What equipment do I need to be a wedding photographer?
I was thinking today about what I would have liked to known when I was first starting out as a wedding photographer in Tampa and realized that, despite the wealth of information available to the newby, I don’t recall ever seeing a detailed breakdown of the equipment a typical wedding photographer carries to a shoot. So, with that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the equipment in my bag with comments about how I use it. This is, by no means, a definitive list. It’s just what I am carrying right now and could change at any time.
(2) Canon 40D – The Canon 40D may not be the best that Canon has to offer but it will certainly get the job done. Don’t get too caught up in the rush to buy the newest and most advanced camera available. The cheapest DSLR on the market is still light-years more advanced than every camera that came before it. Personally, I prefer two identical camera bodies. It’s a comfort to me that I can grab either camera and get the same results.
(4) Camera Batteries – One battery in each camera body and two backups. I don’t use a battery grip with my camera. I’ll admit I envy the convenience of the added controls so that you can hold the camera in portrait mode the same way you do in landscape but I’m put off by the extra bulk and weight. If I found myself frequently changing batteries during a shoot I would probably get a grip, but I rarely have to use my backup batteries.
(1) Black Rapid Strap (1) standard strap– I’ve written about this before. When I feel it necessary to carry both cameras, I have a second strap around my neck. Both my camera’s have Manfrotto tripod mounts on the bottom and I attach the straps there with speed clips. Typically, I will wear both straps during the ceremony and sometimes during the reception. I just attach the camera’s as needed.
Lenses:
Sigma 18-50, f2.8 – This is my main lens and is on my camera 90% 0f the time.
The new 190XPROB model retains all the best-loved features of its predecessors but provides improvements in build, compactness and ease of use. Swinging the centre column from vertical to horizontal position is straightforward. You simply release the column locking knob and raise the column while pressing the button at the base of the column. When the column is in its highest position, this button triggers a release that allows it to be swung into horizontal position. The camera can then be balanced by sliding the entire column forwards. Reversing these steps restores the column to its vertical position. This adjustability is valuable for macro photography, low angle shooting, extreme balance points and off-centre work. It will also be valuable for chair-bound photographers, who can sit beside instead of behind the tripod and be much closer to the camera’s viewfinder. 
If the 3001 is the light weight of the trio, the 3051 is the heavyweight. It weighs in at 12.65 lbs. Way too much to carry around in the field for most people. However, it’s very, very, stable. It’s also big even when collapsed (over 3ft without a head) since it only has two-section legs. One unique feature is that just by pushing a tab at the top of the tripod, you can release all three legs, extend the tripod to the height you want, then lock it by releasing the tab. You can also do the same thing for each leg individually. It’s the most stable tripod I’ve used, beating out the 3 and 4 series Gitzos and Carbon Fiber tripods. So it should, given its weight. If you can haul it around in the trunk of your car, or use it in a studio, it’s great, but carrying it far isn’t an option I care for very much. Not a field tripod in my opinion, but you can’t buy more stability for around $200. 
This carbon-fiber tripod’s light 3.1-pound weight makes it extraordinarily easy to carry for a model with a maximum height of 54.3 inches — 63.4 inches with the center column fully extended. Its three-segment legs use Gitzo’s new G-Lock twist-lock system, a variation on the traditional knurled locking collar that’s said to increase the stability of the ‘pod when the legs are locked at narrower angles. The GT2530 gives you a choice of three such angles; both leg joints and twist locks are smooth and easy to operate. The rubber feet unscrew and can be replaced with other types of feet that Gitzo sells separately. That makes the tripod less versatile out of the box than a model with the familiar combination rubber-and-retracting-spike feet, but the included feet are shaped to provide good stability. The GT2530’s center column is both reversible and removable, and it has a built-in hook for adding weight to stabilize the tripod. For extreme low-angle shooting, the mounting plate can be unscrewed from the center column and attached directly to the top of the legs. Anyone who has ever struggled to unscrew a mounting plate should be grateful for the two handle-like nubs on the top of the tripod; these make it easy to grip and turn the mounting plate and its base separately. With the center column in place, the GT2530 has a minimum height of 13 inches. About $535 (with carrying bag). 
