Photog Q&A is a new blog series! I receive a lot of specific questions from individuals about photography and running a small business, so along with my newly added mentor meetings, I’m going to start offering some educational opportunities here, too!

I think one of the most frequent questions I get asked is “What kind of equipment do you use?”. 9 times out of 10, people looking to either buy a DSLR camera or make another investment in their photography journey are the ones asking. I don’t at all mind talking about equipment and making recommendations, but it can be an overwhelming answer for some. There are so many different options…Nikon or Canon? Prime or Macro? Rebel or Mark III? So for the first two Photog Q&A posts, I’m going to focus on lenses and camera bodies. First up, lenses!

Some photographers believe it’s the lens that produces sharp, vibrant images. Some also believe it’s the camera. I’m a believer that it’s both…with the photographer being a factor as well. I’ve made the decision to buy only L lenses from Canon (I’ve always shot Canon, so I know very little about Nikon) because they’re the best Canon has to offer and they help me produce sharp, vibrant images. I haven’t always been able to afford L lenses, so this post will include both non-L and L lenses (all for Canon cameras) in the hopes of helping people across the spectrum. 🙂

Disclaimer: I, by no means, am a lens expert. The following information is based on my own equipment and experiences. This is simply my opinion and is not a complete list of lens possibilities or lens facts.

My First Lens – Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS

I didn’t have thousands of dollars to invest in fancy lenses when I first started my business, so I needed the next best thing. After recommendations from a friend, I chose the Sigma. I also wanted something that was pretty universal, but would also do well in low light. The 24-70 focal length options and the ability to open to a 2.8 aperture were great features for me as a new photographer. I was able to shoot wide angle and zoom a little if needed. I could also shoot “wide open” (at a lower aperture/larger aperture opening) and get that pretty “blurry” background, or bokeh. This lens produced awesome color and got me through my first year of weddings and portrait sessions. If you’re not sure where your photography journey might take you, consider something like the Sigma. It’s just over $800.

My First Prime Lens – Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens

Still not having tons of money to spend, I purchased a super inexpensive, light-weight, prime lens during my second year of business. I had heard wonderful things about prime lenses (fixed focal length, you have to physically move your body if you want to zoom in or out), but wasn’t going to spend $1300 on the one I thought I wanted if I didn’t like the prime style. So I purchased the 50mm for $100! It was a great travel lens because it was small, light-weight, set at a nice portrait focal length and I could shoot wide open at 1.8, which was especially great for low-light situations since I didn’t carry around a flash. For $100, this lens did what I needed it to do – travel easily and give me a prime experience without a high cost. Unfortunately, it sort of pooped out on me about a year later, but for $100, what can you expect? I definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to shoot a little more wide open, but isn’t super serious about turning professional or having a business just yet.

My First L Lens – Canon EF 35mm f/1.4 USM Wide-Angle Autofocus Lens

I rented (more on renting equipment later in this post) this lens before actually making the purchase because it was a whopping $1300! Yep, that’s right. Photography is an investment, y’all!!! But I knew I needed to make the investment to make myself a better photographer, produce higher quality images and take my business to the next level…and it was definitely one of the best purchases I’ve ever made! I use this lens 75% of the time. I love shooting at a wide angle and of course I love shooting as wide open as I can to get that pretty “blurry” bokeh. When I’m at a wedding, in a small room, surrounded by bridesmaids, I can’t take the risk of missing a moment because I have a 135mm lens and can neither zoom out or move my feet backwards. The 35mm gives me so much freedom and I’m always pleased with the images it produces…even if it does require a little more cropping in post-processing.

My Second L Lens – Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

This is a big one! The lens is physically large and it’s got a hefty price tag! I also rented this lens before actually making the purchase because it was yet another investment worth $2400! Just like with the prime lenses, I had heard how wonderful this lens was, especially for wedding photographers. But $2400!?! GOODNESS! That price tag almost made me ill. So I rented it first and sure enough, it was awesome. I use this lens at every wedding and have started using it during some portrait sessions. It does well as both a portrait and event lens, so while it may be a bit more versatile than my 35mm, I don’t use it a ton. Only being able to open to a 2.8 aperture does hold me back a bit because I’ve become so used to the ability of the 1.4, but it’s a lens I definitely need to learn to use more often. If you’re a new photographer, I wouldn’t worry about investing in something like this. But if you’re getting serious in your business and are shooting more than just portraits, definitely give this one a try.

My Third L Lens – Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

This lens was probably one of my easiest purchases. I had been shooting with a 50mm f 2.5 macro lens that was doing what I needed it to do, but after being inspired to produce better ring shots, I knew I needed to upgrade. So last year I purchased this lens for under $1000! After spending $1300 and $2400, this was a much easier dent in the wallet. I only use the macro lens for ring shots at weddings (sometimes a few more details like the bride’s earrings) and baby details during a newborn session, so it’s probably my least-used lens. But like with the others, totally worth the investment. The sharpness and colors that the L lenses produce is just beautiful! Definitely a good lens to have if you photograph weddings, newborns or both!

My Fourth L Lens – Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Autofocus Lens

I just purchased this lens last week and I’m already loving it! I’ve used it for birth photography and a newborn session. It allows me to get close up without being “all up in your grill”, which was especially beneficial during little Henry’s birth (story coming to the blog soon!). One of my photog friends told me that this is Canon’s sharpest lens and I might believe that. The sharp, colorful, standout elements of the images it has produced have been a welcomed surprise and I cannot wait to test this out a wedding! It’s not a lens I would recommend to beginning photographers, but definitely someone looking to expand their arsenol for weddings and portrait sessions.

Other lenses I’d recommend…

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Autofocus Lens

In my opinion, just like the 50mm f 1.8, this is a great starter lens. It’ll give you an opportunity to produce sharper images with some pretty bokeh at a lower cost. B&H Photo (where I get almost all of my equipment) currently has the lens for $399 with a $60 instant savings.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens

This will be my next purchase! It’s reviewed as another great portrait lens that produces beautifully sharp and vibrant images. Of course that means it comes with a hefty price tag of $2199. B&H is currently offering a $200 instant savings, which takes it under $2000!

And if you’re unsure about any lens or other equipment, consider renting! I’ve done a lot of renting in my business days and while it ultimately costs more money in the long run because I usually buy what I rent, it’s a non-committal way of using something that you might be hesitant to purchase. I use both Lensrentals.com and Borrowlenses.com. You choose what you rent and the amount of time you’d like to rent it. They send the equipment as quickly as the next day complete with shipping materials for when you return the equipment. It’s a pretty easy process and it’s fun to receive new, pretty equipment in the mail. 🙂

If you’re a Nikon user, I’m sorry this post was all about Canon. BUT, I’m pretty sure Nikon has lenses comparable to all the ones mentioned above. I’m sure you can either call B&H or Nikon and ask. DPReview.com is a great resource that allows you to compare different pieces of equipment…it might be helpful in this non-Nikon situation. 🙂

Whether you’re a newbie photog or an experienced photog with a small business, I hope you found this post helpful! If you did, leave me a comment so I know to continue similar posts. And if you’re looking to learn more about equipment, shooting and growing, consider doing a mentor meeting with me sometime in the near futrue! Happy shooting, y’all!