Photographing a couple.

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I have some friends getting married in Gretna Green. There will only be the two of them and I have volunteered to go and take some photos for them. They get a number of photos with the marriage package but I thought it may be nice if they can have a few more.

They fully understand that I am a total novice and if I can get some nice images it will be a bonus, so no pressure.

As its only the two of them could you give me opinions which of my lenses would be most suitable. They like the bokeh effect so please bear that in mind.

My camera is a Canon EOS700D, so a cropped sensor.
Lenses are:
Yongnuo 50mm f1.8 prime
Canon 18-55mm f4.5
Canon 85mm f1.8 prime
Canon 75-300mm

I am open to your advice and wisdom of which may be most suitable. Also any other tips would be welcome.

They are getting married at 1.30 pm next Wednesday, ceremony up to half an hour, then photos outside after that.

Many thanks for your help and advice.

Mick
 
Bokeh is simply out of focus.

The longer the lens and the wider the aperture, the thinner the depth of field and the more that will be out of focus. On that basis, the 85mm f1.8 will give the least depth of field while still being usable in relatively confined areas. The 75-300mm at the long end will give even less depth of field but you'll need even more space to work in.

For this to work well, your best bet is to have the focus on their eyes.
 
I've been to a wedding at Gretna Green, it was indoors and that gives a couple of issues, light levels and how far you can back up to frame your shot. Will you be taking many pictures indoors?

Of the lenses you list I'd normally go with the 50mm f1.8 but that's going to be 80mm equivalent on your APS-C Canon which could be getting a bit longish if you want a shot which is less tight and that leaves the 18-55mm which I assume is f3.5-5.6 or something like that?

I can understand you liking bokeh but with thin DoF you could struggle to get a couple sharp. Also it might be an idea to watch the exposure if the bride wears light coloured clothing and the groom wears darker suit. I think I'd have the zoom mounted on the camera if space is going to be tight and I'd have the 50mm in my pocket just in case the light is poor and the ISO creeps up too far but remember that wider apertures equal less depth.
 
You are gonna struggle for light indoors with the 18-55mm zoom but on an APSC body your 50 and 85 are going to be too long.

Maybe skip grabbing any photos until you can take them outside after the ceremony. The 85 will give you the best bokeh and strongest isolation from the background.
 
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The 50/1.8 is going to be your best bet I would imagine.

I shot a friends wedding last month and it was mainly 35/1.4 with some outside with the 85/1.8 - and that's on full frame.

The 85mm is not going to be very useable in relatively confined areas! And the zooms aren't going to let in enough light for indoors I expect.

As Tommy said, I would concentrate on the outside stuff afterwards - I would imagine the wedding package photos will be just the ceremony anyway.
 
85mm is my weapon of choice, and Sigma one is definitely one, pun intended.

Do however watch out for things getting out of focus at these apertures. With that body I would be checking after each shot.
 
When we shot weddings on crop, the 85mm was our favoured portrait lens.

That doesn't mean it's the best lens for ceremonies, but where you're taking control it's fab.

And just to add -isolated subjects with silky smooth bokeh is definitely a 'look' but there's also the consideration that you'll want some shots with a wider DoF to show where they were. No point in going somewhere unique if the surroundings aren't visible in any of the images.

Also egg sucking instructions, the image is made as a combination of subject, environment and light, so when you're posing your couple remember that their relationship to the light is key
 
Many thanks folks. Thanks so much for all the advice. I will take it on board and try my best.
I agree about the bokeh effect not being the only way to as surroundings help to make the image, but it's something I want for a few of them so need to have the wider aperture.
 
I have never photographed a wedding, however if the light is really poor and you have high ISOs software like Topaz or DXO raw can help a lot.
(I have photographed birds and animals in deep shade).
 
50mm even on FF could still be tight depending on the environment and how far you can back up if there'll be couple or group shots and the possibility that the bride at least will want full body shots. Full body and couple or group and landscape orientation could be a problem with 50mm let alone 85mm.

To clarify, I'm not and never will be a wedding photographer, I've taken a lot of pictures with 50mm on FF and all I'm saying is think practicalities first, start at the end image and work back to decide the kit and the settings.
 
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