If you could only have 2 lenses for a wedding...

[Menace]

Just shot a wedding last weekend; approx 80% of the shots were with 70-200 2.8 IS II, 15% with 50L 1.2 and 5% with 24-105.
Alo, Ex 580 II with external battery pack - worked like a charm 

[Quackator]

The 24-105 is my major workhorse, and I love adding the 1.8/200 to that.
Two lenses, there.

As far as primes are considered, I don't like the bokeh of the 1.4/35mm, would either
recommend to wait what the MkII version will be like, or grab the 1.4/24mm MkII instead.
That's far more pleasing in it's bokeh.

I have the 1.2/85, and while this is a good lens, it is also a diva.
Buying again from scratch I'd rather buy the 1.8/85 AND the 2/135mm
instead. And still save money.

[UrbanVoyeur]

16-35, 70-200.

You can go wide for large groups in tight spaces, and close for intimate portraits.

[jpollackphoto]

I shoot weddings with two primary lenses, my 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. I may use the 16-35 f/2.8 II if I need a wider group shot or if the space is extremely large, but I use that lens primarily for architectural photography. I've found that f/2.8 is plenty fast as long as I have - or create - sufficient light; I wouldn't want to attempt shooting a wedding without several flashes and lots of extra batteries.

Jonathan
jpollackphoto.com

[se_photo]

This is second post I've read in as many days where a wedding guest/ friend/ relative is planning to show up and help photograph a wedding (sometimes with a bag full of pro gear)- and they aren't the official photographer. As a professional wedding photographer for 10 years, nothing makes me groan more. Please, please, please if you want to be the photographer for someone's event, ask them or if they ask you, take on the whole job. I feel badly already for the official photographer at this wedding- god forbid she only has a crop camera. If you perceive this photographer as less than 100%, it's not your job to show up and prove it with rented gear. Your friend hired her- period. They will live with the good, bad, and ugly of their choice. Do they have twenty pizzas showing up in case the prime rib sucks? I doubt it. I know people enjoy photography as a hobby and there are some very good hobbyists out there. It's fun to rent gear and it's fun to shoot when there's no pressure. The official photographer doesn't have these luxuries. Want to know a secret? Being a professional wedding photographer has little to do with cameras at all. It's smiling, putting a nervous bride at ease, coordinating a drunken bridal party of 14 into a photograph, taking photos with a dozen iphones over your shoulder competing for your subjects' attention, chatting gear with hobbyists without wasting time or missing shots, it's projecting confidence, being well groomed, being in the room when something happens, staying on your feet for 10 hours with two heavy cameras weighing you down, it's getting a club sandwich while guests get surf and turf. It's downloading, backing up, editing for hours, album design and redesign and redesign. it's paying an assistant, business insurance, marketing, payroll, taxes galore, equipment repairs and maybe myself. We do it all for that little rush of composing a photo and making people smile and swoon when they enjoy your artistry. We do it because we can't do anything else. So go, have fun, take photos, just show some respect and understanding for what the "official" photographer has on their plate. Sorry, I had to vent a little- or a lot. To play along nicely, I'll add that I use a 16-35 LII  and a 50 1.2 or 85 1.8. I really wish they made a 65 1.4 or a 50-80 1.8 zoom- that would be sweet.

[joshmurrah]

24-70 f/2.8 II
70-200 f/2.8 II
two FF bodies with grips and spacious memory (5D2 or 5D3s)
at least one 580II or better for bounce/fill at the reception venue
Beyond that basic setup, add primes for those special shots... 35/50/85.

[Dylan777]

I'm not a pro wedding, but I have 4 friends(PRO WEDDING) for 10-15yrs. They always carry 2 FF bodies.

Their current lenses to wedding are:
1. 24-70 f2.8 II
2. 70-200 f2.8 IS II
3. 35 L - when flash is not allowed
4. 50 L - when flash is not allowed
5. 3-4 flashes with EXTRA-EXRA-EXTRA batteries

6. one of them now carry 135L

[Random Orbits]

For a second shooter looking to try out a Canon system, use the stuff that you are interested in owning.  The 35L and 70-200L will be fine, but you might want to bring a flash for use during the reception anyway because the lighting can be really dim or you might be competing with sidelight/backlight if there is a wall of windows and the reception is during the day.

Also agree with se_photo on letting the primary photographer do her job.  Focus on the people that aren't working with the photographer at that moment.  While she is focusing on getting the list of family photos with the bride and groom, focus on the family/groups waiting their turn, esp. if there are young kids, who are good at getting people to let their guard down.  Focus on people sitting around you or those that you know.  You'll get more compelling pictures, and the bride and groom will thank you for it.

