The Tools I Use
With the onset of digital photography, a lot of things have changed since the darkroom days of the past. Because of this, I wanted to take some time to tell you all about the basic tools that I use to capture and edit your photos.
First of all- and most importantly!- I use a Nikon D5200 digital single-lens reflex camera body. This may sound really complex, but it's not. I have a pro-grade digital camera that takes one photo every time I press the shutter release button.
To go with this camera, I have several lenses that I love to use. I have an 18-55 mm kit lens (this just means that it came with my camera body when I bought it), a 55-200mm lens, and a 50mm prime lens. The 18-55mm and the 55-200mm lenses are both zoom lenses. The 50mm prime lens is set at one focal length, which means that I have to move closer or further away from my subject to adjust what's in the photo frame.
In addition to my lenses and camera body, I have two Yongnuo 560-iii speedlights. These are just really big camera flashes that I can adjust to different angles and levels of luminance.
Wow! That seems like a lot! But, that's just the hardware I use to create your lovely photos. I also use several pieces of software to perfect your photos. In the film days, a photographer would head to the darkroom to develop and edit photos, but these days it's all done on computer. I have a MacBook Pro. The leading pieces of software in photo editing are Adobe Lightroom, and Adobe Photoshop. I use both. Each program has different abilities and tools that allow me to virtually edit your photos and make them look the best I can.
But, that's not all! Photos take up a lot of space on a hard drive, so I have one hard drive that is solely dedicated to storing your photos. I have a second hard drive that backs up both my computer, and my hard drive so that I have two copies of everything.
I hope this gives you some insight into my basic gear, and what I use it for. If you ever have a question about my gear, what it does, how it's used, or why I chose it, feel free to ask!
Update 9/13/2023:
Holy Moly, my gear has changed! I sold that Nikon D5200 and the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses last year, after not actively using them for at least 3 years. That 50mm prime is still in my bag, though!
Nowadays I shoot with two Nikon D750s, a 35mm prime, that same 50mm prime, an 85mm prime, a 105mm Macro prime, a 24-85mm, and an 80-200mm. Each lens does a different job, so I use most of them at every wedding I shoot. It’s not quite the standard Wedding Photographer’s Kit, but I love my gear! And, in addition to this kit, I have a 150-600mm telephoto lens that I break out for things like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
I’ve also upgraded my computer, twice, and have added quite a few more hard drives, memory cards, and other assorted tidbits.
When I first started, I only dreamed of having the equipment I do now. It took quite a while before I assembled all of it, and the only piece that I’ve purchased brand-new is that 50mm prime; it’s the best $150 investment I could have made when I bought it! So, if you’re a new photographer dreaming of all this expensive gear, my advise is simple: Save up, and buy the best used equipment you can find. You won’t regret it. I know I don’t.