What gear am I using in 2020?
Tis’ the season! We’re winding down the year (and what a year it has been!) which means that Black Friday and other major shopping days are ahead of us. As such, I know how much photographers love to obsess about their gear and the gear that other creatives are using so I thought, “What better time to recap my gear that I’ve used throughout the apocalypse … I mean … year?!” Without further delay, check out my gear! (Some of the below ARE affiliate links. All that means is that if you find what I have to say useful and you want to purchase that item, it helps me out if you click the link to buy it!)
THE LIST
Drone
DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo - This is HANDS DOWN one of my favorite pieces of gear! I used to own a Mavic Pro and I replaced it with the Mavic Air 2 because of the size and portability and how incredibly jam packed it is with features! The Fly More Combo comes with 3 batteries, a charging hub, ND filters, and more!
Camera
Sony a7R II - I made the jump! I used to be all about my Canon bodies but after shooting a 12pm college football game with a colleague who was using a Sony… I was sold. Being able to review your images IN the view finder is absolutely one of the largest reasons (aside from image quality and portability) that I chose to switch to the a7R II!
Lenses
Sony 85mm f/1.8 - This is such a buttery smooth lens! Perfect for portraits as well as detail shots in nature/ street photography! I used this on my NYC and TN trips and was utterly ecstatic with how the shots turned out. That super low 1.8 makes all of the difference!
Sony 16-35mm f/4 (Vario-Tessar T*) - OK, let me admit that this lens came with the kit that I bought and I would most likely use the f/2.8 GM lens if I was buying one outright, but this lens is fantastic in normal lighting situations!
Bag
National Geographic Africa Camera Backpack - I’m a huge fan of the vintage looking backpacks but wanted something that had ample padding and easy access. This is that! I have taken this thing with me everywhere and not once has anyone stopped me and asked if I was a photographer or even had the slightest hint unless my camera was out!
Phone
Apple iPhone 12 Pro 512GB in Pacific Blue - I won’t lie to you… I spend a lot of money on this phone. BUT HEAR ME OUT! The camera is absolutely INSANE! Further, I run my business on the go and I needed 5G, I needed a super fast processor, and I will never leave Apple. OK, maybe one day… But for now…. Apple owns me. Lol.
Accessories
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip - I stole this AWESOME little invention from Pierre T. Lambert and absolutely could not do without it now that I’ve had one. It’s basically a mountable clip that utilizes an Arca tripod-compatible plate and you’re able to secure the camera right to your bag/ belt/ whatever other object with a strap!
Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap - This has been a game changer! The little discs that attach to your camera and slide right in to the cuff keep it secure but also really easy and quick to detach in a hurry! This is another stolen idea from Pierre!
JOBY GorillaPod 3k - You’ve probably heard about these guys before, but if you haven’t, you’re missing out! The legs are very stiff and stable but flexible so you can adapt to your surroundings. With this portable tripod, you can stabilize your camera on top of rocks, attach it to a fence, the possibilities are limitless!
Hoya 72mm Cross Screen Star Effect Glass Filter - So I actually use both the 4x and the 6x star filters depending on the desired effect. I just think these are really cool and allow for an extra bit of in-camera artistic flair! Here’s a photo I shot in FTL using the Star Filter!
Editing
Late 2016 MacBook Pro 15” w/ Touch Bar - This is my baby. Not cheap. Definitely worth it. I wouldn’t phrase that any other way. I have the screen real estate to edit video when I want without being cramped, but it is portable enough that I travel with it pretty easily! Unfortunately, this one is a little older (though still kicking butt!) so they aren’t in production anymore. The most comparable in the Apple lineup right now is the MacBook Pro 16”. If you’re going to be editing video, do yourself the favor and splurge here. You’ll thank me later.
Adobe Creative Cloud - I utilize the entire Adobe Creative Suite for my various projects. Obviously Lightroom gets the most use, however, I do edit audio and video as well which are all part of the package!
Storage
Samsung T7 Touch 2TB External SSD - This thing is my JAM! It is literally the size of a credit card and MAYBE 3/4 of an inch thick. What I did was utilized some super strong adhesive Velcro and mounted it to my MacBook Pro (on the case, not the actual machine!)
