Which lenses to use at a wedding
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It depends on your shooting style. You will get as many VALID answers as you will get wedding photographers in the thread
I vary what I take from wedding to wedding
I now shoot with 2 cameras at once (on a dual strap) and that has revolutionised how I use lenses, and what I do and don't carry
On camera 1 - good fast (2.8) long(ish) zoom VR
On camera 2 - good fast (2.8) very wide-angle zoom VR
Available in the bag.. on camera 3 - fast 85 mm prime and a decent macro lens, 1 very long telephoto, 50mm 1.4
In the car - complete film kit with short zoom, long zoom
All the lenses from the film and digital are interchangeable
In other words, standing in front of you, with 2 cameras on a dual strap, I can shoot anything from a ring to a landscape to a single face on the other side of the room. If I need it, I have lenses that cover portraits and other specific shots, and there is backup gear nearby
I vary what I take from wedding to wedding
I now shoot with 2 cameras at once (on a dual strap) and that has revolutionised how I use lenses, and what I do and don't carry
On camera 1 - good fast (2.8) long(ish) zoom VR
On camera 2 - good fast (2.8) very wide-angle zoom VR
Available in the bag.. on camera 3 - fast 85 mm prime and a decent macro lens, 1 very long telephoto, 50mm 1.4
In the car - complete film kit with short zoom, long zoom
All the lenses from the film and digital are interchangeable
In other words, standing in front of you, with 2 cameras on a dual strap, I can shoot anything from a ring to a landscape to a single face on the other side of the room. If I need it, I have lenses that cover portraits and other specific shots, and there is backup gear nearby
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Ilisa
the thing is you really need a lot more than 1 body and the slow lenses you have to be able to shoot in any conditions.
Minimum two bodies, 2 flashes, lots of cf cards, standard zooms x2 that are preferably f2.8 (24-70 is a standars lens but a 17-50 range would be fine too on a crop body like the 60D).
The 17-85 is too slow to be shooting in say a dark church. As is the 70-300! Look at the 70-200 f2.8 preferably with IS.
Backup kit really is a MUST if you intend to make money from photography.
Training is also something to consider as shooting a wedding is not as easy as it may seem.
Richard pretty much says the same.
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I do say exactly that... it is that I don't know squat about Canon stuff so I cant recommend any. Besides that it is a personal preference thing. And Like I said, it depends on HOW you shoot and what your style is. Example from a technical POV - I very rarely shoot at f1.2, F1.4, F1.8, F2 I do however shoot a lot at F3.5 and F4 on my 1.4 / 1.8 lenses. From a technical POV, I hate going over 200 ISO even on a camera that performs well at 6400. I use a lot of lighting, I use reflectors, torches, I do the Strobist thing... All those things indicate the lack of need for ultra fast lenses. However, I prefer not to use a lens at its limits, and find lenses very sharp a few stops up from the widest aperture. I DO like shooting at 3.5/4
I have had 2 bodies, 2 lenses and one flashgun fail on me on a job in the last 3 years. Did it make the slightest bit of difference - no, I just carried on shooting with the other camera/gear
What I do know is that stupid things - like investing in a dual strap totally changed how I use my gear (especially lenses), and on top of that my comfort for the day
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its a bit late now, but a spyder dual holster is even better then a dual sharp, and your cameras don't bang on the floor when you bend down
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Yes that's one thing I don't like lol - With a 5DII and 70-200 IS MkII I don't want to be banging these on the ground!
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well done guys that should scare anyone thinking of dipping there toes into the world of wedding photography, the gear your on about costs thousands of pounds. But i'm not knocking you cause your probably right to do this as a profession may mean using this sort of equipment.
But shouldn't you be scared if you are dipping into wedding photography? You are recording someones special day, their once in a lifetime day (hopefully) and probably the most expensive day of their lives.
Our wedding cost £15,000, believe me I did not skimp on the photographer. Those photos are amoung our prized posessions and worth every penny I had to pay for them.
I have a Canon 24-70 f2.8, a 70-200 f2.8, 28mm f1.8, 10 -22efs, 180 Macro, 580 EXII flash and two bodies. Would I take on a wedding on my own? No chance as I have neither the experience or training to do one justice. I would love to accompany a seasoned pro though as a second camera.
