THE FILMMAKER
ROO STAIN
MIDLANDS, ENGLAND
My camera setup has had a bit of an overhaul recently, moving from prime lenses to a complete zoom setup. My philosophy with gear is that every item needs to have a positive impact on my filmmaking, either by solving problems that can cause friction on a busy wedding day or by significantly improving the quality of the sound and visuals.
Wedding gear is always a compromise. It’s about achieving the best possible results with the least amount of setup and the fewest opportunities for something to go wrong. I also try to keep everything as minimal as possible. This entire setup fits into one camera bag, one shoulder bag, and a tripod bag, allowing me to transport my full kit by myself in a single trip.
A-CAM
SONY A7SIII
sony 28-70 f2
Urth 86mm ND2-400 Variable ND
I don’t think any of us realised just how groundbreaking this camera was when it launched. I’ve had mine for six years now, and there still hasn’t been a camera body that offers enough for me to justify upgrading. I used to shoot the entire day with a 55mm f/1.8 on my A7S III, switching to a 35mm f/1.8 for certain scenarios, but now I simply use the 28–70mm f/2 all day.
I’ve been amazed by the image quality of the 28–70mm, and having such a versatile focal range in a single lens removes the stress of making a lens choice just as the ceremony is about to start. This change has had a really positive impact on my work, allowing me to react more quickly to moments as they happen while also adding greater variety to my films.
To counteract the weight of the lens making the camera feel front-heavy, I’ve added a SmallRig cage. Attached to this are a top handle, which I mainly use for carrying the camera when I’m not shooting, a Sennheiser MKE 400 shotgun microphone for capturing high-quality ambient sound, a Spider Holster adapter, and a hot shoe thread so I can mount my camcorder.
For filters, I use the Urth ND2–400 variable ND. It has an impressive 1–8.6 stop range, meaning I never need to swap filters during the day.
B-CAM
SONY A7IV
My B-Cam usually sits up at the front during the ceremony on the opposite side of my A-Cam. I use the 24-70 so it can start off as a wide safety shot during the start of the ceremony then I can adjust it to a tighter shot of the groom for the vows that mirrors the shot of the bride on my A-Cam. For speeches I use it as a wide safety angle usually high up on a tripod.
I have never been fully convinced by the A7IV, I don’t like the fact there is a crop in 4k/50 and I have had it overheat on me on two separate occasions. It was a decent upgrade to the A7III and A7C I had at the time and it’s great for when I do a photo gig, but I would love to swap it out for an A7V at some point.
C-CAM
SONY A7IV
Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD
My C-Cam usually sits in the aisle during the ceremony with my Tamron 70-180 or occasionally the Tamron 28-75 if the aisle is short. For speeches this camera with the 70-180 is either my main shot of the speaker or a reaction shot of the couple.
LENSES
SONY 28-70 f2
A-Cam
Urth 86mm ND2-400 Variable ND
An absolute powerhouse of a lens, the only lens I need for my A-Cam. Pricey but worth every single penny. The Urth ND2-400 variable ND is the best I’ve found. Insane range so I don’t need to change it all day and hard stops so you have full control over it.
SONY 24-70 F2.8 GM II
B-CAM
Wonderfully sharp and versatile lens, a bit overkill for a B-Cam lens but before the 28-70 it was my main lens for photography too, so worth the expense for me.
TAMRON 70-180 f/2.8 Di III VXD
C-Cam
I think this is potentially the most underrated lens in the world, super cheap for a lens with such range and sharpness. It pretty much stays on my C-Cam and offers a great shot of the groom reaction during the ceremony and a nice tight of the couple during the vows. It also allows me to get a tight shot of the speaker during the speeches whilst remaining out of the view of guests.
TAMRON 28-75 f/2.8 Di III VXD G2
C-CAM
Occasionally used on my C-Cam during ceremonies if the 70-180 is a bit too tight, great value for money and super light.
SONY 85 f/1.8
Used for speeches
This lens only comes out of the bag occasionally when I need a little bit extra reach for my A-Cam during speeches, if I need to pack light this is the first item I will sacrifice.