If you’re buying a tripod on a shoestring budget, this aluminum model will give you all the basics for well under $100. It’s the only tripod in this year’s group with a head included in the price, so there’s no need to purchase one separately. The head’s three-way pan/tilt design, which is operated with twist-locks and a panning handle, is suitable for both photo and video shooting; the tripod comes with two quick-release plates so you can leave one attached to your camera and one to your camcorder. The standard head can also be removed, either to use a different head with the legs or to mount the head on the bottom of the center column for low-level shooting. Built to support up to 11 pounds of gear, the 757 weighs a modest 6.2 pounds, head included. The head isn’t made of the strongest stuff, though, so we’d keep one hand on it if mounting a very heavy lens. Closed up the tripod is 29.3 inches long. Fully extended, it rises to 61.5 inches; crank its geared center column all the way up and you get a surprising 74.8 inches of height. Although this model’s three-section legs aren’t particularly sturdy, it compensates by attaching them to the center column with built-in braces. Other handy features include two spirit levels (one on the head and one on the legs) and retractable foot spikes. About $80. 
If you thought a horizontal center column was cool, then the GT2530EX tripod takes you to the next level. Rather than using a traditional center column running in between the legs, the GT2530EX offsets the column and mounts it in a pivoting clamp at the top of the legs. This allows the column to be quickly set at any angle including straight down. The ability to quickly adjust your camera position without having to move the whole tripod or adjust the leg heights is of tremendous benefit to anyone doing careful compositions. The Gitzo Explorer GT2530EX carbon fiber tripod and the G1276M head are a compelling combination if the price is not an object. Gitzo promotes the tripod as the perfect tool for “exploring new perspectives” and I have to agree that the total flexibility of positioning makes the combination extremely attractive for those shooters needing such versatility. 
Featuring the same NeoTec opening and closing mechanism as the 458B tripod, the 684B monopod is designed for support with unprecedented speed. The 684B can fully extend to 65.6 inches and collapse to 27.9 inches. Like the 458B, the 684B can support payloads up to 17.6 pounds and features the same “upside down” leg construction, further ensuring its durability and reliability in all environments. 
This superlight carbon-fiber tripod weighs in at just 2.2 pounds, or about a kilogram, but can support nearly ten pounds. It extends to 57.5 inches, but folds down to a slim 14 inches. In other words, it’s small enough to fit in a carry-on sized bag, but strong enough to handle even a pro camera with some long glass attached. Less weight and size on the ‘pod means more room for other gear, and we like that a lot! 
This three-pound carbon-fiber tripod offers one of the best values in an ultracompact model these days. With four twist-lock leg sections, it collapses to just 18 inches. Although the legs look thin near the feet, the ‘pod is built to support up to 11 pounds of gear. It extends to a maximum height of 47 inches, or 61.2 inches with the center column fully extended. The column can be reversed, and has a built-in weight hook. The 714 even comes with a canvas bag that you can fill with stones (or other available materials) and attach to the tripod legs like a little hammock, for extra, on-the-spot stability. The new Slik’s legs lock at three angles and have retractable spikes integrated into their rubber feet. At their most splayed-out position, they allow the tripod to be lowered to its minimum height of 7.25 inches when you reverse the center column. Padding on the legs’ top segments makes for comfortable handling, though it’s not really necessary on a small carbon-fiber model and creates a little extra bulk when the tripod is closed. About $245. 
Do you get tired holding your camera and lens in use or in a ready-to-use position? Do you need assistance in holding your camera and lens steady? Do you shoot sports? Do you need a compact camera support? If you answered yes to any of these questions (and even if not), you may need a monopod. Which monopod becomes the next question. You probably have invested a lot in the camera and lens you will be mounting on top of the monopod, so quality-construction should be a requirement for your selection – you don’t want to risk having a monopod break. My initial monopod search resulted in a Gitzo G1588 Monopod (now discontinued) becoming part of my kit for many years. I liked it a lot, but when Gitzo introduced their 6x line of replacements, I upgraded to the Gitzo GM5540 6x Carbon Fiber Monopod. The Gitzo GM5540 6x Carbon Fiber Monopod is a really solid monopod. It provides a wide, firm-but-padded grip that gives you great control over even the largest lenses including the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens and the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM Lens. Build quality is very good overall. Narrower and lighter monopods such as the Gitzo GM3550 Monopod offer lower prices and higher working heights, but I prefer the greater control and stability of the Gitzo GM5540 6x Carbon Fiber Monopod.