A Canon Gal from The Get-Go

I decided to rent the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the 70-200mm f/2.8L to see if they were the right investment for me and for Gait & Glory. I wanted to know if this setup would take my work to the next level and hold up to the demands of photographing fast-moving dogs in sports and conformation.


Canon has been a part of my photography journey from the very beginning. Back in 2008, I bought my first DSLR, a Rebel XS, and that was the camera that got me hooked. I was in high school at the time and even thought about wedding photography for a while during the beginning of college when I took one intro to photography class. Life pulled me in different directions after that, and my camera spent more time on the shelf than in my hands for a few years.


It was not until 2016 that I really picked it back up. Dog Instagrams were starting to take off, and I wanted a way to capture my own dog and our adventures. I sold the Rebel and went with a Canon PowerShot G9 X II, something small and light that I could carry around Chicago without feeling weighed down. It did the job for social media, but by 2018 I knew I wanted to return to photography in a more serious way. That is when I bought a Canon 5D Mark II. I also invested in the nifty fifty lens (50mm f1.8), which was the first non-kit lens that I purchased and it was truly a workhorse of a lens. That carried most of my photography for years. I did manage to find a few deals on other lens over the years. Like a Sigma Art 85mm f1.4 and a few other Canons.


Two years later, in 2020, I moved to mirrorless with the Canon EOS RP. It was incredible how light the camera was, especially compared to my 5D Mark II. And now, this year, I stepped up again to the R5 Mark II. Renting it first was the right call. The camera felt intuitive in my hands, the files were sharp, and the 70-200mm gave me the reach and clarity I needed for both portraits and action.


In a way, this upgrade feels like coming full circle. I started with Canon, and I have stayed with Canon through every step, from hobbyist to building a business. The R5 Mark II feels like the tool that will carry me forward as I grow into bigger events, more demanding shoots, and everything else I want Gait & Glory to become.