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yep - I heard from the techs at fixation they're seeing a lot more prism/general top of body damage nowadays
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I agree with ikolpdog, there is nothing wrong with pointing out hard realities of the wedding shooting game, that doesn't mean someone won't be encouraged or supported, but it is best to know the right and safe way to go about it.
I shoot with 2 x Canon 5DmkII cameras on a Dual strap, one with a 24-105mm f4 and the other with a 70-200mm f2.8. Both have 580EX/II flash guns then there is a 5D (or 7D depending on my mood) with 430 flash and a standard length lens on just in case the primary camera combo goes down.
I've been fortunate and only ever had a lens go wrong once on a wedding but just kept on shooting as had options to hand.
I am looking at going more prime as I love shallow DOF, something like a 35mm f1.4 and 135mm f2 combo interests me quite a lot. So as you can see (and has already been mentioned) it really depends on style what to get. You need to have the lenses (and backups) to cover the entire day in the desired style without a problem.
I will say though that working with zoom lenses does make life a lot easier when working quickly with a couple.
I shoot with 2 x Canon 5DmkII cameras on a Dual strap, one with a 24-105mm f4 and the other with a 70-200mm f2.8. Both have 580EX/II flash guns then there is a 5D (or 7D depending on my mood) with 430 flash and a standard length lens on just in case the primary camera combo goes down.
I've been fortunate and only ever had a lens go wrong once on a wedding but just kept on shooting as had options to hand.
I am looking at going more prime as I love shallow DOF, something like a 35mm f1.4 and 135mm f2 combo interests me quite a lot. So as you can see (and has already been mentioned) it really depends on style what to get. You need to have the lenses (and backups) to cover the entire day in the desired style without a problem.
I will say though that working with zoom lenses does make life a lot easier when working quickly with a couple.
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Hey Richard, slightly away from this thread but thought it worth brining up, the style you mention above isn't the one you talk about on your site so just wonder if it might need updating on there?
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Never mind just the gear which does cost a lot..... What about the knowledge of taking the shots - where the light is, the use of flash, what about posing, people management. It's one thing "wanting" to be a wedding photographer once you have that experience and kit but another thing saying on a forum hey what lenses are best. Any person with even a little experience using a camera would know exactly the kit they need.
As stated above the events can only be captured once. There's a lot of people shooting weddings and portraits who have just picked up a camera and friends say they are great. But they have are not the people to ask as most will have no experience in looking at a pro's images. The difference is night and day.
It's like me fitting brakes to my mates car and shoving the wheel back on.... Looks great till he tries to brake cause I've no idea how to fit brakes! But I have the tools to take the wheel off and put it on
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The information is very helpfully! For the advice I thank you! I have been taking photography classes at college, I'm in second term now, also I have a wedding seminar/workshop booked for may, that will give me advice on my flashgun,
I honestly have such a fire In me for photography! I love portrait, fashion, theatre, but my main focus in time is for wedding.
I realise the lenses I have are slow and are at the trade in period, the 70-300 was just to give me a feel of the zoom lens!
I book in to any course that comes up threw the camera club I attend, I don't deal fear about shooting a wedding, not if I have all the tools needed and my eye, I just want to capture those moments, for the picture helps a memory to last a lifetime! I love candid shots, they do tell a wonderful story!
I have not been on this site long, so thought I'd post to see if I got a response as every post I see is kind but to the point too! Many many thanks
Ilisa
I honestly have such a fire In me for photography! I love portrait, fashion, theatre, but my main focus in time is for wedding.
I realise the lenses I have are slow and are at the trade in period, the 70-300 was just to give me a feel of the zoom lens!
I book in to any course that comes up threw the camera club I attend, I don't deal fear about shooting a wedding, not if I have all the tools needed and my eye, I just want to capture those moments, for the picture helps a memory to last a lifetime! I love candid shots, they do tell a wonderful story!
I have not been on this site long, so thought I'd post to see if I got a response as every post I see is kind but to the point too! Many many thanks
Ilisa