A wedding in Phoenix taught me to pack a backup camera body

I was filming a ceremony last June when my main camera just died, no warning. The second shooter handed me their spare, and we didn't miss a beat. Do you guys always bring a backup body, or is that overkill for smaller gigs?

3 comments

3 Comments

brianmurray1d ago

Oh man, I was totally in the "overkill" camp for a long time. I figured for a small local job, what are the odds? Then my shutter locked up right before a first dance. Never again. That sick feeling in your stomach isn't worth it. My backup body lives in the bag now, no matter the gig size.

the_diana23h ago

Yeah, the "overkill" feeling lasts right up until you're staring at a dead camera and a panicking bride. I learned my lesson after a battery decided to swell shut during family portraits. That backup body is basically a security blanket that also takes pictures.

wade_west5622h ago

My buddy thought the same thing until his camera got soaked by a surprise downpour at an outdoor vow renewal. He was just left holding a paperweight while the couple said "I do" again. That backup body went from a maybe to a must-have that same day.