From the get-go, HoldFast’s allegiance lies in this: steadfast dedication to professional photographers and the systems they utilize. Committed to paving the way, HoldFast gear accentuates style while also performing comfortably and efficiently. Responsible for creating a new genre within the industry, we’re changing the way photographers look and feel while doing their best work.
In this series, you’ll hear stories of HoldFast gear and the photographers–the pioneers, the adventurers, the originals–that use them. This is How You HoldFast.
As both a film and digital photographer, Michelle Leach has learned to adapt as the situation calls for it. As the owner and principal photographer behind Magnolia Adam’s Photography, Leach serves the state of Oklahoma and beyond, having been featured in countless publications from Vogue Italia to Southern Weddings to Cottage Hill Magazine. Her number one goal when shooting is to tell the story that’s being told in the moment, focusing on her love for the people she meets and has the opportunity to work with and capturing oftentimes some of the biggest moments of her clients life exactly how they’ll remember when looking back 10 years from now.
Leach became familiar with HoldFast Gear via social media, purchasing a Money Maker right off the bat.
“Practically, when I started shooting weddings, I didn’t know if my business model would include an assistant or just me. The need to wear two cameras with two different focal lengths was important, so I picked up the Money Maker first,” Leach explains. It’s been five years since Leach began shooting, where she focused mostly on weddings and portraits.
“I love being able to witness a moment without holding all of my gear in my hands. When my gear is screwed in and safety locked, I’m confident it is not going anywhere. One feature I’ve found to be helpful is how well made everything is,” Leach says. With a combination of high grade leather, anchored metal d-rings and safety straps that connect to the side lug mount of the camera, completely bypassing the clip and screw, Money Makers set up photographers for the ultimate security for their gear. The impeccably versatile design makes this an essential tool for the modern photographer.
The reliability of HoldFast gear is something that impresses Leach, in addition to the quality of the product; HoldFast gear is incredibly well-made, and good-looking.
“I first and foremost loved the look of Holdfast. Because HoldFast designs equipment that looks good, and I was familiar with their brand, I grabbed the Camera Leash Wrist Strap for reception times. During a wedding day, the Camera Leash is used for receptions, but when I shoot portraits during the week I also use it. It’s convenient and since I’m only wearing it for an hour or two at the most, it doesn’t hurt. My neck and shoulder areas can be sore after weddings, so I enjoyed distributing the weight.”
Besides using the Camera Leash for hand-holding a camera, a game-changing moment came when another photographer adapted the Wrist Strap in another way for Leach.
“John Cu–another amazing film photog–got one of my Camera Leashes attached to my light meter. It was a difficult task, and I’m sure his fingers felt the strain, but having my light meter attached to a wrist strap has been incredibly helpful. I can just pick up my meter, measure the light, allow the meter to stay at my side in case I have to meter again quickly,” Leach says.
Leach also invested in a Mini Ruck Strap for her assistant to use when working as a second shooter.
“Since I am a hybrid shooter, I have a lot of extra (little) gear to hold, like Contax batteries and film. All of my equipment is separated in different sections in my Sightseer Len Bag. I also keep gum, lip gloss, my wrist strap and exposed film in my bag. Using my HoldFast gear allows me to keep everything organized and at my fingertips in case something goes wrong. For all my heavy duty shooting, I use Holdfast almost exclusively.”
Contact Info:
Magnolia Adam’s Photography
Webstite: www.magnoliaadamsweddings.com
Instagram: @magnoliaadams
Email: magnoliaadamsphotography@gmail.com
