Does wedding photography equipment matter? I think the answer is “sometimes”. Let me tell you why.
Two Kinds of Photographers
I always thought there were two kinds of photographers – Technicians & Artists.
Technicians love the technical aspects of photography – the gear. For them it is all about the equipment and the technical process of creating an image.
Artists care more about the emotional aspects of an image. They view equipment as merely tools to get the job done.
Getting the two together to view images can be frustrating but a little fun. The Artists will see the image in terms of their impressions and how the image makes them feel. They won’t care about “technical” issues or even faults in the image. The Technicians will critique the image based on its “quality” and conformance to the “rules”.
Yes, Sometimes Equipment Does Matter
I think I am more of an Artist and to an Artist equipment does not matter. However, I am beginning to moderate and have come to believe that sometimes equipment does matter!
The picture above was taken with my beloved Canon 50mm F/1.2 L lens. I love 50mm lenses and the F/1.2 is special. Why? Because it can be used when it is two or three or even four times darker than most other lenses. No way I could have captured this picture with a lower cost lens. The camera body, a Canon 5d mk IV, also has excellent low light ability and played an important role.
An Artist is Limited By His Tools
So, I have to admit sometimes an Artist is limited by his tools. It is hard to sculpt stone without a sharp chisel and a good hammer. A good lens and a good camera will make a difference in the hands of a skilled Artist.
And maybe that is the real difference I see. A world class Chef can create a wonderful dinner from ground chuck. But she can win awards with Kobe beef. Unfortunately, an unskilled Chef will burn them both!
But What About Wedding Photography?
Weddings are one of the most demanding challenges for a photographer. Bad light, fast pace, people get in the way, changing conditions. And did I mention BAD LIGHT?!? Just capturing everything is a challenge but creating art is more of a challenge. Here is where equipment matters – robust, reliable, easy to use, fast, and a wide range of capabilities are just some of the things I look for.
So, yes! An Artist needs the right tool to get the job done!
Related Posts
How to Find The Best Wedding Photographer
Artists and Technicians – Two Types of Creatives
The World at 50mm – A Love Affair with 50mm Lenses
