Willa’s Professional Photography Toolkit
Whenever I’m capturing images, people like to ask, “What are you working with?” Whether I’m speaking with another photographer, a client, or a passerby, I’m always happy to let them know. I truly value the exchange of information, and I love sharing what I’ve learned in my career. I’ll go into detail below, but, in short,
I only use the best gear available. If you’re interested in the minutia, then I hope you read on.
The Staples
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Camera
My main camera for digital work is the Canon EOS R. It's Canon's first foray into mirrorless cameras. Its lightweight build, sharp auto-focus, and large sensor (30.3 Megapixels) make it my go-to for portrait sessions, event coverage, and the like. It's a phenomenal video camera to boot with manual focus peaking and 4K capabilities. My film camera is the Canon EOS 1V. It's the last film camera Canon ever produced, and they've been out of production since 2018. It's a bit heavy, but it offers the best features from cameras new and old. It uses the same range of lenses and is compatible with accessories for Canon cameras, but it does it all on 35mm film.
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Lenses
Even state-of-the-art camera bodies are rendered useless without a lens. I use Canon L Series lenses and products from the Sigma ART line. I like to work with prime lenses, the ones that don't zoom in and out, for the majority of my work because they're razor sharp and open up wide for a shallow depth of field. When the bokeh, the out-of-focus background, of a photograph is dreamily soft and light takes on a circular shape , then you could bet that it was shot on a prime lens at a wide aperture.
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Lighting
Even when you’re working with a mobile phone, great lighting is key to crafting a timeless image. I only use Profoto lights because they are and have been the industry leader in professional lighting for decades. Whether I'm in the studio or on-location, it’s vital to have stunning, beautifully diffused light. My B10 and A10 are a dynamic duo that's ready for anything. Whether they're used together or one at a time, making photos with Profoto equipment feels like you have the sun in your pocket.
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Studio Equipment
The best pieces of gear are the ones that you never have to think about. When I'm in the flow of working, the last thing that I want is for something to fail and distract me from the image-making process. My trio of 10' Manfrotto stands supports all of my lights indoors and outdoors. Matthews c-stands are the most reliable I have ever used for any scale of production. The Sirui tripods provide me with the peace of mind I need to leave my camera alone and address the other needs of my images.
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Film
There's nothing quite like the analog magic of film photography. I love offering film photos as an add-on to my photo sessions because acetate negatives are more special than photos in a cloud. I have a growing personal collection of older cameras, but I strictly use the Canon EOS 1V for clients. Kodak Gold 200 is my personal favorite for daytime photos with its warm, saturated colors and rich shadows. Kodak Portra 400 offers velvety colors and cool tones. Fujicolor Superia 400 has more grit and a bit of a green cast. Either is great for an event in the evening that will require some flash. I think it's hard to go wrong with any film stock, but I always love Kodak Gold, Kodak Portra, or Fuji Velvia. Whatever look you're after, I'll be able to provide it for you!
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Experience
I've been working since I was 15 in the service industry as a line cook, a waitress, and even a window washer. It's always been vital for me to be of help to others, even in those small ways. I fell into photography in the fall of 2016 as a freshman in college. I spent my housing loan on a camera and worked overtime to pay it all back, but my passion for portraiture quickly outgrew my commitment to academics. I started out by following my friends around with a camera, thinking back to all of the times my family made sure to document my and my siblings' lives. From there, I started commemorating their graduations, engagements, and events. Hundreds of photoshoots, years of experience, and thousands of smiling faces later, I'm so grateful to still do this work. Nothing has ever felt so intuitive, and I can't wait to take your picture!
I primarily work with Canon cameras and lenses, but any of the flagship camera manufacturers provide everything you'd ever need to make professional work.
You can even capture a stunning photo on a smartphone nowadays. However, the materials I use are hand-selected to produce the highest caliber of image possible. Because my photo practice is the foundation of my career, I have strict standards that my hardware has to meet. And even though someone could buy the most expensive, top-of-the-line gear, but money spent isn't everything.
You can't buy the ability to connect with another person, the eye to read light in any given situation, or the know-how to orchestrate an entire photoshoot and the flexibility to change everything on-the-fly because something unexpected happened. The only way to develop those skills is with time, practice, and consistency.
With that being said, I like to work with tools that offer me peace of mind so that I don't have to think about them. Tools that can keep up with me when I'm working long days, when I have to adjust my approach during a session, and when I’m doing everything in my power to get the shot.