Show me your bag!

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>I wanna see if others can share what their game is as far as bag setup for a wedding. I'll start with mine. Some intro: I shoot Nikon, I value shooting time much more than equipment mingling time. I don't need newest models of everything. I carry no external light stand for outdoor shoots. I like to go very wide from ground level and usually use 50 for portraits. Typically i carry 17-35 as main (!), have 28-70 in the bag, 2nd body 80-200 plus 50m on 3rd body. 2 bodies are always on me until the speeches. 3rd body w 50 or 85 is for park or nightshoots. For ceremony and reception I add 1 or 2 Abees by DJ or whatever works zoned with PWPlus3s. I often mix Abee and on camera flash @ reception. Abee is on lowest setting. Both battery powered. Bodies are on double BlackRapid straps with Arca or RRS clamps. Bodies have RRS Lplates with side attached magic arm for PWs. My church setup time is under a minute for Abee both bodies. I like to be shoot ready straight from the bagt. I do carry 3 bodies sometimes but typically I have assistant. Now here is my stuff:<br>

Hope to see how u guys roll.<br>

<img src="http://strawberrywedding.com/1.jpg" alt="" width="2231" height="1432" /></p>

 

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>and the bag is ThinkTank Logistics Manager 30. That big roller is def not for everyone.</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

Mine on a typical trip:<div></div>

[studio460]

<p>I usually pack different gear depending on the shoot (I shoot non-wedding events and headshots). Mostly, all of my bodies, lenses, and Speedlight gear gets thrown into aluminum Hakuba cases. Last week, I shot a daylight-exterior event and decided to take only a "minimal" lighting/grip package:</p>

<p>Thrown in the back of the van:<br /> • x1 39" x 39" Westcott ScrimJim with 1-1/4-stop diffuser.<br /> • x1 C-stand w/40" grip arm.<br /> • x1 additional 40" grip arm.<br /> • x1 Matthews aluminum baby stand w/Rocky Mountain leg. <br /> • x3 15 lb. shot bags.<br /> • x1 Quantum Qflash mounted on Photoflex stand.<br /> • x4 Quantum Turbo batteries.<br /> • x1 full-apple box.<br /> • x1 half-apple box.<br /> • x1 step-stool.</p>

<p>Packed in aluminum Hakuba cases:<br /> • x2 Nikon D3s bodies.<br /> • x1 AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f4.0G VR<br /> • x1 Sigma 35mm f/1.4<br /> • x1 Sigma 150mm f/2.8 OS<br /> • x2 Nikon SB-800 Speedlights.<br /> • x2 PocketWizard TT1/TT5s<br /> • x1 Newton flash bracket.<br /> • x1 Nikon SC-17 TTL cable (shortened).<br /> • x1 Nikon SC-29 TTL cable.<br /> • x2 Quantum Nikon cables.</p>

<p>Tomorrow, I'm supposed to shoot some exterior street/fashion stuff. This time, I'm only taking the following:</p>

<p>• x2 Nikon D3s bodies.<br /> • x1 AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR I<br /> • x1 AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR<br /> • x1 AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G<br /> • x1 AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G<br /> • x1 Sigma 35mm f/1.4<br /> • x1 Matthews 39" x 39" Matthboard (fill version).<br /> <br /> <img src="http://studio460.com/images/nikonkit-1.png" alt="" /></p>

<p>I also always keep the following in the van:</p>

<p>• x1 Westcott 4' x 4' Illuminator, square, one-stop foldable diffuser.<br /> • x1 Westcott 42" x 42" square, silver/white foldable reflector.<br /> • x1 Westcott 30" x 30" square, silver/white foldable reflector.</p>

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>Thx for sharing very interesting. Forgot abt 105 macro - always need that one for the rings etc</p>

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>Ralph - I gave up PW TTL - it was just too unreliable. Wonder if they fixed all bugs plus i find it not necessary. </p>

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>Ellis - u bring all that stuff to weddings or it is strictly corporate studio on location set?</p>

[studio460]

