Looking to mix things up for my first wedding gig...

Hey all,

So I'm looking to mix up my lenses a bit in anticipation of my first wedding gig next April. I'm a family portrait/engagement session photographer with a good deal of second-shooter experience for weddings.

Here's what I'm working with:

Bodies: 6D, 650D
Lenses: 17-40L, Samyang 24 f1.4, 35IS, 50 STM, 85 1.8, 135L, and a Tamron 70-300.

For portrait sessions, I mostly use the 35, 85, 135 and the 17-40 for one or two shots.

Here's what I'm thinking about doing (and tell me if you think this is a good idea) for weddings:

Sell the 17-40L, 35IS, and 24 f1.4 (I never use this guy sadly) to pick up a used 16-35 f2.8L. The 16-35 would suit my wide angle needs on the 6D and work well as a 'normal' zoom on the 650D for weddings. I'm thinking I no longer would need the 35IS because I'd be stopping down for group shots anyway and it becomes a little redundant when I also consider that I own an x100s...too much 35mm. I'm not missing anything right..other than a stop of light?

Then when wedding time comes, I'd shoot the ceremony with some combination of 650D + 16-35mm and 6D + 85/135. Then for the reception I'd probably throw the 16-35 on the 6D and maybe the 50 on my 650D? Honestly I don't imagine I'd use the crop much when lighting became a concern.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I had to get these thoughts out. Thanks for any insight!

If you are wanting to weddings a 24-70 would be a better choice than the 16-35.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17806203
If you are wanting to weddings a 24-70 would be a better choice than the 16-35.

Right, but I want to use the 16-35 on my crop-sensor (1.6x), effectively making it a 25-56mm.

chexjc wrote in post #17806207
Right, but I want to use the 16-35 on my crop-sensor (1.6x), effectively making it a 25-56mm.

So you want to put your best lens on what should be your backup camera? Take care of the main business and worry about the crop functionality second.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17806239
So you want to put your best lens on what should be your backup camera? Take care of the main business and worry about the crop functionality second.

Good point. I think I'm overthinking this.

chexjc wrote in post #17806261
Good point. I think I'm overthinking this.

It's easy to do. It's natural to want to retain the maximum flexibility, and if your question was about getting the most out of your gear for general hobby use I would agree with you. But for weddings you want to be task oriented and put your best gear for the most important jobs.

you are going to want the 6D for the ceremony and the reception since you will be using higher ISO. the 16-35L wont be used much, you will rather have a 24-70 on the 6D. As the main shooter for weddings i shoot almost exclusively with the 24-70. i use primes for the b/g formals.

use the 50 or 85 on the 650 as your backup second body for variety.

if you dont have any, look into getting some good reliable lights with eTTL and batteries instead of cashing out for an expensive lens.

i can think of a lot of other things i'd rather have for wedding work than a 16-35.

im probably wrong but is someones wedding, and your first as principle, the best time to "mix things up"? would it not be better to stick with what you know works for you, until you get a little more experience?

i always try out new things when I do a wedding. I do what i know works but I'm not afraid to test out a new technique or use a different lens combination. Its not like you can replicate a wedding to fool around. Everyone is looking to get more efficient.

In the OPs defense, shooting your first wedding solo you tend to really go overboard in your head the most efficient workflow. that may all fall apart on the day and when pressed, you resort to what you know.

I suggest putting the 17-40L on your 650D and the Tamron 70-300 on your 6D. Perhaps have your other lenses in the bag just in case.

The 17-40L is probably too wide for group portraits on a 6D. Wideangle distortion would make the people at the edges of the frame mad at you. If you must buy a lens, consider the 24-105L. On a 6D it would probably do almost everything you need to do at a wedding. Have the 650D and 17-40L handy as a backup.

Disclaimer - I haven't photographed a wedding in 45 years, so I may not know what I am talking about. But I think my suggestions are reasonable. If asked to photograph a wedding now, I would take my 70D, 15-85EFs, (roughly equivalent to the 24-105L,) and my 60EFs macro as a short portrait telephoto.

