Today I'm talking a little bit about what gear I typically carry on a wedding day. I get questions about my gear all the time, and to be quite honest most work you see here and Facebook was shot with my Mark 3 and 50 f/1.2 lens or my Contax645. They are my little dream team and produce images in line with my style and aesthetic. However, it is quite impossible to shoot certain things, like an entire wedding day, without changing out lenses, so let’s get started….

Bodies:

-Canon 5D Mark II

-Canon 5D Mark III

Although I have a personal vendetta against the Mark 2 (seriously, I thought I had an issue with focusing, when really it was the camera) I always have it on wedding day. It’s so important to have backup gear and a back up camera in case your equipment fails, or you accidentally trip and fall into a large body of water (hey, I have heard it has happened!) The worst thing you could ever do is have something go wrong and be stuck staring at your bride and groom, unable to shoot. You don’t have to have the same camera on stand-by, and most of the time a lesser model will be fine. Just make sure you have something!

Primes: 

50 f/1.2 This lens is my baby. I call him Stephan. (Not really, I just made that up). I love this lens so much, I rarely take it off. In fact, at engagement sessions I usually don’t take it off. I have used it so much, I know where I need to stand and what I need to do to get the shot I want without thinking much. Plus, the glass on this guy is dreamy when it comes to bokeh. 

50 f/1.4  This was my first lens ever and I still carry it with me. Sometimes I will give it to my second shooter if we are in low-light situations. Otherwise, it is a nice backup.

35 f/1.4  I have been loving this lens more and more. Perfect for large bridal parties and families. I also like to pop this on to get some reception shots. It’s a winner.

Everyone has their own reasons for why they love certain lenses. I have been drawn to primes not only because of the quality and the glass, but also because I really like being an active part in creating the photo. Primes force you to move, and engage with your subject and surroundings. It constantly keeps me thinking and aware of my environment instead of standing in one spot and twisting my lens in and out, in and out.  

Zoomy Zooms:

70-200 f/2.8 IS:  This is a must-have for weddings. I use this during every ceremony so I can stay back in the middle of the aisle without having to get too close. We are there to capture the moment, but in the most unobtrusive way possible. The best compliment to me is when someone says “Wow, I didn’t even notice you!” in reference to a ceremony. Only bad thing? This is one heavy bad boy. Talk about a sore arm if you carry this around for more than an hour or so! The pictures you get from it are nothing short of amazing! Also, I think the image stabilization is a key. This lens is so heavy, it is easy to get "camera shake" when you aren’t on a tripod. 

24-105: I hate this lens, the end ;) Not really, but I do hate this lens. My photos always look like they have come from a point and shoot when I use this, because there is no dimension. The glass isn’t as nice, even though it is an l-series.  I keep it just in case we need it, and sometimes my second shooter uses it. I’ve used it for very large extended family portraits, but in general I run screaming in the other direction before mounting this on my mark. 

Other Stuff:

Macro 100mm f/2.8 IS: This lens has been such an amazing addition. It’s has added new dimension and variety in my detail photos and I don’t know what I did without it. I know some photographers who get really great detail shots without this, but I wasn’t getting anything worth anything, until I invested in the macro! I have even used it on portrait and engagement sessions from a distance and I love the photos I get when I shoot wide open with it in those situations. Very cool lens!

580 EX II: Flash. Necessary evil for the dark months and low-light receptions. Some days we get along great, other days I feel like I need to re-read the manual all over again. However, it is essential you know how to use off-camera lighting and flash so if the situation calls for it, you don’t miss any moments! 

Film:

Contax 645: I am in love with my latest addition. It has been so fun getting to know this camera, and trying something new. I am finding myself putting down my digital and trusting this guy more and more. The grain, the inimitable colors, the depth, the emotion and timelessness are just a few of the reasons I love it so much. I also love the fact that I can send rolls off to my lab, get scans back, and have photos ready to go out to clients just like that!

Sekonic L-358 Light Meter:  A must have for a film camera! I started out using it incorrectly (another post for another day) but figured it out quickly, and now I rely on my meter to choose what shutter speed to shoot at in order to get as close to the correct exposure as possible.

