I Shot a Wedding With Only ONE Lens and This Is What Happened
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Yesterday was extremely fun and rewarding shooting with only 1 lens. Have any of you ever done this? - Will
I shot a wedding last weekend with an 85mm 1.8 only, and it was amazing! There were some moments where I missed having the option to shoot wide, but overall, it was a great experience and the pictures came out beautiful! I'll be looking for "the moments in between the moments", I love that ❤ thank you
That is why Cartier-Bresson is so fucking good, because he captured all these moments while disappearing in the background himself. Andreas Feininger said of him: 'I know a world-famous photographer that has only one camera (note from myself: and in fact he only used the 50mm, though he had a Hektor too) and an amateur that owns gear worth 40 thousand dollars, but never made one good picture.'
In the digital age too much postproduction of the images can make a true picture untrue too. At least that's what I think when I see pimped pics.
Yes sometimes I do shoot BW with one prime with my analogue manual cameras. Andreas Jorns, who's living near, shoots a Leica Monochrome with manual primes. He advises to tape off the display to improve your photography. In fact Leica launched a new camera without display.
Do u shoot Jpeg or Raw on a wedding? Would you consider auto or manual?
I shoot my last 2 wedding with 1 lens and yes I'm extremely proud of the outcome.
I want to do it. I use a 35/85 but wanted to go 50 but find it hard to do. I think I could with a 35 but haven't tried it yet.
When I saw this video it made me smile... I have been in photography a long time... 40 years ago, yes that long ago I was 23. I did weddings, and I did them with one lens and many times only one camera... Mamiya C330, C220 or Kowa Six or gosh forbid a 35mm canon or olympus film camera! Unheard of! As time progressed I have wondered what happened to those days when we only used one lens because almost no one talks about doing this! I enjoyed this video and honestly it got me to subscribe to your channel... thanks!
Your comment is wonderful Dave! It's beautiful to read and to know how it used to work at that time... Thank you for sharing that, greetings from Italy!
Excellent. I did weddings for 26 years with a Mamiya C330 and most of my shots were with the 80mm lens. I had a 65mm and 105mm in my bag, but rarely grabbed them unless I had a very large group to shoot (32 at one time). We old guys rock!
@@edc5338 Yeah! :)
Great comment
This is the comment I hoped to see. I still have a C220 on the top of my bookcase. Seemed to be able to do everything with the 105mm lens it came with.
"The moments between the moments"; what a great take home lesson. Thank you. You just opened my eyes. And I bet it is true in other types of photography.
So true man. Not just for weddings. What you said here aplies to every kind of photography there is. Most famous masters of photography used one camera and one lens for most of their work. With some variations. Not thinking about gear and using what you have in your hands is such a liberating feeling. It helps to stay present in the moment and see. It's still a ballsy move for a professional photographer on a paid gig.☺ well done.
Thank you so much for your contribution to this conversation. It’s a great comment and totally right my friend
@@TheMonochromeMemoirs it mostly boils down to: gear is overrated. No such thing as a perfect camera or do it all lens. Only powerfull images are what matters. And these days they can be had with just about anything. I would be perfectly fine with a monochrome sensor and a fast 50 on it. That cant be taken off. Small and light to carry around every day, all day.
Mate, you’re an absolute legend for this. It’s so true everything you say. Some of the most skilled photographers of all time used one focal length and because they knew it so well it freed them to concentrate on the moment. Great work - keep it up! 👍👍
Thanks for this video. I’m shooting my first wedding in four days, and I was looking for some inspiration; I found it. I don’t have a ton of gear or a second photographer to come with me and hearing you talk about simplifying and just focusing on moments really is encouraging. Thanks again. 💛
Great to have a collection of videos that don’t have a goal to sell something. Thanks for sharing your honest experiences. Peace.
Thank you so much for watching brother
Love the unfiltered honesty “F that, F all of that” awesome awesome inspirational content. Thanks for the “secret sauce”
Thank you so much for the support on my message my friend. Feels really good to know this is helping!
I’ve shot a wedding two weeks ago only with a D700 and a 50mm 1.8G
Most consistent wedding I’ve done so far
Amazing. You know what I’m talking about then! It gets you so much more involved
@@rotvonrat why free ?
rotvonrat I don’t shoot for free
@@vasilakiz could you post the link to the gallery? I'm going full frame rn, and can afford only one (prime) lens (no rentals in my country), and am bummed as to which one I should buy. There are pros and cons to each one
Excellent video! I'm not a professional photographer. Just an amateur enthusiast who loves his Z6 by the way. 🙂
I attended a friends wedding a while back and decided to bring my camera. I didn't want to get in the photographers way so I decided to mostly photograph the guests enjoying the wedding. When I gave my pics to the couple they were thrilled to see them because they were so busy being told to go here and do this or that, that they missed most of what I captured. This video reminded me of that day. Capturing the moments matters...
