Wedding shooters..... Can I pick your brain?

[mbower05]

Hi all,

In the last year I have started shooting weddings and in the process I have accumulated quite a bit more equipment. My dilemma is that my current camera bag just doesn't hold enough stuff. I was hoping that You could suggest some of the bags that you use for wedding shoots. I currently am using a lowepro backpack but don't necessarily need to stick with a backpack.

If it helps here is the equipment I carry

2 - nikon d300 bodies with grips

Nikon 24-70
Nikon 70-200
Nikon 50

Nikon sb900
Nikon sb600

Remote triggers, batteries, chargers, flash diffusers etc.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

Sekonic l358

I'd skip the bags and go straight with Pelican cases. Much more durable.

[jdepould]

I have a Gura Gear Kiboko. Can't exactly shoot out of it, but it's great for transporting to and from.

[sweetmelodies]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I'd skip the bags and go straight with Pelican cases. Much more durable.

AGREES!

I have a case!! ITS so much better.. and easy to open !! try it out

[TFord.LTTP]

I've been wondering about bags too, so hard to get a feel for something like that when you're staring at them online and can't touch. Going to be a similar setup except for no flashes, probably four primes 135 2.0L being the biggest I believe.

If I was leaving it locked in the car or something a Pelican case would be beautiful but need something I can have on me to swap lenses while having two cameras strapped to me and crawling and climbing and whatever other madness is going on.

[Statto]

Hi,

Cut your equipment back a little

If both of your bodies are fitted with lenses and ready to shoot then why carry extra lenses?
Two lenses should give you enough scope for one shoot location (eg outside the church) if you then go to the reception re-evaluate your lens choice and load up your bodies with the required two lenses.

If you only use one body and just have another as a spare, why is it in your bag that is around your neck?
Leave a second bag in your car
Just think about it for a moment, if you do 20 weddings with no problem with your main body, then thats say 30hrs of carrying a spare body. If your main body malfuntioned, how long would it actually take to get back to your car and get your secondary body - 5 mins?
Also how often is this likely to happen, based on the 20 weddings scenario above, your trading 30hrs of carrying a spare to save you 5mins walk back to your car! madness!

Same goes for batteries, if everything is fully charged the night before, then you are carrying spares for that 'one remote chance' that the batteries fail you, but worst case scenario is that when they fail its a 5 min walk to your car to get the spares

Why are you worried about a flash diffuser?
Buy a cloth diffuser, with elastic neck, shove it in your back pocket


Hope this helps

[capturedbybrooke]

I really want a Shootsac when I start shooting more weddings... right now, I'm in the same boat you're in with a not so great bag.

[benjamieson]

I use a Domke f2, and swear by it for my wedding gear.

Currently holds:

2 x Canon 7D Bodies (Gripped)
24-70mm
70-200mm
16-35mm
85mm
50mm
580 EX Flash
430 EX Flash
Set of Elinchrom Skyport triggers (t receivers, 1 transmitter, hotshoe adaptor for 430 EX, all cables)
Stofens for flashes
3 x polarizers (I shoot on beaches a lot - our ocean colours are awesome with a polarizer!)
spare batteries for bodies
BlackFoamieThing
Westcott collapsible 43" brollie & Manfrotto travel lightstand (6 foot)

This one bag can cover me for bridal prep, ceremony, formals, b&g portraits and reception in any lighting/spacial conditions thrown at me (and I've been in some pretty grim ones!)

I've also started clipping a Lastolite 24" EzyBox to the strap, which I'm using for some of my b&g portrait stuff...a little inconvenient, but very very useful (weighs very little)

If I know I'm shooting a beach ceremony, I'll swap out my 24-70 for a 24-105, which reduces the weight by about 300 lbs (Canon shooters with a 24-70 will understand that one!)

Just my own preference - your mileage may vary,

Ben

[benjamieson]

Originally Posted by Statto

how long would it actually take to get back to your car and get your secondary body - 5 mins?

5 minutes is long enough to miss a ring exchange and a first kiss.

If you're shooting weddings, your backup needs to be no more than 15-30 seconds away.

Just my opinion.

[Sobriquet]

Disagree completely with pelican case - not practical moving around people. I know a couple of togs using spider things that hang the camera at your side, under your coat jacket (very good if you are photojounalistic in style or want to be less noticable). I am going to try these, one camera each side with different lenses. At the moment I use a top opening Lowepro shoulder bag that holds 2 bodies + video cam+ about 4 other lenses, flash and extension tube. It is pretty big but opening at the top I can access everything I need imediately.