My Essential Gear Kit for Tech Conference Photography

After covering dozens of tech conferences from intimate startup pitches to massive industry events like CES and Google I/O, I’ve refined my gear setup to handle the unique challenges these environments present. Here’s exactly what I pack in my camera bag and why each piece matters.

The Core Camera Setup

Primary Body: Mirrorless Full-Frame My go-to is a Sony α7R V or Canon R5. Tech conferences demand versatility, and these bodies deliver excellent low-light performance for dimly lit keynote halls while providing the resolution needed for detailed product shots. The silent shooting modes are crucial when photographing during presentations – nothing kills the vibe like a loud DSLR shutter during a CEO’s big announcement.

Backup Body: APS-C or Secondary Full-Frame Always bring a second camera body. Conference schedules are unforgiving, and equipment failures happen. I typically carry a Sony α6700 or Canon R7 as my backup. These smaller bodies are perfect for candid networking shots and situations where I need to be less conspicuous.

Lens Strategy: Covering Every Angle

70-200mm f/2.8: The Workhorse This lens lives on my camera 80% of the time. Perfect for keynote photography from the back of the auditorium, speaker close-ups without being intrusive, and isolating subjects in crowded exhibition halls. The fast aperture handles low conference lighting beautifully.

24-70mm f/2.8: The Versatile Companion Essential for booth photography, group shots, and when I need to work closer to the action. This range covers most situations where the 70-200mm is too tight, especially in cramped demo areas or during networking events.

35mm or 50mm f/1.4: The Atmosphere Maker A fast prime for environmental shots that capture the conference energy. Great for wide networking scenes, dramatic keynote moments, and those golden-hour shots during outdoor events or parties.

16-35mm f/2.8: The Context Creator For establishing shots of massive exhibition halls, packed auditoriums, and architectural elements of the venue. Also invaluable for group photos and when I need to show scale – like a tiny presenter on a huge stage.

Lighting: Battling Conference Conditions

On-Camera Flash System A compact flash system like the Godox V1 with magnetic modifiers. Tech conferences often have challenging mixed lighting – stage lights, LCD screens, fluorescent overheads. Having controllable light helps maintain consistent skin tones and fills shadows without being disruptive.

LED Panel A small, battery-powered LED panel for product photography at booths or impromptu interviews. Look for ones with adjustable color temperature to match the ambient lighting conditions.

The Support System

Lightweight Carbon Fiber Tripod Essential for low-light keynotes where I’m shooting from fixed positions. Carbon fiber keeps the weight down when walking miles through exhibition halls. A good ball head with quick-release plates speeds up setup between different shooting positions.

Monopod Sometimes overlooked but incredibly useful for long telephoto work during presentations. Provides stability without the footprint of a tripod, and doubles as a walking stick after 12-hour conference days.

Power and Storage: Never Miss the Shot

Canon LP-E6NH Batteries Pack at least 6-8 LP-E6NH batteries. The R5 can be power-hungry, especially when shooting 4K video clips for clients. I always use the Canon BG-R10 battery grip on my R5 for extended shooting sessions and better balance with those big L lenses.

CFexpress Type B + SD Cards The R5’s dual card slots are perfect for redundancy. I shoot RAW to the CFexpress card for speed and JPEG to SD for quick client previews. SanDisk Extreme Pro CFexpress cards have never let me down, even during rapid-fire keynote sequences.

Portable Power Bank For charging phones, flash units, and LED panels. Look for high-capacity models that can charge multiple devices simultaneously.

The Mobile Command Center

Camera Bag Strategy A rolling bag for the hotel-to-venue transport, plus a comfortable sling bag for walking the show floor. Peak Design and Think Tank make excellent conference-specific bags that provide quick access while protecting gear.

Laptop and Backup Drive For same-day editing, file backup, and client delivery. Many conferences want images turned around within hours for social media and press releases.

Conference-Specific Accessories

Press Credentials Holder Professional lanyard and credential holder. Presentation matters when working with exhibitors and conference organizers.

Business Cards and Portfolio Tech conferences are networking goldmines. Always carry cards and have a mobile portfolio ready on your phone or tablet.

Comfortable Shoes and Knee Pads Not gear in the traditional sense, but essential equipment nonetheless. Conference photography involves lots of walking, kneeling for low angles, and standing for extended periods.

What I Leave at Home

After years of over-packing, I’ve learned what NOT to bring:

  • Heavy telephoto lenses beyond 200mm (venues rarely allow the distance)
  • Large studio strobes (too intrusive and often prohibited)
  • Drone equipment (almost never permitted at conferences)
  • Too many lens options (decision paralysis in fast-moving situations)

Pre-Conference Preparation

Venue Research Study the venue layout, lighting conditions from previous years’ photos, and any photography restrictions. Many conferences publish media guidelines that specify what’s allowed.

Shot List Development Work with clients to identify must-have shots: key speakers, specific booths, networking events, and award ceremonies. Having a clear plan keeps you focused during chaotic conference environments.

The Reality Check

Tech conference photography is physically demanding and technically challenging work. Success comes not just from having the right gear, but from understanding the unique rhythm of these events. The best camera is the one you have ready when the CEO makes an unexpected announcement or when competitors shake hands for the first time.

Your gear should enable storytelling, not complicate it. Every piece in this kit has earned its place through real-world conference shooting, where reliability and speed matter more than having the latest and greatest equipment.

What’s in your conference photography kit? Share your essential gear choices in the comments below – the photography community thrives when we share what actually works in the field.