Drew Peden (@drewpeden) is a professional photographer and videographer who first picked up a camera in 2016 and knew from that very moment that it was his calling. With a passion and focus on landscape, adventure and lifestyle content, he feels that his work is representative of his life. Drew has worked with over 30 brands on a  variety of content shoots. His love for travel has taken him all over the United States and to Iceland. His goal is to travel the world more with his Sony cameras in hand. Check out what gear Drew relies on for his storytelling and creative endeavors as he explains each piece in his kit below.

Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7 IV
–Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master
–Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master

I fell even more in love with my Sony gear on my most recent trip to Iceland. On this trip, I was on a brand shoot to capture product photography, but anyone who knows anything about Iceland, knows that that weather is extremely unpredictable. Getting caught in the middle of a rain storm during a shoot is never fun, but with Sony gear I knew I didn’t have to worry about damaging anything. This opportunity allowed me to capture some wonderful product shots that otherwise wouldn’t have happened.

Cameras

Sony Alpha 7 IV: I have always believed that less is more, and tend to  only travel with one camera body at a time to keep packing simple and light! I tend to be very meticulous when setting up for a shot, so there’s  no need for multiple bodies! The Sony Alpha 7 IV is the perfect hybrid camera making it effortless to switch between photo and video no matter  what the subject is. The Alpha 7 IV is a beast of a camera and the 33MP allows for cropping with no worries about losing image quality! The quality of camera bodies and lenses that you get is extremely important and I know that with Sony, it is a worthy investment for my career and my future.

Photo by Drew Peden. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/8, ISO 250

I find my Sony gear is beneficial when it comes to executing my vision on my shoots. The major reason is the ability to crop in-camera as well as in-post production, giving me the versatility and cushion to shoot however I want. In terms of video, the in-camera stabilization makes it super easy to capture stunning and smooth footage without the need for a gimbal or tripod.

Photo by Drew Peden. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/320-sec., f/5.6, ISO 400

Lenses

Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master: This zoom lens is always in my bag. No matter what landscape I’m in front of, the 16-35mm is wide enough to capture the whole scene while providing the sharpest image possible! This lens came in clutch a handful of times when I was traveling around Iceland documenting its vast landscapes.

Photo by Drew Peden. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/200-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: My go-to lens for almost any situation. The iconic focal range is perfect for all things landscape and product photography when I need to punch in to 70mm to get those tighter details.

Photo by Drew Peden. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/500-sec., f/4, ISO 125

These lenses are very beneficial to my video work as well, due to its super sharp auto focus and versatile zoom ranges.

Accessories

Bag: My Nomatic x Peter McKinnon 35L Backpack is my go-to backpack for traveling near or far! It fits all my gear and then some, plus the airline carry on size is a huge bonus!

Drone: A drone is a must have for me regardless of where i’m going, as long as there are no flight restrictions.

Laptop: Not always in my bag, but when I'm out on a trip or a shoot for a few days, My 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro is always by my side for editing.

Gear Pouch: The Peak Design Tech Pouch v2 is the perfect solution for holding all my batteries, cables, SSDs, SD cards, and anything else I need while I'm on a shoot!

SSD: These are a must have in my bag for when I need to offload photos or footage onto my laptop to clear up space on my SD Cards!

Photo by Drew Peden. Sony Alpha 7 IV. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master. 1/250-sec., f/18, ISO 400

Tripod: A sturdy tripod is a must have for landscape photography. My go-to is the XC-M 525CK Carbon Fiber Tripod. It’s lightweight and durability makes it perfect for any situation.

SD/Micro SD Cards: A reliable SD Card is the most important thing in  my camera bag besides my camera of course. I need a card that can  handle the speed I shoot at.

Rocket Duster: No explanation needed. These things should be mandatory in everyone's bags!

Peak Design Wrist Strap: I’ve never been a fan of neck straps, but  there are certain situations where I want just a little extra protection, so  that's where this comes in use perfectly.

REI Puffer Jacket: For when those early morning or late night shoots get a little chilly!

See more of Drew Peden’s work on Instagram @drewpeden.