If you had to name 3 lenses that are essential for wedding and portrait photography, which ones would they be? I know there are many that make the job and work turn out better, but which three are must haves? Please give focal length and max apertures.

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Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF AF Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D AF Micro

Please click on the pencil icon and "add details" to tell us what kind of camera you are using. At least tell us if it is film or digital. Thanks. In the meantime, here's a great answer for you: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Canon-Lenses/Canon-Wedding-Lens.aspx

For Nikon digital, the 17-55 f/2,8 or the 14-24 f/2.8, depending on how wide you like to shoot Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR Nikon 85mm f/1,8 for portraits I know I cheated, that's four lenses.

Go to shutterbug.com and type "What's in their bag? A look inside top wedding shooter kits" in the Search box. The article was in the April 2006 issue of Shutterbug Magazine.

Well, for portraits, I'd counsel you to go 35mm, 85mm, and 135mm. The 35 will be better for group portraits and environmental portraits. I've been shooting more and more engagement photos at 35mm lately. (all lenses listed for 35mm or FF digital.... adjust as needed for crop sensors). 85mm and 135mm bracket the classic portrait range. For weddings, 3 lenses is not really enough. The reason is that even if you cover the range that you need to be able to cover (24-200mm at least) you won't have any redundancy in your lenses. If you only have one lens in the 24-70mm range, and you drop it or the AF motor fails... you are in a world of hurt. That said, I get a lot of mileage out of the following (Canon) combo: EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II EF 50mm f/1.4 EF 135mm f/2L (with a 1.4x TC for longer reach if needed) Those represent my three most-used wedding lenses, although they certainly aren't my ONLY lenses. MANY of my friends consider the 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8IS zooms to be the indispensable wedding combo. As a general rule, I recommend that all wedding glass be f/2.8 or faster. You MIGHT be able to swing f/4 with IS.... but its pushing it in some circumstances.

in weddings a standard, wide angle, and med telephoto. for 35mm cameras, 28mm, 50mm, 105mm. max apetures as much as you can afford : - ) for portraiture stick to the 105mm (or 1350

what butterfly said for 35mm full frame, as evan said 3 lens are not enough really, i would use full frame and 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70 or 85mm, 105mm - the classic portraiture lenght -------- all of those f1.4 - f 2.8's - faster the better maybe a 135mm and a 200mm why just 3? get another gear bag? my pack takes 2 bodies, 2 flashes, 5 lenses a

Personally I would use 2 Bodies: One with a wide to short-tele lens and a short-tele to long tele I would get this set up- 24-105mm f/4L 70-200mm f/2.8 50mm f/1.2L