Thomas Ingersoll

Fashion, Portrait | Last Updated: April 4, 2024

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Hi, my name is Thomas Ingersoll. I am an internationally published photographer, retoucher, writer, and educator born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.

I enjoy teaching photography as much as I do shooting. I want to give back to the community that has given me so much.

I teach photography classes, host workshops and direct an education department at a local studio. I write educational content on my own blog, my ambassador’s blogs, and I am a writer for Fstoppers.com.

As of right now I shoot a lot of fashion, commercial, and portraiture, but I periodically will get into action sports, fitness (guide), landscapes, and weddings. I enjoy any excuse to have a camera in my hand. I have a hard time shooting just one type of subject, which is why I’m all over the place. Because of the variety of genres I shoot I need to have gear that will be accommodating to my diverse portfolio. I try to keep a rather minimal amount of gear and I usually don’t keep gear for very long, but for now this is what’s in my bag.

I have a Canon 5D Mark III. This camera is a workhorse. I need a body that can keep up with the diverse amount of work I do, and the Mark III never lets me down.

For lenses I have:
The Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 vii which I use for most my work. There is a reason this is one of Canon’s most popular lenses.

The Canon 70-200mm f/2.8. I use this for sports and anytime I need a longer focal length. I think these lenses are almost indestructible! The weather sealing on these are amazing. They have gone through rain and storms and still work flawlessly.

My favorite lens, not only in focal length but also in sharpness, is the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art. This was the only lens that I felt brought the best resolution out of the Canon 5Ds when I owned it.

The Sigma 12-24mm f/4 Art. This thing really is a piece of art. Having a zero distortion from 12-24mm is truly beautiful. This lens is awesome for landscapes and tight spaces.

And last the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Art, the best for night and low light conditions.

For my strobed work I have two Canon 600EX-RT ’s and two Yongnuo YN-600 EX-RT’s. I like these because they’re very small and portable and with the four of them I have enough power for any work that I do.

To trigger them I use a Canon ST-E3-RT. For modifiers I have a 5 in 1 43inch reflector (which I use a lot!), four Westcott 43-inch Apollo orbs with the grids, and an 81-inch PLM umbrella.

Also, I often rent gear for shoots. My go-to lights are Profoto B1’s, with a variety or Profoto modifiers.
But I am a firm believer that gear doesn’t make great images, having vision does.

Camera Pictured:
Canon 5d Mark III. My workhorse.
Minolta x-370 35mm. This is my father’s camera and the camera I learned on.
Instax mini 8. Love this thing for memories. [Ed: check out these instant camera reviews.]
Case of film
Vello Battery grip. I actually mainly use these to prevent the bottom of the camera from getting all scratched up, makes it much easier for resale.
Memory Cards: (4) PNY Technologies 128gb

Lenses:
Canon: 24-70mm f/2.8 v ii, 70-200mm f/2.8
Sigma: 12-24 f/4 Art, 20mm f/1.4 Art, 50mm f/1.4 Art

Macro tube: Fotodiox Pro 31mm. Great for wedding ring shots without investing into a macro lens.

Filters: Bower 8 stop Variable ND, Tiffen circular polarizer. Love these for landscapes.

Tripod: Slik Pro 340DX. This has been my go-to tripod for several years now.

Camera Strap: BlackRapid sport breath. My favorite strap on the market. From commercial work and weddings to hiking in Iceland this thing is awesome.

Think Tank card wallet

Bags:
Think Tank Airport Security V3.0. The amount of gear this bag holds is sort of ridiculous, almost everything pictured fits in this bag.
Mindshift rotation 180 horizon 34L. This is by far one of the coolest camera outdoor backpacks I have used. Being able to access gear without taking the pack off is a game changer.

Lighting:
I love speedlites. They are cheap, and portable. But when I need more power I rent the Profoto B1’s.
(2) Canon 600EX-RT speedlites Love the HSS these offer.
(2) Yongnuo 600EX-RT speedlites. They definitely are not as durable as the Canon’s but being a fraction of the price for the same system is definitely worth it.
Canon ST-E3-RT transmitter. I think one of the best things you can do if you use strobes is to use a system where you can control your strobes power on your commander.

Lighting accessories:
MagMod magsphere, MagMod gels and grids. This company changed my workflow. I love how fast and simple it is to add gels and grids.
(2) Impact Turtlebase C-stands (not pictured) and various Impact stands. These things are durable and super quick to set up with the quick release system. Invest in heavy duty light stands. I promise it is always worth it.
Lastolite 6×6 scrim. This is my absolutely favorite modifier. I use this on almost every shoot, whether it’s studio or on location.
Westscott- (4) 43 inch apollo orb, apollo orb grid. These have been the best speedlite octoboxes I have found.
Impact 4 speedlite holder. Definitely need this when shooting outside and need to combine the speedlites for more power.
Savage paper—various rolls. This is an industry standard for portraits.
Hand painted canvas. Love this for portraits.
Cinegel speedlite gels. Best 4 dollars I have ever spent.

Accessories:
PearlStone (now Vello) Shutterboss ii intervalometer. Great for star trails and long exposures – see more here.
Rayovac headlamp.
Gaffers tape.
Bag of Duracell rechargeable batteries.
Bag of lens cloths.
(2) LED flashlights.
(2) Multitools.
Pocket knife.
Allen wrench.
Sierra Nevada chapstick.
Moo business cards.
(2) Impact clamps
JBL Charge 3 speaker. This little speaker is pretty loud and portable, I always have it on my shoots.