Wedding shots: What focal lengths?

[Mitch]

All you 10D wedding pros - Help! In a wedding, what focal lengths and apertures do you recommend for the following shots: head shot, waist shot, 3/4 shot, full body shot. Which shots do you do horizontally and which shots vertically? Heres the really big question...for the post ceremony photo session, how far away from the subjects do you typically shoot from? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[robertwgross]

The correct focal length is probably the one that fills the frame with the subject.

The correct aperture is probably the one that gives you the necessary depth of field and the correct exposure value.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

The correct focal length is probably the one that fills the frame with the subject.

The correct aperture is probably the one that gives you the necessary depth of field and the correct exposure value.

---Bob Gross---


All kidding aside......

Wait, he wasn't kidding. :shock: :wink:

There are too many variables involved to answer a question that broad without over-generalizing. It depends on equipment available, lighting conditions, and myriad other things. Even skin tones can be a factor.

Bob just manages to express himself with enviable frugality of language.

[Mitch]

Thanks for the speedy reply, Bob. Could you comment with the benefit of your experience with some recommendations for the distances from the subject that would be preferential in your opinion for the above mentioned shots. As it's axiomatic that the focal length and distance from the subject for a given shot go hand in hand, I am interested in what experienced pros use. This will give us readers some insight into the resultant recommended shot perspectives for the shots.

[robertwgross]

We have discussed this several times just within the last few weeks. The same question comes up time and time again.

The conventional wisdom is that the middle focal lengths are most important for wedding photography, so the common lens choice tends to be something like a 28-135mm. For altar returns, the small groups will generally fit within 28-50. The large groups may require something wider, like 20-30mm. On Saturday's wedding, one group was so large that I had to keep moving back, and moving back...

On the other hand, a wedding photographer is seldom welcome to be shooting the ceremony from arm's length. A little more subtlety can be had by moving to the back of the church and shooting with something long, like 150-200 or so. On the other hand, one good one happened when the other photographer moved into a position that I would call "behind the minister's right shoulder" and back about 20 feet. He got the b&g faces without a flash (which would have been disruptive at that point).

At a reception, there are a few opportunites for a long shot, but the vast majority are done wide. Dancing and all that... wide.

Where I always have to stop and think is when I am changing from wide to long. My 550EX flash will zoom its flash from half-wide to half-long. However, to go ultra-wide, I have to remember to pull the little flash diffuser down over the flash head. Then I have to remember to stick it back when I go long again.

My focal length is dictated by the fact that I am shooting alongside a medium format film photographer, and I normally set my tripod exactly next to his, so I need my focal length (with 1.6 factor) to roughly match up with what he is doing.

---Bob Gross---

[Harry Settle]

Formal shots are usually shot somewhere around 20', in a church. You will probably move the camera forwards and backwards a couple of times 5' or more depending on the shots you want. Most of the people I know are shooting with either the 24-70 or 28-70. Once you start moving around for other, candid shots, you are in a different ballpark as far as distance goes. The same lenses may cover you for these as well. I don't know what lens or lenses you already have, but, it would be advantageous for you to take a lens to a church and check out the distances you are comfortable shooting at, and then find a lens, or lenses to cover you. If you are using your own lighting, aperture won't be as much of a concern for you. Available light shots are totaly differnt story. I am hearing some really good things about using the 85mm prime for portraits, as well as the 50mm.

[Mitch]

Thanks for the reply, Bob. Very helpful. Much appreciated.

Wow, 20 ft back for formals, that's far for groups of 2 to 4, but for bigger groups, yeah. You must be using a focal length larger than 28mm?

Harry, I have two 10D cams, 17-40L, 50 1.8, 28-135, 70-200L f4. I have rented the 70-200L 2.8 IS (way, way too heavy), and the 28-70L 2.8 but I keep going back to the 28-135IS. I love my 70-200L f4 but I seldom use it in a wedding. I was heartened by a post by Bob (I'm pretty sure it was Bob) where he mentioned that he shot a wedding using the 28-135 much of the time. I am trying to talk myself into dumping the 28-135 IS and buying the 24-70L 2.8, but after studying DOF and getting virtually all my shots sharp now with the 28-135 IS, and thereby shooting seldomly below f5.6, I can't come up with compelling enough reasons to make the purchase especially since the lens is limited to 70mm. Darn, I wish the 28-135 was an "L".

[robertwgross]

The large groups may require something wider, like 20-30mm.

I think the Canon 17-40mm might be popular for this purpose.

---Bob Gross---

[WestFalcon]

I use the 17-40 for my larger group shots/ I take an insurance shot of key groups with a 20-35 usm too. I backup key pictures by using two cameras and two different cards. I use the 28-70 L for bride and groom or the 28-135 if I want to zoom in to a head shot. Those 4 lenses do most of my typical 300 pictures at a wedding. I'm happy with the results.

[robertwgross]

I'm happy with the results.

All that is important is that the clients are happy with the results, and they pay the bill.

---Bob Gross---

[WestFalcon]

"All that is important is that the clients are happy with the results, and they pay the bill".(Robert Gross)


Robert Gross....You always seem to take issue with my statements....tight underwear or what ? If I am pleased with the results of my wedding photography from these 4 lenses, the clients are pleased 99.99% of the time. I am very quality conscious as are most people on this forum, so when I am pleased with the results, clients are too. I have 30 years of satisfied customers....How about you?

[robertwgross]

Robert Gross....You always seem to take issue with my statements....

I took no issue with your statements. You had only one previous message in this thread. I made a comment only.

---Bob Gross---

[Belmondo]

Way off topic, but I just felt like injecting the lyrics from this old love song of some years ago. It seems to fit.


They're rioting in Africa.
They're starving in Spain.
There's hurricanes in Florida,
And Texas needs rain.


The whole world is festering
With unhappy souls.
The French hate the Germans
The Germans hate the Poles.
Italians hate Yugoslavs
South Africans hate the Dutch
And I don't like anybody very much.


In far away Siberia
They freeze by the score
An avalanche in Switzerland
Just got fifteen more.
But we can be tranquil
And thankful and proud
For man's been endowed
With a mushroom shaped cloud.

And we know for certain
That some lovely day
Someone will set the spark off
And we will all be blown away.

They're rioting in Africa.
There's strife in Iran.
What nature doesn't do to us
Will be done by our fellow man.

[rodbunn]

I know what looks good is what you want. There are lots of
variables. What I do for the formal "posed" shots is shoot between
F5 to F8, focused on the face(s). After that I try and get back from
the subjects with say a 200mm and f2.8 or so and get some candids
at that setting.

I didn't have time to read all the posts but I'm sure there was some
great suggestions.

Good luck, Rod

samples: www.xposeu.com
under wedding photos