We share a people-first philosophy at Taylor Square Photography Co. Our team takes joy in carefully organized bags and twice-checked lists, knowing there’s a direct connection between how we pack our bags and how we serve our clients.

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The Bag

1. ROLLING CAMERA CASE. For: easily transporting camera equipment throughout the day. (purchase here)

Why not a backpack?

Take it from our team: no one wants to carry a backpack for over 12 hours (you’d be surprised how long days last as a wedding photographer). That’s why Ann-Marie uses a rolling camera case.

Bonus: equipment packs and stays flat, unlike some backpacks. No rattled gear here.

How much does the case fit?

Ann-Marie’s case fits just about everything. Her light stands and lights have a separate carrying case, and her flat lay papers are kept in small, cardboard tubes to prevent creasing.

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Styling Details + Flat-lays

2. FABRIC/PAPER. For: styling flat-lays. (purchase here)

3. CANON 100 MM F/2.8 MACRO. For: small-scale details such as rings, earrings or jewelry. (purchase here)

Explain why she uses a 100 mm macro lens for jewelry.

This is a prime lens, meaning the focal length is fixed (if you’re new to photography, that means the lens can not zoom). Prime lenses lend greater compression to photos, keeping the subject pin-sharp and the background smooth. There’s no better way to show off your jewels.

3. G.U.M. ORTHODONTIC WAX. For: seamlessly positioning rings within overhead detail scenes. (purchase here)

4. VELVET RING BOXES. For: adding an elegant pop to detail shots. Ann-Marie color-coordinates boxes with other details, like the invitation suite or bridal bouquet. (purchase here)

5. ACRYLIC RISERS. For: lifting the invitation suite for flat-lays. This creates subtle depth through shadow. (purchase here)

6. BRIDAL DRESS HANGER. For: displaying bride’s dresses if they don’t have a custom hanger of their own. We never want to hang a delicate dress on a flimsy plastic hanger. It’s a disservice to the dressmaker and a risk to the gown. (purchase here)

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Lenses

Let’s get to the good stuff.

Lenses matter. Like, really matter. Certain lenses produce sharper subjects and smoother backgrounds, which count the most during detail shots and bridal portraits. But when the reception gets wild, it’s important to fit your camera with a wide lens — one that captures a dance floor edge-to-edge. Ann-Marie’s picks cater to either scenario, or strike a balance between the two.

1. CANON 24-70MM F/2.8 LENS. For: ceremony and reception shots. This lens offers enough width to be flexible, but can keep scenes intimate. Taylor Square Tip: if you’re new to photography, this is a key portrait lens to invest in. (purchase here)

2. SIGMA 85MM F/1.2 LENS. For: bride, groom and bridal party shots. Mackenzie loves this lens! Taylor Square Tip: This lens produces stunning portraits but is very tight, meaning it’s not flexible enough for all-day use. (purchase here)

3. CANON 70-200MM F/2.8 LENS. For: ceremony shots, especially from the back of venues. Taylor Square Tip: this lens gives you the margin to shoot from the very back of a crowd. It makes being stealthy a piece of cake. (purchase here)

4. CANON EF 50MM F/1.2 LENS. For: everything. Taylor Square Tip: Ann-Marie loves this lens. In fact, she says it’s the most important lens to own for wedding photography! It’s not too wide or too tight, and it creates sharp subjects and beautiful bokeh. (purchase here)

5. CANON 16-35MM F/2.8 LENS. For: reception shots. Taylor Square Tip: This lens is wiiiiide. We love using it on the dance floor. (purchase here)

Compare + Contrast

Let’s look at the differences between some of our favorite lenses.

85MM F/1.2 versus 50MM F/1.2

Here, the 85mm lens provides a more intimate perspective than the 50mm does. It also lends more compression and greater depth of field to the portrait.

50MM F/1.8 versus 16-35MM F/2.8

Our 50mm lens allowed us to narrowly frame our subject, keeping her the star of the scene. The 16-35mm lens, however, better told the story of the entire band by giving space to include them.

