Wedding photography kit: camera lens and equipment

Photographing wedding professionally may be a big challenge new photographers. Thorough preparation is the key. If we miss something in location, there is no way to go back and grab tools that we need.

Cameras
2 Digital SLR Cameras, one with standard zoom, the other with telephoto zoom or fast prime.

Camera suggestions:
Small sensor: Canon 40D or 50D, Nikon D90 or D300, Olympus E-520 or E-3.
Full frame cameras: Canon 5D, 5D Mark II, Nikon D700 or D3.

Wedding often happen indoor, especially in church where the light is very dim. Camera with Image stabilization option and ability to handle high ISO is essential. Camera should be responsive and auto focus must be fast and accurate. However, in outdoor wedding, you don't have to worry about that.

Lenses selection
The most important lens is wide zoom lens, because there are many group pictures, and tight indoor shoots such as inside the church.

For small sensor 17-55mm will be great, for full frame, 24-70mm. The bigger the aperture is the best. Big aperture will help in low light condition and also isolate the background better.

For telephoto lens, 50-200mm range is adequate.

Prime lens or macro lens will be great in low light condition and also for artistic photography because it can create a beautiful bokeh (depth of field) try 30mm, 50mm, 60mm, 85mm or 100mm

Other equipments:

• Flash, essential in indoor low light condition.
• Flash diffusers popular brand includes: Stofen omnibounce, Lumiquest Promax, Joe Demb Diffuser and Gary Fong Lightsphere
  

Very important!

• Memory Cards - usually we need 800-1000 pics/day, if you shoot RAW, you might want to have 10-15 GB or more.
  
• Extra batteries for cameras and external flash
• Charger for batteries

Other:

• Tripod = for group shots
• Light stand and strobes
• Reflector for outdoor
• Comfortable camera bag