Wedding Lens advice please. :)

I am primarily a portrait photographer (part time) who is starting to delve more and more into wedding photography. My 5th wedding is coming up soon, and I am looking for some experienced advice on lens choices. I always feel at a loss when trying to decide what lenses to use during the ceremony, with the least amount of lens changes, using 2 FF camera bodies. Also, I recently acquired a 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, and I'm trying to figure out where it will fit best into my wedding workflow.

The wedding is going to be outdoors in a field at 5 in the evening. I should have access to the entire perimiter of the ceremony. The reception will be outdoors under a tent that evening, well into dark. I plan to place 3 speedlites off-camera around the reception venue for some fun party light ala the F-Stoppers, as well as one speedlite on camera, maybe inside a Lumiquest Softbox III.

Here is a rough plan that I have been thinking about, using the lenses I currently own. I will be shooting the 5D MK2 and the 5D MK3 simultaneously during the ceremony and reception:

Detail shots: 50mm f/1.4 USM; Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro

Bride/Groom preparation: 24-105 f/4L IS USM, 50mm f/1.4 USM

Venue Shots: 17-40 f/4L USM; 50mm f/1.4 USM

Portraits: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro (seriously, this thing takes amazing portraits), 24-105mm f/4L USM?? 70-200mm f/2.8 non-IS??

Ceremony: 70-200mm f/2.8 non-IS?? 50mm f/1.4 USM?? 24-105mm f/4L IS USM??

Reception: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro for cake cutting, toasts, etc while still light outside; 50mm f/1.4 USM; 24-105mm f/4L IS USM??

Which lenses do you primarily choose for the ceremony and why? Do you change lenses out during the ceremony or just stick with one on each body?

Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

During a ceremony I use the following lenses

On two 5D MKIII's I use any of the following

14mm F2.8 Samyang
16-35mm F2.8 MKII L
45mm F2.8 TS-E
85mm F1.4 Sigma
70-200mm F2.8 MKII IS L often with a 1.4x extender

I also have two Sony A7's on me as well

24mm F1.8 Zeiss (on a Sony A7r)
55mm F1.8 Zeiss (on a Sony A7)

I shoot ceremonies using 4 bodies.

4 bodies, wow! Do you put them down or all of them are hanging off you?

And thread hi-jack! How do you colour match your 5D with the A7? I have enough issues sometimes with a 5D2 vs 5D3.

For me, I keep it simple, I use 2 5D3's and a few lenses.

Preps: 35L or 50L for people photos and I whip out the 100mm for details/rings
Portraits: 50L/85L
Ceremony: 24-70L
Groups: 24-70L
Bridal party photos: 35L, 50L, 85L, 45TSE
Reception: 24-70L, 85L, 35L

Unless you enjoy playing packhorse and spending more time changing lenses than photographing, put the 24-105 on one body and the 70-200 on the other and enjoy the wedding. Life will be simpler, you will feel less exhaustion, and your clients will be pleased with their photos.

jenward74 wrote in post #16868419
Which lenses do you primarily choose for the ceremony and why? Do you change lenses out during the ceremony or just stick with one on each body?

Any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

For the ceremony, I use 2 5DMKIII cameras with a 24L (or sometimes the 50L) attached to one camera and the 70-200 f2.8 IS MKII attached to the other. I also have my 15FE, 50L, and 85L in my Think Tank Lens Changer 3 bag ready to use if need be. The 70-200 gets big time use at ceremonies for sure.

For the other parts of the day I try to stick with one camera.

For prep, I usually have my 50L on.

For tight portraits, I prefer my 85L.

For couple shots, I prefer my 85L or 70-200. Of course I'll use any other lens that I have with me should I see the need.

For small group shots I prefer my 50L or 70-200.

For big groups shots, I'll have to go wider, so perhaps my 24L or 16-35 especially if space is at a premium.

For the reception, for the grand entrance, I'll usually have 2 cameras. Similar combo as the ceremony. Then the rest of the evening is dependent on what's going on. For dancing, I usually stick with the 24L and 50L. For the speeches, I might stick with the 50L or 85L. Same with cake cutting. For garter toss, I might want to go wide and use my 16-35L.

jackinavox wrote in post #16868530
4 bodies, wow! Do you put them down or all of them are hanging off you?

They are all on me throughout the ceremony.

jackinavox wrote in post #16868530
And thread hi-jack! How do you colour match your 5D with the A7?

I don't. I simply set a K white balance on each camera according to the environment I am shooting in.

Great advice from all of you! I really like the idea of just using two lenses on two bodies during the ceremony, maybe keeping others nearby just in case? When possible I usually commandeer a chair on the outside end in the back row to perch a bag when shooting outdoor weddings so I can have some emergency stuff nearby. And I had considered the possibility of strapping on my old XSi in addition to the to FFs, but I'm not sure I want to try to juggle that many at once, lol.

For two FF bodies, keep a 24-70 f/2.8L Mk II on one and a 70-200 f/2.8L Mk II on the other. That should cover most of what you need.

Other useful lenses are:

100mm Macro (ring/detail shots)
85mm f/1.2L Mk II
16-35mm f/2.8L Mk II

Getting Ready- 35 1.4 and Tamron 90 Macro.. The Tamron 90 macro VC is a fantastic lens
Ceremony- 35 1.4 and 70 to 200 2.8.. I'll grab the 17 to 40 get to a few wide shots
Formals 35 1.4 and the 70 to 200 2.8
Reception 35 1.4 and the 70 to 200 .. I'll grab the 17 to 40 for a few wide shots.

Ceremony: 70-200mm f/2.8 non-IS and 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.
Reception: people will get in your way, use 24-105 and make sure your lights are positioned correct. TEST before the couple get there, it's harder than you'd think to get the lighting right and even.
Forget the on camera soft box, throw it out, I have one in my camera bag and never ever use it. Bounce the light.

I use 16-35, 24-70,70-200 all day. 50 F1.8 (Nikon, better than the Canon version) comes out for prep and the odd thing.

jackinavox wrote in post #16868530
4 bodies, wow! Do you put them down or all of them are hanging off you?

This is how I carry them.

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memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16874099
This is how I carry them.

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Looks serious. How do you deal with the bodies/lenses hitting the ground when you need to crouch down? I assume you will still only just use your right hand to shoot because most (all?) cameras are setup for right hand use?

Sorry i'm quite intrigued by this!

jackinavox wrote in post #16876007
Looks serious. How do you deal with the bodies/lenses hitting the ground when you need to crouch down? I assume you will still only just use your right hand to shoot because most (all?) cameras are setup for right hand use?

Sorry i'm quite intrigued by this!

There is a technique but put simply you just move one of the 5D MKIII's to behind your back as you drop. I run around with this setup. I'f I know I'll be lying down I just unclip the A7s. Saying that with their screens being movable the way they are I can shoot often without having to lie down but from ground level. You just learn to move around knowing where the cameras are (like extra limbs).

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16868479
During a ceremony I use the following lenses

On two 5D MKIII's I use any of the following

14mm F2.8 Samyang
16-35mm F2.8 MKII L
45mm F2.8 TS-E
85mm F1.4 Sigma
70-200mm F2.8 MKII IS L often with a 1.4x extender

I also have two Sony A7's on me as well

24mm F1.8 Zeiss (on a Sony A7r)
55mm F1.8 Zeiss (on a Sony A7)

I shoot ceremonies using 4 bodies.

How do you find the sony

Do you use them as supplements to your other cameras

Hey what made you get the A7's when you have the 5D3's

How is the autofocus on them, I'm actually thinking of getting a A7s as a backup