Thanks for the advice! I do have lights and triggers to work with, but I'm planning to grab some more before this wedding. You're absolutely right that I'm overthinking the efficiency, but that's the right thing to do...right? If I were to shoot this wedding today, I'd probably shoot mostly everything with just my 6D and the 35/85 combo. Perhaps I will pick up a 24-70 before then, but whether I do or not, I'm comfortable with my level of experience to shoot this wedding well.

gonzogolf wrote in post #17806281
It's easy to do. It's natural to want to retain the maximum flexibility, and if your question was about getting the most out of your gear for general hobby use I would agree with you. But for weddings you want to be task oriented and put your best gear for the most important jobs.

Agree...as your first time as primary (and maybe solo...you didn't mention if you'd have an assistant/second shooter)...simple will keep you efficient.

You mentioned for portrait sessions you don't use the 17-40 much, how much do you think you'd use the 16-35? If your shooting style doesn't lend toward the wide angle too often...I'd imagine it probably won't change much during a wedding either. The 16-35 is a pricey lens to be used for a handful of shots during a wedding. I don't disagree that it wouldn't be a great choice...but if your "choice" leaves it in the bag because you prefer longer focal lengths (like I do), it probably doesn't provide you much benefit.

For whatever it's worth...many wedding photographers who shoot primarily with prime lenses say their go to lenses are the 35 and 85, or the 35 and 135.

Hopefully that didn't muddy up the water for you.

chexjc wrote in post #17813861
Thanks for the advice! I do have lights and triggers to work with, but I'm planning to grab some more before this wedding. You're absolutely right that I'm overthinking the efficiency, but that's the right thing to do...right? If I were to shoot this wedding today, I'd probably shoot mostly everything with just my 6D and the 35/85 combo. Perhaps I will pick up a 24-70 before then, but whether I do or not, I'm comfortable with my level of experience to shoot this wedding well.

rent a second 6D, you should have a backup anyway, this way you CAN shoot with a 35 and an 85.

mike_311 wrote in post #17814451
rent a second 6D, you should have a backup anyway, this way you CAN shoot with a 35 and an 85.

This is up there at the top of my considerations. With the 35 and 85/135 on one of each of the cameras, I would feel very comfortable. It looks like I could rent one for about the same cost as a 24-70 f2.8 rental = $64. Not bad at all.

agrandexpression wrote in post #17813903
Agree...as your first time as primary (and maybe solo...you didn't mention if you'd have an assistant/second shooter)...simple will keep you efficient.

You mentioned for portrait sessions you don't use the 17-40 much, how much do you think you'd use the 16-35? If your shooting style doesn't lend toward the wide angle too often...I'd imagine it probably won't change much during a wedding either. The 16-35 is a pricey lens to be used for a handful of shots during a wedding. I don't disagree that it wouldn't be a great choice...but if your "choice" leaves it in the bag because you prefer longer focal lengths (like I do), it probably doesn't provide you much benefit.

For whatever it's worth...many wedding photographers who shoot primarily with prime lenses say their go to lenses are the 35 and 85, or the 35 and 135.

Hopefully that didn't muddy up the water for you.

No second shooter for this one. This couple came to me through a friend of a friend because they are looking for a wedding package smaller than most were willing to offer. It's basically your standard half-day (4 hour) coverage arrangement with a small print package included.

Yeah the 17-40 is typically used for 1-2 shots in a portrait session, but my reasoning with the 16-35 was that I would slap it on the crop-sensor for an effective 25.6-56mm. I would still take a majority of shots with the 6D+85/135, but have the 650D as a safety net should I need to get a wider (normal) field of view quickly. Outside of weddings, I'd then have a slightly more versatile wide angle for my 6D. I've since decided that's not the right strategy though. I'm leaning towards either purchasing/renting a 24-70 or a second 6D.

I am not a wedding shooter by trade but I have served as a second shooter on many weddings.

I always take the 135 f/2, either a rented 24-70 f/2.8 (now version 2) or the 24-105 and always the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II.

Plus something in the way of a wide angle. All on full frame: 5D and 5D3.

I am curious how well you fare with the slower Tamron 70-300. No way I'd be the first shooter at a wedding (ceremony and reception) without the 2.8 70-200.

But, I know many wedding photographers (as stated above, for example) don't even bother with anything longer than 70mm. I have always wondered how they do that.

If you are the type that needs the range of 70-200, I suggest - at least for your first wedding assignment coming up - that you rent the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II.