Inside My Camera Bag | Jennifer Moher

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My name is Jennifer Moher and I am a wedding photographer based in Ontario, Canada. I started shooting 5 years ago with the intention of being able to document human relationships. This gave me an outlet to ìpeople-watchî which further developed into a love of others love stories.

I initially started with the Nikon D60, and loved Nikon right away! My upgrading process was tiny steps at a time, from the Nikon D60 to the Nikon D90 to the Nikon D7000.

In 2011 I purchased a Nikon D700 which stayed with me until I finally took the plunge in 2013 and bought my Nikon D4.

I have bought, owned and sold many lenses for many different reasons. Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 came with my first camera. Being self-taught, this lens served its purpose well as it allowed me to learn about composition and focal length without spending a lot of money.

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8D was referenced by many people in the industry as the lens I must purchase next. Given its price tag, I agreed.

In order to get more range I purchased the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D. Then, when I finally upgraded to full frame, I went a little purchase happy and bought the Nikon 105mm f/2.8, Nikon 135mm f/2D, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8D, Nikon 45mm f/2.8D tilt shift and the following which now make up my current kit:

Nikon 35mm f/1.4G – This lens is on my body 80% of the time. I find it versatile and beautiful.

Nikon 50mm f/1.4D – I use this lens through the ceremony and the occasional portrait.

Nikon 85mm f/1.4D – I love this lens. I love how quick it focuses and the look of the images. I use this lens mainly for ceremony and photos during speeches when I need that extra bit of distance.

At the time of purchasing the Nikon 20-35mm f/2.8D, I only had the 50 and 85 and needed something wider. I found it used online for a very reasonable price and as money was an issue and I could not afford the Nikon 35mm f/1.4G or the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 at that time, I opted for the cheaper route. It ended up being a wonderful lens, I sold it about a year later and purchased the Nikon 35mm f/1.4G as I found I was never using focal lengths wider than this. It was great for me to determine which wider focal lengths I felt more comfortable with.

The Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D was purchased for the same reason. I owned the 50 and 85 and felt that I needed a longer focal length, but could not afford the 70-200mm. I found a used Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D online and used it for ceremony and reception photos. At this time I had discovered my need for a macro lens and purchased the Nikon 105mm f/2.8. About a year later I sold the Nikon 80-200mm f2.8D and bought the Nikon 135mm f/2D as I was never using the 80-200mm past around 135mm anyway.

Ultimately I prefer how primes feel and work. I find I am more thoughtful with my compositions. Experimenting with so many different lenses was a wonderful thing for me as I was really able to see what worked best for me. I would highly encourage others to do the same. Lenses are not one size fits all, you need to shop around!

I love the simplicity of my kit, I am able to wear my camera around my neck, with my Nikon SB-910, and two lenses in my Kelly Moore bag. I am able to move around quickly and never feel weighed down. I still own my Nikon D700 as a backup and a Fuji X100s for travel and day to day photos. I also have a Polaroid SX-70 that I bring to the occasional wedding for something a little different!

www.jennifermoher.com

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