Get to know your CMteam! We are so often asked what we shoot with, what’s “in our bag”, what bag we carry and so on and so forth. So we’re giving you all a little peek behind the scenes to get to know your CMteam better. A couple of times a month throughout this year and into 2013 we’ll feature a different CMteam member and give you “a peek inside” – a peek inside their bag, their workspace and a peek into their personality with five little things you may not know about them – so FUN!
Today, the fabulous Melissa Koehler is sharing with us! Melissa is a brilliant photographer from California, a long time CMmember, and happily joined the CMteam several months back. Not only is it a treat when she posts on the photography forum but we love it when she shares her knowledge with us here on the blog too!
a peek inside | melissa koehler
My bag is a Kelly Moore Two Sues bag. I love it. It fits all my CF cards and my Canon 5d mark II body with a lens and can also fit my 580EXII flash and two lenses.
A. Canon 70-200 f/2.8L IS
B. Canon 24-70 f/2.8L
C. Canon 100 macro
D. Canon 85 f/1.8
E. Canon 50 f/1.2
I’m pretty simple and don’t carry too much. I have my Quantaray reflector, iPhone, lens cleaner, and business cards.
My main camera is the Mark II (hoping to get the mark III soon) and my backup camera is the original 5D. When I shoot weddings I use both of them, but when I’m shooting portraits I mainly just bring my 5D as a backup. I also have a 20D in my case for weddings just in case (not pictured).
I also have a Sunpak light. This comes in handy as an extra little light source (mainly for weddings). I like to use it for when I do the ring shots.
Also, I keep a 580EXII and a backup flash, the 580EX, in my bag.
We just moved into our new place so I don’t have much up yet for my workspace. I have a Mac Pro computer, Wacom Tablet and some image box, accordion album and DVD case samples on my desk.
Thank you Melissa for sharing with us and letting us see a little inside your world!
Melissa Koehler, California
CM Mentor
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Melissa is a portrait photographer based out of San Diego where she lives with her husband and two sons. Her high school darkroom is where her photography journey began and it has continually evolved over the years, especially after becoming a mother and realizing “that time flies so quickly. She currently shoots with a Canon 5d mark ii and a variety of prime and zoom lenses. I strive to capture not only the big picture, but also the little things.” Her passion is clearly her family and photography but she loves comfy pants, coca cola, Bon Jovi, movie theatre popcorn, and cheeseless pizza.
Read all the ‘a peek inside’ articles.
Thank you for sharing! Would love to know where you found that cute camera bag! :)
I'm not positive.. but it looks a lot like the Kelly Moore bag.
Loved reading more about you Melissa!!! I hope to travel more too one of these days… :)
Thank you for sharing Melissa! ;)
Would love to see how it all fits in the bag. That is a lot of stuff and the bag seems small.
On a typical shoot I have one camera body ( I do keep my backup on my shoulder just in case) there is usually a lens on my MKII and my 70-200 on my backup ( 5D). Then I carry my 50 1.2 and at least one other lens in the bag with one flash. If I'm shooting a wedding I bring my roller bag with me and pack that full of my stuff and just carry the camera body and lens that I need at the moment in my bag so it doesn't get too heavy :)
Hope that helps :)
Thanks Melissa… I am a huge fan also. I love hearing the behind the scenes info from other photographers I admire. What is your favorite lens? I find that I leave my 50 1.2L on my camera almost 90% of the time… but thinking of going for the 85 1.2L. Your work is great! I look at your website all the time for inspiration :)
I need to to thank you for this great read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I have got you book-marked to look at new things you post…