Pacific Northwest Images

I love to shoot weddings!  It’s fun and, with the proper gear, can be a very positive experience for the photographer (and the couple)!  Below are the three lenses that I always have with me at weddings and the three that are the most used. 

Canon EF 70-200 2.8 L USM IS – This is my most used lens for weddings.  Not only is the focal length a great one but the image quality is awesome!  The fast 2.8 aperture combined with the image stabilization allows handholding without flash possible in fairly dim locations.  This lens should be in the bag of any wedding photographer that shoots Canon.

Canon EF 24-70 2.8 L USM – On a 1.3 or 1.6 crop body, this is a great portrait lens.  At an aperture of 2.8, you’ll have to keep in mind that the edges can go soft below about 30mm but drop it by a stop and it isn’t an issue.  This lens is wide enough to fit a decent sized group in the image.

Canon EF 50 1.4 USM – Low light situations call for a low light lens and the 50 1.4 is pretty darn good when it’s time to catch the fun at a reception.  Although Canon’s 50 1.2 is faster it also comes with a pretty large price increase over the 1.4.  The 50mm on a crop body also makes for a good portrait lens.  Stopped down to about 2.0 it is sharp and produces dreamy background blur.

If I could only bring one of the above lenses it would probably be the 24-70.  It’s a versatile lens and when matched with on camera diffused flash, works pretty well in most wedding situations.

During the ceremony I shoot with two camera bodies, one with the 70-200, and the other with the 24-70.  This allows me to be ready for anything that is going on around me.  During the reception I shoot candid with the 70-200 and keep the 50 close by for action taking place near me.  Portraits are shot with the 24-70, 50, and sometimes even the 70-200.