| 1. Nikon D700 D-SLR | | | | SB-28 flash because it has the transceiver plugin |
| 2. Nikon 35mm f/2 AF-D | | | | built into the flash, plus it’s heavy duty, and |
| 3. Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D | | | | we could buy it used from B&H Photo for |
| 4. SanDisk Extreme III Compact Flash Cards | | | | less than $100. |
| 5. Interfit 48? 5-in-1 Bounce/Diffuser | | | | I personally think the lens cleaning tissue and liquid |
| 6. Nikon SB-28 Speedlight | | | | is just a safe backup to always have because I |
| 7. (2) PocketWizard Plus II Wireless Transceiver | | | | want to ensure top optical quality. Generally, I |
| 8. Tiffen Lens Cleaning Papers | | | | don’t want to be using my shirt and spit to |
| 9. Lens Cleaner Liquid | | | | clean off debris, finger smudges, etc on the lens. |
| 10. Open Light Studio Business Cards | | | | Finally, I think you should ALWAYS carry around |
| A little explanation about why I chose those | | | | business cards if you’re actually serious about |
| particular lenses: the 35mm is a great walk-around | | | | your work and building your business, whether |
| lens that is so very freeing, and the 85mm is | | | | it’s wedding photography, architectural |
| such a fantastic portrait lens, along with even | | | | photography, pet portraiture, or food |
| being able to use for product shots or other | | | | photography. You never know who you may run |
| general closeups (we’ve utilized it instead of a | | | | into on the street or need to make some contact |
| macro lens on many an occasion). Personally, I | | | | of some sort. |
| love prime lenses because of their ability to open | | | | It’s interesting to note that I didn’t include |
| up to a wide aperture, along with being lighter, | | | | any sort of tripod; this is because as a wedding |
| simpler, and more lower priced than zoom lenses | | | | photojournalist, I rarely use one; VERY RARELY |
| while having better optics. We could go and buy | | | | do I use one on any wedding or portrait session. |
| the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens instead of | | | | Just a note on our D700: it’s a great camera. |
| these two fixed lenses, but it costs $1800 and is | | | | Fantastic low-light capabilities on it’s |
| so dang heavy that I don’t even really want | | | | 35mm-equivelent digital image sensor make it a |
| to carry it on my camera. You can get both of | | | | no brainer for wedding photographers like us. I |
| these lenses for less than $1000 (and they open | | | | won’t go into detail on why we shoot with |
| up a full stop or more than zooms), so it makes | | | | Nikon instead of Canon because I don’t have |
| sense on every level to me. On another note, I | | | | time, and in the end, it seems to me mostly a |
| didn’t put a 50mm only because I feel like the | | | | matter of personal decision because both |
| 35mm provides that extra field of view that | | | | companies make amazing cameras/lenses. I |
| makes it much more useable as a main | | | | wouldn’t recommend spending the money on |
| walk-around lens. | | | | the D700 when starting out as a photographer |
| The diffuser and bounce disc is such a great | | | | because of the cost, but it is a good |
| invention that I pretty much would always carry it | | | | improvement once you’ve been able to add a |
| around because it is so beneficial in any situation | | | | few lenses to your bag and are on your way to |
| where you’re needing to soften harsh light, or | | | | making decent money as a photographer. |
| fill in the eyes of a subject with the reflector. I | | | | Lastly, I’ll just highlight the 85mm as THE |
| love it, and I wish I could always carry around an | | | | LENS that you should have if you’re shooting |
| inflateable assistant to hold this for me, but alas, | | | | portraits. It’s so amazingly crisp and clear, and |
| those haven’t been invented yet. If | | | | it actually is very very sharp even when opened |
| you’re a portrait photographer of any kind, it | | | | nearly all the way open to f/2.2. I usually have |
| is amazingly important that you shape the light, | | | | this lens on my camera over 50% of the time at |
| and a bounce/diffuser disc is a simple, light, | | | | weddings because it is so gorgeous. When |
| inexpensive way to acheive this. | | | | you’re a wedding photographer like us, |
| The PocketWizards along with our SB-28 is the | | | | gorgeous images are key. Well, now that I think |
| only way to utilize a flash when you don’t | | | | about it, beautiful images are always key. So |
| want some blaring fill light (especially when utilized | | | | I’ll restate it one more time: if you’re a |
| along with the bounce disc). They’re great | | | | portrait, wedding, documentary, product, family |
| because of the freedom and creativity you’re | | | | photographer, you should get this lens. |
| allowed in shooting and lighting. We bought the | | | | |