Shooting abroad meant a little planning had to go ahead to ensure I had the equipment I wanted to take the photos I wanted to take. I wasn’t looking to shoot any events, nor was I looking to expand and create a travel portfolio, so I tried to keep my camera gear as simple as possible.
I decided to take two cameras so I didn’t have to waste time changing lenses. I settled on taking my small Fuji, which has a wide-ish angle lens, as well as my DSLR with a telephoto lens. This meant I was pretty much prepared for the majority of situations I’d come across.
For the majority of the trip, I mainly used the Fuji camera. That camera never left my side, with it being so small and easy to carry without having to think about it. I also loved using my phone to shoot, so unless I really wanted a specific telephoto look to an image, the DSLR stayed in the bag.
For my next trip, I will be definitely look to leave the DSLR at home. Its weight, and having to fully empty the whole camera bag at every security point we went through, meant that I’d rather just shoot as light as possible. For events, however, I don’t have that luxury.
The above images shows what I took to photograph Kushi & Kalpesh’s civil registry. As a professional photographer, I need to ensure that I have all bases covered for any eventuality. Two DSLRS, two flashguns and a selection of lenses help me be more efficient in not needing to switch lenses as well as providing any back-up if a piece of equipment should fail. I like to use the DSLRs at events such as receptions, where the lighting isn't always the greatest. However, the little Fuji is never too far away. I love using this camera for quiet parts in a day where I don't want to seem too intrusive (the camera is completely silent).
As photographers, we all tend to get caught up in the specifics of which camera brand is the best, how many red rings are around the lenses and how many megapixels can be squeezed onto a camera’s sensor. I’ve always thought that as long as each piece of equipment in your bag has a specific purpose, you're good to go.