“Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.”

                                                                                                                  — Yousuf Karsh

Most of the time, photographers are only interested in upgrading their cameras for newer and better models. And this is because they don't realize the significance of a great lens. One has to apprehend that out of these two major components, the lens has a much stronger effect on the overall look and feel of your image.

Even when you upgrade to the newer top of the line cameras, all you can notice is the performance enhancement, better depth in colours while editing and maybe more megapixels. But if you really want your images to look magical, then you have to invest in lenses.

Hence, We at Nitin Arora Photography are here to tell you about all the lenses that a wedding photographer should have and why.

1. Canon EF35mm f/1.4L II USM or RF35mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM

As it is a wide-angle lens, it helps the photographer with the Storytelling aspect of wedding photography.

And as this is a prime lens, its wide aperture can really help you get those portrait shots.

Due to its 35mm focal length, this lens is great for shooting in confined spaces. Hence it is a great lens for Bridal Portraits.

If you are looking to get some full-body portraits, then 35mm is the lens for you.

2. Canon EF50mm f/1.2L USM or EF50mm f/1.4 USM

One can argue that this is one of the most prefered lenses from the Canon L Series Line-Up. Its 50mm Focal length makes it perfect for shooting Portrait Shots.

The Wide Aperture of this lens makes it ideal for shooting portrait shots.

Whenever you are looking to get some really shallow depth of field photos, you can always choose EF50mm, as its aperture can go as wide as f/1.2

We all love a picture with a smooth background drawing all the attention to the subject, and that can be easily achieved with this lens.

3. Canon EF85mm f/1.2L II USM or EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

Taking Seamless Close Up Shots is one of the main strengths of this lens.

In the time of social distancing, this is one of the best lenses that you can pack for a wedding shoot. This lens will allow you to take some amazing portrait shots without being close to the subject.

We prefer clicking close up shots with the 85mm.

The lens also works well for couple portraits, even when you are far from the stage.

With the ability to shoot from afar, this lens enables you to move around and not be held in a tight space. This also gives you the benefit of exploring new viewpoints.

4. Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

This is one of the most popular lenses among wedding photographer, as this gives you a range of 24 to 70mm that is just perfect for shooting a wedding.

Due to the flexibility of the lens, you can cover the whole wedding with it from start to end.

The lens also enables you to take wide-angle group pictures.

From Decor to Couple Portraits, this lens helps you cover everything.

With the lower end of the focal length spectrum, you can cover more ground with a wide field of view.

And with the longer focal length, you can get a better perspective and amazing bokeh.

5. Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

If you are a wedding photographer with a keen eye for details, then this is the lens for you. This lens is a great pick when you are shooting bridal portraits.

This is an ideal lens for capturing Bride's Jewellery

The 100mm Macro can also get you some amazing ring shots.

The beauty of this lens is that you can take some stunning close up shot without ever being out of focus.

And not just Close-Ups, this lens can also perform pretty well with Portraits too.

Hence these were our pick for some of the most important lenses that every wedding photographer should own. Each and every one of these lenses have a special characteristic that makes it unique and essential at the same time. 

And if you are a photographer who is out looking for inspirations and ideas, then you should go and take a look at our Portfolio. And if you enjoyed reading this, you should also check out our other Blogs.