My Camera Body for My Photography and Why…

I love Canon products. My family has been a Canon family for years. I started out years ago with the basic new DSLR Canon Rebel. I of course upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark II from there. This camera helped a lot with the weddings I was doing at the time and low light situations. A few years later I upgraded again to the Canon 5D Mark III. This was a great upgrade to an already amazing camera, and I loved the video aspect of it. The ISO was much better for lower lighting situations. This year for Christmas, I upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark IV. I am in love so far! I can’t wait to see how great this camera body is over the next year. I choose the Canon Mark 5D’s because of the great features it offers. I can capture great shots in low light and not have to be as concerned with using flash as much. It offers truly amazing image quality for prints with its full frame sensor and high megapixel count.

The Lenses I Use and Why

When I started out, I was primarily only using the Canon 50mm 1.4. This was an amazing prime lens for starters, and with the 1.4 I could create the blurred background that I so love in pictures. Along with that, prime lenses are sharper over zoom. As I moved into doing more weddings back then, I added the Canon 24-70 2.8 L Lens. This is a great lens! It allows you to capture both up-close and far away images when you are at event type shoots such as weddings. The Canon L lenses are amazing and offer fast focus with beautiful images as end result. I also acquired the Sigma 70-200 2.8 Lens for those moments during events or weddings when I needed to get somewhat of a closeup, however didn’t want to be noticed or right in someone’s face to capture the image. I do love how this lens can make a blurred background or what is sometimes referred to as the bokeh effect.  

Sigma has come out with a new series of lenses over the past few years called ‘Art’ lenses. They are to be comparable to the Canon L series. This year I decided to take the jump and try them out, and so far, I am very happy with them. I have the following and love each one for their own unique use. (Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art, Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art, Sigma 135mm 1.8 Art)

I used the 35mm for Christmas time this year so I could not only get the person but some of the activity going on around it, the scene etc. The 50mm I use for all around family portraits.

The 85mm and the 135mm are amazing for both family and individual image.

My Flash I Chose for My Photography

I typically don’t like to use a lot of flash as I enjoy the natural light whenever I can take advantage of it. On occasion though, you do have to use flash and when I do, I like to use the Canon 580 EX II, which I have used for years. I love this flash when it is needed.

Other Misc Items I Use For My Photography

Reflectors and diffusers are great to block light, or just to diffuse it, so it’s not so harsh. I have needed it a few times here and there. I also do have a beauty dish that I love for indoor headshots as it can help to create a wonderful dramatic shot when needed.