These camera accessories were delivered to my door this week, which was perfect timing as I’m gearing up for a wedding this weekend. My second shooters always bring cool camera accessories to weddings, and I’m so excited to share with you some of my favorites and must-haves.
1. Lightweight Tripod: Joby GorillaPod (Best Mini Tripod for Wedding Photographers)
The Joby GorillaPod is a small, bedable tripod. I’ve had my eyes on this mini tripod for a while now. One of my second shooters brought it to a wedding and I was amazed. She used it as a light stand for her flash. It can sit on top of a table, in a tiny corner, or pretty much any small space that your regular light stand won’t fit. What I love the most about it is that it’s so much lighter and easier to carry as opposed to a regular stand.
I plan to specifically use it during the exit this weekend instead of having my second shooter scooch down with a flash behind the couple as they are walking towards the camera. Honestly, you could also use this as a tripod to record behind-the-scene footage with your phone. It’s not obstructive at all and I love that it can be used in so many ways.
Why I love it:
- It’s easy to carry
- You can bed the legs to fit almost anywhere
- Great for holding lights or phones
2. Cold Shoe Mount for Off-Camera Flash
You might have heard the term “hot shoe” before. So what’s the difference between a cold shoe and a hot shoe? Well, a hot shoe is the metal bracket on top of the camera. You use it to attach an external flash to your camera. It’s called a “hot” shoe because it has electrical contacts that allow your camera to communicate with your flash. A cold shoe on the other hand, doesn’t have ay electrical contacts, so it is not able to trigger a flash in any way, which is why it’s called a “cold” shoe.
I purchased a pack of 4 cold shoe adapters because I plan to use one on my Joby GorillaPod Tripod in order to be able to attach my external flash to it, and one on a light stand (that was gifted to me but was missing the adaptor part) in order to be able to attach my flash to it.
Why I love it:
- It lets me use my flash anywhere
- It’s small and easy to pack
- Great for tight spaces
3. Light Stand Carrying Case
Before I had a bag for my light stands, I used to carry them in my hands while my rolling camera bag held everything else. It worked, but it wasn’t fun. One of my second shooters had a light stand bag, and I knew I needed one too.
At most weddings, I use one on camera flash and one off camera flash. You can read more about my flash setup in this blog post: Tips for Photographing Your First Wedding Part 2.
I really wanted to start experimenting with multiple off camera flashes and loved that one of my second shooters had a carrying case for her light stands. It was so much easier to carry everything around. So I scoured the internet for a similar bag and came across this one with over 2,020 reviews. I’m so excited to use it for my light stands and umbrellas going forward!
Why I love it:
- Makes carrying stands way easier
- Keeps everything in one place
- Helps protect your gear
Now I keep my stands and umbrellas in a padded bag. It’s easy to carry, and I don’t have to worry about leaving anything behind. It also keeps everything protected in the car or at the venue.
4. Lens Cleaning Kit
Dust and smudges can mess up your photos. That’s why I clean all of my lenses before a wedding. Dirty lenses can affect the quality of your images, and this can be a real pain if you try to fix things in post. One of my pre-wedding rituals is cleaning my cameras and lenses.
I sued to only carry a small air blower, but when I lost it, I bought a new cleaning kit that came with everything: a blower, a cleaning cloth, and a lens pen. Now I keep the kit in my bag so I can clean lenses quickly if I need to. the lens pen is my favorite! It’s great for getting rid of tiny spots on the glass. You can shop the cleaning kit here.
Why I love it:
- Comes with everything I need
- Small enough to fit in any bag
- Helps keep photos sharp and clear
Tip for weddings: Clean all your lenses the night before the wedding and bring the kit just in case.
5. Battery Case Holder
Before I got a battery case, all of my camera batteries were tossed into one pouch. I had no idea which ones were charged and which ones I had just used. Now I use a battery case that keeps them separated and organized.
This might be my favorite purchase! I knew that I needed a better solution for storing my camera batteries and was so happy when I found this battery case holder. It’s the perfect solution for keeping things organized inside my camera bag.
Why I love it:
- Keeps my batteries neat and safe
- Easy to tell which ones are ready to sue
- Saves time on a wedding day
These five camera accessories have made a big difference in how I pack and shoot weddings. For a list of more camera accessories you can visit my Amazon list. Which ones are on your list to purchase next? Let me know below!
Want my full list of photography gear (including what’s in my wedding rolling bag)? Click here to download the free checklist.
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