Best Camera Gear to Record IGTV Videos

Over the last few weeks, I have asked to share what I gear I use to create my IGTV videos. So I put together the blog post for you along with a brand new episode of Tea with Jainé on Instagram. I want to preface this post (and video) by saying you do NOT need a lot of gear to make videos. Your phone is just fine! Hey, that’s how I got started in the first place! I decided to invest in additional lighting so I could film when it’s dark out and I am a wedding photographer, so I’m bound to love gear. Right?! I hope this post is helpful & if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below.

iPhone Setups:

Joby Tripod with Level - I love this bendy flexible tripod for recording with my phone or camera. It has a built in level that is super handy when filming alone.

Manfrotto Table Top Tripod - If you are looking for a smaller table top tripod, I love this Manfrotto one. It’s perfect for sitting on my desk and giving my iPhone a bit of extra height. It’s great for vlogging as well!

Square Jellyfish 360 iPhone Mount - This is my favorite mount for my tripod to easily attach my iPhone. I love this one because of the 360 ability. I can flip from Vertical to Horizontal landscapes in a second and there is no additional piece of equipment required. IGTV is vertical video so this is best for me!

Mirrorless Camera Setups:

Sony AR7III - I wanted to use a great camera for video and Sony is where it is at. The quality is great and it’s super easy to use and setup. I also use this camera as my “personal” camera when I’m not photographing weddings or sessions with my clients. It’s an investment but for me, it was worth it.

Sony 35mm 1.8 Lens - I recently added the 35mm 1.8 Sony lens into my kit because I needed a wider lens. It’s great for recording in a horizontal landscape and then zooming in to edit my videos vertically.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II- I don’t personally own this camera but I know it’s awesome for vlogging. It has a built-in swivel screen so you can easily see yourself when you are recording. This feature is SO important if you are doing everything on your own. Trust me! You want to make sure you are in focus!!

SmallHD Focus Screen Kit for Sony - I purchased this additional focusing screen for my Sony camera so I could see myself while I record my videos. The swivel arm allows me to rotate the screen and adjust how I see myself with helpful on-screen markers to let me know when I am out of focus or not!

Manfrotto 190 Go! Aluminum Tripod - This tripod is one of my favorites for a lot of reasons, but the 190 Go! is amazing because the tripod column comes out and re-inserts into the tripod so you can fully have your camera horizontal to record your hands, flat-lays, and more. This is great if you are a crafter, doing DIY’s, or want to record how you style your wedding invitations.

Cheetah Light Stand - One of my favorite light stands because the bottom legs automatically open up thus saving you time for setup.

On Camera Microphone - One of my next purchases will be this Rode VideoMic Pro + Camera Mount Shotgun Microphone because it’s so compact.

Lighting Setups:

Neewer Ring Light Kit - (similar to shown in video) My lighting kit is no longer available but this is a great substitute for your home recording needs. It includes a ring light, diffuser panels, wireless remote, and light stand all in one. It’s a great deal!

Ring Light Kit with Remote & Stand: If the Neewer kit is out of your range, this is a great 10” ring lighting kit that you can attach your iphone too and make videos from anywhere. It’s dimmable with three settings and perfect for Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube videos!

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Newborn Photography Essentials for Photographers

Over in our Facebook group, I was asked to share some of my favorite must-have essentials when I photograph my newborn sessions. Be sure to watch our latest IGTV video where I share how I prep my families for their session. I hope my tips help with your next family photography session! xo

The Baby Shusher - I could not photograph any newborn session WITHOUT this amazing little device. It does exactly what it says - it creates a “shushing” sound that mimics the sounds that a baby hears inside of the womb. It instantly calms them down and helps any fussy baby start to soothe themselves. It’s a miracle product that after every session, my parents are purchasing for next day delivery from Amazon. I kid you not!

Cat Camera Buddy by Phoxi-Tog - I found this company at WPPI several years ago purchased the Monkey option. That little guy has saved many a photo shoot. You can’t use it for newborns (as they cannot focus or see color after birth) BUT if they have a sibling or siblings that you want to look at the camera, this little guy is going to help you do! I’m going to be getting this cat next - he’s adorable and the bright red is going to be so helpful!

White Swaddles from Aden + Anais - I always recommend to my couples to have white/light/neutral colored swaddles for their sessions. I prefer non-distracting colors so that the baby can really shine in the photos. I love these muslin swaddles from Aden + Anais (a Brooklyn company!). We went through so many of these with my own daughter and they are so comfortable. I recommend keeping a few in your newborn kit so that if the parents forget, you can save the day with your own!