Thanks Wil for your honesty. I shot a wedding Friday using mostly the 50 1.8 s lens. I had to use my 24-25 2.0 Sigma art lens for putting on dress photos because of tight quarters. But I love simplicity of the 50 1.8 lens and freeing up creativity. I get you!!!
You don't need to give out magic tips your enthusiasm is an inspiration to go out and find the moments ourselves. Thank you it's just what I needed
I have used a 35mm and 50mm lens for weddings in the past. Two cameras and positive energy can't be beat.
Absolute facts right here. The photographers presence is like 70% of the magic
Best video on photography on TH-cam! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
"The moments between the moments" is a very valuable distinction. Thank you for sharing this :-)
The best video I have seen in a long time. I usually use a 55mm Zeiss as my primary lens, but recently I got the idea of buying a 28-75 which, honestly, I don't think I need. I have learned to live with what for me is the perfect triad at Sony which is a 28mm, my beloved 55mm and 85mm. Thank you for confirming that the important thing is the vision rather than the equipment, greetings!
This is so genuine and I totally agree. I’ve been shooting with one lens for over 20 years also whenever I can I get in close.
Great to hear from you William! So glad the message is getting through
ive been shooting weddings for 3 years with only 1 lens harhar 50mm 1.8g
I very much like this philosophy of the true, simple and authentic. Of the presence and focus. Thank you.
Absolutely agree! I love your "moments between the moments". A perfect description of what makes a breathtaking image. A recent client told me that I was hired BECAUSE I don't carry a ton of gear and spend my time changing equipment around. Thanks so much!
That's awesome that a client hired you for that reason!😁
@@AndySomething That, and my charming smile ...
You fulfilled your dream to shoot a wedding with just a nifty fifty lens...BIG TIME CONGRATS
Your content is consistent and believable, and that's why I love your channel. Keep up the good work. 👍
A week ago I was successful covering a wedding with my 28mm 1.4E and was blownout. I did portraits on a DX mode which makes it 42mm.
This specific 28mm 1.4E is anazing at how it keeps the frame shallow and gives you a 3D feel to the subject. I did snap my 135mm 1.8 Art for few portraits but my 28mm was on my camera 99% of the time.
Hi Will, I shot every assignment for my college course on one lens - I achieved my qualification with triple distinction!
Amazing advice about staying focused, without tunnel vision. shoot with a 50mm but look and see what's happening around you. the bride and groom do not need 1000 photos of them, they want those special candid moments of family and friends... Thank you for reminding us of this
I don't shoot weddings, just landscape and wildlife, but I feel the ideas and concepts that you share apply to all photography. The Z 6, 50mm 1.8 S and a 200-500mm is my go to combo now, everything else has been getting left at home or in the bag. The only other things that go with me are a tripod, some filters, extra batteries and a remote release.
Thank you for this inspiring words to reduce photography to its origin, my friend! That’s what’s all about. I am a non-professional photographer, enjoying photography as an art to show the world from another perspective. Your’re able to create magic in still images using a minimum of equipment, although the whole world is obsessed with moving image content.
Kind regards from Germany.
You're right Sir
Moments in moments
Thank you so much for watching my friend
Excellent message - immersion into the event is how to spy out the special moments and the less gear the better.
I agree 100% More gear won’t make you a better photographer. Being creative with the gear you’ve already got is the key to being a great photographer.
Excellent video, so true so focused. My combo is 35mm 1.8 on one camera and 85mm on the other, pretty much that's all
Brilliant stuff mate!! I got myself a Z6 recently, so the amount of info I get on your channel about the camera is really nice. Also, from the little I have seen of your wedding shots, you guys are doing an amazing job...
Thanks so much for the support my friend and great to have you on the channel!
Love it. Thank you.
Hey! We are fresh in the game, and I’ve shot multiple events with just one 50mm f1.8 and an a6000. My team usually has 2 people at a single event tho so we have 2 cameras total. For weddings, we go full frame rentals for now.
love the video. . .the truth is equipment is nothing without us and thats what makes us unique...so many only have the equipment but no eye or perception. . .and no equipment can fix that...what made me fall in love with photo/video was the fact that you capture moments its fucking magical ha...time travel if you will. . .that one second/frame captured forever mentally and physically. . .and well how do you teach that. . .life ha. . .some lessons only life can teach you. . .thats why theyre hard to explain. . .but thank you that was great and actually helped me realize i need to chill a bit. . .and focus on my best feature...capturing moments...
