Shooting the aisle shots with primes

markrichardson

markrichardson

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I've been making the transition to shooting almost exclusively with primes. The one point in the day that I don't feel confident is the bride arriving and the couple leaving.

Normally I'd use a zoom from the front/back to get several different shots - wondered how others position themselves for those shots.
 
I use 2 cameras. One with 70-200 is on a tripod shooting down the aisle whilst the other with a 28-70 is in my hands ready for the arrival at the door and then the departure up the aisle at the end. The camera in my hand also has the flash mounted on it so I am ready to get the signing registers.

Spooks
 
Ps, I like your website.
 
Thanks spooky!

I did previously use that combination, but I like the wider apertures of primes. It just limits the time for which the focal length is right. Maybe I need to be more decisive with my shooting. Or not have a fixed position for those two moments.
 
I had toyed with the idea of primes for the same reason but found it difficult to keep shots tack sharp, especially on the moving targets! Both lenses I use are f2.8.
 
Ive only done one wedding so far, but it went really well with just a 35 f1.4 and 85mm f1.4. Aisle shot wasn't to difficult as long as you keep moving and switched between the two bodies.
 
as Chris says, you just need to be moving......but also one of the advantages primes give you (I think) is you get very consistent framing, particularly of those types of shot
 
I'm beginning to think you're right... need to keep moving rather than take a position.

I think my concern is ending up too close to the couple but if I'm shooting with an 85mm and a 24/35mm then I don't need to be too close.
 
I use to shoot with just 24-70 / 70-200. I still have days where I think they are the best tools for the job :) I now shoot with 35mm F1.4 and 85mm F1.2

To be honest, I really never have worried about the processional and recessional.

In the processional, I'm glued to a spot. Start with the 85 then swap to the 35 as she gets closer.

For the recessional, I do the same.

D700 is a great camera and as we know superior to the 5Dii in many ways (e.g. it will focus in low light), but I think the 5Dii has one trick up it's sleeve - and that's MPixels. When shooting weddings on primes, I find it very useful to be able to crop images - and this is where the extra MPs come into play. I don't want to be walking backwards during the recessional - I'd rather be as far back as I can and not noticed by the guests.

Thinking about it, I guess you could switch to a longer lens (zoom) for the recessional whilst the faffing with the registry.

Cheers.

Dav
 
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I do use zooms - but for leaving the church I set it to 17mm (25mm FX equivalent) and leave it there, but then I also track backwards controlling the speed of the couple (so they don't just run out !!!); and I remind them to look and engage with their guests as they exit - a wide prime would be fine for this :)

Dave
 
Interesting to see guys who produce good work with almost opposite approaches. Guess I'll just have to experiment and see what works for me!
 
24mm 1.4 on a d800 (no problem cropping if i had too) and 85mm 1.4 on the d700 also on me. Switch and move with the two does the job.
 
markrichardson said:
I'm beginning to think you're right... need to keep moving rather than take a position.
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Click to expand...

Beware that a lot of vicars / celebrants want you to take position before the bride comes in and not to move until she leaves - thats why i like a zoom on at least one body
 
big soft moose said:
Beware that a lot of vicars / celebrants want you to take position before the bride comes in and not to move until she leaves - thats why i like a zoom on at least one body
Click to expand...

I find I can talk most vicars into allowing me to move discretely - being able to talk their language helps (being a Christian and having a theology degree does have its uses!). Having said that, I often switch to a 70-200 rather than 85 anyway for the service for the extra reach.
 
I recently switched to using primes only. I love it! You can't beat the clarity of a prime lens. That being said, I usually use a 24mm for the aisle shots... I don't think you have to have the bride be filling up the image in each shot so there's nothing wrong with getting some close ups as she's being walked down the aisle then far away as she gets to the groom... and the opposite as she's leaving. That way you don't have to worry about switching lenses during the short time she's walking. I've had a lot of success this way, and if I get a shot that I really like that's too wide I can always crop it down some and not compromise the quality.



Knoxville Wedding Photographer
 
markrichardson said:
I've been making the transition to shooting almost exclusively with primes. The one point in the day that I don't feel confident is the bride arriving and the couple leaving.

Normally I'd use a zoom from the front/back to get several different shots - wondered how others position themselves for those shots.
Click to expand...

In my opinion there isn't a one size fits all approach. The zoom's will almost always 'do the job' at the expense of available light. But if the church happens to have a very long aisle then an 85 just won't be long enough. Unless you happen to whole array of primes in your bag a zoom can provide that versatility. I'd recommend a case by case approach and not limit any option.
 
I've retired from doing weddings now, but I used to shoot the aisle shots with a 24-70mm F2.8 lens on a D700. I shot from the front as they were walking towards me and used continuous focussing with burst mode. Always hand held and I never used flash.

I liked to to shoot wide to get in the guests, and I always shot landscape orientation, that's my preference and part of the style I liked.

Using a zoom suited me because I liked to get as many shots as possible at that time to make sure I got some great expressions, I'm a bit of a klutz, and if I'd used a prime and tried to walk back and forth, Im sure I would have knocked something or someone over.

Also, I always had a second body, usually a D300 with 85mm f1.8 lens round my neck, and if possible once the bride and dad went past me, I would swivel round and try to get a shot of the groom (between the heads of the bride/dad), seeing his bride for the first time.

One final point, I always told the the bride, dad and groom not to look at the camera but to smile and laugh at their guests when walking down the aisle, otherwise it would end up looking cheesy!

Here's about a dozen examples of my aisle shots:-
http://jalbum.net/a/1222546/

Cheers,
Bernie
www.raffephotography.co.uk
 
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hsuffyan said:
In my opinion there isn't a one size fits all approach. The zoom's will almost always 'do the job' at the expense of available light. But if the church happens to have a very long aisle then an 85 just won't be long enough. Unless you happen to whole array of primes in your bag a zoom can provide that versatility. I'd recommend a case by case approach and not limit any option.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I also switch to Continuous Focus mode to 'track' my subject when moving towards (or away) from me.
 
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