Are you Nikon madness and thinking about wedding photography equipment must haves that you can buy for less than $5500? Hey I surely you are in the right page because here I’m going to share about my personal experience of buying some gears that rely for professional shooter like you.
By the way my name is Bima and I’m a wedding photographer, wherever I go and meet all photography madness and once they know I’m a wedding photographer than they always asking me about what kind of equipment that they must haves if they want to run wedding photography business in a right way.
I was shooting with Nikon since 2014 and enjoying so much to shoot with this beast because everything here on this Nikon system I could get everything that I need to capturing moment. As one of the best camera brand since the world war, Nikon is one good gears that you can consider if you want to run wedding photography business seriously. It’s not only you, because back few years ago when I change into Nikon system I also asking so many friends and seniors about what kind of wedding photography equipment must haves especially in Nikon that I have to invest in.
I know you are so excited to know in more further about this topic so I will stick to the main topic and share everything that I know and personally use during spend a good time with Nikon system, let’s check it out!
7 Wedding Photography Equipment Must Haves for Nikon Users
When you shoot with Nikon than I wondering that you are a person that consider about fast shooting, clean – super sharp images, and also want to capturing the magnificent landscape together with the wedding moment it self.
I’m agree with you, because this what Nikon made for us!
I can’t believe that all beautiful moment that I captured with Nikon really represent my self as a wedding photographer and moment hunter, I know it’s wonderful so I want to share all wedding photography equipment must haves that you must consider to run your business properly.
1 – Nikon D750 FX-format
If you want to put your self as a professional shooter than I would really recommend you to buy only the full frame camera censor, it’s totally insane and have a huge difference with the APSC system. Having a full frame camera is not only cool for look but the most important thing is, you definitely able to capture all beautiful moment in a full tone, here you will get everything that around your couple will looks like a painting.
Till now I believe in Nikon D750 FX-format full frame camera censor to be my best pal of shooting wedding in such beautiful venue in this planet. As long as I got this beat on my hand than I get over than 50% chance of getting outstanding moments. From the 24.3 megapixel till 65 fps features, you definitely able to shoot wedding without losing any important moment on that scene. I know that this camera is lighter than Nikon D810 but still come in a luxury result so that’s why I will suggest you to buy Nikon D750 FX-format as your first choice of camera
Pros.
- It’s superior tracking ability of moving subjects in well-lit and low light conditions
- The D750 locks on in near darkness
- Skin tones look nice and so does everything else
Cons.
- Loud shutter
2 – Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E
What’s better than having this Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E on your bag because this kind of lens’s range is insane. You may expecting on fixed or ultra wide lens on shooting portrait or moment in wide angle but are you sure that you are able to capture moment like this?
It’s super fast moment just within a seconds before I shoot for formal pose following the blessing ceremony. Sure I shoot for the formal one but I only put that files on the USB and those black and white photo…is in the album, now look at the formal pose photo below.
Pros.
- This is a dream lens that had been on photographer wish list for a long time
- It’s totally SAFE for all situation
- Autofocus is very quick
Cons.
- It’s still on premium price
Both of them are nice and surely I shoot with 24-70mm lens without exception, in fact this medium range lens will perfect for shoot all wedding moment without worry about changing your lens too often. When you want to spend on wedding photography equipment must haves than this Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E will be the best.
3 – SanDisk Extreme PRO 32GB up to 95MB/s UHS-I/U3
I always believe on SanDisk collection because this brand is extremely know for what you need for. To run your D750 properly than SanDisk Extreme PRO 32GB is an insane memory card that will keep your files in a good part.
Why 32GB and not 64 or Bigger One?
It’s totally for your own safety!
When I shoot for wedding or pre wedding I used to spend around 60 to 80GB files from a single projects, some photographers seems to save more but for me it’s quite enough to shoot around 6 to 8 hours of wedding. Rather than save all those files in one single memory card like 64GB or bigger one than it will pretty save if you could keep those files separately.
Pros.
- Works like Magic!
- FAST
- After 14 High Speed RAW Shots, the card + camera is immediately ready for another shot right away. NO LAG
Cons.
- Tip : Format using In-Camera Option before use
Nina my wife is someone who gonna do this job a.k.a saving all my files so that’s why I always ask her to copy and paste all my files into at least 3 devices, again and over again it’s for my own safety. Last before I continue into the next wedding photography equipment must haves is, buy 3 of SanDisk Extreme PRO 32GB is quite enough for shooting within 6 to 8 hours.
4 – Lexar Multi-Card 25-In-1 USB 3.0
I surely suggest you to buy only the best card reader like Lexar Multi-Card 25-In-1 USB 3.0 to proceed your digital files, let me tell you one sad story about my session in Hong Kong few years ago.
I was in Hong Kong during winter season when group of beautiful ladies invite me to go there for capturing their holiday trip. We just exploring the city properly and just visiting traditional market around North Point than go to Causeway Bay, Old Temple, and end up our trip on Victoria Harbour. Generally I could say that it is fantastic to shoot for them for over the 10 hours, but happen next was truly terrible.
