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

[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

 

[sb]

As a professional wedding photographer for 10 years, nothing makes me groan more.

Your post is of course entirely true, but I don't understand why this makes you groan. You know, as well as any other pro, that even a guest with identical gear and even identical skill level will not have pictures on par with what you'll produce. This is of course true because you are working hard at being ready for that right shot, whereas, the other person is merely snapping at whatever happens to come their way. It's impossible to work and be a guest at the same.

I've had guests with sometimes better equipment than me but I couldn't care less because:

1) I get the prime spots whereas they get the leftovers. If I had to shoot from where they are standing, I wouldn't even bother taking any shots (I'm not even kidding - if I have a choice between crappy angle and no picture, I choose no picture. It saves me the effort of filtering it out later). AND

2) I'm the one getting paid, whereas, they get to compete with iPhone pictures on facebook

So what I'm saying is - bring on the Leicas and Medium formats for all I care

 

[kapanak]

I've only done six weddings all my life, so my opinion may be limited.

If you are going to use a full frame body, it is best if you get used to all its functions and can call them up without even thinking.

A 5DII or III and a grip are recommended. More than two batteries fully charged are highly recommended.

A good quality Flash is essential. Extra lighting and perhaps a light meter would also be very useful. Take gels too, if you know how to use them.

A TRIPOD is absolutely VITAL in many situations.

As for lenses, a 70-200 f/2.8 or f/4 with IS (I used 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II for all six) is THE must have lens, along with an 85mm f/1.2 II L or 135mm f/2.0 L are the basics that most wedding photographers take with them. A 24-70 is not necessarily essential, but it is recommended.

Some photographers like to take some wide angle primes or even a 50mm lens for the "crowd" shots and the group shots, especially during the reception, and also if space is limited.

Also, have patience, since you won't really enjoy the wedding yourself ... Be ready to receive some criticism for your photographs as well. And as a rule of thumb for me, ALWAYS shoot a photo twice ... at least twice.

 

[rhommel]

90% of my weddings:

70-200 F2.8L IS II
24-70 F2.8L I

 

[EYEONE]

If the light was good my current setup would work fine:
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200mm f2.8L IS II

But ideally I'd like this:
35mm f1.4L
135mm f2L

 

[wickidwombat]

for me the 16-35 f2.8L II and sigma 85 f1.4

both on their own 5D bodies works brilliantly
quite light and compact

double rapid strap and you can shoot anything

 

[Dylan777]

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?

They always want and need the latest gear to help their daily job a bit easier. Two of them are my best friends since high school. All four placed pre-order right after the annoucment. One of them tried the new Tamron, but returned the lens back to BH, due to the bad AF.

Most of them own 4-5 5D III bodies & 1-2 1D X bodies. They always paired up for wedding to cover end to end. Kinda fun to see them in action at wedding.

 

[Rofflesaurrr]

So I took most of your advice and rented the 24-70 and 70-200. The gear should be here on Thursday. Wedding is on Saturday.

Also, I'm not just showing up as a guest with a camera. He specifically asked me if I could help. There's also some times when the other photographer won't be able to be in 2 places at once. I'm definitely not pro, or claiming to be. He can't afford to hire a real wedding photographer, so I'm doing what I can. I'm a fan of available light photographs, so we're hoping I can get some good shots that wouldn't be possible with her crop body, slow lenses, and flash.

I'll report back after the wedding with samples for you guys to critique lol. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Dylan777]

So I took most of your advice and rented the 24-70 and 70-200. The gear should be here on Thursday. Wedding is on Saturday.

Also, I'm not just showing up as a guest with a camera. He specifically asked me if I could help. There's also some times when the other photographer won't be able to be in 2 places at once. I'm definitely not pro, or claiming to be. He can't afford to hire a real wedding photographer, so I'm doing what I can. I'm a fan of available light photographs, so we're hoping I can get some good shots that wouldn't be possible with her crop body, slow lenses, and flash.

I'll report back after the wedding with samples for you guys to critique lol. Thanks for the advice!

5D III + 24-70 II and 70-200 f2.8 IS II = "SUPER COMBO"

If the locations are well lit, the gear you rented will do just fine. I'm not sure you will need flash, but it's better to have one on hand.

Since you are Nikon shooter in the past, make sure you give yourself plenty of times to play with 5D III - get to know all settings and button locations.

Stay away from "Green" & "P" mode...have fun and post some pics