Ranch Photography Gear | In My Bag
For beginners:
DSLR with Two Lenses
There is so much information surrounding photography recently; how to edit, what gear to buy, how many lenses to own, selling your liver for a tripod, and more. STOP! If you are interested in photography, the best way to start is to get out and actually start shooting. When I wanted to get back into photography I waited SO long to finally buy a camera. One day I was in Costco, had a little bit of extra money, and decided to buy one of the DSLR package deals. I ended up with the Nikon D3400 which came with two lenses, two batteries, charger, bag and a memory card.
Similar to the package I started shooting with.
I used this set up to learn the basics of photography, and eventually moved into shooting manual. I took so many awesome photos with this camera, and it’s still great for carrying on the ranch for day to day work. Check out my first photo (unedited) I ever took with my D3400, straight out of the box…
What I carry now:
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still learning about gear and equipment constantly. However, I get the question all the time…”What camera do you shoot with?” Here’s what I use currently on the ranch, at brandings, rodeos, and for family shoots.
Camera: Canon EOS-1DX
Canon EOS-1DX
I bought my Canon used from a friend. Pretty large camera but I’m familiar with the weight now.
Lenses:
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
This is now my backup to the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. I like this lens for brandings, out on the ranch, and for shooting photos of cattle and horses. The zoom is nice and I can get action shots without being in the way.
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens - Fixed
I also use this lens on the ranch a lot! I really like this little guy for action shots and for people. It’s great for the longhorns or other animals you can get closer too. I use this lens for detail shots where its darker and I need more light. The images are crisp and I have taken most of my favorite photos with this lens.
Bag:
K&F Concept Professional Camera Backpack Large Size Photography Bag Compatible with Camera DSLR, 13.3'' Laptop,Tripod (Grey)
I just bought this bag this year. It’s nice and sturdy and I like the look of it. It is a bit harder to unzip when your are riding since the whole back comes unzipped for your gear. Other than that this bag is super comfy and it gets the job done if you have a simple setup.
Cards:
Lexar Professional 1066x 128GB VPG-65 CompactFlash card (64GB or 128 GB)
I have been using these cards and haven’t had any issues with them. Note: you will need a card reader for a CF card if you are not familiar. Funny story, I went to shoot a rodeo in Great Falls, MT and spent the whole afternoon driving around town looking for a CF card since I had left mine at home. Long story short, finding these cards and card readers in person, (especially in Montana) isn’t usually an easy task!
Other Gear / Editing:
Laptop: MacBook Pro
Desktop: iMac
Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Premiere Pro
Graphic Design / Marketing: Canva
That’s currently my set-up to get the job done. I will be upgrading to a few new lenses this year but overall for ranch photography I enjoy what I’m shooting with now. If you have any questions feel free to reach out!
Photographing a branding with a sprained ankle. I’m using my Canon with the 70-300mm lens.