I was release my card and use my old card reader and it’s,
Totally blank and error!
I was shock during that night because this is all I work all about during past 10 hours and now it’s blank, lately I go to my hotel information centre and asking the staff to borrowing me Lexar Multi-Card 25-In-1 USB 3.0 and it works properly. I took a deep breath and so grateful due to this situation till I really consider to but only the best card reader for my business.
Let me show you my Hong Kong behind the scene so you will see how fun the portrait session is,
Pros.
- The Lexar Professional USB 3.0 card reader is tough, fast, and stable
- It connects instantly to your iMac and Macbook Pro
- Transfers files from both CF and SD cards very quickly,
Cons.
- Built from hard plastic but still strong on any condition
5 – USA GEAR DSLR Camera Backpack
When we took into number 4 than it belongs to your camera bag, if you already got it one than it just fine but if you don’t own it yet than buy a camera bag that you can put on the flight cabin will be the best choice that you ever made. Keep this words on your mind,
DON’T ever put your camera on the baggage!
This USA GEAR DSLR Camera Backpack is one cool bag reference that you can bet for keep all your gears safely and since it’s a backpack than you can avoid some shoulder pain like me when I still using shoulder camera bag 10 years ago.
Pros.
- Quite big for entry level bag
- Affordable for 15 inch laptop
- Best design and a lot of compartment to keep your gears and accessories in safe
Cons.
- Not recommended to carry some clothes even it’s possible
I will remind that you bought thousand dollars of wedding photography equipment must haves for professional so here you must take care of all your gears like a baby, and you know how the airport ground staff take care your baggage?
They gonna throw your bag like a trash!
Just in case you need more references about camera bag than you can read my previous review about best DSLR camera bag under $100.
6 – Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight Flash
Even shooting naturally with ambiance light a.k.a the sun light is still the best but having this Nikon SB-700 AF Speedlight Flash on your own is one of great investment for your future business. On any wedding situation bo matter you shoot on preparation, blessing ceremony, or the night party and In fact you can’t reject when your couple expecting you to shoot on the low light and as long as I work as a pro photographer than having the speedlight is still rely for any situation.
Through this speedlight you can fire up both in off-camera flash or on-camera flash, all of them are amazing technique that you also need to know and just in case you want to learn in more further about off-camera flash in outdoor wedding shooting than you can read my tutorials here!
Let me show for a lovely moment on my previous session,
I shoot in super fast moment that facing my eyes, there are two adorable boy that fighting during the wedding party, right before I shoot them, they just playing and running towards the venue and don’t really care about the wedding cake, wedding kiss and bla bla bla because I know exactly that kids will be just like a kids.
It was so dark actually during that night especially when I shoot these lovely boys on the floor, so what I did is using my flash as on-camera flash and bouncing it into the white tent ceiling till I can capture for what they doing in this scene, and it’s fantastic!
Pros.
- SB-700 is a very capable and powerful flash
- If you are a novice the Nikon TTL system is as simple as set
- It can be angled upwards and sideways for bounce flash and has its own built in reflector for soft and even lighting
Cons.
- Still pricey but worth it to buy
7 – New Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch
After using apple both Macbook pro and iMac for working on my photography business since 2011, I think this kind of best devices for any artist and professional in this planet. Today Apple offering you with brand new Macbook in 16 inch which is used to in 13 and 15 inch before and surely come with superb features to work on your photography business. With its16GB RAM, 512GB Storage, and 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 I surely you can work for photo retouching on Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom and video editing with Premier or similar software.
I was shooting for my best friend portrait in Uluwatu Bali few years ago and since using the 21,5″inch iMac but now I’m so grateful that this new macbook provide very well screen interface that will help me to see my works in more details so I can know exactly do the photo is well enough or need additional adjustment for my final print out.
Since I used to work on 21,5″ iMac at home than this brand new Macbook in 16 inch will give you great interface during working on post production.
Pros.
- Keyboard. It’s fantastic. The key travel has been extended to 1mm
- the display is absolutely gorgeous. The 0.6 inch difference in size retains the same logical resolution
- Sound. In one word, AMAZING!
Cons.
- The difference in screen size is subtle but noticeable
Your Best Solution for Post Production
After having all those 7 wedding photography equipment must haves above than I surely you are ready to shoot for wedding in a professional way. Last before you design all your photos into album than you genuinely will step into post production work, if you get used with Photoshop than it is so good but if you considering to boost up your work and finish all the editing just within an hour than using Lightroom Presets is the best solution.
Let me introduce you with my Maldives Lightroom Presets setting that I built after finishing my beach wedding session in Maldives back few years ago.
It is absolutely fantastic and speed booster on any work that I have, my camera setting would be bit different than yours but as long as you work for an outdoor wedding like on the lake, hills, mountain and especially the beach wedding that I sure that this presets will works with fun.
Once again thanks for stumble upon my works and I hope I could helping you to prepare your wedding photography business as well, kindly let me know if you have some further questions about your photo shoot by leaving a comment below, cheers and God bless you my friend!