What’s In My Wedding Videography Bag (2025 Edition)
- May 24, 2025
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
A complete breakdown of the gear I use to film weddings — for clients who want to learn and interested filmmakers.
From the Eyes of a Wedding Filmmaker:
Why Gear Matters
As a seasoned wedding videographer, my gear bag isn’t just a collection of tools — it’s the backbone of the emotional stories I am afforded the privilege to tell. Whether I’m filming golden-hour vows on a lake or documenting a teary first look in a tucked-away garden, the gear I choose plays a direct role in how smoothly (and beautifully) a wedding day is captured. My goal as a wedding videographer is not only to capture these once in a lifetime moments, but do to so in a minimally invasive manner. Also known as, *drum roll for trend word alert*: documentary style videography!
This blog is for:
Engaged couples who are curious about what goes on behind the scenes before your big day, and behind the lens on your wedding day,
Beginner and intermediate videographers looking to build or refine their wedding videography kit, and
Creatives who want an honest look into real-world, wedding-tested gear.
Here’s everything I carry, why I carry it, and how it performs on a wedding day. Please keep in mind that this list of bases, lenses, audio gear, and other essentials has been intentionally and thoughtfully chosen. Pieces have been switched out if they didn't serve a purpose.
My ultimate goal is to be able to carry all of this videography gear in one trip, all by myself. My fear is becoming one of those people who has a whole trolly's worth of gear, which would lead to even more decision fatigue on the day of the wedding. By having less options to choose from, I find myself constantly finding creative workaround and solutions, which further propels me as a wedding videographer.
Cameras: My Primary Workhorses
The Sony a7S III is one of those cameras that lives in legend — and for good reason. It’s built specifically for video shooters, and while it’s part of the Alpha series, it feels like Sony made this body for wedding filmmakers who are in fast-paced, unpredictable environments and need a camera that won’t flinch.
This is my go-to low-light monster. When the lights dim for the reception, when the couple has a candlelit first dance, or when I’m capturing a sparkler exit in near darkness — this camera performs flawlessly. It’s known across the industry for its unbeatable low-light sensitivity and reliable 4K performance.
Best for
Ceremonies, speeches, cinematic shots, low light environments, and handheld footage.
Why I love it
It’s mirrorless power for gun and run shooting of a wedding day.
You may ask yourself, why not choose the Sony FX3? While this full frame camera is an absolute beast for filmmaking, I didn't want to totally limit myself to just video. I do use this versatile base for photography as well. The FX3 also came to the market a couple years after I had chosen my set up, and would have to switch out my B- and C- cameras for the FX30 for consistency. I like the hybrid nature of the A7siii.
My B- and C-cameras are the Sony A7iii, a reliable, versatile hybrid with killer video capabilities. It matches the a7siii in color profiles (S-Log3, S-Cinetone), so it integrates seamlessly into a ceremony or speeches multi-cam workflow. These are also amazing video quality if I happen to need to upgrade them to my A-camera on the day of the wedding.
Best for
Second and (potentially) third angles during ceremony and speeches, if space allows.
Why I love it
Flip screen, versatile, and stunning video at a more approachable price.
Lenses: Versatility & Depth in Glass
Photographers and videographers tend to fall into two types of ride or dies: either they (1) looooove their prime lenses or they are (2) obsessed with their zoom lenses. I started off my videography career as a prime lens girlie and did a hard 180 pivot to the zoom lenses once I drank the Kool-aid.
Now, I'd say I lie somewhere closer to the middle, utilizing my zoom lens for about 75% of the day, with 25% utilizing a prime lens on my A-camera. They both have their place, and are often interchanged based on lighting, how much movement we will be doing, the timing and pace of the day, along with the style of shooting that the photographer takes. It's assessing the environment to understand what tool will work best and give the best clips, shots, and angles.
