Wedding Photography Lenses

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Get in to the Focal waitlist here: www.bookfocal.com/taylor-jackson

[@GustavoYmusica]

Have you tried the 3.40 firmware update on the original Nikon Z6? I would love to hear your opinion on it. I think Nikon did a really great job with the AF improvements. As always, thank you for making such great videos for us.

[@Itscapturedbychris]

Yes! Mate you’ve taught me so much… just booked my first job and already feel like I’m a pro after watching every video you’ve put up! I’ve got a cheat sheet I’ve made from your videos! Thanks for the content!

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

That’s awesome! Happy the videos can help!

[@omarlistills]

Not using the more expensive lenses and producing beautiful images. Great job. Thanks for the videos; has helped a lot

[@zaccaldwell]

I absolutely love the ability to use smaller / cheaper lenses these days. It has really changed up the way I'm shooting a wedding day.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Same. Makes me enjoy the day a lot more too, which I think reflects in the work

[@greenmoss]

About forty five years ago Victor Blackman An old Daily Express photographer was remarking on the outstanding range of press photographs that were credited to a colleague He acquired a different set of skills due to using solely a 50mm lens for two years. He always made sure to get in the best position and moved around a lot.

[@joncothranphotography9375]

I love my 50mm f/2.5 Macro for detail shots. I really looks cool!

[@katywolffis7678]

I just got the 35 1.8 RF and love it! Used it almost all day at a recent wedding and I can see the difference in my photos from that day. I also have a video background, so i got it for that purpose too. Looking to get an 85 this year and I’d love to get an R6 so I can have two bodies.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

That 35 will do so much of a wedding day. I also love it as a main travel lens

[@katywolffis7678]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto I had rented two times before buying, so I knew I really wanted it. Went $100 off around Black Friday which made it a no brained to get. I love that Canon is making these amazing prosumer lenses for the RF mount that don’t break the bank. I want to get the 16 too. Still debating if I sell my EF 50 1.4 and get the RF 1.8 version or not. I like how small it is. But I’m thinking of making my kit similar to yours. I shoot with some other photogs that have similar kits, and I really like it.

[@chipcurry]

1000 weddings! That's a good start… Great Video. Thanks for sharing.

[@saragrant556]

I got a the tamron 70-180 2.8 and for the price it is just WOW id totally trade the extra length for this lens. It’s also lightweight

[@erichanson5628]

Such a nice job of explaining things Taylor!

[@ivedigga]

I still carry the original 135mm f2 EF because it’s lightweight and also very reliable, and it helps to “tamp down”the high resolution cameras

[@AprilG123]

Love your content Taylor. I definitely vibe with your personality. I completely agree with your comment about female photographers! Thank you for saying this. The more we talk about this in the industry the better! As a female photographer I have experienced crazy things. The comments are ridiculous. "wow that's a big camera for a little lady" (my favorite) hahah But sometimes it does work in my favor with access because people don't think I'm a full time staff photojournalist for a newspaper. I just roll with it these days. Thanks again!

[@mwbrown25]

I only do the occasional small wedding for friends or work connections but just did my first post-covid (well, post start of Covid) wedding and first one since I got the Canon RP. 98% of the shots were with either my Canon RF35 f1.8 or the Yongnuo RF85 f1.8. Did a couple of the facility with the Samyang 12mm for fun and tried out the EF 70-200 f4 in the ceremony space but the ISO was creeping up a bit higher than I wanted to fix in post. Definitely loved the combo as my last friends wedding in 2019 was on a Canon M5 mostly with a 24-105L and the 70-200. Definitely happier with the images so far this time around.

[@pattyamendolea1327]

Thank you for these informative videos Taylor 👊🏼

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Happy you find them helpful!

[@thismonolife]

Love using my Tamron 35mm 1.4 and 105mm 2.8 micro at weddings. The 105mm is extremely versatile as it focus so close can be kept on for multiple situations.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Really wish that Tamron lens would come over to mirrorless

[@thismonolife]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto Definitely as it's probably still one of the sharpest 35mm wide open.

