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Sports Media Day
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items I’m Danny McDonnell, a New Jersey-based photographer and filmmaker specializing in sports photography, portrait photography, and media production. As the founder of Mac Media Productions, I capture everything from high-energy sports moments to studio...
Sections
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Camera Equipment I USE PERSONALLY
Lighting Equipment I USE PERSONALLY
Light Stand/ Accessory I USE PERSONALLY
EDITING Equipment
Backdrop Set Up
Camera Equipment I USE PERSONALLY
This is my go to portrait lens! When it comes to shooting portraits you want to have a compressed lens that will minimize distortion in your subject.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens
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Since I don’t use Rf lenses due to cost a cheap alternative is to get this mount which allows you to use lenses intended for canon dslr and convert it to your mirrorless body
Mount Adapter EF-EOS R
This is my go to lens for events and group photos the 24mm allows you to capture a good amount of space and it ranges up to 70mm which is a perfect portrait focal length.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Zoom Lens
The 17-40mm is a lens I got to shoot Realestate photography the wide focal length allows me to capture a full room maximizing the visibility and appearance of the room itself
Canon 17-40mm f/4 L Review
Canon r6 mk 2 is my go to camera I have been using it for 3 years now and is one of the best canon cameras in the market for mirrorless cameras.
Shop Canon EOS R6 Mark II
This is my first professional camera, now my second camera body if you don't want mirrorless this is my go to option
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Lighting Equipment I USE PERSONALLY
My main lighting setup runs on three Westcott FJ400 II strobes, and honestly, I can’t say enough good things about them. I’m already eyeing another two or three because they’ve become the backbone of every shoot I do from portraits and sports media d... they’ve really changed the way I light.
FJ400 II Touchscreen Strobe with FJ Pro AC/DC Battery (400Ws)
For my backlights, I’m running Westcott FJ200 strobes, and they’ve become a huge part of my lighting setup. I love using them with color gels to add separation, energy, and personality to my portraits — whether that’s a subtle rim light or a full-on ...
FJ200 Strobe
A lot of people forget that to make any of the Westcott FJ lights fire together — whether you’re using the FJ400 II or the FJ200 — you need the FJ-X3 M Universal Wireless Trigger (or the trigger made for your specific camera). The trigger is what all...
FJ-X3 Wireless Flash Trigger
When I’m shooting event coverage, my go-to setup is simple but effective — I mainly use an on-camera flash, the Godox V1 Pro TTL Li-ion Round Head. It’s compact, fast, and reliable, which is exactly what you need when you’re moving through a crowd or...
V1Pro TTL Li-ion Round Head Camera Flash
When I’m covering live events, my lighting setup stays fast and flexible. My main light is the Godox V1 Pro TTL Li-ion Round Head, which stays on-camera — it’s compact, consistent, and delivers beautiful, soft light that works in almost any situation...
AD200Pro II-Product-GODOX Photo Equipment Co.,Ltd.
Light Stand/ Accessory I USE PERSONALLY
For my FJ400 II strobes, I use the Godox Heavy Duty Aluminum Light Stands (286cm / 112 inches) — and they’ve honestly been a game-changer for keeping my lights secure and stable on set. These stands are built solid — heavy-duty aluminum with a wide f...
Godox Heavy Duty Aluminum Photography Tripod
Alongside my main light stands, I always keep a C-Stand on hand for extra flexibility with lighting angles. When I’m working with setups that need a precise key or kicker light, the C-Stand is my go-to. What makes it so useful is the boom arm and gri...
C Stand
The Benro tripod legs have been the most reliable camera support I’ve used. They’re sturdy, smooth, and built to handle anything from long exposure landscapes to high-pressure portrait sessions. The locking mechanisms feel solid, and the legs extend ...
Photo Tripods - Benro US
The Arca-Swiss ball head is perfect for getting every angle when I’m working on sticks. It gives me total freedom to move the camera smoothly in any direction — whether I’m locking in a low angle for portraits or quickly tilting up for overhead shots...
Tripod Heads
The 7-foot umbrella is one of my favorite modifiers when I need big, soft, and even light coverage. It’s perfect for team photos, portraits, and media days where I’m lighting multiple subjects or want that clean, flattering look across the whole fram...
Standard Umbrella - White/Black Bounce (7')
Westcott Rapid Box Switch 1x3 — Rim & Fill Light Setup I use two Westcott Rapid Box Switch 1x3 softboxes as my go-to modifiers for rim lights and fill. These softboxes are compact, quick to set up, and deliver that perfect balance between control...
