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***Wedding photography camera and lens gear I use to capture weddings with the Canon 5D Mark III camera body, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 100mm macro, and 85mm lenses.***
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– Canon 5D Mark III:
– Canon 24-70mm 2.8L:
– Canon 70-200mm 2.8L IS:
– Canon 100mm 2.8L IS macro:
– Canon 85mm 1.2L:
***OVERVIEW***
If you’ve ever been curious about the wedding photography camera and lens gear I use in my business, then this episode is for you. I share with you the bodies and lenses that I prefer and why I choose these tools to get the job done.
I’ve been a Canon person since I started out in wedding photography around a decade ago and have found their equipment to be both durable and reliable – two essential criteria in my opinion. I have selected my gear because it produces the best images possible, as well as fitting in with the style of weddings I shoot.
For every wedding or e-session I shoot, I have two Canon 5D Mark III bodies on me, one with a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L series lens and the other with a Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L series zoom lens. The 24-70mm is responsible for around 75-80% of the shots I get, offering a versatile range that allows me to quickly respond to changing situations and lighting conditions.
The 70-200mm is ideal for capturing candid reactions and moments from afar, particularly in venues (such as churches) where photographers are limited as to where they can go. I think it’s worth investing a little more for the f/2.8 (rather than the f/4), particularly when it comes to low-light situations.
My gear setup is completed by a Canon 100mm 2.8L IS macro lens, which I use for a wedding ring and other details shots, as well as a Canon 85mm f/1.2. The quality of the 85mm is second-to-none, offering a shallow depth of field and bokeh that I love for capturing bride portraits after getting ready. Both of these lenses also serve as a backup to the 70-200mm in the unexpected event that it breaks or is stolen.
This wedding photography camera and lens gear setup has stayed the same for most of my career and traveled with me across the world, enduring demanding situations and extreme weather conditions that are a testament to their durability. While my bodies and lenses regularly undergo maintenance, their reliability gives me little reason to be changing anytime soon.
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Hi Henry, great video. For those starting in this photography world who don't want (or cant) to invest that much at the beginning, if you had two choose only 2 of all these lenses to shoot an entire wedding, which 2 will you choose? 24-70mm & 70 – 200mm?. I've also seen amazing reviews and videos about the 135mm, would combine this one with the 24-70mm or the 70 – 200mm as your only two choices? Thanks in advance 🙂
I am starting now as an wedding as event photographer I am so focused when to use which focus points so if u any video on guiding such things and some thing about use of external lighting source please forward me to that video link . Thank you
Wonderful amount of info .Crystal clear info and I am a prove lover but like u said wedding is a busy time and for a photographer we have to rely on the two prime lenses that you mentioned . Superb video !!! Keep up the good work.
Nice job, When I move to San Diego again after graduating high school, I'm going to be a wedding photographer, And I know the perfect job
Good info here. How often or when do you use flash at wedding ceremonies and receptions?
Furi curent Ti-omping!
Which is better for weddings? Canon or Nikon?
Sir my camera is 2 years old i have a grains problem so what i do ?
I have to change a shutter or sensor ?
Thank you! Helpes alot
Hi Henry I'm looking into a zoom lens too but since the 24-70mm 2.8 is totally out of my budget, do you think the 24-70mm f4/l will work just as good? And will it fit my dslr?
Henry, can I use 35mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.4, on my 2 cameras for wedding photography?
Hello! I shoot a wedding next year and was wondering what's the best lens for an entry-level camera, such as the Canon T5i? I have the 50mm, 24mm, and the standard kit lens (18-55mm). Thanks so much.
Very informative. This equipment is a bit outside my budget. I need a camera that's great for shooting YouTube videos (same style that you're using here – just me educating and offering tips) and would also enable me to take really good photos of my kids. My old Nikon had a terrible lens and I my kids looked like ants on the soccer field. My Samsung phone takes better photos than that Nikon did. Any suggestions for a good, but not quite professional option?
I think the same way, except that for the 24-70mm Canon lens, I'm' disappointed that it's not image stabilized, so I'd go with the Tamron instead that gives IS with 5 stops and it's quite a bit cheaper without really giving less.
Hi,what do you think about canon 6d ii for wedding photography?
Sadly, I ended up with an L kit lens of 24-105m f4 is, but I'd rather have the 24-70 f2.8. I hate to change lenses for just 1 stop but above 70mm I'll have the 70-200 anyway.
Hello Henry . Very usefull video. thanks for all the recommends here. Does the Tamron 24-70 G2 has the same benefits for weddings as well like the Canon 24-70 mark 2? .the image stabilization is a big benefits but in other aspects?. what is your thinking about this lens compare to the Canon in aspects of wedding photography?
please stop saying naikon, its neekon (nikon) 🙁
Great vid👍🏻😊👍🏻😊
My name is Henry too, how random😊😊😊😊😊
01:50 – Making the gear fit your photography, instead of conforming your photography to your gear. (Paraphrasing).
15:00 – I Don't bring 6, 7 8 plus lenses. Ultimately, the style, types, settings I encounter – I rely on my two zooms, the 24-70mm, and 70-200mm lenses.
Nice video i wanted to ask that which camera should i use as a beginner who wants to learn wedding photography under 30'000 INR?
