WHAT LENSES DO WE USE AS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS?

What Lenses Do We Use as Wedding Photographers? 

The Art of Capturing Love: What Lens We Choose to Capture Your Special Day 

As wedding photographers, we have the incredible responsibility of preserving one of the most important days in a couple’s life. Every glance, tear, and joyful smile is a piece of the story we are entrusted to tell. But behind every stunning shot is the lens that helped capture that perfect moment. In this post, we’re pulling back the curtain to reveal the lenses we rely on to document love stories with clarity, creativity, and emotion.

To start it is always my husband (Robert) and I. I will be referring to different pieces we both use throughout the wedding day. We both primarily have on our bodies the 50mm 1.2 L Series RF lens, Robert has the non- RF version. 

When it comes to the intimate moments of getting ready, the 50mm is our lens of choice. This lens excels in capturing the quiet anticipation and the delicate details that make this part of the day so special. For the most perfect ring shots or even close ups to all the details, I switch over to the 100mm that is a macro lens. It beautifully preserves the intricate details. I then will switch back to my 50mm, as it is perfect for capturing the quiet, emotional build-up before the main event. Its ability to work beautifully in natural light and low-light settings allows us to document everything from the bride’s final touches on her makeup to the groom adjusting his cufflinks. 

Within the event the space is too tight to stick with my 50mm, I will swap over to my RF 28-70mm that has an aperture of 2.0. This lens still allows us to shoot with our style and to capture gorgeous photos. 

Now, we step into the heart of the day: the ceremony. I typically stick with my 50mm. It is my go to lens, as it is just more cohesive and consistent with our photographs. As for Robert, during the ceremony he has on the 70-200mm. Sometimes we cannot be up too close, as we do a lot of big church weddings and Catholic Masses; each church has their own rules and we just want to be respectful of each of them. The 70-200mm is a great way to get close ups without having to be too close and still get those creative breathtaking shots. The 50mm allows me to get the full picture with some variety of everyone as they come down the aisle for the procession. 

 

As we transition from ceremony to celebration, let’s start with portraits. I usually stick with my 50mm, it’s wide enough that it is ideal for our bridal party photos. If I want to or even have time to, I like to switch over to my 85mm, this lens is unquestionably my favorite. With consideration of the setting, whether there are big buildings/ architecture, a plethora of bridal parties fills the space and there isn’t a lot of room to back up, I will just stick with my 50mm. They both will consistently deliver stunning images. Robert’s portraits are typically on the 70-200mm. On the other hand when we split the ladies and the men for separate bridal party shots, Robert will swap over to the other 50mm or the 28-70mm.

When it’s time for the reception, Robert will stick with the 70-200mm, he might bring out that wide angle. As for me, I am predominantly on my 50mm. I tend to start with the big picture and work my way into those small, more intimate photos. Again, if I have time I will bring out the 85mm to really grab those dreamy shots. When it comes time for the toast, we routinely use our 50mm and 70-200mm. The 50mm really captures those classic photos of the bride and groom, as I move around to get different angles. Robert is able to really really capture the emotions and joy everyone is feeling around us, without getting too close and feeling as if he is intruding in the moment. 

As for the rest of the night while everyone is dancing and singing the night away, I will be dominantly on my 50mm and Robert will be on his 70-200mm. As it does start to get darker we will obviously put on our flashes, but for this post we will stick to talking about lenses. I will switch over to my 28-70mm. I’ve learned it’s nice to use a really wide lens on the dance floor and the 28-70mm seems to be considerably better in the low light.

When making our lens selections and choices, we always try to remember that each snapshot we take isn’t just about capturing faces or events; it’s about preserving fleeting moments of joy, tears, and laughter that echo through the lives of couples and families for generations. 

 

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