What’s in Hunter McRae’s Bag?
January 6, 2015
These are my go-to items that I bring with me on every shoot. Inside the back part of my Shootsac, I have two small Pelican cases. One holds CF cards that are empty, and the other is where I put the CF cards that are full and need to be downloaded. It’s important to keep your CF cards protected.
I always keep two or three extra fully charged camera batteries and extra AA flash batteries in the bag. A pen and writing pad is important for writing down caption information if I’m on an editorial assignment. I usually carry a few energy bars, especially during weddings when there may not be time to eat a meal. Lastly, I always try to keep my business cards with me, because you never know what potential clients you will meet when you’re out shooting! I keep the rest of the items on my main list in my car or easily accessible nearby. It’s crucial to have a backup of everything.
Photo © Hunter McRae
• Canon 5D MK II (x2) and III
• 24–70mm f/2.8, 70–200mm f/2.8, 50 mm f/1.2 and 35mm f/1.4 (for low-light, shallow depth-of-field)
• Canon 100mm f/2.8
• Canon Speedlite 580 EX II (x3)
• PocketWizard MiniTT1 and FlexTT5
• Vello Off-Camera TTL Flash Cord
• Rechargeable AA batteries and chargers
• Westcott 2-stop diffusion 48x 72-inch reflector
• Westcott 6-in-1 kit 42-inch illuminator reflectors
• AlienBees B400 160 Ws studio light (x2)
• Vagabond Mini Lithium Portable Power source for Paul C. Buff, Inc. Studio Photoflash
• Light stand (x2)
• Umbrella reflector (x2)
• Extension cord for studio lights
• Extra light bulbs for studio lights
• Snack bars
• Cute umbrella
• A pretty clothes hanger for the bride’s dress
• Cash
• Tylenol and motion sickness medicine (Charleston is surrounded by water, so I never know when I might be shooting on a boat.)
• Notepad and pen
• Business license
• Business cards
• Mini toolkit
• Burt’s Bees lip balm
• Grips (handy to have if you need to hang a backdrop or if you need to attach your reflectors to an object.)
Hunter McRae is an award-winning photojournalist and wedding photographer based in Charleston, S.C. She has been featured in The New York Times and Weddings Unveiled and is a frequent blogger for www.borrowlenses.com.
Related Links
What’s in Your Bag? Chapter 2 (of an Ongoing Series)
Product Review: The Zacuto Enforcer
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