A few other things you'll find in my bag: batteries, memory cards, tripod, eneloop batteries. For large bridal parties or families, I always mount my camera on a tripod. Chances are your aperture will need to be high so your shutter speed will be as low as you can go (I try and avoid going below 125) so I always mount it to avoid camera shake! I also am obsessed with my eneloop rechargeable batteries for my flash. I can charge these and use them for up to 3 reception events without needing to recharge or replace them. 

I hope this was insightful, if you have any questions please leave them in the comments and I am happy to share with you! Photographers, what's in YOUR camera bag?!

If there is one thing I get asked the most, it is probably how I started my business. More specifically, people wonder how I carved out a niche for myself with an emphasis on wedding photography. I wish I had a magical story to tell, but to be honest, I struggled through my first years of business like many of the same people who come to me for advice now.  But let's rewind a bit...

How It All Began

I suppose I can claim being creative is in my genes. I grew up watching my mom knit, craft, paint and repurpose vintage items with the the best of them. My grandmother was (and still is) an epically talented painter. My grandfather on my dad's side was a master woodworker and today I have an uncle who is a successful florist, not to mention other extended family members who are creative entrepreneurs and talented artists in their own right. From a young age I was always expressing myself in some way, from singing, painting, pottery, creative writing, acting, or dancing, you name it and chances are, I did it. Through middle and high school I was always in some type of art and writing class. I was certain I would graduate and pursue journalism in some fashion. I was completely in love with the idea of telling stories, and it wasn't until I was handed a camera that I learned there was a totally different way to tell stories through images.

While my first experience with a camera came in the form of a few photography courses in high school, it wouldn't be until I met my now husband almost 6 years after graduating that I would even consider photography as something more than an extracurricular to fill up my senior year class schedule.  When Jonathan (that's my husband, just in case you were wondering) and I met, he owned a Nikon and took photos often.  He shot landscapes and nature in a completely beautiful way and the camera intrigued me. Once we were married we traveled the country as he worked as a physical therapist in different locations every three months. While this was an incredibly exciting way to start our marriage, I was also really lonely as we moved to a new city so often. We were barely in one place long enough to make real friends, and our family back home wanted to keep up with our adventures. I needed something to fill my time. So naturally, I started a blog. 

Adventures of Newlyweds is Born

In 2010 after our wedding, I started a blog aptly titled "Adventures of Newlyweds" for our friends and family back home to follow. I had NO clue how expansive the blog world was back in those days, but boy did I figure that out quickly. Before I knew it, I had people who I had never met leaving comments on my blog. I soon discovered the world of blogging, and my mind was blown. Around that time I realized that my pictures were really quite terrible and that I should probably step up my game if I wanted to continue sharing and growing my readership. I started to learn my camera and with all the free time I had I practiced and began to improve. My husband's camera quickly began to limit me and I set my sights on purchasing some shiny new gear.

Canon, Baby

During my time as a "lifestyle" blogger, I had met and become friends with several other professional photographers. I began researching cameras and decided that I really loved the images that Canon cameras and glass produced. On my birthday in 2012 when we were on a travel assignment living in LA, I finally got my first Canon camera: the 5D Mark II with a 50mm f/1.4 lens. I was in LOVE.  My photo taking obsession went to a whole new level and I photographed everything I could while we were in such a beautiful area.  

A few months later we took a new assignment in the San Francisco bay area and it wasn't until I was living there that I decided to try my hand at photographing people. After one session (and I use that term loosely when talking about that time in life!) I was hooked. I loved working with people, the entire process of the photo shoot and knew that I may have found something that I could really love and be good at. The very next day I made a website, opened a business page and started looking for people to photograph for free to build my portfolio. I was a professional photographer.

But oh, how wrong I was! Now, in hindsight I cringe at how easy I thought it was going to be. I wince when I look at the photos I thought were so amazing and I practically want to crawl into a hole and die when I think about how unaware I was of what being a business owner actually meant.

Learning the Ropes

I VERY quickly learned that owning a camera, starting a website and shooting photo sessions for pennies did not make me a professional photographer. I made a lot of mistakes in the beginning but quickly learned from them as I went.  After a few months I realized I needed to really educate myself and become and expert and I painstakingly read, practiced and worked on anything and everything I could. My goal was to learn how to shoot in any and every situation, with each and every type of client.  I invested in myself in my business in a big way; I learned to shoot in manual, how to pay taxes and value myself as an artist. I can promise that each of these lessons came in a hard way, and if I can impart any advice on anyone hoping to become a professional photographer it would be to harness your initial excitement and passion and invest in yourself and your business so you can be the best you can possibly be. 