<p>Tomasz:</p>

<p>Yes, I've also had my share of misfires with my PocketWizard TT1/TT5s in the past, but their performance seems to have improved since the last firmware revision (although, I use the PocketWizards primarily in manual mode, specifically to shoot above x-sync for daylight exteriors, and they work great for that). I have, however, switched to all-Elinchrom D-Lite series studio strobes for indoor stuff, mainly for their built-in Skyport receivers (they're also very lightweight, recycle fast, and are affordably priced). I bought two Elinchrom Speed transmitters, and happily found the Elinchrom triggers to be ultra-reliable.</p>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>Here's my bag, plus I bring a tripod and light stand with a flash and Gary Fong.</p><div></div>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>Same bag View 2</p><div></div>

[dave_wilson1]

<p>View 3 same bag</p><div></div>

[tomasz_wolosik]

<p>Dave - I see u are GFong fan too. I did find it too loose when the camera is upside down on BlackRapids. So what I did is crazyglued top to it and I used plumbing clamp instead of velcro. I figured i will be carry that thing assembled all the time. The problem is vertical - it doesnt keep the weight so I added small rubber and glued a hook to side of the flash :)<br>

check it out.<br>

<img src="http://strawberrywedding.com/20150424_230329.jpg" alt="" width="2988" height="5312" /></p>

 

[dave_wilson1]

Yes, I like the Fong stuff, I use the soft collapse ones too, they stick better. I like the black hood on the light stand and use

either white cone or open so I can shoot with the light close in and block/feather the light.

[studio460]

<p>I also wanted to show off my Domke bag which I find very functional for small kits. Often, I'll just carry two D3s bodies on their factory straps, with no cases (if I need to stay mobile, perhaps also a ThinkTank lens pouch on a Lindcraft belt to hold an extra lens). But when on vacation, and I want a little protection, I'll use my airline "carry-on pack:" a single body with three primes and a Nikon SB-600 (plus an SC-29 or SU-800), all in my beloved Domke bag:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/images/NikonDomke-4.png" alt="" width="700" height="467" /></p>

[studio460]

<p>Packing monolights:</p>

<p>My next project is casing my Elinchrom monolights and other various studio strobe gear. Ideally, I'd like pack six Elinchrom D-Lite RX2 200Ws monolights into a single Lightware soft case (I only shoot locally and don't need to air-pack anything). I also have two Speedotron Force 10 monolights and two Dynalite Uni400s. The Force 10s will go in one case, the Dynalites in another, but I would really like all six Elinchrom strobes to fit into one Lightware case if possible. Does anyone have six similarly sized heads fitting into a single case?</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

Tomasz Wolosik , Apr 26, 2015; 11:39 a.m.:

"Ellis - u bring all that stuff to weddings or it is strictly corporate studio on location set?"

 

It depends. Sometimes I bring more to both, I get paid to make photos not excuses. But in both cases I strive to use as little of it as possible.

[studio460]

<p>That's a pretty awesome kit, Ellis! Which Joker do you have for your K5600 Big Eye? Let's see some more of everyone's bags!</p>

[chris_garbacz]

<p>Awesome dude, I use the following:<br>

<img src="http://weddings.epicphotography.com.au/wp-content/uploads/wedding-photography-gear-must-have-gear-you-should-take-to-every-wedding.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="666" /><br>

I actually just wrote an article about gear I take to every wedding, including my Elinchrom Quadra and Dido video light. + ladder and food etc etc :)<br></p>

<p><i>Mod Note: Link to business page removed</i></p>

[studio460]

<p>I said:</p>

<blockquote>

<p><em>My next project is casing my Elinchrom monolights and other various studio strobe gear. Ideally, I'd like pack six Elinchrom D-Lite RX2 200Ws monolights into a single Lightware soft case . . .</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Well, instead of bulky Lightware cases, I found these slim, Elinchrom hard cases. They even fit my Speedotron Force 10 monolights quite nicely. Finally, I have a solution for packing my monolights, and won't have to worry about them when throwing them into a van:</p>

<p><img src="http://studio460.com/images/Elinchromcase-4A.png" alt="" width="700" height="466" /></p>