Canon ambassador Sanjay Jogia travels the world as a luxury wedding photographer, named as one of the top 6 wedding photographers in the world and with multiple SWPP and WPPI awards, Sanjay is known for his balance of posed and unposed images that are bursting with emotion and charm.
We’ll be hosting a wedding photography livestream and event with Sanjay in association with Canon next week, so thought we’d have a quick catch up with him beforehand to talk about his wedding photography kit and life as a Canon Ambassador.
What is your essential equipment for shooting a wedding?
My full kit for a wedding shoot consists of:
- 1DX Mark II (x2 for me and x6 overall for the team)
- EOS R
- EF 70-200mm f/2.8 Mark III
- EF 24-70mm f/2.8 Mark II
- EF 16-35mm f/2.8
- EF 135mm f/2
- EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro
- EF 50mm f/1.2
- EF 85mm f/1.2
- EF 24mm f/1.4
- RF 28-70mm f/2
- RF 50mm f/1.2
- RF 35mm f/1.8 IS
- 600 EX-RT Speedlite
- ST-E3 RT Speedlite Trigger
- Profoto B1 x2
- Various Profoto Modifiers
- Manfrotto Tripod
- Manfrotto Light-stands x12
- Lee Filters
Sanjay’s full kit bag can be found over on CVP Kits.
Do you have a favourite lens you like to work with?
My favourite is a clear split between the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS Mark III, or the RF 28-70mm f/2.
What is your favourite photography accessory that is a must have in your kit bag?
My Soft Graduated Lee Filters! I always have them with me.
Being a Canon ambassador, how has working with them impacted your photography, in terms of equipment and camera advancement in recent years?
I’ve been a Canon Ambassador for a little over a year as we write this, but in that year I have witnessed the beginning of the biggest change in Canon Cameras since the EOS system was first introduced. This development into mirrorless and beyond is very exciting because of the optical possibilities that the new arrangement presents – for example the RF 28-70mm f/2 which renders beautiful and sharp images that I haven’t seen in anywhere else. I first began photography on my dad’s Canon AE-1 film camera, so I had seen the shift from the FD mount to the EF Mount and now the RF Mount.
How did you find shooting a wedding with the EOS R particularly after only a short amount of time to familiarise yourself with the camera?
This was an incredibly revealing situation! The Cameras only arrived the morning of the wedding on the day of it’s announcement but before it was on sale meaning that this was the first wedding photographed on the EOS-R anywhere in the world. Because they were some of the first few EOS-R’s in circulations, there was no instruction manual for me to refer to either! This however was not an issue because the design, ergonomics and menu system all felt very familiar despite the plethora of customisation that is possible with this camera. Even the all new focussing system was easy to grasp whether you use the new native RF lenses or your existing EF lenses with an adapter.
What equipment would you recommend for somebody looking to get into wedding photography?
Photographing a wedding is a huge responsibility of a once-in-a-lifetime event so it’s important that you invest in good equipment overall. Camera bodies are designed to help you cope with challenging situations like the EOS-R, 5D series or 1D series with at least a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm to cover the various focal lengths you will need throughout the day – however I would add that using prime lenses like a 24mm, 35mm, 50mm or 85mm will force you to think more on the shoot, work harder for the image and in turn be more creative. Think also about artificial lighting like the range of Speedlites that Canon offers for difficult conditions which can easily be used off-camera for a more creative approach.
Sanjay will be live in the studio with us on 24th April from 12.30pm to discuss his wedding photography career and give advice on dealing with the pressures of shooting a wedding, as well as his work with Canon, he will also be answering any questions you may have. The livestream with Sanjay can be found on CVP Live or over on our YouTube from 12.30pm on the 24th April.
The following day, come and spend the day at our Studley office with Sanjay and Canon, getting tips and tricks from the expert for capturing the best shot on a wedding day. You will get hands on experience with Canon’s DSLR range including the EOS 1DX MK II and EOS 5D range as well as the EOS Cinema range. We will have a trip up to the local church to put the tips and tricks into action with realistic wedding scenario’s to try out the Canon cameras. The day is free to attend and all info and registration details can be found on our dedicated events page.