Two Lenses you NEED for Wedding Photography
Want to know what two lenses I 100% recommend every wedding photographer having???
Here they are: a 50mm lens and a 35mm lens.
Let’s first start with the 50mm - and in particular, my favorite is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens.
When I first started as a photographer, I began with a 50mm lens, and although I’ve tried MANY other lenses, I always gravitate back towards this one! And yes, it’s a FIXED lens.
So why is this my favorite???? A few reasons:
It’s a fantastic focal length to work with (since it’s the same perspective/distance that you are from your subject). You never have to stand too close or too far away from your couple to get the image that you want!
Although it doesn’t zoom, that actually provides a lot more opportunity for creativity - since you are constantly moving, you don’t get stuck standing in a single spot and not finding out amazing new angles to try!
The bokeh. I repeat, the BOKEH. For those of you who don’t know what that means, bokeh is basically the aesthetic created with the blurred portion of your photo. And I just want to say, this lens has the BEST, creamiest bokeh that you will ever experience.
Image quality - along with the bokeh, the image itself comes out as soft (NOT out of focus) and elegant, creating that “magical” feel that you’ve always wanted to have in your photos.
All images above taken with Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens.
Now, my favorite lens for capturing an ENTIRE wedding day), it would DEFINITELY be a 35mm - in particular, the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens. This is probably the most versatile lens I use, since I use it for details, getting ready photos, some couple portraits, bridal party photos, family photos, and reception photos. Since it is a wide-angle, you are able to fit a LOT more in the photo without having to move back at all, which is PERFECT for tight spaces (which you will encounter a TON on a wedding day!). Plus, it is perfect to use if you are working in a location that you really want to capture a dramatic, farther away photo (like a couple on a mountain landscape).
All images above taken with Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens.
There you have it! My favorite lens for wedding portraits and favorite lens to capture the entire wedding day. If I could recommend investing in any lenses, I would definitely look into both of these (or cheaper versions/other models with the same focus length).