A lot of the times I make the active choice to work around the photographer, and noticed I was missing shots or could have gotten better ones if I didn't have to physically move around to compensate and just instead zoomed in or out.
This lens is always on one of my bodies. It's perfect for handheld shots during prep, wide scenes at receptions, or walking shots with the couple. I'm also just obsessed with this focal length in general. Slapping this on an a7iii allows me to take advantage of both the 35 mm and 50 mm focal lengths with the APSC crop sensor too.
Best for
Prep, couple portraits, establishing shots, low light settings such as a moody portrait session or on the reception dance floor after sunset.
Why I love it
Lightweight and incredibly sharp with smooth autofocus.
If I had to carry only one lens to a wedding — from prep to party — it would be the Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II. This second-generation zoom has become a core part of my kit because it’s just that versatile. Whether I’m quickly adjusting focal lengths during a fast-paced ceremony or grabbing candid shots at a reception, this lens keeps up with every unpredictable moment of a wedding day. I can capture every moment, from a variety of focal lengths, while also working around the photographer.
The GM II is sharper, lighter, and faster than the original version, and it plays beautifully with Sony’s newer bodies like the a7S III. For hybrid shooters and wedding filmmakers who need flexibility without sacrificing image quality, this is the go-to glass.
Best for
Literally everything. Prep, ceremony, private vows, speeches, dances. Don't sleep on this lens, it is whole-heartedly worth the investment.
Why I love it
This lens is the Swiss Army knife in my camera bag. It gives me the flexibility to go from a wide shot of the ceremony space to a tight, intimate frame of the couple exchanging vows — without swapping lenses or breaking stride.
Note: I also use a Sony 24-70 mm f/4 Zeiss on the Sony a7iii combination at ceremony and speeches. I am a fan of the color profile that Zeiss produces on the Sony body, and at a 1/3 of the cost of the beefy G-Master version. And this combo was honestly my starting set up when getting into the wedding industry. The OSS in this lens is also clutch, and sometimes I use this lens on my Sony a7siii if I know we are going to be moving around a lot.
The ceremony killer. With this lens, I can stay out of the way while capturing tight, emotional moments at a distance. It’s tack-sharp and incredibly useful for church weddings or large outdoor ceremonies. This one rounds out the focal length spectrum nicely, giving an ultimate range from 24-200 mm between two lenses.
Best for
Ceremonies, speeches, reactions, tight shots taken from a distance.
Why I love it
It’s heavy, but worth it for flexibility and compression, and can easily be mounted on a tripod.
Note: One day in the future I will upgrade to the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II. But for now, since this lens is only functional on my secondary bases, the f/4 gets the job done flawlessly.
Audio: The Separator
For me, the difference between a good and great wedding videographer is their audio. Each year, I learn a little bit more, and step up on audio a bit more. This year, I feel very confident that I have all my bases covered, and have quality back up plans B, C, D, and E, if plan A seems to fail for whatever reason.
On Camera:
An incredible shotgun mic that mounts directly to the hot shoe of the Sony a7siii and delivers clean onboard scratch audio.
Best for
Ambient sound capture throughout the day.
Why I love it
Light, long-lasting rechargeable battery, compact and ultra-clear sound.
A lot of people choose the Tascam DR-10Ls, which I have used and worked with in the past. As a personal preference, I like one that I can already have recording, and quickly get on and off the officiant and groom. With the DR-10Ls, you have to clip the mic, then ask them to button their suit, and shove it in their back pant pocket. And you may just be out of luck if you have an officiant who happens to be a woman in a dress.
These PicoPics are wireless, hold signal at a far range, and record directly with the camera you connect it to. You can easily clip them onto the guys, and is more discreet than the DJI or RODE wireless mic counterparts. I also like to "hide" these mics on the bride and groom's sweetheart table during the speeches to make sure I pick up their verbal reactions, too.
Best for
Live event environments with variable movement
Why I love it
Discrete and fast. Great for ceremony or reception mics.