Finding My Niche

Once I had a handle on how to use my gear, I began photographing everything, from newborns to families to events. I wanted to try my hand at everything so I could decide what I loved the most, and what I was the best at. I quickly realized that my passion was with weddings and couples and artful portraitures. I began decline the types of sessions that didn't push my creativity and spark my passion. Once I began to focus on what I was good at, I also began to book more and more. Instead of trying to be good at every type of photography, I was showcasing my expertise in a particular area and because of that I attracted more clients. 

My Business Today

Fast forward to today, and I am completely in love with where my business is.  While I am passionate about what I do, don't mistake that for meaning that I have it all figured out. I continue to stretch my skills, learn new things and venture into unknown territory. For example, last year I began learning and shooting film photography, and I also co-founded and teach The Bloom Workshop for anyone in business or interested in starting their own business. After making so many avoidable mistakes and learning what it really takes to navigate owning my own business there is nothing I love more than sharing with others.  

I don't think I will ever be done learning or pushing myself to grow but I can say that I have found my passion in life and absolutely love my job!  So if you're a budding photographer, don't give up on your dream; try new things, reach out and ask questions and continue to learn!  Find your passion, and stick to it!

I love answering questions, so please leave a comment below or e-mail info@ashleyslaterphotography.com to connect with me! 

Happy Monday, friends!

Over the past few weeks I have loved being able to share weddings, photography advice and educational posts on this space. Today I wanted to invite you into my home to get to know me a little better. The photos here are of my living room space, one of the places I spend a lot of time and even sit editing photos and writing these posts! The aesthetic in my home (fresh, bright and rustic) carries throughout all of my work and is reminiscent of how I take photos and see the world.  I like to keep things simple and classic. 

For a long time I thought my home had to be perfectly decorated and always clean before I could invite people into it. Lately I have realized that hospitality is more about the heart and not about how things look. Funny enough, as soon as I accepted the fact that sure, there are usually dishes in the sink and probably a sippy cup of milk under a chair at any given time, it has become remarkably easier to be content and joyful in this space. I am looking forward to inviting more people, clients included, into our home. I hope this idea and heart spills over into my business as well as I spend more time on meaningful relationships rather than booking with as many clients as possible. I want my work to reflect my beliefs-- and I believe that relationships are important. I believe in pouring over the details and making things as amazing as possible on a handful of events rather than spreading myself thin on weddings every single weekend. As I begin to fill my calendar (intentionally and thoughtfully!) for 2016, I am looking forward to the relationships I will build and the people I will meet and become friends with. I can't wait to pour my creative energy into your wedding day or lifestyle session just like I have poured little pieces of myself into our home! Be sure to scroll down to grab the recipe to make some of this basil lemonade yourself. 

To inquire about your 2016 event, please contact me!

Basil Lemonade Recipe

For this pregnant mom, cocktails haven't been an option.  To feel a little fancy, I have been making some infused teas and punches, and lemonade will always be a treat.  To make this you will need the juice of 6 lemons, 4 cups of packed basil and 3/4 cup of sugar.  You can make this with mint, rosemary or any other herb you would like. I used basil because my pallet herb garden in the backyard just sprouted the most delicious and sweet organic basil.  For someone who doesn't have a green thumb, I have been so delighted by how easily my herbs have grown!  

• Bring basil leaves, sugar and two cups of water to a boil over  medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar and bruise basil (which releases the flavor). Simmer 5 minutes without stirring. Strain and press basil leaves vigorously to release liquid and flavor. Let cool.
• Pour two cups of basil juice into a pitcher. Stir in fresh lemon juice and 4 cups of cold water.  Chill well.  Add fresh lemon slices and basil sprigs to serve! 

Enjoy!

Scroll through more photos below! 

Ashley's Living Room Source List:  Couch | Artwork | Curtains | Throw Blanket | Pillows | Coffee Table | Cake Stand | Pitcher & Glassware | Glass Lamp