Samm Blake

Hey! I’m Samm Blake, a wedding photographer based in New York. Originally from Australia, I moved to New York seven years ago.

I’ve been photographing weddings for 16 years now, with my first few years all on film before moving to digital. These days I shoot primarily digital and a little film when the client requests it.

Since moving to New York, I’ve really had to change up the way I shoot – New Yorkers love to get married in really tight, dark spaces compared to the wide-open areas in Australia.

I quickly found I was shooting wider and wider in New York and I was constantly switching from the 24 to the 35mm lens, which I found frustrating. I discovered the Sigma 24-35mm f/2 lens and all my problems were solved. It’s a great lens and it barely comes off my camera these days.

My go-to shooting kit is the Canon EOS R with the RF 50mm f/1.2 lens and a Canon 5D Mark IV with the Sigma 24-35mm f/2. I shoot the majority of my work this way and it’s only when the sun goes down that I generally change this setup.

I prefer to leave my camera bag behind at the wedding venue when we go out into the streets to photograph, so I love that I have locked in two cameras with two lenses with no desire to change the lenses out. I have found this very freeing and it allows me to focus more on what I want to be creating instead.

The Canon EOS R camera is a hot topic of conversation lately, but I am loving the camera and have my work-arounds for the single card. When Canon releases the pro version with the dual slots, I will be switching over entirely to that.

The new Canon RF 50mm is so sharp. The way I shoot is fast and not very posed, so I need a camera that can keep up with the way I want to shoot. The focus is a lot better than on the Mark IV, so the 50mm stays on my R the entire day and I love pushing what that camera can achieve in low light. I also find the camera is making me see light differently thanks to the electronic viewfinder.

When I am on the dance floor, I generally switch the Sigma 24-35mm for the Canon 24mm. At that time of day, I prefer a lighter lens and it’s easier to navigate around a hectic Hora. The 85mm/135mm come out for ceremony and toasts generally.

I use my film gear when a client has expressed a love for it. It’s a lot of additional gear to carry around so I only use it when I have an assistant or second shooter with me. I offer to shoot film as an additional extra. At the last wedding I photographed, the couple had me shoot the entire day in BW. I shot a mix of digital and film throughout the event with everything delivered in BW. It was heavenly.

When I found out the Fuji Instant Film was being discontinued a few years back, I bought up big and will often shoot a pack of film at a wedding.

I’ve been experimenting with the Yongnuo LED light lately and have been enjoying it. It really helps with photographing details at a reception if there is no window light. The thing I like most about this model is that it has a remote control and bluetooth control so I can quickly turn it on and off from across the room.

I use Canon Speedlites at wedding receptions only. I will normally set up two on light stands in the corners of the room and will control them from the Canon Speedlite Transmitter. I will have the third one on my Canon Mark IV camera and use that for direct flash.

My Kit
Canon EOS R
Canon 5D Mark IV x2

Canon 24mm f/1.4
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon 85mm f/1.2
Canon 135mm f/2.0
Sigma 24-35mm f/2.0 Art
Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

Canon Speedlite 600EX II-RT
Canon ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter
Yongnuo YN600L II LED Studio Video Light with Adjustable Color Temperature 3200K-5500K

Mamiya 7 II
Contax 645 with 80mm f/2 lens
Polaroid 100 Land Camera 
Sekonic L-758D light meter

Fujifilm FP-3000B Instant Film
Kodak 400 TX 120

Light Stands
Canon Batteries LP-E6N
Panasonic Eneloop Pro AA High Capacity Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
Sandisk 128gb CF & SD cards

sammblakeweddings.com | @sammblake

Highly Recommended

11 Tools for Wedding Photographers

Check out the 11 essential tools and apps every wedding photographer should be using this year.

Includes limited time discounts.

Learn more here

You'll Also Like These:

Best Wedding Photography Gear 10 Best Canon Lenses in 2023 (EF Mount DSLR) Best Sigma Art Lenses Best Wide Angle Lenses in 2023 for Nikon, Canon & More Best Lens for Portraits (People Photography) What is the Best Canon Camera in 2023? (All Budgets)