Carsten Schertzer

My name is Carsten Schertzer, a 23-year-old Los Angeles-based former skateboard photographer turned wedding photographer. I photographed my first wedding when I was 17 and never looked back.

I absolutely love what I do and think I couldn’t possibly ask for a better career. Wedding photography for me is the driving force that keeps me moving forward. I know that is kind of a strange thing to say, but really, it’s the honest truth.

My current set up is as follows:

Holdfast MoneyMaker: In my opinion, the sexiest double camera strap ever made.

Peak Design Slide Camera Strap: If the MoneyMaker is the sexiest double strap ever, then this is the sexiest single strap ever made.

One Nikon D4 body: This camera has been through hell and back with me. It’s been banged, beaten, dented, frozen, overheated and thrown across a cobblestone road in Prague. But it still works. Every. Single. Time.

One Nikon D5: In my opinion the best camera ever! I absolutely love the quick focus and durability of this camera.

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G: At weddings I use this 80% of the time. 95% of that being at 24mm.

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G: This lens is simply a must-have. Nearly perfect in every way, it’s lightweight, cheap, fast and sharp. What more could you ask for?

Nikon 85mm f/1.8G: I use this lens very little, pretty much exclusively during portrait time. However I am always blown away by this lens, I really should use it more!

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 G: I basically only use this during ceremonies, for me it’s an absolute must for ceremonies.

Two Flashpoint AD200: These things are beasts when it comes to light output. I can literally overpower the sun with these no problem.

Two Godox V860II: These are my on-camera flashes. I have them sitting on my cameras most of the day.

Manfrotto Nano Clamp with Novoflex ball mount: I use this to mount flashes and cameras in hard to reach areas. I can clamp it almost anywhere I want, essentially turning the world into my light stand.

Tether Tools Suction cup: I use this to mount flashes on anything that I can’t use the clamp for; windows, mirrors, walls, or any other flat surfaces.

Magmod: Quite possibly the best camera accessory ever invented. I couldn’t possibly live without my grids and gels.

www.Iluminastudios.com