“What lenses do you use?”
“What camera?”

I get asked often enough about my equipment that I’ve decided to compile the info here for future reference.
And for clients, you can be certain that I’ve invested much into proper equipment, and that I’m not a hobbyist creating your portraits with amateur equipment.

Also, different shooting situations require certain equipment. And since I specialize in photographing single subjects and not groups, my equipment is best suited for the individual portrait.

So to start:

I use a Canon 30D camera. The price is shockingly lower than when I bought it a few years back. But that is how electronics go.
Prior, I had the Canon Rebel.   With the Canon 30D, I noticed a significant increase in picture quality, equipment ability, and shutter sound and function.
Although, I’ve never regretted having the Rebel to start with.

Canon 30D

The camera I hope to get next is the Canon 5D Mark II.

Now to lenses:

Canon 50mm 1.4

For portraits, my favorite lens by far is the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens. The f1.4 gives me freedom from the flash while shooting indoors. And the bokeh is creamy (background blur). I find I use it 90% of the time for portraits.

Canon 50mm 1.4

Canon 50mm 1.8

Years ago, and one of the first lenses I bought, was the Canon EF 50mm f1.8, because it was extremely affordable as lenses go. I used it so much that the body has little scratches all over, and still shoots wonderfully.  But when I eventually upgraded to the 50mm 1.4, I noticed an immediate increase in quality and wish I had swapped earlier.  For beginners trying out prime lenses, I highly recommend the 50mm 1.8.

Canon 50mm 1.8

Canon 85mm 1.8

I have read much about the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens, and that other portrait photographers loved it.   So it was one of the next lenses I had purchased and I really like it.  The creamy bokeh was noticeably nicer than the 50mm 1.8, and It became my lens of choice for portrait work.  But sadly on a trip to Nauvoo, my camera bag dropped and the only thing that broke was a part inside my lens, so it wouldn’t focus anymore.  And this was my number one lens at the time!  I was devastated and still new in the business that I just couldn’t go out and replace it.  So, sadly I had to use my 50mm 1.8 which I knew was an inferior lens to be using for client work.  That was a few years ago and I have gotten out of the habit of using the 85mm as I used the 50mm 1.4 instead.  But I have the lens fixed now and I’m trying to use it more.

Canon 85mm 1.8

Canon 100mm f2

During the period when my 85mm was busted, I finally had money to either buy a new 85mm or try something else.  (At the time I didn’t think my lens was fixable, boy was I wrong)  I was torn between buying the 85mm and the Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM Telephoto Lens.  I thought I might as well try something new and the 100mm had great reviews so I got that one.  That’s been a couple years ago, and I’ve found that I’ve hardly used it.  The 100mm is almost too big, as you have to be sooo far away from your subject which sometimes doesn’t with limited space indoors. I have mixed feelings about this lens.   A baby photographer that I highly admire loves this lens, but I haven’t found a place for it during my sessions.  I’m always swapping to the 50mm.  But I still want to give it a try and see if I can find some magic with it. I do know this is the ideal lens for macro work.

Canon 100mm

Tamron 17-50mm

For times I want a wider angle, like when I’m shooting a group or landscape, I use the Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD SP ZL Aspherical (IF) Zoom Lens. Canon makes a 17-40mm but it’s a bit more and I liked the reviews on this one. Sometimes I wish I had tested the Canon version to see which I liked better, but the Tamron is a good upgrade from the kit lens that comes with the Rebel.

Tamron 17-50mm

Sigma 70-300mm

For my nature macro work, I use a Sigma  70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro lens.  I’ve liked and disliked this lens.  It definitely won’t do for indoor photos, but I’ve used it a lot for my flower shots.  I took me awhile to figure out that the best way to use this lens was in manual mode.  Now that’s the only mode I shoot in, but it took me awhile to dive in.   I’ve also liked the bokeh when I do shoot portraits outside.  It’s a lens I don’t generally use for client work, but for personal stuff like when Jack is exploring the yard.  I can be a way off, and zoom in and capture what he’s doing.  For times where water is involved while Jack is playing, and I want to be a way off, this has been a great lens.  I’m sure there are better lens in this category, I just haven’t researched it out.

Sigma 70-300mm

Lensbaby Composer

And for some fun creative work, I got the Lensbaby Composer to explore with.  I can control the blur amount and where the sweet point is. I’ve seen excellent, moody portrait work done with this lens.  To see examples of what a Lensbaby Composer can do visit Flickr.
Left of the Lensbaby is a wide angle/macro conversion lens that attaches to the Composer.  It opens up the creative possibilities of the Lensbaby.

Lensbaby Composer with wide angle attachment

And lastly, I’m saving up for this lens: Which I’m sure will become my lens of choice for portrait work.