[@tegaever]

I love the 35mm

[@jamesonnorth]

Nikon 35/85 and 135 (Sigma Art) is my prime trio for weddings. I love my Tamron 24-70 G2 and 70-200, but I prefer the primes by far.

[@rbsnmrjn]

Thankyou from Nepal 🇳🇵

[@alexn.andrade]

Hey Taylor! Came across your page and loving the content. I’m normally a portrait and concert photographer but I got asked by a friend from school to photograph her small backyard wedding. She’s only asking for ceremony and family/friends photos. Only lens I have right now is 85mm 1.8 and kit lens 28-70 3.5-5.6, I’m really thinking of getting prime lens 35mm 1.8 or possibly Tamron 28-75mm 2.8.

[@gm010379]

THANKYOU...

[@blackdiamondgreg]

I agree with the weight savings of primes and the great value for depth of field and sharpness, when compared to the average budget zoom. I use a tamron 24-70 f2.8 G2 at 900grams, and with a cage on my Z6 the weight feels significant. If my Z6 allowed aperture metering with old nikkor ai-s lenses via FTZ, I'd be over the moon. But, I'm still happy shooting them wide open to match the aperture that the exif data shows. 28mm f2.8 ai-s and 105mm 2.5 ai-s. Thanks for the great content.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Those Tamron G2s are really next level for the price. Hoping they come to RF and Z soon

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!

[@DynamiteTony]

how are you carrying your lenses around so you can switch them quickly?

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Peak design messenger bag but I only really change lenses for the ceremony if I’m running a 70-200

[@tcmbrown]

My Samyang 85mm stays on my primary on a wedding day. 35 goes on the 2nd. Love the look of the 85. Especially for ceremonies so I'm not standing in their face at the alter. Lol.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I’m exactly the same most of the day!

[@nickpigmon]

Unfortunately the samyang 85mm 1.4 is no longer available.

[@mauritshagen180]

Im pulling the trigger on the new Nikon Z 28-75 2.8.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

That looks like a great lens! Excited to get one as well

[@WolphinexClips]

I only ever shoot on a 50mm because I never have enough money to buy any other lenses. I badly want any luxury RF series lenses. Edit: admittedly I am really good with the 50 now as I've been shooting with it for a few years now

[@baronsilverton6504]

Taylor, you should try the Nikkor 40mm f/2 lens for Z mount. It is really small and light weight, but has great IQ with tons of character and doesn't focus breathe at all. I normally use the 35mm 1.8 S at weddings as one of the primes lenses I use, and it is great, but I've been thinking about trying the 40mm f/2 instead as it so small and light, but also has such a great look. Additionally, for those that are starting out, It is super inexpensive at $299 USD. If you haven't tried it, you should :)

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I’ll for sure be getting one of these for the wedding season. Really dig the form factor and have never had any problems with non ‘S’ lenses. Everything for Z series is so good

[@mattpowell6975]

That's cool and all, but is that a 441?

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Hahah yah. It’s been in storage for long enough.

[@bingbong4848]

Don't expect a knock from Squarespace anytime soon Taylor :)

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Hah I think the pressure will make them come forward again. But I don’t use a squarespace site any longer so it would be weird to promote it

[@rosakhoshtariyafilms]

Where do you rent cameras if your credit is bad? I'm in fl

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I didn’t think the online services did a credit check. I could be wrong tho

[@jwheatly]

Thanks so much for this video! Really considering the R6, but since you’ve got me into hybrid shooting 😄 I’m nervous of the overheating that everyone talks about with filming. Do you mind sharing your thoughts on this and if you’ve ever overheated with 1080p? Thanks so much in advance for your insights Taylor!

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I haven’t had any problems with HD 60p at wedding days. That said, I always do short clips and we run a Gh5 for ceremony/speeches rolling coverage if ever needed.

[@christophhansen2456]

Do you think two camera bodies are mandatory for a wedding photographer? Or is one body with a 24-70 2.8 and some primes enough to start out?

