Wedding season has arrived!  Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, having the right wedding gear is crucial for capturing those unforgettable moments. In this post, we’ll explore essential equipment that every wedding photographer should have, along with tips and best practices to ensure you’re fully prepared for the big day.

From cameras and lenses to lighting and accessories, Midwest Photo has everything you need to elevate your wedding photography game (Even Rentals!). Let’s dive in and discover how you can gear up for success and create stunning wedding photos that will be cherished for a lifetime by your clients!

Essential Gear for Wedding Photography

2025 Best suggested cameras for wedding photography:

CANON

• Canon EOS R5 – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 45 MP, Screen: 3.2 inches, Max burst 12 fps mechanical shutter, 20 fps electronic shutter.

• Canon EOS R6II – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 24.2 MP, Screen: 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, Max burst speed: 30 fps.

• Canon EOS R3– Mirrorless, Full Frame, 24.1 MP, Screen:3.2 in , Max burst speed: 30 fps

NIKON

• Nikon Z8 – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 45.7 MP, Screen Size 3.2 in, Max burst 30 fps.

• Nikon Z6 II – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 24.2 MP, Screen: 3.2-in tilting touchscreen, Max burst speed: 14 fps.

• Nikon Z5 – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 24.3 MP, Screen: 3.2 In, Max burst speed: 4.5 FPS

SONY

• Sony A7R V– Mirrorless, Full Frame, 61 MP, advanced Ai powered autofocus, 4-axis multi-angle touchscreen LCD.

• Sony A7 IV– Mirrorless, Full Frame, 33 MP, various angle touch screen, Max burst speed 10 fps.

• Sony Sony A9 II– Mirrorless, Full Frame, 24.2 MP, 20 fps blackout-free continuous shooting.

FUJIFILM

• Fujifilm GFX 100S- Mirrorless, 102 MP medium format, Tilting touchscreen LCD, 5-axis in-body stabilization.

• Fujifilm X-H2S – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 26.1MP, 40 fps burst shooting. Excellent subject tracking and low-light performance.

• Fujifilm X-T5 – Mirrorless, Full Frame, 40 MP, Compact, weather-sealed body,  3-way tilting touchscreen LCD.

• Film cameras are back in style now, and not just the disposables. So consider learning and picking up a used film camera to add a unique element to your galleries!

Versatile lenses to have in your camera bag

SIGMA

• Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art – A favorite for storytelling and low-light scenes.
• Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art – Exceptional sharpness and bokeh for portraits.
• Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM | S – A solid telephoto option for Canon, Nikon, and Sigma mounts.

TAMRON

• Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 – A budget-friendly, high-performance zoom for Canon/Nikon.
• Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD – Lightweight and sharp telephoto for Sony mirrorless.

SONY

• Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM – A favorite for portraits with stunning bokeh and sharpness.
• Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM – Great for wide shots, group photos, and creative compositions.
• Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II – Versatile telephoto for ceremonies and candid moments.

CANON

• Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM – Ultra-versatile zoom with a rare f/2 aperture, perfect for everything from portraits to ceremonies.
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM – Classic portrait lens with beautiful bokeh and low-light performance.
• Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM– Great lens for ceremony and getting close-ups without invading the ceremony space too much. Also great for getting guest candids from afar.

NIKON

• Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S – A must-have zoom for Nikon mirrorless users; sharp, fast, and reliable.
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR – Ideal for ceremonies and candid moments from a distance.
• Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S – Lightweight, sharp, and perfect for portraits with creamy background blur.

FUJIFILM

• Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 R – A legendary portrait lens in the Fuji ecosystem.
• Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR – Excellent for storytelling and environmental portraits.
• Fujifilm GF 80mm f/1.7 R WR – For GFX users, this is a stunning medium format portrait lens.

Accessories:

• High speed SD cards
• Extra batteries ( I recommend having at least 3 batteries)
• Protective camera bag or fanny pack
• Lens cleaning kit
• Battery grip (see options here!)

