A photographer’s gear bag is always fun to explore. Small things have come and gone as technology has evolved, including a bag of conversion cables that I cannot live without now!
When it comes to gear, mine has been fairly consistent since I put it together in 2012. Check out this vlog of my bag circa 2016, and not much has changed. I’ve rocked my Canon 5D mark ii and my Canon 7D for a long time. My go-to lens remains my 70-200mm 2.8, with a wide angle as a backup. With budget always on my mind, when needed I have rented other lenses and cameras, and my go-to there is now lensrental.com. Recently I rented a 200-800mm for wildlife shooting, and whew it might be coming soon!
NEW BODY, NEW LOOK
What is new is a Canon R5 mark ii, which is a gamechanger. I rented an R6 and an R9 for story gathering trips, but wasn’t sold on them. I knew that I needed to add video, and rented a Sony when I shot at the Sun Circuit in 2024. That was not for me, but when I rented the R5 first gen, I also had an issue. The R5 second generation fixes the overheating issue I had with the first R5, which sold me on that purchase. Since adding the R5 in May, it is my new go-to. I feel like I’m cheating on my die hard 5Dmii, but this R5 is soooooooo pretty. I also love flipping between photo and video.
I purchased a refurbished R5mii from Canon, here. So be sure to check for their refurbished gear!
ALL ABOUT ACCESSORIES
I was influenced into purchasing the Meta Ray Ban glasses after seeing several ads on social media. So far, I like them, but I am far from using them to their full potential.
At the 2025 Paint World Championship Show, I cracked out the Meta glasses and one of Bud Lyon Performance Horses’s non-pro riders, Heather Ronek, took them for a test drive. They are wide angle, and have great clarity and audio! Watch below!
I’m headed up to the AQHyA World Show, and I think I can talk the youth into wearing them for some fun videos, so stay tuned!
BEHIND-THE-SCENES
Do not scoff at my next add on, which is actually the third Ulanzi phone clamp I’ve purchased. They are inexpensive, and do last a good while, but things happen in the field (ahem, cows!). I like to pop my phone into one of these phone clamps, add it to a light stand, and let it run so I can capture another angle or behind-the-scenes for social media.
Easy to use, easy to pack, and lightweight, a cheap light stand and phone clamp can help create magic. I love that I was able to use one of my favorite song hooks to make this reel (link) that shows the BTS of a Bud Lyon Performance Horses headshot shoot day.
It is also great to set up and walk away from but still get some content to help you promote your work, like when I shot sale photos for Coach Shannon Pigott. As freelancers, we should take advantage of budget-friendly gear to create promotional opportunities.
So, what is in your gear bag? I’d love to know what’s new, what’s your go-to and what is on your bucket list!
