Today I wanted to talk about what lens to use when on a wedding day and what lenses I have found to be the best lenses for wedding photography. For many years I did actually photograph weddings with only one lens, and now that I’m a lot more experienced and established I have some thoughts on this. I now have a set process and system fir photographing weddings, using the same equipment for most things and I am excited to share that with you! Below I go over each part of the wedding and what are you what lens I use and why for that part, I hope you find it helpful!
All right, so let’s go ahead and walk through a wedding together.
Details: 50mm
So let’s start with the details. So what I use for all detail shots is a 50mm. I have other videos on YouTube about wedding day details, but I always shoot them vertical and then I will come in and crop them to be horizontal. Using the same lens keeps the gallery cohesive.
Bride Getting Ready: 50mm and 24-70mm
So I use a 50mm for all of the vertical shots and then a 24-70mm for horizontal shots and I have two flashes on my camera as I shoot these.
Ceremony Entrances: 50mm and 24-70mm
I always photograph ceremony with 2 cameras: a 50mm on one camera, 24-to-70mm on the other. That way I can get both vertical and horizontal shots of people coming down the aisle, especially when the bride is coming I will switch cameras as much as possible to get as much variety of her coming down the aisle as possible. Once the exchange happens up at the front, I will switch the 50mm to the 85mm.
Ceremony Vows/Speakers: 85mm
The 85mm is the best lens to use for up close photos of the bride or groom’s vows, as well as guest reaction photos. If I am photographing a ceremony in a church, sometimes I do rent a 70-200 to get even better photos and even more close up emotion. It’s just that that lens is SUPER expensive!
Ceremony Kiss + Exit: 50mm and 24-70mm
When the couple is about to kiss, I do switch the 85mm back to the 50mm if there is time and I’ll do everything on the 50mm vertical and 24 -70mm for the entire exit. I try to keep as wide as possible, usually 24mm. You can can always crop in, but you can’t invent the the rest of the picture of you shot it too tight.
Bride and Groom: 50mm and 24-70mm
I’ll shoot 50mm vertical, 24-70mm horizontal. One thing I want to mention about bride and groom photos is trying to keep the colors consistent -I have found that if both lenses are made by the same brand, then the color is very similar.
Bridal Party Together: 50mm and 24-70mm
Very similar concept for the bridal party. I’ll shoot 50mm vertical, 24-70mm horizontal. The only thing to mention about the bridal party is I always do wide shots for when they’re walking.
Bridal Party Individuals: 50mm and 85mm
I’ll switch the 24-70mm to an 85mm, so I can alternate between those two. So that really helps me get great variety without me having to move and everything looks consistent. And without the bride moving, the gallery will look consistent because each bridesmaid is just filing in.
Reception Guests at Each Table: 24-70mm
So for the reception, I’ll use a variety of things. At first, when guests are seated, I will use my lens at 24mm and try to go to each table, put it on a really high aperture or like five, and get a photo of each table. It doesn’t matter what the lighting kind of looks like too much cuz I edit it afterwards. I just have to make sure that they’re in focus.
Reception Entrance: 24-70mm and 50mm/85mm depending on space
And then with the entrance whether or not I’m doing the 50mm or the 85mm really depends on the space. Usually it’s an 85.
Reception Speeches: 85mm
So speech reactions I pretty much can do on one camera because I can do the speech on 85mm and the reaction on the same 85mm.
What I also like to do is, with the 85mm receptions, is closeups on glasses and things like that because I think it adds something to the day.
First Dances: 85mm
For dances, I use an 85 millimeter and I shoot it all vertical and then I can crop it to be horizontal. I use a soft box as well. There are so many crucial half a second moments that I don’t really like changing lens or cameras.
Reception Decor: All 3 Lenses
I use all three lenses for reception decor. So I’ll start with 50mm by going around doing the full tables, verticals, and the chairs. Then I will do closeups with the 85. And then once I do all of that, I will do wider photos at either 35 or 24.
Dancing on Dance floor: 24-70mm
So for the dancing coverage, I use the 24-70mm as wide as possible usually. And I’m using flash forward techniques here, usually full body or waist up.
Candids of Seated Guests: 85mm
The other lens that’s on my other camera while guests are on the dance floor is the 85mm, and I do like to keep that lens on for people sitting at tables like grandparents from far away. I use the 85mm for people not on the dance floor. Because 85 is so far away, they never really notice so I get a lot of like good candid photos of people.
I hope this was super helpful!
If you’d like to also check out the Youtube version of this video -you can do that here:
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