Need advice for lens usage (wedding)

TheUndisputed · Jul 7, 2010

My mother is getting re-married this month on the 30th, and wants me to do the photography for them. However, I only have a 18-70mm Lens. What lenses do I need to rent to get the best looking shots for wedding photography. Many people have referred me to rent a 50mm f/1.8.

Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

mrpink · Jul 7, 2010

The 50mm 1.8 is only like $90 so why not just buy one?

I would rent a 70-200 2.8 for most shooting and portraits, and a 17-55 2.8 for wider shots.

A nice speedlight would be on my list as well.

p!nK

KmH · Jul 7, 2010

Good advice, but Nikons AF 50 mm f/1.8, new is $125 - $130. Canon's 50 mm f/1.8 is about $90.

Robin Usagani · Jul 7, 2010

This is a very popular subject. I see the same topic once a day LOL.

MrBarney · Jul 8, 2010

As a total noob, using a Canon with cropped sensor and a bunch of borrowed lenses (!) I found I used a 24-105mm f4 for pretty much the whole day, and then a 50mm f1.4 for the evening. I did have access to a 70-200mm but it just seemed to long and too heavy so I only took a couple of shots with it. I can't find an equivilent Nikon lens for the 24-105 though.

Consider renting a strobe and / or picking up a reflector too.

Big Mike · Jul 8, 2010

Nikon has a 24-70mm F2.8, as does Canon.

shutterbugsdesign · Jul 8, 2010

i agree with mrpink, 70-200 2.8 very good for candid shots. you can really capture the emotions using this lens. 50mm 1.4 is also good for close up and portrait shots.

flyingember · Jul 8, 2010

to answer your question on what lenses you need:

yes. since the answer depends on what you want to do/take.

I've used the Nikon 18-200 with a flash before to take a wedding. (had most my equipment stolen two days before, the body and that lens was elsewhere and I bought a flash, it worked) what I want for weddings is two bodies. one with a fairly wide fast prime like the DX 35 1.8 for low light and one with the 70-200 2.8 I don't have yet for reach. then I could flip back and forth between them for different shots.