Dancing at a wedding, what lens/lights do you use?

ADAMJAY · Jul 3, 2015

Just curious to what people use when photographing the dancing part of a wedding. I know it all depends on the lighting, it seems that most of the weddings I do are always night time so natural window light is slim and normal lights are dimmed.

KmH · Jul 4, 2015

You'll need to add light. Strobes (flash) work best.

dennybeall · Jul 4, 2015

I usually use a fairly wide zoom lens and flash with a diffuser. I find the flash mounted to the side works better for me than on top of the camera. An external battery pack can keep the strobe cycling quickly to keep up with you.

pixmedic · Jul 4, 2015

for wedding receptions i mostly use a 28-75 f/2.8 with a flash on a flash bracket with a 6x6 softbox diffuser on the flash.
I bounce flash whenever possible.

Vtec44 · Jul 4, 2015

It depends on what you want to convey in that photo and the look that you're going after. I use a combination of 50mm f1.4 and 24-70 f2.8 (at 24) and on camera flash (yes) plus off camera flashes.

ADAMJAY · Jul 5, 2015

I would use my 24-105L but got to try out my 50mm 1.4 for first time Friday. Loved it. I think I will like it much better on the 6D I just ordered

ADAMJAY · Jul 7, 2015

pixmedic said:
for wedding receptions i mostly use a 28-75 f/2.8 with a flash on a flash bracket with a 6x6 softbox diffuser on the flash.
I bounce flash whenever possible.

Vtec44 said:
It depends on what you want to convey in that photo and the look that you're going after. I use a combination of 50mm f1.4 and 24-70 f2.8 (at 24) and on camera flash (yes) plus off camera flashes.

Would also like to know if you're using crop sensor or full frame camera?

Braineack · Jul 7, 2015

going out on a limb and saying both are using FF.

pixmedic · Jul 7, 2015

I use D600's, but i have also used DX cameras. For crop frame it would be a 17-50 f2.8

Vtec44 · Jul 7, 2015

ADAMJAY said:
Would also like to know if you're using crop sensor or full frame camera?

Full frame.

ADAMJAY · Jul 9, 2015

THANKS!! I just got a full frame and going to try it out at my sisters wedding this Sunday!

What's a good Macro lens?? For pics of the rings and close ups?

I have a Sigma 17-70mm 2.8-4.5 but its for crop sensor only. Posting it on ebay soon.

kathyt · Jul 9, 2015

When I shot weddings, I shot FF, fast primes, and utilized the ambient lighting. I am not a fan of flash, but used on occasion if I had to.

iolair · Jul 13, 2015

ADAMJAY said:
THANKS!! I just got a full frame and going to try it out at my sisters wedding this Sunday!

What's a good Macro lens?? For pics of the rings and close ups?

I have a Sigma 17-70mm 2.8-4.5 but its for crop sensor only. Posting it on ebay soon.

I'm using the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0 for events and still loving it; finding it versatile and doubt I'll change anytime soon. I'm not sure how it compares to your slightly older -4.5 version. (If I was full-frame, I guess I'd be using a 24-105 f/4).

Actually the 17-70mm (I'm not sure about your slightly older version) will focus *extremely* close - experiment and you may find it good enough for your ring and detail shots. However, all of the manufacturers have very good 100mm f/2.8 macro lenses - which also make good portrait lenses when your shoulder starts to give under the weight of a big 70-200.

Back to the original question ... for dancing yes, flash - at which point you go into mid apertures and the lens choice becomes far less important. I *hate* using direct flash, so either bounce (which kills the atmosphere of any lighting that's there), or have a flash on a stand or assistant to the side - which tends to be more interesting.

But also try taking some shots without flash (or with flash + ambient exposure) to get some motion blur and give the feeling of the motion - especially on the faster dancing after the first few dances.

beagle100 · Jul 17, 2015

ADAMJAY said:
I would use my 24-105L but got to try out my 50mm 1.4 for first time Friday. Loved it. I think I will like it much better on the 6D I just ordered

the 50mm 1.4 will work
(if you're close)

TCampbell · Jul 17, 2015

ADAMJAY said:
Just curious to what people use when photographing the dancing part of a wedding. I know it all depends on the lighting, it seems that most of the weddings I do are always night time so natural window light is slim and normal lights are dimmed.

This depends on if I want a full-length or half-length (waist-up) shot. Usually I use my 24-70 f/2.8.

There are a couple of issues you might have that can be easily overcome. Dance shots at weddings may be in extremely poor lighting. A quality external speedlite flash with a focus-assist beam can fix the "not enough light to focus issue". There can also be an issue with movement. "Back in the day" when we shot this stuff with film cameras at 100 ASA, I'd shoot the bridal party dance by having the couple pause in mid-motion for just a second and snap the shot. I STILL do this today even though the camera can certainly handle the movement. I find that when people are moving you can get some wonky looking body positions and facial expressions that you don't get if you pause the couple for the brief moment needed for the shot.