Reginald Cunningham is a music and portrait photographer, and the creative force behind Pure Black Photography, a visual storytelling brand rooted in authenticity, culture, and power. Known for his compelling portraits and documentary work, he uses photography as a tool to amplify Black stories and celebrate everyday beauty with cinematic depth. Based in Washington D.C., his work spans music, editorial, and social impact, driven by a commitment to representation and truth.
Product Preview – In This Article You’ll Find:
–Sony Alpha 7R V
–Sony Alpha 7CR
–Sony ZV-1 II
–Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II
–Sony 35mm f/1.8
–Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries
Cunningham started in music photography almost seven years ago covering local concerts and shows. "Photography was just supposed to be a bridge between careers for me, but I constantly felt pulled towards it as a career. I’m grateful I answered that call!” Between high-energy concerts and needing to be mobile, he needs a lightweight and well-performing kit – keep reading as he shares what’s in his bag.
Cameras
Sony Alpha 7R V: This is my main photo camera. The autofocus CLUTCH! The 61MP sensor allows me to crop my images in post without losing quality to still produce high quality images. When shooting portraits, the high resolution gives so much detail! I love that this camera is versatile enough to allow me to do slower work like portraits and editorial, as well as fast-paced work like concerts and street.
Photo by Reginald Cunningham. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/400-sec., f/4, ISO 1250
Sony Alpha 7CR: This is the newest addition to my kit. I love how lightweight and mobile it is, while also having the same sensor as the A7R V. I love using this camera when I only use one camera and need to be super mobile. The articulating screen is helpful for different angled photos. I also love the placement of the viewfinder, which allows one eye to keep an eye on the action while I use the other to compose the photo.
Photo by Reginald Cunningham. Sony Alpha 7CR. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 1250
Sony ZV-1 II: I love using this small camera to get quick shots, or record short video clips. It gives me the amazing autofocus features in a camera that fits in the palm of my hand!
Lenses
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II: I LOVE this lens. It is hands down my favorite for concerts, especially when shooting outside of the photo pit. I’ll often pair this lens with the APS-C crop mode on my camera to get a little extra reach. It offers great compression in a super lightweight form factor.
Photo by Reginald Cunningham. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/160-sec., f/2.8, ISO 800
Sony 35mm f/1.8: This is a great small lens and one of my favorite focal lengths. The 1.8 minimum aperture allows for quality images in low light. I pair this with my A7CR for a super compact kit.
Photo by Reginald Cunningham.
Accessories
Sony NP-FZ100 Batteries: I always keep extra batteries on me. This allows me to just leave my cameras switched on so that I’m always ready to capture the action moments.
Extra Memory Cards: I get anxiety about formatting my memory cards, so I always just keep extras in my bag!
Photo by Reginald Cunningham. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/400-sec., f/5, ISO 640
Filters: Whether it’s a star, a mist, or some other effect, filters are a great way to add a creative touch to concert photos.
Battery Packs: I always keep one or two batter packs on me for both my phone and my cameras, just in case I need a quick battery boost.
Lil Wayne – photo by Reginald Cunningham. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/250-sec., f/4.5, ISO 2000
Camera Harness: I love the look and feel of my leather harnesses for my cameras. I have a single and a double harness, depending on the job and what I’m carrying.
Body Fan: I get hot easily, especially when working music festivals! Keeping a small fan I can clip to my belt is a great way to help me beat the heat while creating.
See more of Reginald Cunningham’s work on Instagram @kidnoble and at bepureblack.com.
