I am often asked by corporate clients what type of equipment I use to photograph a corporate event. I would like to explain what are my favorite lenses for a corporate event.
There are different choices regarding lenses and cameras. I tend to prefer to use only prime lenses as they have a much higher light gathering ability and allow me to remain unobtrusive during the event. I use three camera bodies with 5-6 primes lenses. The majority of the images were captured at the Pierre hotel in New York.
Ultra wide lens: either a 16mm 1.8 or 20mm 1.8 lens
Depending on the type of venue, I bring either a 16mm or 20mm ultra wide lens. The bright 1.8 aperture is necessary as I am able to show the beauty and atmosphere of the venue using only available light.
Normal lens: 35mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.2
I use these lenses for capturing authentic moments without a flash. During the cocktail hour I tend to move around and capture photos of the guests interacting and talking to each other. I don’t ask them to look at the camera, but sometimes they may request a group photo.
Medium telephoto lens: 85mm 1.4
Another very useful tool is an 85mm 1.4 lens. It has a unique ability to isolate the subject from a distance and capture a beautiful portrait.
Long telephoto lens: 200mm f/2
A long telephoto lens is an indispensable tool when I need to photograph the speaker of an event or the guests’ reactions from a distance. I have noticed that a typical zoom lens 70-200mm f/2.8 used by most photographers does not offer the ability to capture action in any light. There were many circumstances in which the double light gathering ability of the 200mm f/2 lens (compared to the 2.8 zoom lens) was needed.
These are my favorite lenses for a corporate event when I need to maximize my artistic ability.
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