A new piece of gear can change the way you shoot and make or break the 8-10 hours you spend photographing a wedding day. One the products I added to my bag this year is Hold Fast Gear, and it has become a favorite. I upgraded my single Black Rapid Strap for the handmade leather “moneymaker” and the ability to carry two cameras at once. I knew I wanted to have access to two cameras so that I could shoot with two different prime lenses without switching them on and off, and I preferred the leather over the nylon webbing of my previous strap. So after spotting it first on Instagram I spent some time researching and purchased it halfway through the year. So, here are a few more thoughts on the product…

advantages : holds two cameras, looks good (I’ve been complimented every wedding on it), breaks in over time and gets more comfortable, distributes weight well so you use your back and not just shoulders

disadvantages : only two screws included so switching to a third camera take a bit of time (you can buy extra clips though), hair can get pulled if it’s down, you really have to wear two cameras to make the strap effective

Even though the first time I put it on I felt like I was getting suited up for an equestrian event, it became a topic of conversation with guests at a wedding. I’m all for natural ice-breakers, since it makes taking pictures even easier! It was very convenient to wear two cameras, however to go down to just one I would either get out my other strap or just put all of them away and hold it for the remainder of the day. This usually happens during the reception when I’m shooting with off camera flash and just one camera set up. Overall, I love it, and thought you would too!

What have been your favorite new products – or have changed the way you shoot? It’s time to start making a plan for next year so we can all do what we love once again and do it even better.