Packing for a wedding
It’s Labor Day weekend which means almost complete insanity for every wedding photographer in the country. Even as I write this my mother, Diana Adams and my awesome associate Jenni Green are photographing a wedding in Baltimore together. Jenni is shooting another wedding in DC tomorrow.
I only have one wedding this weekend, phew. 
Seeing as how it’s down in San Diego which is a little bit of a drive from LA, I decided to head down this afternoon so that I will be nice and fresh for tomorrow. And that means packing extra carefully because I can’t exactly head home if I’ve forgotten something. So I just laid everything out on the floor of my prep room…that is what I’m naming the room in our house which we have opted to leave empty so that I have room to spread out all of my gear to pack, charge batteries etc. Once I saw everything laid out in front of me, I thought I should take a picture to show just how much gear it takes to shoot a wedding…or at least what it takes for me to shoot a wedding properly and to be prepared for any situation that come up.
So what exactly is all of this stuff? Here is the list:
1 Canon 5D Mark 2 Body
2 Canon 5D Bodies
Lenses (all Canon) – 16-35mm, 2.8, 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 24 1.4, 50. 1.4, 50 1.2, 85 1.2, 50 2.5 macro, 45 2.8 T/S
3 Canon Speedlights
1 Quantum Flash w/ battery pack
3 Pocket Wizards
Gaff Tape
2 Gary Fong Lightspheres with various domes
Battery Chargers
Batteries
Light Stand & swivel head
Video Light
Various cords & odds & ends
Think Tank Airport Security Rolling Bag
Think Tank Glass Taxi (backpack)
GoBee Memory Card Hip Clutch
And here’s what it looks like when it’s all packed up. Note that I pack all of my prime lenses in the little backpack because I know I’ll use those first for getting ready photos.
So that’s me, I’m a gear-heavy photographer and I might look rather unglamorous schlepping all of this around with me, but do you know what? It gets the job done…the way that I like it done. And do you know what? I can carry all of this myself at once. I prefer not to…but I can.
Hi! Very similar to my gear!
I wish I could pack this! That would mean I have it!!!
I used my Q flash all of the time when I shot film. Now that I’m digital, it’s been sitting except for occasional portabel studio work. How do you use it at weddings?
Have fun in San Diego!
I wish they had kept the same batteries and chargers for the 5D Mark II- ugh, two sets to carry around. Nice kit, your clients are certainly getting someone ready and well prepared to do a great job when you show up.
Have you tried the DEMB Flip Its? They fold flat and take up almost no space and weigh nothing. I find the lightspheres suck up too much juice and hog up a lot of valuable real estate in the bag. Also after a little practice, the Flip Its have some groovy tricks you can pull off with them.
Yeah it can be a lug but I detest leaving any unknown variables behind as well. Looks about the same here although I envy your need for a separate bag just for primes.
great preparedness, justine!
there is nothing worse than having something break down at a wedding and not have back up for that particular thing. even a cord (and cords are notorious for failing at weddings–no idea why, but they do).
nothing beats peace of mind at a wedding, and nothing is worse than a minor panic attack at a wedding!
Love this post
just to let you know, I’ve upgraded to a rolling suitcase, I couldn’t do it anymore 
It’s big and heavy, but the 200 1.8 takes some of the most beautiful wedding portraits. A fisheye is also nice to have for some ambience shots, especially the getting ready shots.