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TOOLS

1. MICROFIBER LENS CLOTH. For: cleaning dirt, dust, condensation or smudges off lenses between shots. (purchase here)

Taylor Square Tip:

Wedding days in the south can be incredibly humid. Shifting from an air-conditioned venue to a muggy courtyard makes for foggy lenses microfiber towels can’t fix. Consider mitigating lens-fog by bringing your equipment outdoors 10 minutes before shooting.

2. ENELOOP-PRO RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES. For: increased, reliable battery power. We use them to power on- and 0ff-camera strobe lights. (purchase here)

3. ZIP-UP BAG. For: organizing loose batteries. This helps us keep track of which batteries are full and which ones need charging. (purchase here)

4. RED + GREEN COIN PURSES. For: separating full memory cards (red) from empty memory cards (green). This system — which never changes — prevents us from wiping full cards by accident. If Ann-Marie is anything, she is organized! (purchase here)

5. SANDISK MEMORY CARDS, 32-256 GB. For: writing photo data. We keep an abundance of these on deck. Sometimes, Ann-Marie writes data onto two cards at once for extra photo protection. (purchase here)

6. CANON LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. For: powering cameras. These have a long lifespan so we never miss a moment. (purchase here)

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LIGHTING SCENES WITH FLASH

But I’m a natural light photographer.

We love natural light, too, but some situations demand flash. As a fine-art photographer, Ann-Marie knows how to manipulate light for ultimate creative control. That’s what sets our team apart!

So, when should I use flash?

Ann-Marie almost always uses flash during receptions. She’ll also use flash during family portraits near the altar, because many chapels have recessed stage lighting — which casts harsh shadows on subjects. She remedies this by adding extra light via flash. Note that she’s careful to stay true-to-ambience, never blowing out scenes with crazy-bright light.

Taylor Square Tip: To level up your work, master flash during family photos and the reception.

1. PROFOTO REMOTE. For: triggering off-camera flash, especially during family shots. (purchase here)

2. CANON 600 EXII-RT SPEEDLIGHT. For: lighting family and reception shots. (purchase here)

3. DIFFUSION DOME. For: diffusing strobe lights during the reception. The domes are magnetic, compact and easy to wear on your camera all night. (purchase here)

4. UMBRELLA. For: diffusing a flash’s light, keeping it soft and natural-looking. Ann-Marie incorporates umbrellas during family shots, but not during receptions, which demand the full scope of a flash. (purchase here)

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CAMERAS

1. TWO CANON MARK IV 5D EOS CAMERA BODIES. (purchase here)

2. ONE CANON MARK II 5D CAMERA BODY. (purchase here)

What sets the Canon Mark II 5D body apart?

The Canon Mark II 5D maintains an incredible track record with photographers worldwide. In fact, when it first landed on the market in 2008, vendors sold out of them in days. This body produces crisp visuals, has a long lasting battery life and great JPEG compression. Bonus: if you’re new to photography, used bodies are fairly inexpensive, since the model has been on the market for 13 years.

3. CAMERA STRAP. (purchase here)

4. CAMERA HARNESS. For: equally distributing the weight of multiple cameras and lenses. (purchase here)

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NECESSITIES

1. EARPLUGS. For: cancelling noise during receptions. We love jamming with the band, but sometimes we need to take it down a notch.

2. WATER BOTTLE. For: hydrating. Wedding photography makes for a workout worth replenishing from.

3. BUSINESS CARDS. For: connecting with guests. You never know who will ask to stay in touch, but one thing is for sure: someone will.

4. LINT ROLLER. For: staying tidy on wedding days. Nobody told us it would be this hard to wear black.

5. MINTS. For: quick refreshes between sessions, or after dinner at the reception.

6. CASH. For: emergencies or snacks between sessions. Sometimes, a church vending machine Coke is non-negotiable.

7. SANDALS. For: staying comfy during summer weddings. These protect Ann-Marie’s ankles from rolling, support her arches and look cute with any outfit! (purchase here)

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Thank you so much for reading! Our team loves sharing the joys of photography with others, and telling stories in our community. Want to learn more about us? Click here.