The 2 lenses you want for marriage ceremony pictures

Wish to shoot your first marriage ceremony however undecided what gear you want? These two lenses will cowl you for virtually each state of affairs a marriage day can throw at you.

I shoot each marriage ceremony with these two lenses on my twin cameras for many of the day, particularly for the marriage ceremony itself. The one exception is earlier than the marriage throughout bridal prep, after I would possibly throw my macro lens on for some time, and after the ceremony through the romantic portraits, after I have a tendency so as to add my 85mm f/1.8 into the combo.

The all-around greatest lens for marriage ceremony pictures

First off, probably the most versatile lens for marriage ceremony pictures is a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (I take advantage of Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Canon, however there’s a model for Nikon too and also you’ll discover the identical for different main manufacturers). A normal workhorse for portrait photographers, this lens is equally essential for marriage ceremony pictures.

Huge sufficient to seize seated company and the couple on the altar, however with sufficient attain to seize shut ups, it’s the principle lens that I take advantage of for marriage ceremony pictures and it lives on my major digital camera (my Canon 5D Mark III).

wedding photography paper cranes
The 24-70mm lens provides you sufficient discipline of view to seize the environment.

It’s nice for capturing element photographs, and it’s the one lens I take advantage of for the marriage reception (after the ceremony and romantic portraits I pack away my secondary digital camera, my Canon 7D Mark II).

wedding invitations
The 24-70mm is nice for element photographs in addition to folks.

The 24-70mm lens is available in completely different apertures (f/4 and f/2.8 for instance), and I’d suggest getting the quickest you possibly can afford (I really like, love, love bokeh, so for those who’re much less obsessed than me, the f/4 could be an ideal alternative).

One of the best lens for marriage ceremony ceremony pictures

The second lens it’s good to get began in marriage ceremony pictures is a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens (once more, these are available f/4 as nicely). I’ve the Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Canon EF and there’s an equal for all the main manufacturers.

wedding ceremony celebrant
The 70-200mm provides you the attain to rise up shut and private while remaining unobtrusive through the marriage ceremony ceremony.

It’s an important lens for the marriage ceremony. It means that you can take shut ups of the couple (first kiss, ring alternate, and many others.) with out getting in the way in which of company watching the ceremony. You need to doc, not dominate!

couple walking down aisle flowers
The 70-200mm lens helps you to doc the marriage with out getting in the way in which.

On the 70mm finish, it’s versatile sufficient to seize the surrounds and context, too.

married couple first kiss
Seize the context across the photograph with the 70mm finish of the lens’ focal vary.

It’s additionally a mainstay of the romantic portrait session for me. Whereas the couple is reveling within the loved-up excessive of the ceremony being achieved, it’s the proper lens to allow them to get pleasure from a magic first second of being married, with out crowding them. It’s additionally nice for enjoyable photographs and the f/2.8 kinds of this lens are magic for taking part in with background blur and bokeh. I used my 70-200mm rather a lot with my fractal filters, earlier than I acquired my 85mm f/1.8 lens.

dog wedding photo
What a great boy.

What different gear do it’s good to shoot a marriage?

If you’re capturing the reception, additionally, you will want not less than one flash (that you know the way to make use of nicely — take a look at my weblog for an in-depth on using flash). For those who can afford to get your flash off-camera (right here’s what I’d purchase in Canon proper now), then the alternatives grow to be countless: Shooting in the dark, light painting, inventive evening portraits and extra.

wedding photography van flash dark
Utilizing flash in your marriage ceremony pictures is simple as soon as the fundamentals. The 24-70mm lens talked about above is my primary choose for the marriage reception for its focal size flexibility and low mild functionality.

Bonus: the third (and fourth?) lens you want for marriage ceremony pictures

OK, so what subsequent, upon getting your two marriage ceremony workhorses within the bag? I counsel that subsequent you want considered one of two lenses, relying in your capturing preferences (and price range!). Choice one: a portrait prime lens equivalent to a 85mm f/1.8 (or the quickest aperture you possibly can afford: f/1.4 and even the f/1.2 model). Choice two: A macro lens equivalent to a 100mm f/2.8L Macro, which doubles as a stupendous portrait lens in addition to permitting magnificent captures of these important marriage ceremony particulars.

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