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One of the questions I am asked most frequently is what camera and lenses I use. So let me start by saying I really love my Nikon camera and lenses. They are amazing tools that help me make the images I see in my head a reality. But I’d like to state for the record what you already know. The camera, lenses and gear are not what make a great image – the person using it does. There are so many things that you need to pair with that great gear to realize a fabulous photograph … knowing how to compose your image and create unique art, how to capture true emotions, how to achieve proper exposure, how to nail your focus, how to process your images well, etc., etc. I do believe, however, that having the right tools to do your job as a photographer will definitely improve your final results and in some instances give you more creative freedom to get the shots you are dreaming of. I think there is a balance between “the camera doesn’t matter at all – an artist can create beauty from absolutely any gear” and “you must have the latest and greatest expensive gear to take good photographs.”

Writing this post has made me realize I have *way* too many lenses and need to sell some of them, especially since I only actually pull out about four or five of them on a regular basis (I left the most unused lenses out of the photos). Focusing on creating your art, educating yourself and growing in your photography and processing will always be the truest road to creating better photographs. It’s not the camera that makes the photo, it’s the photographer. Now, with all that said … let me introduce you to my large family of tools that do such a splendid job in helping me create my images. ;)

Note: this is part one and just about what I personally use. Part two will have recommendations for those on a tight budget and for those shooting with Canon gear. I tend to ramble and include a lot (too much?) information, so I didn’t want this post to be overwhelming. For those wanting to see what I use in the studio when I am forced to take my shooting indoors in the middle of our Oregon winters, see my Studio Spotlight.

Click name to jump to more information, example images and details on each item.

First, let me say that every photographer loves different lenses for different reasons. While some lenses may be suited better for some situations, it highly depends on your individual needs and style … there is rarely one “right” lens for any given need. I am a prime lens girl all the way (this is a fixed focal length lens). They are incredibly sharp lenses and we know they are faster which allows for a few things including better shooting in low light situations. They also allow me to shoot wide open at an aperture of around f1.4 when possible, which has has become a signature part of my style.

For the very reason some prefer zooms is another reason I love primes … you need to use your “feet” to zoom. For me this means I have to constantly be moving around and finding new perspectives and ways of “seeing.” I think sometimes you can get a bit “lazy” creatively with a zoom lens, or at least that is what my experience was personally. Of course others may have a totally different experience with zooms, love them for their versatility, etc. It’s a highly personal choice (and many use both zooms and primes). Remember that it very much depends on the actual lenses you are comparing … you can’t very well say that Nikon’s lowest end prime lens is going to be comparable to it’s top of the line pro zoom lens. You’ll see I only have one zoom lens in my stash, the 24-70mm 2.8, which is a super sharp and lovely lens but it’s only still in there because I’ve been too busy to get around to selling it. I used it briefly for studio only work while I was shooting with a cropped frame body. I shot with a Nikon D300 before upgrading to the full frame Nikon D700 (which is my backup camera now) – it was a lovely camera and much of my work on Flickr was taken with the D300.

Keep in mind while looking over the lenses I use, love and recommend that I shoot with a full frame camera. If you’re using a cropped sensor your experience and lens needs will differ greatly because of the crop factor. Some of this will be covered in part two of this feature.

Another question I hear a lot is what do I actually carry with me in my bag. I admit, it’s a lot (but only roughly half of what’s shown in the main photo – the other half is inside the cabinet you see my baby peeking out of). I happen to think that putting one or two more lenses in the bag isn’t going to make any discernible difference in weight or difficulty carrying the bag around (or in some cases, having my assistant – aka, my husband – carry it for me). And because I’m awful at narrowing things down I tend to carry all my favorites with me all the time. I don’t necessarily use all of the lenses I bring, and if I’m not working and at a client’s session then sometimes I haul the bag around and never even take the camera out – but at least I know I have it just in case. I tend to always have my D3s with the 85mm 1.4G on it, the 35mm 1.4G, the 135mm 2.0, the 16mm fisheye and sometimes the tilt-shift (unless I know there is no chance of taking a more “artful” photo, then I leave it behind because it’s too spendy and heavy to tote around for the heck of it). And note that I really USE my gear … I take excellent care of everything, but it’s definitely not coddled or ever left behind for fear of damaging it. This Nikon gear takes a beating and does it beautifully – it’s built to handle much rougher assignments than chasing around little ones and families.

