Joab Smith
Wedding | Last Updated: February 18, 2021







I’m Joab Smith, a Bristol based wedding photographer and loving it, though of course, I am partial to a destination wedding.
I shot my first wedding roughly 13 years ago when the teacher’s assistant in my photography class asked me to shoot her wedding – thanks Jess! There was a little selective colour thrown in there but actually I think I did a decent job all things considered, as you might have imagined, I loved it!
From there I was building up wedding work whilst at uni in Bath until I took the plunge around 10 years ago.
Now I adore that I can be much more confident in my equipment and abilities; with the speed and variety of weddings, it really helps to have everything as second nature. There’s still a lot I’d like to work on but that’s the complex joy of weddings!
Cameras
Nikon D850 & Nikon D750
Nikon is testing my patience with their mirrorless options but I do love them really. I’ve thought about switching multiple times but Nikon just nailed dynamic range with these cameras and so, for now, I’m really happy with them.
I usually have the D850 with the 35mm on the right and the D750 with the 105mm on the left. That is quite a heavy combo so I am looking forward to a mirrorless option but right now I don’t think they’re quite there (Hopefully this has dated poorly in a few months’ time!)
Lenses
Nikon 105mm f/1.4: A beast! I have to be careful not to overuse it.
Nikon 85mm f/1.8: A light workhorse that goes on if the 105mm is too long for speeches etc.
Nikon 58mm f/1.4: A beautiful lens that I should use more often.
Nikon 35mm f/1.4: The real workhorse. I used to have the Sigma but it failed me in multiple ways.
Nikon 20mm f/1.8: For wide groups, the odd portrait and packed dancefloors!
Lights/Triggers
Yongnuo YN560 IV & Yongnuo YN560 III: I currently use these as they’re cheap and do the job, but I’m looking for something with a wider range of power.
Bags/Straps
I unpack my stuff at the start of the day and then just carry around a few bits and lenses in my little Lowepro Stealth, often forgetting it in some corner somewhere.
HoldFast MoneyMaker Strap
Hardware & Software
Apple Macbook Pro
Apple Ipad Pro
Photomechanic
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe Photoshop
Misc.
Imodium – vital, luckily learning from others’ bad experiences.
ibuprofen, earplugs, sewing kit, portable charger, bottle of water because hydration’s essential (Especially for destination weddings – take two) and bits of glass/prisms that I use for flares.
www.joabsmithphotography.co.uk | @joabsmithphotography


Check out the 11 essential tools and apps every wedding photographer should be using this year.
Includes limited time discounts.
I’m impressed with your glass collection, glad to see someone else using the 105 and 35 combo!
Yea love the 105… My back doesnt!
:D it’s an honour to be featured, thanks a bunch! If anyone has any questions feel free to ask.