White Baby Bloomers (0-3 Months) - It’s actually very hard to find an all-white diaper. The pampers are white but have a blue line up that changes colors when wet, which, doesn’t make the cutest photo. I recommend white bloomers to my families (some even get them monogrammed, which is adorable!). I keep a pair of white bloomers in my kit (size 0-3) just in case. I love these ruffle butts too!

Portable Heater - I know several newborn photographers who will bring their own portable heater with them to sessions to keep the baby warm. This is such a great idea! I, personally, do not have one only because I don’t have the room in my home/kit but if I had a car, I would just keep in there to come with me to each and every newborn session!

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Personal Safety Gear for Wedding Photographers

I wanted to share a few items that I recently purchased for my own personal and business safety. Being a female wedding photographer can feel a bit ominous at times, especially when I have to walk back to my car at night or when I’m taking the gear out of the trunk to head back to my apartment alone. I don’t like thinking about the “what if’s” but I always like to be prepared. Here are some of my new tools to help me feel a bit safer and track my gear while I’m working on a wedding day!

Again, I love GMA DEALS and highly recommend you guys follow them to score some great deals on items whenever they are posted! xo

The Glammer : Emergency Escape Hammer by Bling Sting - This super cute and very function personal emergency escape hammer is one of those items that the fire department always recommends you have in your car but you never actually purchase it until now. Why? Well, because it’s so darn cute (hello ROSE GOLD!) and it can save your life if you ever need it. You can cut your seat belt and break the windshield to get out of your car as well. I will carry this in the front seat with me just incase I ever need to use it when traveling.

Ahh!-larm! Personal Alarm by Bling Sting - This super cute confetti glitter keychain heart is not only cute to carry but it’s an ear piercing 115 decibel alarm - YIKES!!! It includes an LED safety light that will blink so people know where you are and you can replace the batteries too! This keychain also comes in a bow shape and gem stone so you have a few choices and colors to choose from. I like that it looks cute and can make a bit impact to scare off someone who might be following you. Hey, we all know that walking back to your car late at night (alone!) can be scary so be prepared!

Tile Mate - I mentioned this previously but I forgot to put it in my IGTV video which you can watch here. I love these little Tile Mates because they are small, discreet, and I can put one in each of my gear cases and track their whereabouts while I’m busy photographing a wedding. Also, the new Tile Mates allow you to replace the battery once a year which is great and very environmentally friendly! You can use the Tile App to track your devices and play the tune to find your cases (or keys!) quickly.

Is personal safety something you think about on a wedding day? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below! xo

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My Favorite Camera Lenses to Use Throughout a Wedding Day

One of the most common questions I receive is "what lens do you use?" and "what is your favorite lens to use on a wedding day?". I thought that this would be a great topic to discuss on the blog and over on my Instagram IGTV channel. I use several lenses throughout the course of a wedding but I definitely have my favorites and must-have lenses. I've listed each lens below including why I love it and how I use it for each part of the wedding. 

Oh, and I should mention that I do not use zoom lenses. Yep, you read that right. From the compression, higher aperture's and slower speeds just do not work for me in my own wedding photography. I prefer prime lenses for their speed, low light capabilities, and overall sharpness. They are, however, VERY expensive and unfortunately there is no way around the price of prime lens so if you can find a good one used, I say grab it while you can!  I hope its helpful!!

Let's start with my all time ride or die lens - the 50mm 1.4. I absolutely love the 50mm focal length because it's as close to our own eyes as possible. I love that there is no distortion and the perspective is exactly how we see it. It's very flattering on our faces and bodies keeping everything as natural as possible. I have two 50mm's but the one that spends 95% of the time on my camera is the 50mm 1.4 Sigma Art lens for Nikon. This lens is simply the best 50mm out there in my humble opinion. It's unbelievable sharp (which I actually turn down in post-processing) and is a true workhorse. I purchased this lens 3 years ago and it hasn't left my side since! I photograph everything from the details, getting ready, bridal portraits, bride and groom photos, reception details, wedding toast and speeches with this lens. However, when I do get to the reception, I will switch out the heavier Sigma lens for my lighter Nikon 50mm 1.4G. This lens is so small and light that it's perfect for receptions when my back starts to ache from running around all day. This lens has zero distortion or vignetting (dark shading at the corners of the frame) which is exactly why I prefer the 50mm lens to any other. Also, the 1.4 aperture allows me to shoot very wide open and let in a lot of light in low light situations like wedding receptions or sparkler exits. This is hands down my number ONE recommendation for any wedding photographer looking to build their gear kit. It's a must-have, can't live without kind of lens for me!

