Inside My Camera Bag | Lee Maxwell

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Hey, my name is Lee. I’m a wedding photographer based in Devon, UK. My first wedding was in 2014 and I haven’t looked back since.

Like most wedding photographers, it seems, I got burned out by my previous job whilst my camera bag was growing with more gear. I had a very short trial run as a second shooter to see what the job was like and decided to give it a go full time.

Five years later I’m still going.

I was lucky early on to discover that there was this rise in documentary wedding photography (in the UK at least). That meant working with couples whose main focus for photos was to provide a true reflection of the day.

Cameras

I started out with a Nikon D610 and D7100, with Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses, mostly because that’s what I thought wedding photographers always used – zooms.

One year later, with the business going well and experimenting with what works for me personally, the camera bag changed.

Now, I have two Nikon D750s with four prime lenses. Very quickly, the type of images I was able to capture changed for the better.

My workhorse lens is the Nikon 35mm f/1.8, this year capturing 40% of the delivered images. The rest of the time, I utilise the Sigma 24mm f/1.4, Nikon 50mm f/1.8 and the Nikon 85mm f/1.8.

Lights/Triggers

I’ll shoot natural light as long as I can, but will not work with poor light where I can avoid it – not only for the quality of the final image but also for the easier editing process.

My flashes of choice are Godox v860 viis. Along with the XT1 triggers, they provide a reliable light source, most often used on the dance floor to add a dynamic quality to the image.

These are supported with clamps or ties to whatever is in the room but are most often found on top of a Manfrotto Nano stand.

Bags/Straps

For straps, I love the Spider Camera Holster. If you’re using the originally provided camera straps, or something that pulls on your shoulder or neck, give this system a go. It’s not cheap, but it saves a lot of niggles in the back.

Hardware & Software

I edit all my images on a 4k 21” iMac in the office, via Adobe Lightroom. I’ve built my own custom preset as a base to work from and tailor each image from there.

Misc.

Now that my main gear is pretty established, I love finding the small ‘wins’ that help me photograph a day that little bit easier.

SHOES! Find the right pair of shoes that work for you! The last two wedding seasons I’ve used black/grey Under Armour trainers and they make a world of difference, especially late into the night and for feeling fresh the next day.

I’ve recently bought earplugs for when on the dance floor – they too reduce fatigue. I occasionally bring out the Moman LED light panel for a different look or for portraits.

This is the kit that I found works for me. You’ll never hear me criticise another system or photographer on their approach. Sometimes I think the photography world gets too hung up on what everyone else is doing.

My advice is to keep it simple, reduce any barriers in between seeing a photo and pressing the button. For me, that’s a light prime lens setup and not carrying around a heavy bag full of gear I rarely use.

www.lee-maxwell.com | @leemaxwellphotography