Rapid Box Switch 1x3
I use a 1x2 softbox as my dedicated under-the-chin fill light for headshots. It’s a small but powerful modifier that helps eliminate harsh shadows and adds a clean, flattering lift to the face — especially under the eyes and jawline. When positioned ...
Rapid Box Switch 1x2
The 2x3 softbox is one of my go-to modifiers when I want soft, controlled light with just the right amount of direction. It’s the perfect middle ground — large enough to create flattering, even coverage for portraits and headshots, but compact enough...
Rapid Box Switch 2x3
I always keep a few 15lb sandbags on hand to make sure none of my lights, stands, or modifiers tip over during a shoot. When you’re working with heavy strobes like the Westcott FJ400 II or large modifiers such as a 7ft umbrella, stability isn’t optio...
15LB Bags
EDITING Equipment
The MacBook Pro is the heart of my editing workflow. It’s fast, reliable, and built to handle heavy photo and video files without slowing down. Between Lightroom, Photoshop, and Final Cut Pro, I’m constantly jumping between programs, and the MacBook ...
MacBook Pro
Adobe Lightroom is my go-to for all things photo editing. It’s where every image starts — from culling and color correction to creating that final polished look. The layout is clean, fast, and lets me stay in a creative flow without getting bogged do...
Adobe Lightroom
ChatGPT has become one of my favorite tools for emails, goal setting, and idea processing. It’s like having a digital creative partner that helps me stay organized and clear-headed when I’m juggling a lot — whether that’s structuring client emails, r...
ChatGPT
Pixieset is the backbone of my photo delivery and backend organization. It’s where I upload, organize, and send out all my final galleries to clients — whether it’s a full sports media day, an event, or a portrait session. The platform makes the enti...
Pixieset
With 128 GB of capacity, you’ve got plenty of room for high-resolution RAW images or long event shoots without swapping cards mid-session. It supports UHS-I and Class 10 speeds, which means the read/write rates are strong enough to keep up when you’r...
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card
For all my photo and video projects, I use the SanDisk 2TB External USB 3.2 Gen 2 Portable SSD as my main backup drive. After every shoot, I immediately transfer files from my SD cards to this SSD to ensure my work is safe and organized. It’s fast, c...
SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD USB-C
I always carry two SD card holders — one dedicated to ongoing projects and another for clean, formatted cards ready to go. It’s a small part of my setup, but it keeps my workflow organized and prevents the chaos that comes from mixing used and unused...
Computer Memory Card Cases
Backdrop Set Up
The X-Drop Pro backdrop system has become one of my favorite tools for fast, professional setups. It’s incredibly quick and easy to assemble, making it perfect for on-location shoots, media days, and headshot sessions where time and efficiency matter...
X-Drop Pro Backdrop System
Gaff tape is one of those essentials that never leaves my gear bag. I use it mainly to tape down backdrops, especially during media days and studio sessions, to keep everything perfectly in place and avoid wrinkles or movement. Unlike regular tape, g...
Gaffer Power USA Made Professional Gaffer Tape
For backdrops, I use the X-Drop Pro Full Sweep 10x13 system, and it’s hands down one of the best investments for clean, professional setups. The full sweep design means the fabric extends smoothly from the wall to the floor, creating a completely sea...
X-Drop Pro Wrinkle-Resistant Sweep Backdrop Kit - Rich Black (8' x 13'
I keep a few turf rolls on hand for outdoor sports and portrait sessions, especially when I need to create a clean, consistent surface for photos. They’re perfect for media days, athlete portraits, and product shoots where I want that athletic, field...
Artificial Grass
I use mylar paper as a reflective background when I want to add a unique, dynamic lighting effect to my portraits or media day setups. It’s a simple material, but the way it catches and bounces light creates an incredible, almost futuristic look that...
Mylar Paper
The ADJ VF1300 is my go-to fog machine for adding atmosphere and depth to my backgrounds. I use it to create a subtle layer of haze or smoke that catches the light beautifully, especially during portrait sessions, sports media days, and creative shoo...
ADJ Lighting VF1300 - 1100W Mobile Fog Machine
The ADJ VF1300 is my go-to fog machine for adding controlled atmosphere to my shoots — and one of the best parts is that it produces a quick-dissipating fog that doesn’t linger long enough to trigger most indoor fire alarms when used correctly. It’s ...
Quick Blast Fog - CO2 Blast Effect Fog Machine Fluid