Adam Riley
Wedding | Last Updated: March 30, 2023
I’m Adam Riley, a documentary wedding photographer based in Manchester, UK. After leaving a career as a Forensic Scientist behind, this is my 10th year shooting weddings.
I’m not precious about camera brand. I’ve shot weddings with nearly every system going. My first few years, I shot on the Canon 5D Mark II and Canon 5D Mark III, eventually using them alongside Fuji X-Pro 1 and Fuji X-T2.
I gave the Nikon D750 a go for a season, but found it difficult to revert back to DSLR after using mirrorless. I love the silent shooting, small size, and live viewfinder aspects of mirrorless cameras.
In stepped the Leica Q (my review is on shotkit) which I shot alongside Fuji before finally moving to my current setup of Leica M10 and Sony A9.
Cameras
Sony A9: My main wedding body. I love it’s silent shooting, insane Af, small size, high buffer. To be honest, there is nothing I don’t love about this camera… apart from the ergonomics are not as good as Fuji’s.
Sony A7III: My second body for the wedding day. Better Dynamic range than the A9, but silent mode plagued by banding. I bought this because I couldn’t afford two A9’s!
Leica M10: My favourite camera to use. This is my main camera during drinks reception, when I can shoot at f/13 and use the viewfinder. It’s how I love to shoot and anyone with a rangefinder will know what I mean. It’s manual focus only, has just one memory card slot, and the shutter is louder than the A9, so not something I use all day.
Ricoh GRIII: Fixed 28mm lens, which is also a street/personal camera. Taken to weddings as a fourth backup.
Lenses
It appears I mainly have 35mm lenses!
Leica 35mm f/2: In my view, the perfect lens for the M10. Mainly shoot at f/8 upwards. Small and outstanding quality.
Sony 35mm f/1.8: My go-to Sony lens. The right balance of size, quality, and lets in lots of light!
Sony 35mm f/2.8: This was my go-to Sony 35mm before the f/1.8 was released. Small and amazing quality, but mainly backup now.
Sony 28mm f/2: A little large for my liking, but great for the dance floor and small spaces
Sony 55mm f/1.8: This is often my second body lens (35mm f/1.8 on primary body). Small and great perspective alongside the 35mm.
Sony 85mm f/1.8: Much smaller and lighter than the f/1.4 equivalent. My longest lens and one I use for speeches and bride walking down the aisle shots.
Lights
I shoot all my wedding work with natural light only. If the couple/guests can see each other, I can see them with my camera. I think the images reflect the feel and atmosphere of the light much better if lit by existing light.
Bag
I use a Peak Design Messenger Bag.
Misc
I have a Sony to Leica adapter, allowing me to use my 35mm sum micron on the Sony A9.
Small Air Blower for removing dust spots on the Sony’s.
Think Tank pocket rocket SD holder for spare memory cards.
LensPen for keeping my lenses clean on the go.
Black Widow Spider Holster for my A9’s. Attaches to my standard belt, and by far the best way I’ve found of carrying my cameras on the day.
www.adamrileyphotography.com | @adamrileyphotography
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