It is true that skill and talent is the most important aspect of photography. However, even the best photographer benefits from using advanced equipment. After all, photography is about capturing fleeting moments. We have all probably experienced the frustration of trying to capture something important with a slow camera. By the time the picture is taken, the moment has passed. Quality equipment removes much of the luck in capturing great images. It is not required, but it will ensure the best chance of success. There are several types of equipment you should expect a photographer to own and use.
Lighting
One of the most important elements of photography is Lighting. After all, without light, the camera would have nothing to capture. Quality lighting can exagerate or hide features or flaws. It can bring a picture to life by making skin glow and eyes sparkle. It is also the single most important element for establishing mood in a photograph. Despite this importance, I am always amused to find out that many professional photographers ignore lighting. I understand the reasons. Good lighting equipment is expensive, bulky and time consuming to set up. It is so much easier to use a popup flash or claim you prefer the look of ‘natural light.’ However, it is my experience that lighting almost always adds to the quality of the image. There are exceptions of course. However unless you specifically waited all day for the sun to be in the perfect location, positioned yourself next to the perfect natural light modifier, are facing the exact direction with your desired background directly behind you in relation to the photographer, it is probably a situation that would benefit from lighting.
I love to shoot on location, so heavy studio strobes that require wall outlets just won’t work for my needs. For most of my shots, I use lightweight, portable and very powerful speedlights. I have several Canon SpeedLite 600ex RT lights that I use wirelessly. These units are very powerful and are battery operated which allows me to apply my lighting techniques in any type of scenario, in any location. I set these up in any number of light modifiers including soft boxes, shoot through umbrellas and even bouncing the light off of existing surfaces at the venue. I might attach them to umbrella stands and booms or to make sure my equipment stays out of the way of your event, I can clamp them to wall fixtures so they have a minimal impact.
Lens
A camera’s lens is very important for determining the quality of the image. A good lens will allow the photographer to blur the background and focus attention on the subject while keeping the image crisp. The lense is so important that quality lenses can cost more than the camera itself.
I shoot with two of the very best lenses cannon has ever made. These are the 24-70mm f2.8 L ii, and the 70-200mm f2.8 L ii. Both of these lenses are amazing lenses that provide incredible color and contrast as well as sharpness. They are also both weather and dust sealed so rain or other conditions are no problem.
Camera
The camera selected is not as important as lenses and lighting, but it is still important. Quality cameras can shoot very fast so it is less likely that a moment slips away without getting captured.
I shoot primarily with a Canon 7D. This is the same camera that was used to film portions of the movie Black Swan. It is a great performing camera body. It is extremely fast and it is weather sealed so I regularly take it shooting in the rain. Your event will be well covered no matter what the weather situation.