If you're replacing the mirror and shutter on your camera a few times a year is very strange. Either the camera mirror box is faulty or you shoot hundreds of thousands of photos a year to wear out the mirror mechanism. That would mean tens of thousands of photos a wedding…or you just like to replace the mirror, shutter, sensor etc a few times a year to keep the camera "fresh". I just don't understand why some much maintenance as canon cameras are workhorses. You could also just be REALLY ROUGH on your gear that it breaks a lot.
Please elaborate on how camera effects culture, faith? As far as I'm concerned a physical camera should not effect this. Equipment is equipment.
Thank you brother, I hearing you from Bangladesh. 😍
Henry nice video bro, I also have Mkiii with 24-70 and 70-200 that’s the mortal combo you’re right. I really like the fact that although there’re many new cameras out there you stick with the MkIII which is a tank.
I also have sony systems (A7S II and R3 ) but lenses with Sigma MC-11 so for a wedding I don’t rely on that because on focus speed ( amazing IQ and dynamic range, but Sony lenses are very expensive).
Keep up your great videos and being humble as you are bro! Subscribing.
Hi Henry, you are great i call you master. am Canon user Mark lll i have respect as Photography, i just use canon 24-70 MM 2.8 ll , Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 APO DG HSM and canon 15-85mm MACRO 0.35m/1.2ft. thanks for your video
My preferences are towards primes. Maybe it's my style, I love the look from primes and don't mind walk back and forth to get the shot.
I use EF L 24-70 F4 it got macro mode & EF L 135 F2. This 2 makes me creative. I do really feel i need EF L 24 F1.4 for wedding would be nice… hmm…
Also the Tamron 85mm f1.8 for Nikon has wonderful image stabilization which far more than makes up for the 1/2 stop loss as compared with 1.4. Also other sins like ca and flaring are not a problem. It's $750.
Thank you Henry, great video! Let me say that I have a good Nikon 810 body and the zooms are SO expensive, I'm going to start with an 85mm 1.8 by Tamron, excellent lens. On the lower zoom range the Nikon 24-70 is not sharp wide open, the Tamron is good but, again, the zooms are expensive. So for now I have also a Yongnuo 50mm 1.8 and that's it until they pay me enough to justify something else. Would like to but the Sony A7iii with and put a 24-70 on that for a second body but now we're talking major money.
Hello Henry, did you notice a big difference when you got the 24-70 mk ii compared to the mk i? I am looking to buy one on ebay and the price differece is $500-700.
Hi Henry, Im a beginner in photography i want to do weddings i just got my camera last week the 5D mark IV and the 50mm f1.8 lens i want to add 1 more lens and i dont know which one to go for , the 24-70mm f2.8 vs 70-200 f2.8
Hey Henry, good job. I just want to ask you what if someone is in starting of wedding photography and can't afford these lenses and FX body, what that person should get to make their clients happy? I've a DX body and one prime and one kit lens and I'm getting wedding events.
Great job Henry!!! Shooting my 1st wedding next week….Nikon D850, 24-70VR, 70-200, 105 1.4, and 105 Macro….2 Indra 500's strobes and 2 sb-5000's speed lights…Should come out well???
I am a new subscriber. I love this video. Thank you so much for this. Keep making videos. 🙂
How many weddings/photos do you take on average every year? Surprising that you have to replace the mirror every year.
Great video, I don’t shoot weddings but I do have a lot of the same kit. I have the 70-200 f4 IS though as I mainly use it with landscapes and maybe birds in flight. I love my 100mm macro and it’s what I mainly use in the studio for food photography. The 24-70 f2.8 is a good lens and I will use it on my 5DII, which is my preferred camera, and 5DIII. However, I much prefer my Sigma 18-35 f1.8 on my 7DII though it nowhere near the full range of the 24-70. I also have the 16-35 f2.8 II which is a gorgeous lens and will use it up to 35mm. I do prefer the 24-70 on my EOS 5 for some strange reason, especially with HP5+. A very interesting video, I believe we can all learn from every genre. Thank you.
Awesome. How about flash? do you use flash in weddings?
Did you start out with 2 bodies? Or just one body with a backup and change lens etc? I have dual straps and 2 bodies. I am just starting out and doing second shooter dates, but i go alone in August and for dual straps i it feels awkward. Maybe after my next few second shooter slots it will be a lot easier, I got 24-70 on a D850 and 70-200 on D800, i also have 50mm and 35mm 1.8s. I just fancy D850 through out and just swap between but i think maybe missing shots will pout me off that idea. Any advice?
Well explained. thanks for this.
Currently I have a Canon 6D and need a 2nd body. I am torn between a few cameras specially the updated 5D and 6D but also the Fujifilm X-H1. I need a good video/stills hybrid. For weddings, I rent a canon 24-70 2.8 and I own a canon 70-200 2.8.
I use a Canon 70d and a 5D mark2. With a Tamron 70-200mm sp2 2.8. And Tamron 24-70mm 2.8 and Tamron 85mm 1.8 sp2. For my wedding and all around kit. Amazing photos with that setup.
Brilliant shots of the weddings you have done! Can’t wait to see more!
Great video Henry. Liked the pictures you showed in the video illustrating the lenses.
Very informative and insightful vid. Thank you for sharing that🙏🏻
Give a review about mark 4
Thanks
I shoot some of my friend's wedding since 2008 to 2012 with 40D first then upgraded to 5D Mark II. After 2012 I took a break from wedding photography and sold my Canon gears. I will shoot my friend's wedding this summer and right now I have 80D which is a great camera I use for portrait, is it worth to get 6DII or 80D is good enough?
Informative, however inserting sample images would make a better video.