Comments on: Choosing a Lens for Wedding Photography – Stepping into Wedding Photography Part 2

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:04:09 +0000

For all the newbies…

I have been doing photography as a job for about 3 months now…
I use a Nikon D7000 for the main camera and have a D60 as backup.
Flashes are SB900 for main and SB700 for backup (due to the 900 heating issues)
Lenses I use due to budget – Nikon 18-200 VRII and Nikon .50 1.8 AF-S

I have mostly done portraits but I have now done my 3rd wedding and am getting booked for more. My advice for weddings is, do small ones first. Call notaries and hook up with them. They are small, fast and easy to manage. Dont charge a ton of money and build your portfolio and skill level. Most “pros” wont touch a small wedding because they wont make the money they want, that means more small ones for us! WOOHOO!
I am now hooked up with the Hilton hotel and Chick Filet for local stuff…your time and energy WILL pay off! Just network and connect with people and businesses!

Anyway, check my site out at http://www.frozenflorida.com and good luck!

By: tomas haran

tomas haran — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:44:05 +0000

Susan
How long have you been shooting weddings and how long have you been using your 85mm?
In most cases a fixed lens is very restricting especially for the ring exchange and first kiss. Being in the back, you may be too far to get detail shots, but it all depends on your style.
My favorite all purpose lens is a 70-200mm lens. You can be half distance out and then zoom in some if need be. Yes they are big but very versatile. What i would suggest is go with a lens you feel really comfortable with. Visit the venue ahead of time and place yourself where you would stand and see if its wide enough or long enough. Figure out your settings and youll do fine. But weddings move extremely fast. If you can get your hands on a 70-200mm 2.8 you will love it. Good luck and keep us posted.

By: susan

susan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:20:45 +0000

Thanks for all the information. I shoot with a Nikon D700 and have a 50mm f/1.4. I have a wedding coming up and have been doing some research on what other lens to buy/borrow. My side shooter is going to have a canon with a 50mm and also is going to have a wide angle zoom. She may be stationary behind the couple. I am more comfortable with primes and wondering if I could get away with a 85mm for the ceremony..standing in the back. The ceremony is not at a church but a country club, with minimal lighting. It is not a large room.

Any feedback would help. I also have a sb600- which I think would be ok for the room size. any other attachment suggestions would be good. thanks!

By: Tomas Haran

Tomas Haran — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:48:06 +0000

shelley,
there are some (do your research) lenses from sigma, tamron that do the job very well.
Look at your budget first and also if you’re going to be getting paid for shooting. Most of the time a nikon lens will work better , long run, than another manufacturer. Also, they might be built tougher.
But I would not count out other brands as optical quality is not far off at all on some of the better lenses from tamron, sigma etc. Budget is the biggest factor. Buy the best lens your budget can afford.

By: Tomas Haran

Tomas Haran — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:44:17 +0000

@why night??
how did the shooting go?
I’d highly suggest an sb-600 minimum, and a faster zoom.
Hope the shots turned out well.

By: Why night?!

Why night?! — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:55:28 +0000

EMERGENCY!

If anyone can suggest anything to me really quick I would be ever so grateful!

My first official wedding for family friends, laid back however I’m a perfectionist and want the pics to be spectacular!

TONIGHT, new years eve wedding wil take place OUTSIDE on a porch. Minimal lighting coming from background from porch lights. They will be standing on the staircase with a panel background of fabric and christmas lights.

Suggestions on a lens that I can pick up really quick. I am going to try to “rent” one so expense really isn’t an option I guess. I really just want great photos with it. I usually experiment a lot when I shoot, but it’s a 6 MINUTE ceremony so I really don’t have time to play around. I know I can get creative shots with the background lighting but I’m worried about their faces being in shadows.

So maybe a lens suggestion and/or a a flash suggestion. I can’t bounce the lens off a ceiling because it’s slight their is only a few limbs above and then a black sky, so I was thinking I needed a diffuser but maybe on a faster flash or more powerful.

Equipment I already have:
Nikon D80
Tamron 18-200 3.5-6.3
NIkon 50mm 1:1-8
Nikon SB-400

Any advice would be helpful. I’m confident in my skill but I want to make sure my equipment will be capable of executing my needs!

Thanks!

By: Shelley St jean

Shelley St jean — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:54:10 +0000

Funny looking at all the comments some from way back in 2008, Oh how things have changed since then, this was a great site for me to answer a few questions I had about wedding lenses, thanks everyone. the only other Question I have is… is it really worth the extra cash (sometimes more than $1000) for a Nikon/ Cannon or are the off market lenses up to the chore?????

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:43:38 +0000

Cannon..Nikon..Nikon…Cannon…Nikon Nikon ..Cannon…Nikon..Nikon…kinda like a chant from some lock step movement..vacant eyed..dragging a bunch of D60s and Rebels behind them…its Christmas time ..how about Jacob Marley chained to a bunch of expensive Nikons dragging a bunch of Cannons..wailing “In life loved them…there was no other …now look at me” I was looking for advice on taking better pics,,,this is a NikCannonian equipment forum….Im not going to put on either armband…good luck with that..

By: Ilya

Ilya — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:17:52 +0000

So I’m updating on what I said 4 months ago here on the above comments
I now shoot with a 5D Mark II body, a Sigma 12-24mm II, 24-70L and 70-200L f/2.8L IS II USM lenses. Big change since September. I don’t shoot with primes at all now (Especially weddings) because I now use two flashes on lightstands, Primes are WAY too limiting1 You NEED a zoom for weddings.

By: sam

sam — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:15:30 +0000

wat do u think nikon 18-200 will give better result for wedding photography using on D90′s body