As a personal brand photographer, I have to have a lot of tools in my back pocket. I get questions all the time about my gear, how I capture behind-the-scenes footage, and how to find the best locations to shoot. In this blog post, we’ll go over my must-have tools to bring to your brand photoshoot!
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My Bag
As a former wedding photographer, I got used to carrying around a TON of gear. Thankfully I’ve been able to minimalize my kit for personal brand shoots, but it’s helpful to have some of that gear with me just in case my location isn’t quite what I thought it was. Here’s my list of items I bring to every personal brand photoshoot:
Canon R6 – This mirrorless camera is probably my favorite that Canon has made in a very long time. I’ve been a Canon girl since I started my hobby almost 20 years ago and I’ve been through many iterations of Canon cameras. My favorite aspects of this camera are the extremely accurate face tracking and how it’s taken my old RF lenses and made them even sharper than before!
Canon 24-70 f/2.8 – This is my main workhorse lens. It’s easy to go from an ultra wide atmosphere shot to a beautiful headshot in a blink.
Canon 70-200 f/2.8 ii – I don’t use this lens as often now that I’m a personal brand photographer, but few lenses live up to that gorgeous compression and bokeh like this one. So I keep it in my bag for specific outdoor shots.
Lighting
Godox Li-ion V860III – If you need a little extra pop of light these Speedlights are easy to use and they communicate well to each other.
Godox AD200 – I love this light, especially if I need to balance out the sun or create some cool light in a dark space.
Other Tools
Neewer 5 in 1 Reflector – This reflector is great because it’s reflects light back onto my client’s full body. It can be a little intimidating because it’s HUGE, but I’ve found that combined with the Neewer reflector hooks, it’s easy to manage.
Neewer Reflector holders – If you don’t have access to a person to reflect light for you, these little guys make your lightstand into your new assistant!
Lightstands – I use these for everything from lights to reflectors, to even holding my phone on occassion. They’re super useful.
Godox Softbox – This softbox is easy to use and folds away in no time.
Macbook Pro– I always bring my macbook pro with my pinterest inspiration board and my shot list for the session.
Bose Speaker – I find my clients relax way more when they’ve got their favorite jams going. I even recommend they put together a playlist prior to the shoot.
Auto Face Tracking Tripod, 360° Rotation Phone Camera Mount – This little guy has been a game changer for my behind the scenes footage! It follows me everywhere I go.
Tripod – This is a lightweight tripod that folds up quickly. It’s perfect for my behind the scenes footage.
And that’s it! Sometimes there will be additional items like props and snacks, but these are the tools that never change. They come along every single shoot. If you have further questions about how I utilize these items, don’t hesitate to reach out. You can find me on Instagram or email me at MabynLudke@gmail.com.
Until next time!
Mabyn
