Bring a Stepladder for a Higher Vantage Point

At weddings, you’re going to be posing and shooting large groups (for your formals), and one trick the pros use is to carry a small, lightweight, collapsible aluminum ladder, like the Conair Travel Smart LadderKart, which doubles as a hand truck to help you move your gear (when you’re not standing on it). It holds up to 300 lbs., and sells for around $70, but I’ve found similar ladders online for as low as $60. Being able to shoot the formal group portraits from a higher angle is a big help, because it enables you to see more faces and arrange your groups more easily. Also, it’s great for shots during the reception, where a higher angle gives you a better view of the bride and groom on the crowded dance floor. Actually, you can put it to use anytime you want a different perspective, plus you can even use it as a posing stool in a pinch. You’ll find this to be an indispensable tool (even if you only wind up using it for lugging your gear).