6 Lenses Every Wedding Photographer Must Have

This was a question that I kept asking when I first started my photography journey. At the time I didn’t have much money and needed to make smart decisions when building my lineup.

Here are the top lenses that I thoroughly believe that every wedding photographer must own. Does that mean that you will actually need to bring and use all of these for every wedding, nope! It’s just best to be prepared and it’s my hope that I’m able to point you in the right direction of what your next lens purchase will be.

1.70-200mm

Let’s start this list with a lens that has quickly become one of my favorite lenses to use for almost every wedding. The focal length is perfect for covering weddings in larger venues. While some people may strongly believe that the 2.8 aperture is not enough to get that creamy bokeh seen in 1.2, 1.4, and 1.8 prime lenses, to that I’d have to disagree. You can achieve a look similar, and sometimes greater, than those apertures by zooming your lens in between 170-200mm. At that focal length, no one is even going to notice that it wasn’t shot on a prime lens.

It also can double as an amazing portrait lens as well. Remember, being zoomed in between 170-200mm provides the best bokeh with this lens, so it’s best to use this lens for portraits only when you know that you have enough space to move around.

If you are at a wedding, and the altar, speeches, or a spot during the photo shoot is a bit too far for you, then this is the lens to get.

MIRRORLESS LENS OPTIONS

• Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

• Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S Lens

DSLR LENS OPTIONS

• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens

2. 105mm Macro

Now, this next lens is more of a specialty lens, however, it’s one that I strongly recommend to aspiring photographers to get once they’ve obtained the other lenses listed in this lineup. The macro lens is perfect for getting extreme close-up shots of rings, jewelry, and any other types of details that you’d like to get details of to be featured in the wedding gallery.

While there are other macro lenses that have a 40mm to 60mm range and are quite cheaper, the 105mm is perfect for making sure that you’re far enough away to avoid casting shadows caused by you being so close to the subject.

While you can get pretty decent results of details with other lenses, absolutely none of them can get as close and personal as a macro lens. It just brings you into that extra level of photography that can become eye-catching to a potential wedding client.

This macro lens also can double as a portrait lens if you’re in a pinch. While I much prefer the other lenses on this list for that, at a 2.8 aperture, this 105mm macro lens can provide some pleasing results to start off with.

MIRRORLESS OPTIONS

• Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens

• Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens

DSLR OPTIONS

• Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens

3. 85mm

Now we get to the first prime lens of the “Holy Trinity”. If the wedding is at a small enough venue, then this lens would be the perfect option to get dreamy-looking photos on a lens that doesn’t add so much weight to your back like the much bigger 70-200mm.

While a zoom lens is more flexible with its focal range, the 85mm provides something more that I value greatly, the ability to shoot in a 1.8 aperture. Not only does this let in more light than any zoom lens (which helps lower the ISO) but it achieves the same bokeh look from a 70-200mm 2.8 lens that is zoomed all the way in, but at a much shorter distance. The choice between these two lenses really comes down to how much space you have to work with, and how much light you have left. When it comes down to sunset time, the 85mm will always be the better option for me.

Because of its low-light performance, the prime lens also shines very well during receptions. From the first dance to photographing the guests interacting with one another, it’s a good lens to get professional quality output in your images, while not having to be as close to them as some of the other lenses on this list.

MIRRORLESS LENS OPTIONS

• Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 Lens

• Canon RF 85mm f/1.2L USM DS Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S Lens

   DSLR LENS OPTIONS

• Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G Lens

4. 50mm

The second prime lens of the “Holy Trinity” just happens to be the most popular lens amongst photographers, and for good reason. This is the one lens in any camera brand’s lineup that closely resembles what you naturally see with the human eye. There’s just something so nice about eyeballing a scene, looking through the viewfinder, and seeing through the lens what you saw at the same distance.

The main use of this lens for me is for the getting-ready photos and couples portraits. For these particular moments, the 50mm focal length seems to be the perfect middle ground in achieving high-quality photos while not being too far, or too close to a subject.

If you want intimate-looking photos in your work, this is the lens to get.

  Mirrorless Lens Options

Sony FE 50mm f/1.2 G Master Lens

• Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S Lens

  DSLR Lens Options

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens

5. 35mm

The third and final prime lens of the “Holy Trinity” happens to also be my favorite focal length. Why? Well because you can get closer to your subject, while still being able to include more of the scene, suitable for getting-ready photos and portraits.

This also comes in handy for cocktail hour and reception photos where I am able to aim my lens just to the left or right of any of the guests, and they will think that I’m not even photographing them. From their perspective, I’m shooting beyond them as the lens isn’t pointed directly in their direction. However, the lens is wide enough that they are still secretly incorporated into my framing. I snap a picture, and no one is the wiser!

Another plus about this wide-angle lens is that it doesn’t really have distortion (bent edges) in the frame seen in even wider lenses. This focal length really is a thing of beauty once you get used to shooting with it.

MIRRORLESS LENS OPTIONS

• Sony FE 35mm f/1.4 GM Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S Lens

  DSLR LENS OPTIONS

• Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G Lens

6. 24mm

This lens is the least used in my arsenal, however, it is the most crucial lens to have in your camera bag at all times at a wedding! The simple reason is that you need to be ready for certain situations where all of the other lenses are too zoomed in to get good photos of a scene. You need something wide to capture all of the environment and the action in it, and for that, you use the 24mm lens.

You’re not going to use an 85mm to effectively get people dancing at the reception. You’ll want a 24mm lens so you can get inside of the action and take more epic photographs of those killer dance moves. Sometimes a 35mm just isn’t wide enough in that crammed bridal suite, the 24mm will always be there to bail you out of a tight jam.

Another added bonus for this focal length is that it’s perfect for portraits where the emphasis is more on the gorgeous scenery, rather than the couples themselves. You won’t get as much of a blurred background because of its wider focal length, but you’re not really getting this lens for that. You want to use this lens to show everyone just how pretty life can look around us.

MIRRORLESS LENS OPTIONS

• Sony FE 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens

• Nikon NIKKOR Z 24mm f/1.8 S Lens

  DSLR LENS OPTIONS

• Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Lens

• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.8G ED Lens

   NEED HELP PICKING YOUR NEXT LENS?