With the advanced technology in cell phones today, you can capture some great images with minimal skill and effort, so why should it matter what is in my bag?  Many professional photographers will argue your gear shouldn’t matter; you should be able to capture a quality image with a very basic camera, and I agree, to an extent.  My first camera was a basic 35mm manual camera.  I learned the technical skills required to take a good photo. I then learned to develop in the dark room, and this is where I learned to compose and use light to tell a story.  As much as all of these skills matter and most photographers hate to admit it, equipment does play into the equation.  If it didn’t, why would professional photographers spend $5000+ on a camera setup? It’s not a question of whether equipment matters, it’s a question of how much it affects your photography. 

So here’s a list of a few key reasons equipment matters: 

Continuous Shooting Speeds 

Cameras with high continuous shooting rates make it possible to capture amazing action photos without leaving much to chance.  A camera that can shoot 12 frames-per-second is going to maximize your chances of capturing a moment at just the right time.  When my boys were younger they raced motor cycles and I loved to take their photos.  Well, to be honest, that was the only way I could watch without having a heart attack! But I wasn’t getting the photos I wanted. This was when I took my first big step to a semi professional camera.  All of the sudden I was getting amazing shots of them in mid-air!  Why does this matter for lifestyle photography?  This continuous shooting speed allows me to capture those little moments that go by so fast, so fast that we don’t often see them.  

Autofocus Capabilities 

Cameras with more autofocus points, greater autofocus coverage, better tracking, and better autofocus points (e.g., cross-type points) will make it easier to quickly lock focus on your subject and track them as they move. This is useful for any genre of photography that is fast-paced.  But again you ask, why would this matter in lifestyle photography?  Have you ever chased a 2 year old with a camera?  The last thing you want to be struggling with is your focus points, my camera needs to keep up so those moments don’t get lost.  

Optical Quality 

Higher-quality lenses are sharper and have fewer problems (such as color fringing and distortion). This makes it possible to get tack-sharp shots that look great straight out of the camera. This was one of the harder lessons for me to learn. I had no problem spending the money on the camera, after all it is doing all the work right? Not right. I did a little homework and rented all the top notch prime lenses and put them through their paces. I learned my lesson pretty quick; the lens makes a difference. That soft background blur, those tack sharp eyes that draw you into the photo, that’s the work of a good lens. That’s the difference between a good image and a GREAT image.  

I could keep going into pixels, dynamic range, resolution, image stabilization, but I won’t. I think my point is made, gear matters. But it’s only one part of the equation. You also have to consider technique and creative vision too. Good gear won’t make you a better photographer, but it will allow you to make better photos.  

Now let me introduce you to my gear.  

Cameras – Canon R5 and Canon R6. Both of these are full frame mirrorless cameras with fast shutters, out of this world focusing systems, and top notch dynamic range.  In a nutshell, they won’t let me down. But why two?  Mainly as an insurance against equipment failure but I also prefer one over the other in certain situations.  

All of my lenses are from the L series professional grade lens collection which incorporates specialized optical materials such as synthetic fluorite, Super UD and UD glass, and large-aperture high-precision aspherical lenses. Only lenses that perform to the highest photographic standards are allowed to bear the designation 'L.' The L stands for LOVE in my book.  I truly adore my lenses!!! 

Prime Lenses – I have an RF 50 1.8 and an RF 85 1.2 -  These are my go-to portrait lenses. The 50 is the closest to the human eye and therefore offers a very true perspective, while the 85 gives a bit more compression. Both create that beautiful bokeh and tack sharp images.  

Zoom Lenses- Canon RF 70-200 2.8L, 24-70 2.8L, and 15-35 2.8L. referred to as the trinity of essential lenses for any professional photographer.  With these lenses I have the flexibility to get images of full body, close up, small spaces, and large family groupings, all sometimes without having to change a lens.   

Still wondering why any of this should matter to you? I have made a commitment to quality gear so that the images I produce for you are the best images possible.  They can be used in any type of wall art you need for your home and still maintain their integrity.  My gear gives me the confidence to know that while I am at your session I have the right tools for the job and I have the gear and flexibility to produce a variety of images for your memory books that are going to tell your family story in the most vivid and creative way.  My gear, coupled with my foundation in photography, assist in my pursuit of  

Creating Moments – Capturing Memories.