Backup Equipment

One thing that you should always ask about, and insist on, is that your photographer has sufficient backup gear should something stop working. Cameras and equipment can fail unexpectedly. It’ll happen to every photographer sooner or later. Yes, It has happened to me, and boy was I glad to have sufficient backup equipment to keep going and not ruin the day!!

Any good photographer will have an absolute minimum of two camera bodies, and preferably more. And I don’t mean one good camera and a cheap point and shoot as a backup. I mean good, sturdy cameras designed for wedding use.

If your photographer has only one camera or one flash…what are you going to do if it stops working or gets dropped and broken? The wedding will continue of course, but you’ll have no photographs of it. Is this a risk worth taking?

There are numerous stories from brides who had a photographer with no good backup gear, and sure enough, something broke and the bride ended up with very few photographs, or very poor ones because the photographer didn’t have any backup gear…or gear not up to the task.

Insist that your photographer have two or three cameras and flashes and multiple lenses with them at your wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask when you’re interviewing and choosing a photographer. Making this part of your decision making process can save you a great deal of heartache down the road.

Don’t take a chance. Insist on good backup gear.

So what do I carry? See this past post for my first contingency plan, and this other post for another contingency plan I’ve put in place.