go-to cameras, lenses, and flashes for concert and wedding photography
I’m actually super excited about my gear and love to share and make recommendations with other folks who are looking to get into photography, wanting a fun hobby to pick up, or even just wanting to take better photos at home, for their side hustle, of their kids, pets, etc. Let’s dive in!
My main and backup camera bodies:
Sony A7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (ILCE7M3)
Small and lightweight
Amazing autofocus
Awesome lens lineup from Sony
Great image quality
Priced very well for how capable it is
Full frame sensor
Holy smokes, do I love this camera. I switched over in December 2019 to this mirrorless system after previously shooting only on Nikon DSLRs (my body of choice at the time the Nikon D810, which I still think is a great camera). The Sony A7III has been fantastic. Image quality is awesome, the autofocus is unreal, and the size and weight was honestly a big reason I switched and my body immediately thanked me.
I personally prefer to have the exact same backup camera as my main body, so if anything happens mid-shoot, I can switch over to the exact camera I was using before and not have to mess with my muscle memory for things like button layouts, settings menus, or different lenses. I’ll say this though - my Sonys have been extremely reliable and I only carry a backup as a precaution and usually just end up wearing the second camera on my shoulder harness with a different lens on it, so I can spend less time digging in my camera bag when I need a different focal length.
My go-to telephoto zoom lens:
Sony FE 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II Telephoto Zoom Lens (SEL70200GM2)
Versatility and reach
Being able to get tight shots without getting in your clients’ faces
I resisted purchasing the Sony FE 70-200mm f2.8 for years, because I love, love, love prime lenses. However, it is so versatile to have in your kit on a wedding day. Want a close shot of a tear slipping down your groom’s cheek at the altar? Want to zoom in on your couple’s hands as they place rings on each others’ fingers? This lens will help you get shots like that, without having to stand super close to your couple. I can usually get any shot I need during a ceremony when I’m using this lens, all from the outer edges of the ceremony space. Plus, when you’re shooting music like I do, you often don’t have much control over where you’re allowed to shoot from in the venue. Before I got this lens, if I got stuck shooting a concert from FOH/sound booth or a festival from the crowd, I would have been… how to say it nicely… f#@$%ed. lol
My favorite prime lenses:
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Ultra-Wide Lens (SEL20F18G)
Excellent in tight spaces
Awesome for wide landscape shots (outside of venue, entire ceremony space, getting all guests in one giant pic, inside of church, etc)
I really love the Sony FE 20mm F1.8, but it’s definitely not for everybody. It’s truly one of my all-time favorites and I love to bring it along for wedding days to get some unexpected, artful shots with a unique perspective, but it’s also great for capturing sweeping landscapes, huge groups of people (just watch your distortion around the edges!), and insides of venues like if you want to capture a floor to ceiling, wall to wall photo of a gorgeous theatre or your couple has a super tight tiny getting ready space it can be great for those moments as well.
Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens
Great in tight spaces
Not so wide that it looks distorted or unnatural
Excellent option if you want to keep the same lens on your camera most of the day
The Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art is the only non-Sony lens in my kit! I have always loved this lens so much. 35mm is such a perfect focal length in my opinion. It’s wide enough to capture lots of environmental elements and details without being so wide that it feels unnatural or your photos look distorted. I actually shoot about 90% of every wedding day with this lens alone. My tried and true.
Cheap AF
Very natural look and minimal distortion
Awesome for getting close shots in tighter spaces
Great for classic portraits
Would this roundup be complete without a nifty fifty? No it would not. My Sony FE 50mm F1.8 lens is truly nothing special, I just got a cheaper model because I LOVE my wide lenses so much and wanted to put my $$$ toward those, but this cutie STILL delivers some of my all time favorite shots! You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a lens or buy the F1.4 or F1.2 models to make great images and this lens proves it. It’s great for getting in closer for details without needing to crowd your subject, but still works in a tighter space where a giant telephoto zoom would not. I like to use this for capturing the first look, textures and details, and formal portraits.
My Favorite Flash: Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash
Mid-size
Decent battery life
Simple controls for people who are new to flash
Pivoting head
I actually have 3 different Sony flashes, but the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash is the one that is almost always on my camera. I have a smaller one that I take along when I need an extremely lightweight kit, and I have a larger one that I take along when I need a ton of flash controls. Most people will get along great with this one, however. It’s a nice medium size, it has a few simple controls so it’s customizable but not extremely overwhelming for people who don’t know a lot about flash, and battery life could ALWAYS be better with any and all flashes, but this one does alright in that department IMO.
I hope this lil gear guide has been helpful since I get lots of questions about what I shoot with! It’s a pretty simple setup in my opinion. And don’t worry if you can’t afford to buy all these things at once. Start with a body and a solid lens, and build your kit from there. Just remember, you do not need the most expensive version of a lens, or the top model camera body, or any particular accessories to make great photos. The camera you have in your hand is the best camera.
Sound off with any questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them for ya!
xo Alyssa
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