Brilliant - not a ramble at all. I totally needed to hear this.... Thank you!
Fantastic feeling isn't it. That sense of freedom you get and amazingly how much more diverse you become. The closest I've come to this is using the 85mm 1.4g and the 24 to 70mm as a backup on my other camera . I don't know why but I've never just trusted having a 85 and 35mm or 50 and 24mm combo. I always like that zoom just in case. Anyway, excellent video, now get on with that editing.
I like some zoom as well. Feels less intrusive.
Thank You Sir!!!
I do it very often. Z6 & D750 and Sigma Art 35 f1.4, with a very little splash of nikkor 85 1.8 or 50 1.8.
I love being so quick. I don't have to think of which lens I should use. And this improve my photography constantly!
Hell yes!! Glad you’re enjoying it too!
And, due to this incredible level of sensor, I often switch between FX and DX mode, to double my composition without changing lens or put my eyes away from the EVF!
Grandemanga modern cameras are incredible tools!!
Love the 50mm.Before you revealed that it was with a "50", I thought that the 50 always shines. My favorite set-up is my Nikon D700 with 50mm 1.8D.In B&W, of course.
That's the video that made me hit the subscribe button. Well done.
I haven’t shot a wedding with one lens but I have shot a Sweet Sixteen Party with a Nikon D700 and a Nikon 50mm 1.8 G
It worked great!👍
Amen Brother. A single 35mm is my preference.
how
THANKYOU...
For me a fixed 35mm lens is the best except for bird photography (70-300mm). Sometimes restriction forces you to be better. Zoom gives you too many options and distraction so you have less focus.
I agree, more often than not, acquiring gear is actually more of a desire to experience 'having and using' that gear , but not actually a necessity to capture the moment. Minimum gear makes you free....and thats a good thing.
I've actually done this - I'd seen a NY photographer use just a 35mm. I did it for a couple who are my friends. I didn't want to shoot the wedding but agreed to do it using one lens and to deliver it in B&W. I actually enjoyed the whole experience and they loved their images. I actually have only ever shot a few weddings and never liked doing them. I'm a event hybrid shooter and that is my bread and butter. It did make me think tho.
So great to hear that you guys also have experience with this stuff! Thanks for sharing Mark
Well said...
This was first I've seen on your channel, this is such an amazing message. This is great, thank you.
Welcome to the channel my friend
Brilliant
Dynamite take on the idea of vision, being in the moment and keeping the rhythm alive... Photography is Zen-Like in so many ways and one lens tuned into the moment works when capturing a wedding, on the streets, in the wild or around the world. Ansel Adams once said: "The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.” Your advice likewise rings true for me and I appreciate the hard work you put in.
Very true.
nice sample photos........
Took a 35mm on a D7000 to India and Nepal. Didn't feel I was missing out in any way, shape or form. Loved what I came back with.
Great video Will! I mostly shoot a wedding with a 35mm and bust out a 100mm macro during portrait session because I'm a sucker for really tight crops.
You got the same mind set! Love it my friend
Would be nice if you included in this video those shots “moments between the moments “, or if it not possible now, maybe a link to the gallery of that wedding 👍
First video I see from this channel, but it was so refreshing and it felt like you had a real career insight with this wedding.
awesome inspiring words here!! just found your channel a day or two ago, your vids that i have watched so far are solid / valuable input!! 💪🏼💪🏼👍🏼
🙏🏼🙏🏼thank you🫵🏼 & im looking forward to going thru your other vids!!
Thanks for watching Andrea!!
Since 3 months a switched from shooting with nikon 18-140mm to 35mm 1.8. Yes you will learn a lot and a lot. At the beginning i was afraid that i will need the zoom and i will fail all photos, but the result was fantastic, all my photos are great, outstanding result.
Hmm, I felt every word to the core of my bones. I have been swallowed up by gears collection lately that I forgot about the moments and joy of photography.
Thank you and God bless.
I had to shoot one last year with 1 lens. It was the Zeiss 55mm f1.8, it was fun and of course there were moments I wished I had another option but it was doable and I know I'd be able to do it again in a pinch
Outstanding!
Glad you like it!
3:20 Brother, that is the truest and most liberating advice you could give anyone. Being in the moment, either as a part of it, or documenting it, IS where the magic lives. Maybe it's an age thing ( I look about your vintage :) ) but life experience will put into perspective the things that really matter and distill things down to THAT moment. You earned a sub, and a respectful follower. All the best success friend.