For more dynamic coverage and to really pick up on the bride's voice during the ceremony, I install one of the TX660's with a mic sleeve. This also serves as another option for quality audio from the ceremony as well. At first I had just one of these, and quickly purchased a second, knowing it would be useful in other scenarios. This is great when you don't have your second camera set up for the wireless mics and need quality audio for a first look tucked into the groom's or father of the bride's pocket and can quickly be retrieved.
Best for
Vows, speeches, toasts.
Why I love it
Discreet, long lasting battery, excellent quality audio.
In the editing room, this tends to be the audio I work with and pull from. Anything said into a microphone enters into the DJs system and can be collected in an output plug on any speaker.
Best for
Plugging into a DJ's system.
Why I love it
Dual recording tracks (one with safety levels) = peace of mind.
Support Gear
SmallRig Full Camera Cage & Stop/Start Recording Handle
For everything other than the ceremony and speeches, I am handheld. I have deep reservations against using a gimbal (you can see all my opinions in this blog post about what equipment the videographers uses). I can be nimble and reactive with a handheld device, and will be able to move around a lot quicker and have my wrists last throughout the day without the added weight of a gimbal. My husband calls my primary camera set up my "very expensive steering wheel".
I chose the recording handle to have the capabilities of giving my left hand a start/stop button for recording. I still mostly do this with my left hand, but it has come in use on occasion, and honestly would allow me to option to customize the record button on the base to a quick key that is more useful.
I utilize a monopod whenever we're going to be stationary for majority of filming: such as the cermeony and speeches. This allows me to move with the couple, and then set down the primary camera to be able to leave it in place while I check on the other two cameras.
Tripods are where my B- and C-cameras hand out on during the ceremony and speeches. These ones are lightweight, and easily to set up and take down, with the reliable quick release plate for quick and easy set up.
Random but Crucial Accessories
You can never have too many Sony rechargeable batteries! Along with Amazon essential AAs and AAAs as backup. I personally don't need AAAs, but keep them on hand in case anyone happens to need a backup.
Lens cloths & Zeiss disposable lens cloths
A NiSi VND filter for the A-camera and Zeiss polarizers for B- and C-cameras
3 types of cables to be able to hook into any DJ set up (without the DJ coming up with excuses why I cannot plug in. Yes, this has happened)
iPhone mount for the primary camera (since content creating is becoming a thing!)
In case of emergency kit: sewing kit, shoe buffers, Tylenol, Mentos, oil blotting strips, tissues, hot hands hand warmers. You name it. Anything that I have a thought of "oh, I should have had this to help!" always always always ends up in my bag for those clutch just-in-case moments.
SD cards galore!
I am certain I am missing something at this point.
Takeaways: Advice for Couples and Creators
For Couples:
The gear your videographer carries isn’t just about fancy cameras — it’s about trust. I bring this kit because your story deserves to be documented with precision, care, and creativity. Everything is chosen to help your wedding video not just look beautiful — but feel authentic.
For Videographers:
This list wasn’t built overnight. My advice? Rent before you buy. My current tradition with my last wedding of the season is to rent the gear I may want to upgrade to for next season. Start with a solid hybrid camera and (1) versatile prime focal length (I prefer 35 mm, but the 50 mm FE f/1.8 is very lightweight and affordable at $250) and (2) a solid zoom lens (24-70 mm Zeiss OSS is great and under 1k). Then grow your kit with intent, based on how you shoot, what focal lengths you gravitate towards and where your creative instincts pull you.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Got questions about any of the gear I listed? Want help choosing between a lens or upgrading your monitor? I’d love to chat — whether you're a couple planning your dream wedding or a filmmaker planning your next big gear move.
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If you enjoyed the blog post above, make sure to check out more of my work in my blog or wedding portfolio. Check out feature films too! If you are interested in having me film your wedding, head over to my wedding package pricing page or feel free to contact me!
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