I‘m so delighted to bring you so more What’s In Your Kit interviews in the coming weeks. I have some fabulous photographers lined up and today’s amazingly talented interviewee is wedding photographer, Jill Thomas.

You may know Jill’s work from her beautiful blog where she shares her mostly wedding portraits that are always so natural and full of gorgeous light. I really love the beautiful compositions Jill creates with her camera. Of course, Jill loves film as much as I do, so it was natural that I would fall in love with her photographs.

MB:  What is/are your camera/s of choice and why?

Jill: Contax 645 – because it is a medium format camera that allows me to work at my fast pace during weddings.  Also the images that come from this camera are just artistically beautiful.

Canon IV: A 35mm camera that is amazing.  It allows me to use my favourite Canon lenses when I want to shoot wide angle.  When talking Canon or Nikon 35mm – it is the best out there.

MB:Which are your favourite lenses to work with and why?

Jill: Zeiss 80mm – Zeiss glass is amazing.  If you have not pick up a Carl Zeiss lens, do so!  This lens is tack sharp, but because of the use of film, is still soft. I want my images to be simple and speak for themselves. The 80mm is perfect for this. It allows me to have an artistic but timeless style.

On my canon IV, my favourite lens is my 35mm 1.4.  I love this lens because it is slightly wide angle.  I am capturing images that are wider than the eye sees but this lens does not distort. It grabs a person’s eye because it is different just slightly. It is perfect to add a little artistic edge to your images. I just love it.

MB:What equipment do you prefer to use to shoot portraits?

Jill: Contax 645 with my 80mm – this is my first go to camera.

MB: Tell us about a camera that you just love to have fun with.

Jill: So I am crazy about cameras! I have way too many. I do not collect cameras because to me that says they just sit there and that makes my heart ache. I find cameras at thrift stores, antique stores, and on ebay. I shoot with them all and they all are in working order.

My fun street photography camera is my Hasslebad 500C/M – I slow down, wind the camera and compose each shot. Strangers just look amazing to me in the camera.
If I am bringing a camera with me on an outing with my kids, I bring my Brownie or Holga. I think my kids look so dang cute in these cameras. They are soft and just capture their moments perfect.

My favourite Polaroid is my Polaroid 600SE. I love Fuji film. This is how I love to capture my family. I love those Fuji images in my album. The lens is a Mamiya lens and it is so sharp. This camera gives you amazing instant photos.

My favourite artistic Polaroid is my Polaroid SX-70. I love details with this camera. Settings, scenery, and objects. I have these photos framed all over my home.
What I love about film is that every type of film and every camera capture moments differently. So I have found what cameras I love for what situations. Of course I love to mix it up and try new things … what photographer doesn’t? It is grabbing new cameras, trying new films, and shooting new things, that keep me inspired.

MB: What do you carry your equipment in?

Jill: All my equipment is in an old vintage hutch I purchased at an old beach shop. I love it. When I am shooting for fun, I just bring one camera with me at a time. It is like I picked my baby for the day. I have 2 kids and am pregnant, so I cannot carry a bunch on me.
If I am shooting a wedding, I have a roller Tenba suitcase and a Tamrac bag. I also love my Shootsac. My shootsac is not necessarily a lens sac, it is a film sac. Its compartments are perfect for keeping your film organized and ready.

MB: Is there one piece of equipment/set up that you would recommend to a newbie shooter?

Jill: For a newbie FILM photographer, I would recommend grabbing a Canon 35mm and just shooting your heart away. The Canon IN is on ebay for like $150 and is a great camera. If you have that and a good lens like the 50mm 1.2 or the 85mm 1.2 – you would be ready … just shoot away. Try new film types, to find what film best represents you. Find what films work best when and where. Also pick up an instant and stay inspired.  you can get the Polaroid 340 land camera very inexpensive as well. It is so fun to work with Fuji film and this is a great camera to start experimenting on.
Just to add: one camera I don’t own and is next on my list is the Leica M6. It is an amazing 35mm that will soon become my best friend!

Thank you SO much Jill for those wonderfully informative answers. What a treat this was! You literally named all my most coveted cameras and you own them all! I think I’ll have to come over and raid your camera closet some day.

To see more of Jill’s work, please visit her site and blog and you can follow her here on twitter.

Please join me in thanking Jill for this great interview in the comments below. :)

Related posts:

1. What’s In Your Kit? with Elizabeth Messina
2. What’s In Your Kit? With Lisa Warninger
3. Thomas Haas, I Love You
4. What’s In Your Kit? with Cannelle et Vanille