Just discovered your channel! LOVE your philosophy to photography 😁❤
Over the last couple years, I've more and more moved away from being interested in highly composed & bokeh obsessed portrait shots.
Candids are always the most appealing to me now. They mean the most for people when they look back at the photos in years to come; just to be able to relive the moment again.
I also just sold my 70D and sigma 18-35 & 50-100 f1.8 lenses. As great as the glass was I hated changing lenses and they were sooo heavy that I never had motivation to shoot.
I'm looking at picking up the A7iii and 55 1.8 and just seeing what I can do with that itself and only add lenses when I feel I need them. I actually was considering something like the Ricoh gr iii; purely because of the size and the ability to be more discreet.
So great to have you on the channel my friend
You have got it so right ✅
Awesome man! I did the same thing a month ago and the pictures came out beautiful..with my nikon d4s and my 85mm f1.4 that was all I need..I always watch your videos great work
Thank you Andrew! It’s great so see the channel building with people of the same mindset
Well said ... "Great Photography is all about the moments within the moments " .... 😍👍
You are so right regarding simplification, and the one lens can work, for a portrait session. But for a wedding, I think it should be more like a two-person team. Shooter "A" uses only a 35mm, and Shooter "B" uses an 85mm. Focal length used here are examples not law could be 50mm and 105 or any combo really.
“Get in the moment“
This was a refreshing perspective.. thanks for sharing man
I've thought about that too and about 3/4 of a wedding day I walk around with just a 85 F1.8 & 35 F1.4 and it feels great. But during a ceremony, church or any setting with people gathered around, a large crowd with people reacting and something happening in the middle of front of it.... I just can not NOT grab my 70-200. Especially, like you keep saying, for those moments between moments. A intimate moment between father and bride, or a baby yawing.... when you're halfway across the room or venue.. if you're sprinting from place to place because you only have one 35 or 50mm to shoot with... and can't get that close-up.. that just breaks the whole idea of candid shots.. running around and getting into people's faces.
Excellent video! Gracias!
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Just checked out your site. The slideshow and the music... dude, spot on. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Gorgeous work. Bravo!
Appreciate you!! Great to have you on the channel
I agree with your comments in this video my friend👍
I did that as well with 50mm 1.8S - yeah that's all you need!
Yessir!
Brand new to the channel and MAN, have I struck gold with you! While I'm mainly a wedding filmmaker, I just started taking photos for weddings as well. I JUST bought the Z6 and I think that's what led me to your channel.
Totally 👍.. thinking in doing a small event with a prime, and hybrid photo and some video clips…thanks¡!
Go for it!
Shooting my wedding with one lens only especially with the 50 mm, it may would be a lots of fun and would simplify things for sure but it's like doing a 50 lap race with 1 set of tire. It can be done of course that's not a question but I would miss a lots of shoot what the 50 can't do, does not matter how much closer I getting with my feet. For longer distance shoots which I do a lot especially in the church and on the bridal portrait session the 70-200 mm essential focal length for me. At the dance I would not be able to do wide angle shots with the 50mm, this is also very important. And this is apply to most of my weddings. I wish it would be suitable for me.
Always great to hear from you brother. Yes totally understandable that this technique isn’t for everyone and can’t work on every wedding, it was just so fun to implement yesterday and gave me a much different perspective on things
Dude, this video is gold. Great advice.
“Fuck tht” subscribed right away lol
Superb video! Just found your channel mate.......really good stuff and thoroughly enjoying it.
sounds Great!. those ideas sound like how Kevin Mullens shoots weddings.
While he uses two lenses, he seems even more in his approach. As far as I've heard he's a very pure documentary wedding photographer and doesn't do posed shots *at all* ever and always takes great care to not artificially affect the moments he's capturing.
Your VDO's are honest, fantastic & very informative. Would have loved to see your shot wedding images with 50mm lens between the narration. It might break the constant frame in my suggestion. Inserting wedding images would definitely increase your editing job but might help photographer friends immensely in understanding finer details.
I am not in anyways doubting your knowledge & experience.
Appreciate your kind efforts & hardwork in VDO presentation.
Thankyou Sir. 🙏 🙏 🙏
Thank you so much for the kind words!! Yes I definitely need to increase and hone the content here and believe me I’m trying, it’s so much to make detailed content consistently on top of running a full time wedding business during busy season. We do post a ton of work on our Instagram though!
