My Favorite Photo Gear And Why I Use It

One of the most common questions I get as a photographer is what gear I use and why I’ve chosen it. The truth is, the gear is only a tool, but the right tools can make all the difference in capturing beautiful, timeless images. So today I want to share a little bit about what’s in my bag and why I love it so much.

My camera body is the Sony a7iv. It’s a full frame camera, which simply means the sensor is the same size as traditional 35mm film. A full frame sensor is larger than a crop sensor, and that larger size allows more light to come in. The result is sharper images, richer colors, and a beautiful depth of field. One of my favorite things about the a7iv is that it has dual memory card slots, which means every photo I take is written to two cards at once. That gives me extra peace of mind knowing my images are backed up in real time. I actually started with the Sony a7ii, and a couple of years ago my husband completely surprised me with the a7iii for my birthday. I still remember opening that box and being so excited to use it. Since then, I recently upgraded to the A7iv and it’s been my go-to camera ever since!

When it comes to lenses, my absolute favorite is the Zeiss Batis 85mm 1.8. This lens creates the most dreamy, buttery smooth portraits. The background melts away, which keeps all the attention right where it should be—on my subject. I especially love using this lens for portraits because it captures such flattering detail without any distractions.

For weddings and more versatile situations, I rely heavily on my Sigma 24-70mm. It’s a workhorse lens that allows me to quickly switch between wide shots of the ceremony and close-up details without needing to change lenses constantly. It’s sharp, reliable, and gives me the flexibility I need when the pace of the day is fast and unpredictable.

On the editing side, I use a MacBook Pro, and my main software is Lightroom. Lightroom is where I do most of my culling, color correction, and editing. Every now and then I’ll bring an image into Photoshop if I need to make a more detailed adjustment, but Lightroom is where the bulk of my work happens.

As you can see, it’s not a lot of gear. I like to keep things simple. Having just a few reliable tools that I know inside and out helps me focus less on the equipment and more on the people in front of my camera. Simplicity lets me stay creative, flexible, and fully present in the moment, which is exactly how I want my photography to feel.

This is the gear I reach for every time because it’s helped me create images that feel true, timeless, and full of life. If you want to see it all in action, take a look through my portfolio: PORTFOLIO