Nikon D3s

I recently upgraded from the D700 to the D3s and just adore it. I’m finding the high ISO performance is much improved (ahhhh-mazing low light capabilities with minimal noise), and my general experience has been more accurate metering and smoother color and tonal gradations. The low light handling with so little noise is really important to me because I never shoot with a flash and love natural light … however, I live in Oregon and it’s dark, rainy and gray here 6-months of the year. Being able to crank up my ISO without worrying about noise is wonderful. The video function on the D3s is lacking for those wanting serious video, but is fun for taking quickie videos of the kids or for a “just for fun” video for clients. It also has the benefits of a much longer battery life (I rarely even think about the battery even though I always carry a charged back up with me as well as one sitting on the charger in the studio) and two storage card slots. And, finally, even though I’m not a sports photographer in any sense of the word, I love the faster continuous shooting when working with speedy little ones. Being able to shoot 9fps versus 5fps can mean the difference between getting the perfect shot and getting one with eyes closed or a finger up the nose.

Nikon D700

I really love the D700 … I have nothing but fabulous things to say about this camera body. It also has the benefit of being much less expensive than the D3s (and lighter, however, I always used the battery grip with mine so the size difference was minimal when I upgraded). A fabulous camera for portrait photography and handles high ISO and low light situations beautifully.

Nikon 85mm 1.4G

The 85mm 1.4G is my favorite lens – I never go anywhere without this one. Absolutely dreamy bokeh that looks like smooth velvet with your subject popping off the background … images can look almost three dimensional when you’re nailing your focus at a wide aperture (and I almost always shoot in the f1.4 to f2 range unless shooting more than one subject). It’s also a fabulous focal length for flattering portraits, fantastic in low light and very sharp.

Following are a few examples using my Nikon 85mm 1.4G. The first was shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/2000 second (it was pretty bright out and right before the sun was slipping away so my shutter speed was very high). Look at that yummy bokeh (and the cute baby is pretty yummy too)! Processed with Wonderland and Picture Perfect.

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Nikon 85mm 1.4G - again at f1.4 with ISO 1000 and 1/125 sec (the sun had just slipped below the horizon so I had the ISO cranked up a little). Processed with Wonderland.

Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/200 second.

Some detail shots turning one … Nikon 85 1.4G – shot at ISO 250, f1.4, 1/160 second.

Another example of the pretty bokeh from the 85mm – f1.4, ISO 200, 1/250 second.

Shot at sunset with the 85mm at f1.4, ISO 200, 1/500 second.

Nikon 35mm 1.4G

This lens is a go to lens for times when I need a good “walking around” lens and need to either be in close range of my subjects (babies or little ones that speed away from me too quickly) or need something that will capture full body shots easily and take in the surrounding environment as well. It’s a wider angle lens, and therefore has a bit of distortion that can be noted especially when taking photos at close range. This bit of distortion with children’s photos can be cute and add a bit of whimsy to the photo, but point a 35mm up close to an adult and you’ll end up with a not so flattering portrait that widens and distorts the face. I use this one a lot for group shots or for those images where you want the entire scene and story captured along with your subject. It’s fabulous in low light conditions, produces pretty bokeh and is super sharp, is my main lens for shooting sun flare shots and is light weight. It produces beautiful images and is a good “essential” lens to own.

Below are a few images shot with the Nikon 35mm 1.4G.

This is one of my favorites of my girls … shot just as the sun was going down and you can see how beautifully the 35mm did with the sun flare. Nikon 35mm 1.4G – taken at ISO 200, f1.4, 1/1000 sec. Processed with Fresh Wonderland 2.