I must admit my first couple of weddings I was took out of the moment because i was planning on when i should swap lenses, One ceremony went SO fast I didn't have time to change, they were already walking down the isle. My brain wasn't 100% on the composition and everything of the shot. it was more like "shit it's happening snap snap snap " I got good shots but the stress! god, never again. Less is more.
Haha I did once, with an 85mm f1.8. Was very challenging though - as an assistant. I had no choice as that was the only lens I owned.
Great way to learn!!
@@TheMonochromeMemoirs No doubt!
Couldn’t agree more. I have 6 lenses and always bring them when there is a wedding job. but in fact I only often use 2 lenses, and starting in 2019 I only used 2 lenses, Nikkor AFD 50mm F1.4 on my main camera Nikon D3S and 24-70mm f2.8 on my second body Nikon D700 and i love it, i like simple things.
One of the best photography videos about minimum gear and using yourself to get the shots.....love this view as I share the same opinion. Am brand new but knew 4 lenses for a shoot was ridiculous. I extensively use just my kit lens at the moment and despite of the many nay sayers come out with amazing quality and awesome photos...next up is Mastering the 50mm. Many say master the camera and I fully believe you need to master your lens before you upgrade.
great video
Great and almost enlightening thoughts. Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you so much for watching my friend 🙏🏻
Bang on.
My only issue is that I couldn't like this more than once 👌
Wow! Thank you for this!
Spot on
10 seconds into video and he needs a drink. That's nothing I shot a wedding with one picture.
Good stuff, it would have been great if you shared some pics. Thanks.
Still come back to the wisdom of this video. This is like AA for GAS.
Back in the 1960s I only had one lens and I shot my first wedding for a friend with just a 50mm f2.0 lens Like many togs back then it was the only lens I could afford.
And through the decades of new cameras I always had the 50mm attached it wasn’t until 1980 I purchased a additional focal length lens a Canon FD 28mm f2.8 wide angle. Happy days and memories. I still go out with one focal lengths on occasions it’s a great discipline 😊👍
Good to hear.
I agree with the 'moments in the moments' thing, I was going to ask if after the shoot you felt 50mm was the right choice, or was your presence 'being felt' with a 50mm? (Also I'm guessing you were 50mm with FF and not crop)...
Some things that come to my mind are;
1) It might be that the majority of a wedding (90%) can be done with 50mm, but perhaps by choosing the use the 50mm you are risking some experiences and shots due to being required to be in too close for some shots? Such as ceremony, rings, the kiss etc. And then there is the large group shot where (depending upon numbers) a 50mm might be too tight? My point being, are you being somewhat 'selfish' by choosing just one prime because it pleases YOU but is not ideal for the client? (Just to be clear, I'm not saying you're selfish, I am playing devils advocate and sometimes think our photography pursuits can be quite self serving and in the process we neglect the client).
2) Having done it once, would you do it again with a different focal length?
3) Having shot a few weddings I can see similarities across the day. I could see myself following in your footsteps but compartmentalising a little. "This part of the day here (ceremony) will require something a little longer to not be too in the face of the proceedings (being respectful), but after that time its prime land for the rest of the day etc", I'm curious to know if there were genuinely moments you felt "damn... I wish I had something longer for this moment, to capture that moment over there" etc.
I get that photography is a battle of wins and losses, and definitely lens swapping and having too much gear can be a major strike against you in the losses, it sounds like you felt overall you got more wins and was down to focus and intently being in the moment, I just question if that was purely down to a single 50mm prime. A second camera with another prime (like your 24mm) might have been acceptable to being used every now and then. I am thinking about replacing one of my cameras with a Ricoh GRIII (which gives a 28mm FF FoV), just so that I can carry the weight of only one camera and one prime, yet having something so light and unobtrusive tethered to be for those moments that also benefit from a different perspective. I think being light on your feet and having less stuff to carry really cannot echo enough for allowing for better photography that day.
Awesome message brother.
Thank you so much for watching my friend
Recently picked up the 50 1.8S. This lens should come with, WARNING: If you put this on your Z camera you may NEVER want to take it off. It’s that freaking good.
Well said, but in the weddings i do, couples expect a big group shot of all the guests after the ceremony. I actually like this shot it’s great for the album. and there is zero chance i can get 100 or so people on a 50mm even a 35mm is impossible.
For me i need my 24mm. I think also getting establishing shots of the environment is another story telling element, and find getting those establishing shots much easier on a wider lens.
But hats off to you bro. I think minimalist is the way to go definitely helps with run and gun weddings.
So great to hear from you my friend and yes sometimes that 24 is essential!