Best Wedding Photography Lenses: 13 Photographers’ Picks
Updated: Oct 19
Which wedding lens appeared most often in the 2016 survey?
A 35mm prime appeared in five of the 13 photographers’ responses. The other picks range from macro and portrait lenses to telephoto zooms and a tilt-shift lens. The survey points to a practical answer: there is no single best wedding photography lens for every camera system, scene, or way of working.
The original SLR Lounge feature was published on May 11, 2016. This page preserves the 13 photographers and the lens models they named. It is a historical record of their preferences, not a current product ranking. The original feature URL returned an unavailable-page message when checked on October 15, 2026; the summaries below draw on the preserved 2016 article. Use the manufacturer references below to check model specifications and camera compatibility.
The 13 photographers’ picks
The comments below summarize what each photographer valued. Lens models are kept as they appeared in the 2016 feature, including older versions and mount names.
1. Mantas Kubilinskas
Mantas named the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art. He liked working close to a couple and using the wider view to make a frame feel as if the viewer were sharing the moment.
2. Kenny Kim
Kenny chose the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro for rings and other small details. He also valued that it could serve for portraits, so it had uses beyond the detail portion of a wedding day.
3. Dave Paek
Dave favored the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G for its size, weight, and cost, and also used the Sigma 24-35mm f/2 for its range and fast autofocus. He described using the wider end in a confined pool scene, paired with off-camera flash. The example shows how the lens and lighting choice served that particular space.
4. Sean LeBlanc
Sean selected the Nikon 200mm f/2 for portraits. He valued its long focal length, fast aperture, autofocus, and soft background rendering.
5. Ashley Fisher
Ashley chose the Nikon 85mm f/1.8, citing its light weight, price, focusing speed, and portrait use.
6. Christina Blanarovich
Christina named an 80mm Zeiss lens on her Contax camera. She said she used it for much of the wedding day because its working distance and background rendering suited the emotional, close portraits she wanted.
7. JD Land
JD chose the Sigma 35mm Art for its flexibility. He liked being able to work close to a couple and then step back to include more of the scene, and said he could photograph an entire wedding with it if needed.
8. Scott and Melissa Hopkins
Scott and Melissa named the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II. The zoom range let them photograph from farther away when they wanted to avoid interrupting a moment.
9. Jay and Sandi Cassario
Sandi listed three primes: a Sigma 35mm, a Nikon 85mm, and her favorite, the Nikon 58mm f/1.4G. Jay tended to work a little wider, so their choices also show how two photographers can cover a day differently.
10. Easton Reynolds
Easton picked the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 for its range. He liked being able to reframe from his position as a moment unfolded.
11. Crystal Stokes
Crystal named the Sigma 35mm Art. She liked its perspective and the way moving closer could make an ordinary scene feel more immediate.
12. Trevor Dayley
Trevor chose the Canon 90mm tilt-shift lens for the selective effects it can create and the way those effects can direct attention within a frame.
13. Chris Lin
Chris selected the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II for candid moments and the reach to photograph without standing close. He also mentioned wide lenses for beach scenes, 50mm and 85mm primes for portraits, and a 100mm macro lens for rings and jewelry.
Prime or zoom for wedding photography?
This survey includes both, so it does not establish an industry-wide preference. The prime lenses have fixed focal lengths, such as 35mm, 58mm, 80mm, 85mm, and 200mm. The named zooms cover ranges such as 24-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. A useful choice depends on the camera mount, available space, working distance, and the framing you want.
How to use a 2016 lens list today
Treat every model here as a historical reference. Similar focal lengths can come in different versions and mounts. Before buying, check the exact model against your camera and the manufacturer’s specifications. For example, Sigma lists its original 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art and later 35mm F1.4 models separately; Canon’s EF and RF 100mm macro lenses are distinct products; and Nikon identifies its AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II as an F-bayonet lens.
Manufacturer references: Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM Art and Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG II Art; Canon EF 100mm Macro and Canon RF100mm Macro; Nikon AF-S 200mm f/2G ED VR II.
Wedding photography lens FAQs
What is the best lens for wedding photography?
There is no single best lens for every wedding. In this 2016 survey, a 35mm prime appeared in five of 13 responses, while other photographers chose macro, portrait, telephoto zoom, or tilt-shift lenses for their own way of working.
Which focal length appeared most often in this survey?
A 35mm prime appeared in five responses: Mantas Kubilinskas, Dave Paek, JD Land, Sandi Cassario, and Crystal Stokes. This is a count from this 13-person survey, not a poll of all wedding photographers.
Does the survey favor prime or zoom lenses?
It includes both and does not establish an industry-wide preference. The photographers named primes such as 35mm and 85mm lenses, plus zooms including 24-35mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm options.
Which lenses did photographers name for wedding detail photos?
Kenny Kim chose the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro for detail images. Chris Lin also mentioned a 100mm macro lens for rings and jewelry. Those are their 2016 choices, so check the current model and camera mount before buying.
Are these current buying recommendations?
No. The list records lens preferences in a feature published on May 11, 2016. Product versions, mounts, and availability can change, so verify each model with its manufacturer before purchase.
For more examples of the photographs behind this work, visit the wedding photography portfolio.
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First published May 11, 2016. Reviewed by Mantas Kubilinskas on October 15, 2026.
