Inside My Camera Bag | Igor Trifonov

Hello my name is Igor Trifonov and I’m wedding/engagement photographer originally from Moldova, but for the past 4+ years I’m living in Miami, Florida.

I have been a fan of Shotkit and was always dreamed of being featured here, so I’m more than happy now!

My journey started about 8+ years ago and it didn’t happen with wedding photography at first. For quite some time I was doing commercial stock photography such as self care, beauty and lifestyle with my wife Aliona, but that little passion sparkle inside me kept leaning me towards wedding photography.

The sparkle grew bigger and bigger with every day, so I started working some weddings during the summer season and I just fell in love with the atmosphere. Seeing so many happy people around you is really inspiring and it energizes me to make sure they will be happy with their wedding photos.

My photography style…wait, I don’t think I have one. I’m a fan of quality products so I’m trying to bring quality with my photos and also to capture the emotions during the wedding day since the wedding is a highly fast-paced event.

And now let’s head to the most exciting part, the gear! I’ve been a Canon shooter for the past 8 years. The gear is important, but my goal is to turn on that awesome emotion when I’m taking a photo of the bride and groom. The gear just makes my life easier. The most important element is who’s behind the camera.

Bodies:

Canon 5D Mark IV as a main tool
Canon 6D as a backup/second camera

Lenses:

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 III
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II
Canon 35mm f/1.4 II
Canon 85mm f/1.4 IS
Canon 135mm f/2.0

Canon 5D Mark IV as my main tool. It’s just a powerful workhouse, doing everything I need. I wish so bad it had a flip out screen.

Canon 6D is a backup/second camera. There is nothing to say about this camera. It is good, but it is very old compared to the competition. It is doing the job

The Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 is one of my favorite lenses for creative shots and for dances, I like to dance with people and get as close as possible with it. It is super-fast and sharp.

The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 is the all-you-can-dream-about lens. Yes, it doesn’t have a creamy bokeh and things, but hey it delivers superb quality and it is a zoom photojournalism lens. I can shoot the whole wedding day only with this lens and I’ll be very happy with the results.

The Canon 35mm f/1.4. I’ve got the new mark II version and it is super sharp and bokeh is on the level, but I’m really not using it that much. I’m trying it sometimes and I bought it because everyone over the web was admiring this lens saying if they had only one lens it will be the 35mm. Well, I don’t feel the same way and I’m even thinking of selling it and getting the 50mm. Maybe it’s just not my focal length.

The Canon 85mm f/1.2. Wow, really impressed with this one here. This is my favorite lens now. I’m trying to shoot as much as possible with this lens, it provides a creamy bokeh even at f/2.0. At f/1.4 it just separates the subject from the background completely.

Canon 135mm f/2 is the famous lens of all times, I’m trying to use the combo 85 &135mm during the reception, that way I feel like I’m using the 70-200. Not using it that much lately but always having it in my bag for very close-up shots, and it is very light.

Aerial Tool:

DJI Mavic Pro

I keep it very simple with this one, using it mostly to show the aerial feel of the reception or to capture the couple in different way.

Camera Strap:

Hold Fast Money Makers, I hope they are saving my back :)

Lighting:

Yongnuo 560 IV x6
Yongnuo YN560-TX x2
Flashpoint XPLOR 600
Flashpoint R2 Transmitter

Youngnuo 560IV – I use these guys sometimes during the prep, always during the first dances and sometimes on the reception as well. They’re very cheap, so I don’t mind if one breaks in the end of the wedding day.

XPLOR 600 – I use this powerful guy always for family formals, always for creative shots. I used to use it with a silver beauty dish, but we lost the beauty dish because the stand fell down on the ground ouch, the XPLOR survived but the dish not.

Light Control:

MagMod. A unique and one-of-a-kind system which allows me to control the shape, color and power of the light. This is my must-have on every single wedding day.

www.itrifonov.com