Sussex Family Photographer | My Favourite Camera Gear for a documentary family shoot
As I’m currently browsing for a mirrorless camera I wanted to write a blog post about my current camera gear - as I found it incredibly useful to read about what’s inside other documentary family photographer’s camera bags when I started my own documentary family photography journey.
When you are a professional photographer it’s not uncommon to get asked what camera you’re using. Back in 2019 I bought a Nikon D750 and this is still my main camera when I am photographing families. My go-to lens is my Nikon 35mm f/1.8G, it’s just a great lens for documentary photography in general, although lately I have found myself increasingly gravitating towards my Sigma 24mm f/1.4 ART lens.
In the beginning I was quite nervous using a 24mm lens during my at home family photo shoots, but I’m learning to love this lens - so much so that I am now considering making it my main lens!
I occasionally also use my Nikon70-200mm f/4G lens when I’m capturing families outside. Mainly to create natural family portraits. It’s a great outdoor lens!
This year I want to make a significant change to my camera gear and I am currently eying up the Sony Alpha A9. Why the move from Nikon to Sony? These are my main reasons:
My current camera feels quite heavy and bulky and I would love to work with a lighter and more compact camera during my family photoshoots.
Chasing kids all the time during a photo session means I could really do with a quicker Autofocus System.
The last, and probably the most important, reason is that I want to maximise my low-light capabilities for my in-home photo sessions - so I’m looking for a system that can handle an even higher ISO than my current set up.
Now this doesn’t mean I am going to ditch my Nikon D750 and all my lenses, as I still love shooting with this camera. A mirrorless Sony will just be a lovely addition to my camera gear.
I’m still unsure whether to go for the Sony A9 or another mirrorless camera - so if you have any advice for me then I’d love to hear from you!
