The Journal · Behind the lens
4 min read
December 2025
Two cameras, four lenses, two flashes I rarely use, and the one thing nobody tells you to bring. A photographer's loadout.
I get this question almost weekly, usually from photographers but sometimes from couples who want to know what they're paying for. Here's the actual loadout for a typical destination wedding.
Two camera bodies — one medium format (Hasselblad X2D) for portraits and editorial moments, one full-frame mirrorless (Sony A7R V) for the day's action. Backup body in checked luggage in case of mid-day failure.
Four lenses: a 35mm and 85mm for the Sony (the workhorses), a 55mm and 90mm for the Hasselblad (portraits and details). Honest truth: 80% of frames are made on two lenses, the 35mm and the 85mm. The medium format is for the cover shots.
Two off-camera flashes I almost never use. They're there for last-resort dance floor coverage if the DJ refuses to add a single warm-light bulb.
Now the thing nobody mentions: a fanny pack with chargers, batteries, lens cloths, and one bottle of water. You can't shoot a 12-hour wedding without water. Don't be the photographer who runs to the kitchen for a glass at 9 p.m.
More in this category