Best Practices for Wedding Photography

Create a Shot List: This can be with the couple and a list of their requests, or a rundown of the must get shots and creative shots you think of! Writing it down and having a digital copy to glance at if needed will be a huge help remember and covering everything on the day, as it can be overwhelming and stressful day of to remember all of it! Once you’ve done a handful of weddings though, this will start to become more natural!

Scout the Location: If you are able to visit the venue before the big day amazing! If not, look up the location on google maps and try to get a feel for potential photo spots. Look at examples from other photographers that have photographed there before as well for some inspiration. You can also show up a little earlier than planned to have some time to walk around and get to know the location as well!

Communicate with the Couple: This is HUGE! Communicating frequently and well is important! If you’ve only spoke to or emailed a couple 1-3 times before the wedding, that’s not enough! You want them to get to know you and feel comfortable with you before the big day.

Bring an Assistant/ second shooter: If you are a solos shooter and comfortable with it for smaller weddings, then you may be fine taking the job on alone. However, having a second shooter can help ensure you get creative detail shots and different perspectives of the day to give your clients a widely covered and versatile gallery. Having a second shooter can also help with managing equipment and coordinating shots more easily, and just having someone to bounce fresh ideas off of!

Stay Organized: Keep your gear with you and accessible all day to avoid missing any big moments or quick last minute changes!

Tips for Shooting on the Big Day

Be a good people watcher: observe and notice the small moments along with the big moments! This can help you capture sentimental shots of guests and gestures that the couple may not have even noticed but will adore seeing!

Manual Focus: in non-high pressure moments utilize manual focus for precision, especially in low-light conditions!

Golden Hour: Take advantage of the golden hour for beautiful, warm lighting. Steal your couple away from the reception and take some more pictures of them at golden hour! They may be relieved that you gave them a few more minutes of alone time together, to catch their breath before going back to the celebration.

Two Cameras: Use two cameras with different lenses to quickly switch between wide shots and close-ups. Having a dual strap or camera attachment belt on you waist will be very helpful with this!

Recommended Camera Settings

Bright Daylight
Mode: Manual (M) or Aperture Priority (A/Av)
ISO: 100–200
Aperture: f/2.8–f/4 for portraits (shallow depth of field), f/5.6–f/8 for group shots
Shutter Speed: 1/500s or faster to freeze motion
White Balance: Daylight or Auto
Focus Mode: Continuous AF (AI Servo/AF-C)

Golden Hour
ISO: 200–400
Aperture: f/1.8–f/2.8 for dreamy bokeh
Shutter Speed: 1/250s or faster
White Balance: Cloudy (for warmer tones)

Indoor Wedding Photography Settings

Ceremony (Low Light, No Flash)
ISO: 1600–3200 (or higher if your camera handles noise well)
Aperture: f/1.4–f/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/125s or faster (use 1/60s if subjects are still)
White Balance: Tungsten or Auto
Focus Mode: Single AF (One Shot/AF-S) for still moments, Continuous AF for movement
Stabilization: Use IBIS or a monopod/tripod if available

Reception (Flash Allowed)
ISO: 800–1600
Aperture: f/2.8–f/4
Shutter Speed: 1/200s (sync with flash)
Flash: Bounce flash or off-camera flash for natural lighting
White Balance: Flash or Auto

Tips for Sharpness
Use back-button focus to lock focus and recompose.
Enable focus peaking (if available) for manual focus accuracy.
Use dual card slots to back up images in real-time.
Always shoot in RAW for maximum editing flexibility.

Now You’re Ready!

Capturing a wedding is one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in photography. With the right wedding gear, thoughtful preparation, and a solid understanding of camera settings for both indoor and outdoor environments, you’ll be ready to deliver stunning, timeless images your clients will cherish forever.

Whether you’re shooting with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, or using trusted third-party lenses from Tamron and Sigma, investing in quality equipment and mastering your craft is key. And if you’re looking to upgrade your kit or explore new tools, be sure to check out our site mpex.com based in Columbus, Ohio. Or stop in the store if you’re local!

Explore more tips, gear reviews, and expert insights right here on the blog—and don’t forget to subscribe for updates!