Environmental Portraiture: Tell Your Subject’s Story and Create Dynamic Portraits with One Bag of Gear

Just the Essentials

I work alone and I hate carrying gear. Walking into an office for an environmental portrait, I carry over my shoulder all the equipment I need to make a great photograph. Below is my list of all the big stuff. I tried to find more because what I carry sounds measly. But when all is said and done, it works. So, in this slightly heavy bag is ultimately the following:

• One camera body

• Three lenses

• Two speedlights or flashes

• Fold-up stand (with a bracket for a speedlight)

• Bag-pocket contents:

• Gels for my flash (because office light is usually bad light)

• Light modifiers for my flash (a homemade snoot and a Pocket Bouncer—both of which Velcro onto the speedlight)

• Batteries for the camera and speedlights

• Compact ...