Our Gear: What We Use for Cappadocia Shoots

One of the most frequent questions we receive from our clients is: "What gear do you use?" In photography, equipment is not everything — reading light, capturing the moment, and connecting with people matter far more. But the right tools make it easier to turn your vision into reality. Here is the gear we never leave behind on Cappadocia shoots.

Camera Bodies and Lenses

Our primary body is the Sony A7 IV — it offers an excellent balance for both photography and video. As a backup body, we use the Sony A7C II; its compact build is a significant advantage in narrow street shoots and travel situations. The reason we carry two bodies is simple: we want to minimize lens changes in Cappadocia's dusty and windy conditions.

Our lens lineup:

Sony 35mm f/1.4 GM — Our most-used lens. Essential for environmental portraits, couple shoots, and wide landscape frames. During sunrise sessions, this lens rarely comes off.

Sony 85mm f/1.4 GM — The portrait king. We use it for facial details, emotional gazes, and bokeh effects. Particularly favored during proposal and elopement shoots.

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II — Steps in when flexibility is needed. Our go-to for group sessions, family portraits, and situations requiring quick transitions.

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II — For capturing natural moments from a distance. During intimate couple moments, it allows us to shoot without the subjects feeling the photographer's presence.

Drone, Lighting, and Accessories

For aerial photography, we use the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. Cappadocia's unique landscape cannot be fully conveyed without a drone — a frame gliding over the fairy chimneys adds an entirely different dimension to the shoot. We always obtain the required legal permits and strictly follow safety regulations.

Natural light is our primary source, and Cappadocia provides it generously. But we always carry the following support equipment:

Profoto A2 — Portable flash. A lifesaver during cave hotel shoots and dark interior spaces. We blend it with natural light so it never looks harsh or artificial.

Reflector (5-in-1) — Simple but effective. We frequently use it to fill light on faces during sunrise sessions.

Stabilizer (DJI RS 3 Pro) — Used for smooth motion in video work. It makes a real difference in walking shots and follow sequences.

Our philosophy on gear is this: the best equipment is the equipment you do not think about during the shoot. We know our gear so well that during a session, all our attention is on you — not on technical details. That is a reflex that comes from years of practice.

Why We Chose This Gear

Cappadocia is not a standard studio environment. Dusty roads, sudden light changes, wind, high hilltops, and narrow cave passages — our equipment needs to be both durable and flexible. The Sony mirrorless system, with its lightweight build and speed performance, is our choice as the system that best adapts to these conditions.

Before every shoot, we check our gear, keep batteries fully charged, and prepare backup memory cards. In Cappadocia, you may not always get a second chance — those balloons rise once and that moment cannot be repeated. That is why technical preparation is a sacred ritual for us.

If you are curious about our equipment and shooting process, explore our experiences or contact us with your questions.