AUDIO
Sennhiser MKE400
ON-CAMERA AUDIO
Ambient audio has been a big focus of my work recently, I love the layer of depth it adds to a film. For a relatively cheap mic the sound quality is great and really focuses in on the sound source directly in front of it, which is great for isolating audio in a loud environment.
SONY TX650
QTY:6 – CEREMONY & SPEECHES AUDIO
Many filmmakers have moved onto more elaborate sound recorders but the TX650 are still my go to, rock solid and so easy to use, the battery life will last about 3 weddings too, not that I’d ever push it that far. The only downside is how they look visually when clipped into a pocket, but now I have MicMags to hide them I have no reason to use any other sound recording device.
MICMAGS
QTY:6 – magnetic adapters for tx650
The MicMags have been a revelation for me, my TX650 clips were starting to look a bit worse for wear and I was in the process of swapping them out for new TX660, but now I can hide the clips using the MicMags I can continue using my old TX650s. I have both Blend sets which allow me to match the colour of the magnet to different clothing, this is perfect for attaching a recorder to a dress, the mic can be completely disguised.
RooDogs
QTY:4 – wind noise reducers for sony tx650 mics
I invented the RooDogs as they were something I desperately needed, custom wind noise reducers for the TX650. My main use case is for the TX650 attached to the venue Mic as it dramatically cuts out heavy breathing noises when someone holds the mic too close, but they are also super useful during outdoor ceremonies too.
Mic straps
QTY:4 – elasatic straps for tx650 mics
These are an essential item in my kit, they allow me to neatly strap a TX650 to the venues microphone and this is my preferred audio source for the speeches. It can be cleaned up using Adobe Podcast to sound as good as a feed from the desk but it also captures a bit of the ambient which you can choose to leave in during laughter and applause so the sound is more immersive. I also have a version of this strap designed specifically to attach to lectern mics, which is perfect for capturing readings in a church ceremony.
ZOOM F3
FIELD RECORDER FOR AUDIO DESK FEEDS
I only take this to weddings where I know I can get a feed from the audio desk but to be honest with the improvement in sound repair software, I would much prefer to use the TX650 audio as they capture more ambient which I can either choose to kill or bring in. Audio from a desk feed feels a bit too sterile for me and doesn’t pick up the laughter in the room.
CAMCORDER
sony HDR-c130e
vintage digital camcorder
A new addition to the bag, I bought this camera for £70 off Vinted and it has been a great investment. I usually hand it over to the bridal party and they get some great footage that only a friend of the couple could get. It’s like having a free second shooter that has unparalleled access to the guests and couple. I chose this particular model because it records onto an SD card and is super easy to use, just open up the screen and it’s ready to go.
DRONE
dji mini 3 pro
under 250g
Love this drone, it was such a massive upgrade to my original Mavic. The only downside is how long it takes to connect and be ready to fly, but I think that might be the same across all drones. Although I’ve had it a while I’ve not felt the need to upgrade, there’s not much more I would need from a drone to be honest.
LIGHTING
Yongnuo YN300 II
led panel lights
I’ve had these lights for years and they are perfect for lighting up the dancefloor, one in each corner on a light stand at low power is enough to add some shape to the footage without destroying the vibe of the dancefloor. I pulled off the barn doors so they look more aesthetically pleasing when I’m shooting into them.
accessories
Victiv 81″ tripod
QTY:3 – compact travel tripod
These tripods are super compact but can extend really high, great for getting those safety angles over the top of guests.
Manfrotto lightstands
compact travel lightstands
These have been battered and bent over the years but still going strong, I light every dancefloor but don’t want to take up much room. These do the job.
spider holster
camera carrying system
The spider holster clips to my belt allowing me to attach my camera when I need both hands free, super useful when carrying gear across a venue.
Folding Scissors
pocketable scissors
These get used every single wedding during bridal prep, there is always something that needs cutting. Anything I can do to help speed things up at that point in the day is invaluable because it means I can get to the ceremony in plenty of time to setup. They’re also useful for unstitching suit pockets when I need to mic someone up.
smallrig multi tool
folding tool set
Always handy to have on me, mainly used to tighten up tripod legs.
