Inside My Camera Bag | Alexandra Davies

Hi, I’m Alex and I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based in Oxfordshire, UK.

I started photographing weddings 11 years ago after falling in love with photography. I was gripped by the ability to tell a story with photographs and especially one as truly emotional as a wedding day.

I can honestly say that I love working in the beautiful surroundings of Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, especially in one of the many barn venues that there are here. I feel that the rural beauty really marries well with my style.

I always wanted to be a photographer who was in the background, so for me, documentary-style photography was where I was headed.

I’ve found that in the last couple of years I’ve tried to be even more unobtrusive and not interact with people unless it’s really necessary.

When I started out I invested in Canon, because that was what my Dad used. I started shooting on a Canon Rebel XT before buying an old Canon 1DX from a work colleague. Boy it was slow, but the image quality was incredible and so I worked and saved for newer equipment before eventually acquiring a Canon 5D Mark III and a Canon 6D.

I worked with a variety of zoom lenses before switching over to mainly primes, my favourite of which was the 50mm f/1.2.

Then a couple of years ago I had an epiphany.

I work on my own so carrying all this heavy kit really had its limitations – especially when I had to work in the city of Oxford with little parking as it meant having to lug my kit all over the city.

I got to a point where photography just felt like a slog and I wasn’t enjoying making pictures anymore.

I decided to make the jump to mirrorless and I decided that Fujifilm was the right brand for me. I loved the dynamic range of the cameras and the fact that they looked pretty retro appealed to my aesthetic tastes.

Cameras

Fujifilm X-Pro2 – Rangefinder in style, this quirky camera made me fall in love with photography again immediately, it’s just so fun to use.

Fujifilm X-T3 – My little pocket rocket: super-fast, super light and a joy to use.

Fujifilm X-T30 – I mainly use this for personal projects and travel but I have also used it for dancefloor shots on a wedding day.

Lenses

Fujifilm XF 56mm f/1.2 – Gives the most amazing DOF for portraits.

Fujifilm XF 18mm f/2 – My wedding workhorse, this lens allows me to get really close to the action and produce images with a more intimate feel.

Lights/Triggers

Godox V350f – I only break out the flash when it gets too dark or for dancefloor shots.

Bags/Straps

I use a canvas bag by a company called Cotswold Hipster. I like the fact it’s not a traditional camera bag and it’s easy to carry.

I use a spider holster belt system (not pictured) just for one camera; the other hangs around my neck.

Hardware & Software

I edit with a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop. I edit 99% in Lightroom and I use Heck Yeah Presets which I tweak to my own requirements. I then edit blemishes or anything distracting out in Photoshop.

Misc.

Naked energy bars, plasters and paracetamol just in case!

I think it’s really important to have fun with what you do. Of course capturing a wedding is a serious business but the more you relax, the better images you get.