the 35mm 1.4 Lens is a fantastic wide angle lens that has very minimal to no distortion on the edges of the frame. The 35mm is the perfect lens for those tight hotel rooms or stunning ceremony locations. I will use the 35mm for getting ready photos in small hotel rooms. I always use this lens for clean wide ceremony photos just after the bride and groom have walked down the aisle. This is the perfect time to take a few stunning wide photos of the ceremony space with everyone seated so the couple can remember what it looked like. The 35mm is great for large bridal party shots and always on my camera body for family formals. Especially, the extended family! This lens is great for cocktail hour photos when asking guests to smile for the camera. Last, I will use this lens for the first dance, father-daughter/mother-son dances and speeches/toasts to include more of the reception room in the photos before switching to a tighter lens. When guests are eating, I like to include a few ambient photos of the space so the couple can get a full sense of their wedding venue during their reception. I think it's a nice way to add to more photos into their final wedding gallery. I will put the 35mm away after the last toast and switch it out for a wider, lighter lens. (see below). A less expensive option, would be the 35mm 1.4 Sigma Art Lens for Nikon.

the 85mm 1.4 Lens is a beast! She is perfect for getting in close without being noticed and still has the power and speed of a prime lens. I use the 85mm during my engagement sessions when we are just starting and couples can be a bit nervous. I'll walk away and give them an action to do and capture them from afar so they can start to get comfortable. I like that I can get a close up shot without being directly in front of them. I love this lens for wedding ceremonies and getting close up reactions from family members, the bride and groom and wedding guests during the service. It also produces the prettiest bokeh (blurry background) in the photos. I always use this lens during the reception for couples first dance, parent dances, speeches and toasts. It's just the right compression with no distortion to create a beautiful photos capturing real authentic moments. I will say that it's incredibly HEAVY (all that glass!!) and once the last speech is done, it's put back in my rollie and it's finished for the night.

The 105 Macro 2.8G Lens has just one purpose in my gear collection. It's for ring detail shots and ring shots alone. It's an expensive lens for just one thing (I KNOW!) but it's worth every penny to make those epic ring shots for your couples. I manually focus this lens around f/6.3, f/8, or even f/11 to created a incredible detail shot of the rings. Since it's a macro lens, the compression and depth of field are still extremely low at higher apertures BUT shooting higher lets you get the prongs, diamonds, engravings in focus each and every time. I do manually focus this lens because the autofocus is just a waste on a macro images. I usually get very low to my subject (the rings) and take my time manually focusing my shot. I'm usually sweating at this point during the detail photo process because of all the concentration I have to do to nail the foucs. It's not a pretty sight!!

The 28mm 1.8G Lens is perfect for wedding reception dancing photos! I purchased this lens a few years ago when it was released from Nikon and boy, do I LOVE it! It's so little, light and the perfect wide angel lens for getting in close on the dance floor and capturing all the action. I'm usually in the middle of the dance floor (I have several bruises to prove it!) with the 28mm capturing really fun wide shots from the heart of the party. There is some distortion on the edges of the images but that is to be expected with such a wide lens. I'm ok with this look during the reception but only at the receptions! It's a prime lens which means it's still fast in low light situations (ie. candlelight dinners, receptions) which is exactly why I prefer this lens to a 24-70mm 2.8 Zoom. In my opinion, it's just too slow and doesn't open up wide enough to let in the pretty ambient light I love for my style of photography. My back loves this lens too because it's so light and easy to carry around for several hours during the reception.

The 135mm 2.0 Lens sits in my bag 95% of the time throughout a wedding day. Since I do not use zoom lenses, I needed a lens that had a longer focal point past 85mm but was still sharp enough to create great images. I found this 135mm Lens from Nikon used and it's amazing for ceremonies where I'm not allowed to be in the first few aisles. Some churches have very strict rules about where the photographer and videographers are allowed to be during the actual ceremony, so having this long prime lens in my kit is definitely handy in those less common situations. It's a 2.0 aperture which is just fast enough to let in a lot of light if needed in a dark church or synagogue. Usually, I have already spoken with the facility director and know what my limitations are for the ceremony space, so I already know if I need to dust off this lens and use the day of my wedding. It's a great long prime lens to have "just in case" I need it and I always like to be prepared. I do, however, love when my second photographer has a 70-200mm for the ceremony to get in nice and tight to the Bride and Groom or reactions from the guests. It's a great addition to the couples overall wedding gallery but not a lens I'm going to purchase anytime soon.

And finally, I also use the Black Rapid LensBling Caps on each of my lenses so I can quickly see which lens I'm reaching for inside my Shootsac or Thinktank Rollie. They are so helpful and by the end of the night, I can never find any of my front or rear lens caps. It's the truth!!

So, those are MY favorite lenses. What are yours? I'd love to hear from you jn the comment section below. Am I missing any amazing lens options out there?!

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