[crasher8]

This is second post I've read in as many days where a wedding guest/ friend/ relative is planning to show up and help photograph a wedding (sometimes with a bag full of pro gear)- and they aren't the official photographer. As a professional wedding photographer for 10 years, nothing makes me groan more. Please, please, please if you want to be the photographer for someone's event, ask them or if they ask you, take on the whole job. I feel badly already for the official photographer at this wedding- god forbid she only has a crop camera. If you perceive this photographer as less than 100%, it's not your job to show up and prove it with rented gear. Your friend hired her- period. They will live with the good, bad, and ugly of their choice. Do they have twenty pizzas showing up in case the prime rib sucks? I doubt it. I know people enjoy photography as a hobby and there are some very good hobbyists out there. It's fun to rent gear and it's fun to shoot when there's no pressure. The official photographer doesn't have these luxuries. Want to know a secret? Being a professional wedding photographer has little to do with cameras at all. It's smiling, putting a nervous bride at ease, coordinating a drunken bridal party of 14 into a photograph, taking photos with a dozen iphones over your shoulder competing for your subjects' attention, chatting gear with hobbyists without wasting time or missing shots, it's projecting confidence, being well groomed, being in the room when something happens, staying on your feet for 10 hours with two heavy cameras weighing you down, it's getting a club sandwich while guests get surf and turf. It's downloading, backing up, editing for hours, album design and redesign and redesign. it's paying an assistant, business insurance, marketing, payroll, taxes galore, equipment repairs and maybe myself. We do it all for that little rush of composing a photo and making people smile and swoon when they enjoy your artistry. We do it because we can't do anything else. So go, have fun, take photos, just show some respect and understanding for what the "official" photographer has on their plate. Sorry, I had to vent a little- or a lot. To play along nicely, I'll add that I use a 16-35 LII  and a 50 1.2 or 85 1.8. I really wish they made a 65 1.4 or a 50-80 1.8 zoom- that would be sweet.

Great post although it got rantish after the food comment. I agree, why not just attend the event and let the paid shooter deliver or not. Dance, drink and chat up the lovelies. We all talk about gear way too much as it is.

 I cannot imagine what it is like to shoot a gig and have a bunch of iPhones and kit lenses snapping away behind or in front of me. Segue-----I was on a portrait shoot last night and 4 other groups came along with paid photogs at the same location-golden hour/fall leaves etc. All of these had crop cameras/kit lenses in a low light scene with no flash minus onboard. I had a 5D3 and was at 4k iso maybe 30 keepers out of 100. I simply cannot imagine what those people will be paying for noisy and/or over-sharpened prints. Basically what I'm getting at is this is a tough era, where everyone is a photographer.I'm pretty good but be responsible for a wedding? No thanks!

[Quasimodo]

Since you are renting and you don't have the pressure of being the first shooter, why not also have some fun while testing the gear? I would rent three lenses and not two... 24-105L, the 70-200L IS II, and the 85L II

[PVS]

I've shot few weddings with 5Dc, Smegma 24/1.8 and EF 85/1.8 - so that would be my 2 wedding lenses if I had to restrict myself, since they cover almost anything needed.

[jpollackphoto]

Just because you have a DSLR doesn’t mean you’re a pro. It isn’t the gear that makes you great photographer it’s having ethics and understanding other human beings that’s makes you great.

That's precisely it. You can absolutely shoot a wedding with smaller sensor cameras as long as you have enough light. The same goes for narrower aperture lenses. If a photographer's particular artistic style and equipment she uses and is familiar with gets the job done, then there's nothing wrong with it!

Also, I'll add that as a wedding photographer it doesn't bother me if guests take pictures or if there are semi-professional guests around. Only in the event that they interfere with my job (i.e. standing up and blocking my shots) do I get agitated.

[rpt]

24-70 II  and 70-200 2.8

[Marsu42]

Their current lenses to wedding are:
1. 24-70 f2.8 II

So you're saying they switched from the 24-70 mk1 to the mk2 asap - because they feel they have to have the latest gear, or does the mk2 really make a difference to them?

[Briand]

Depends on which part of the wedding.

I use more lens during these parts but if I had a limit of two I would choose these based on my experience.

Brides House
85 f/1.8
35L f/1.4

Ceremony
70-200L f/2.8IS II
35L f/1.4

Outdoors Before Reception
24-105L f/4
70-200L f/2.8IS II

Reception
70-200L f/2.8IS II
35L f/1.4

If I had to only pick two for entire day.
I would have to choose.
70-200L f/2.8IS II
35L f/1.4