As we hit the halfway point of 2024, I want to dive deep into what some of my favorite camera gear and related accessories are as I prepare for my fall busy season. I am a Sony photographer, however, I started as a Canon photographer, so I am hopeful to explain why I have enjoyed this switch so much and what I think photographers of any camera brand can enjoy and utilize to enhance their art.
Camera bodies: Sony a7IV (2) and a Sony a7RV
I LOVE my camera bodies. The autofocus is tack sharp and I've luckily never experienced a shutter issue as has been discussed with the Sony a7iii model. I predominantly use my two Sony a7IV camera bodies because the a7RV has a VERY high megapixel count which takes up a LOT of storage. I'll use this camera body when I'm working with artists for press photos or for a project where I know I need high quality photos for something that will be blown up really big, however, the a7IV camera bodies are equally as perfect. They just don't have as many megapixels, so your phones and computers will be thanking you because you'll still have leftover storage space!
Camera lenses:
The love of my life: Sony 50mm 1.4:
This lens rarely leaves my camera body except for weddings when I'm switching up lenses a bit more. The 50mm is stunning because it allows you to still see some of the background in the bokeh whereas in comparison to the 85mm 1.4, you see a little bit less. Your subject is incredibly sharp and the lens itself is lightweight which we love for easy carrying.
The stunning Sony 85mm 1.4:
This was the first Sony lens I purchased, and I am still so incredibly crazy about it. The bokeh (as mentioned previously) is very, very strong meaning your subjects will stand out against the background. Although heavier than the 50mm, I will say it's still a lens that never leaves my camera bag because it offers so much diversity from the 35mm and 50mm. Truly a gorgeous lens and it makes me want to purchase the 135mm!
The all-encompassing Sony 35mm 1.4:
If you want a lens that allows you to get a wide view of everything in front of you as well as being tack sharp on your clients/subject, the 35mm is the lens for you. This lens used to barely leave my camera; however, I am drawn more to the background blur in my images, so this lens is used mainly on wedding days to capture a wider image of the events of the day. I also prefer to use my 35mm when I'm capturing photos in the bridal suites because some of the Arizona wedding venues have smaller spaces for getting ready areas. Overall, I LOVE this lens, but I have to be in the mood for it because of how much I love my 50mm and 85mm.
These memory cards are an absolute MUST. When I upgraded my camera gear from Canon to Sony, I noticed my camera dragging to write to the memory cards. That is when I learned I needed to have a memory card with a faster writing speed to keep up with the megapixel size - who would've known?! I didn't! I switched to these memory cards in 2020 and I haven't looked back once. They work so quickly, and they are constantly on sale during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and any other sale holiday Amazon likes to host.
Kindly Camera Bag
Within the last week, I was fortunate enough to purchase a Kindly camera backpack to replace my usual camera bag. Let me tell you... this bag is DURABLE. It's a bit heavier than what I was using previously, but the number of pockets makes my brain so unbelievably happy because I can put all of my favorite things in them! I ordered the Janessa backpack, and I can already tell it is going to make me feel like even more of a professional photographer. PLUS, I have more space so I can maybe add the 135mm to my kit... we shall see!
Memory Card Organizers:
As a photographer, I have TONS of memory cards and keeping them organized can be its own challenge. Luckily for us, I have done quite a bit of research and found two items that keep me organized and prepared for all of my sessions.
This memory card holder is one I cannot take credit for finding. A friend and local photographer of mine had this on her when we met up for lunch and I knew I immediately needed to own it. It holds 40 (YES 40!!!) memory cards and the magnetic close is super strong, so you never have to worry about your memory cards escaping. For my own personal process, I only put memory cards in here once they are formatted.
When I come home from a session or wedding, I immediately upload my photos to my external hard drives (link coming soon for those) and once uploaded, I wanted to have a special place to keep the memory card so it would be out of the way of danger from being formatted too soon. I saw this bead organizer on TikTok oddly enough and it is SO perfect for organizing memory cards! I put each memory card into its own compartment after uploading and backing up and then I write the session name on a tiny sticky note and add it to the associated compartment. When I send off the completed gallery, I wait about 24 hours and then format the memory card and put it back into the case with the magnetic close. And there you have my process.
Backing Up Photos on an SSD:
Years ago, I recognized the importance of backing up photos and owning multiple SSDs. To this day, my absolute favorite SSD is the Samsung T7 Shield. These little devices work SO incredibly fast, and I haven't had a singular issue. Plus, they come in several different colors including beige, blue and black. I literally went out of my way to purchase another one at Best Buy when I was in Las Cruces, NM last spring when my other SSD was full midway through uploading photos from a wedding.
Additionally, I also use a Lacie external hard drive as a backup. First and foremost, they're so cute and years ago, it seemed like every influencer/photographer I looked up to had them, so when I finally got my hands on a few, I felt like I had made it. Lacie hard drives (for me) are SO reliable. I barely trust anything else because I have struggled with other brands in the past. Nowadays, I usually purchase one or two a year so I can have a backup for every year. I know I'm weird, but I don't delete anything. I'm so nervous of someone asking for something from a few years prior, so I keep it all. And yes, I know I'm weird and crazy.
Alcohol Cleansing Wipes
At any given time, I can promise you I have these two items in my camera bag for just in case situations: tampons and alcohol cleansing wipes. Fun fact: YEARS ago, I was photographing a grad and there were a ton of other graduates around us. My grad wanted to pop a bottle of champagne but neither one of us could get the cork out. I ended up asking a very kind gentleman (another photographer) if he could help us get the cork off. He did get it off, but he ended up getting a little champagne on his camera lens. I felt AWFUL then and still do now that I didn't have an alcohol wipe on me to help him clean up his lens. Therefore, I load up before I shoot grad sessions just in case. We get our alcohol wipes from Amazon, and they sit perfectly on a shelf in our closet and whenever we see we are getting low, we immediately order another box.
Create Content with a Camera Tripod
When I was first launching my photo business, I realized it's quite difficult for me to capture content while I shoot. I randomly found this accessory on Amazon that has helped me in numerous ways and even helped me capture my sister's proposal. This Camera Hot Shoe Phone Holder is one of my favorites and I always have it in my camera bag. All you do is pop it on your camera and hit record. Whatever is in front of you is captured in live time. As a photographer, I LOVE it because I can easily pair it with photos for a cute little reel or TikTok. I highly recommend.
Let's Wrap it Up
I could go on and on about other items I keep in my camera bag and office, but these are my current staples and absolute favorites. So why did I write all of this? First of all, when I was just a beginner, I wish someone had broken down their camera gear for me. I kept a list of gear in a journal that was my goal gear list. I'm so fortunate to almost own everything on that list now which I will never ever take for granted.
And secondly, to my future clients, I pride myself on owning top of the line gear to create high quality photos for you and your loved ones. I have worked so incredibly hard to build my photography arsenal and I am so proud of what I have accomplished.
Should anyone have any questions at all, please reach out via kaylakochphoto@gmail.com :)
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