I typically do studio based work where I can have a rolling hard case with all the gear I need. I'm going to be shooting my first wedding and am trying to figure out how to carry my gear. I plan on using 2 bodies, with a wide and tele. Other than that.. will have a few other pieces of miscellaneous gear nothing too large or outlandish. Any recommendations on backpacks or slings to carry everything but not be held down?
I have many bags...2 Lowepro sling bags, a Lowepro backpack, and 2 Lowepro rolling cases (1 large and 1 medium). I've done a few weddings so I'm still fairly new to all of this but I can tell you that I've found that I don't need to carry ALL of my equipment with me. First off, if you can get an assistant to work the event with you, it'll be a HUGE help. I've done weddings with and without an assistant. It can be done solo...but you'll be drenched with sweat in the end. LOTS of running and that creates stress which makes you sweat. Even if your assistant isn't a 2nd shooter, having them there to change lenses, set up lights, move equipment, gather guests, etc. will alleviate so much pressure for you. You're not going to want to be wearing a backpack while you're moving around in the church or wedding facility, reception, etc. It WILL get in the way...and it doesn't look too professional.
So...with that assistant in place (usually my wife), I travel with my Lowepro rolling cases to house all of my gear. I do have 2 camera bodies and I'll carry both of those on my using a Black Rapid RS DR-1 double strap. It fits on like a backpack and each camera hangs securely at my side. I don't get why some "pros" use the OEM camera straps and keep slinging their cameras over their shoulders. At any point, one of those cameras could easily slip off of your shoulder and crash to the ground. I really think some "pros" think it looks cool but I can't stand it. HA!
With a camera on each side, I can carry a 24-70 lens on one side and a 70-200 lens on the other. For any given moment, you probably won't need any of your other gear outside of those 2 lenses so the rest of your equipment can remain in the rolling cases. Your assistant could hold a flash on a monopod or something to help with lighting at times. The other lenses I bring for the wedding are my 16-35mm wide angle and 105mm macro. When it comes time to use those lenses, I can swap out one at a time on my camera bodies and still be pretty mobile. So I might keep the 24-70 on one body and put the wide angle on the other for some location shots. Or keep the 24-70 on one body and the macro on the other for some ring or bouquet shots. I've found that I always have time to go to the back to get any additional items.
I prefer to have the rolling cases because they carry a lot of miscellaneous items like lens cleaning cloths, batteries, spare strap, sweat towels, etc. And the rolling cases are a lot harder to steal than a backpack. Not only are they larger but they're heavier. If anyone DID run off with them, they'll be slowed down by the size and weight. That's another area where the assistant comes in handy. Keep your gear in a common area with people around...don't store it in a back office of the church or anything. That's too easy to be stolen. There's safety in numbers!
backup equipment, flash, lights etc.. less bags are better than more. i use a pelican case which i can roll it around and knowing that it is hard and safe. i had a KATA bag once and a car almost roll it over.
Lowepro Compu Trekker 450 AW. Awesome bag. I get 4 bodies, 2 flashes and 8 lenses in it.
Weddings are no stress solo at all. Shot over 200 that way.
I've shot weddings full time for about 4-5 years and have got my kit down as small as I can, too much weight slows you down on the day, kills your back, and makes travelling annoying. At the moment I'm shooting with an ONA Prince Street "messenger" style bag which is nice and small but holds 2 of my 3 wedding lenses - no lens or rear caps for faster changing - a flash with ofc trigger and my spare body. That makes it pretty full and my main body and 1 lens doesn't fit in it but thats in my hands or on my shoulder all day at a wedding. I prefer shooting one body and primes and the ONA makes changing lenses easy and fast.