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I’d say you have to have a backup of some sort. It doesn’t have to be a super current new body though. Could even be if your second photographer has a camera or two

[@kkteoh5999]

Hi, does ibis working on the Samyang 85mm f1.4 with the latest R6 1.5.0 firmware? Thank you.

[@EoinHealy]

I don't know what they said to sell you a site, but their mobile SEO is not great at all. It's way below the google standards in many ways.. Other than that.. everything about the lenses was spot on! :)

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Interesting. What are a few things that they’re not doing that they should be?

[@staceyc2816]

If you could only buy one for weddings, would you choose a 24-70mm or a 70-200mm? I already have a 35, 50, and 85mm.

[@ghas4151]

70-200mm is very useful for the ceremony. 35mm or 50mm will cover your normal range depending on the size of the venue. But it really depends on you and your shooting style.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I’d do a 70-300 if you have the other focal lengths covered already.

[@staceyc2816]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto wild card! Hey thanks for replying. I appreciate it and your videos have been so extremely helpful for me.

[@scottwesterman221]

@taylorjackson if shooting a crop body system would the lens choice still be the same ?

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Same equivalents if possible. 50mm instead of an 85 and maybe a 23 rather than a 35

[@ianjasperperalta6354]

If you're a Nikon DSLR shooter, HEAR ME OUT! All you just need is the Tokina 10-24 F2.8, Nikon 50 1.4G and the Nikon 85 1.8G + 2 Camera Bodies

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

I still very much miss my 85mm f1.4G. That was my favourite Nikon DSLR lens

[@roscoephotos1640]

Please send help! My Tamron 85mm is still stuck on my main body. 😅😅😍

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Hah it’s still a great lens. If I was on a DSLR I’d be on it still

[@roscoephotos1640]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto I've just adapted it to my R6. Works amazingly

[@roscoephotos1640]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto my second body is still a 6D with over 800k+ on the original shutter.

[@martinpickard5818]

The new Tamron 35-150 f2-f2.8 would be awesome for weddings….

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

It’s a very useful lens for sure

[@tegaever]

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@theymstudio1387]

First

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Woot

[@ShawnSwander]

The comment about women isn’t helpful. My wife shoots all the time and uses a small gear setup. Guests often get confused about who to look at because there's no way for them to know. If someone just says “Look here these are going to be in their album”. It will change that situation quickly. I cannot tell you how many clients will only book a woman or a team with a woman because they think the getting ready pictures happen when you’re really undressed. I’ve always accepted that as a reasonable thing for a bride to want. So while it's a little frustrating to be the boss and people don't automatically know that it's a little more frustrating to lose bookings just because of your gender after you worked hard to create a quality service. Those comments are divisive though and not constructive. I've had the opposite happen plenty of times and my second shooter was taken more seriously mostly depending on her personality. Also doesn’t bother me guests can’t read my mind. Edit: I added a little more context because I originally posted from my phone.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

That’s good to hear. In our 10 years or so of experience everyone outside of the immediate wedding party will typically believe the lead shooter to be the male even if they’re clearly not. This also includes venue staff and DJs always addressing the male second first. Or telling only them when something is about to happen. Happy to hear that’s not the same for you two.

[@TaylorJacksonPhoto]

Would actually like to have more perspectives on this is anyone is reading and wants to chime in

[@vics55]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto I'm a woman wedding photographer. My husband frequently accompanies me mainly as bag holder (He's not a photographer), and whenever he's with me, I ALWAYS get ignored by vendors, venue staff, wedding guests etc and they speak to him before they even acknowledge me...it's frustrating for sure.

[@ShawnSwander]

@@TaylorJacksonPhoto It has happened but I wouldn't say it's the normal experience we see.

[@ShawnSwander]

@@vics55 Who has the more outgoing personality? One of my second shooters is the lady who got me started and she's very assertive. She compliments the mother of the bride and groom early and she has great empathy and usually quickly forms bonds of trust with people so usually they assume she's the lead or at least they are made to feel comfortable with her so people communicate with her more. I think her charisma is something every photographer could learn from and it's something even really gifted professionals could work on.