What’s Inside the Portrait Photographer’s Bag? My Favorite Lens

Oftentimes when portrait photographers get together, we paw through one another’s bag of tricks to see what equipment everyone else is buying.  While it’s tempting to compare styles of work and equipment used, I find it really enlightening to find out which is a favorite lens and why.  Camera equipment can be is extraordinarily expensive, so it’s really helpful to pick the brains of other very talented and well-respected photographers to find out what works for them before making a decision on a new purchase.

My personal favorite choice is the classic portrait lens, the “nifty fifty.”  The first lens investment that I made (after the kit lenses that came with my very first DSLR) was the Nikkor 50mm 1.8G, and it’s the one lens that has come along with me through several new camera bodies.  It is my go-to lens for single-person portraits especially, since I can get some amazing soulful eyes and tack-sharp focus when shooting wide open.  It’s a low-light workhorse that can achieve focus very quickly.  And I LOVE the creamy bokeh that I get when I shoot with this lens!

The 50mm lens is generally one of the most affordable lenses on the market (mine currently sells for just over $200 at Adorama), and is without question the best bang-for-your buck lens that you can buy.  Since I hope to upgrade my camera body this year to a full frame (I now use the Nikon D7000, which has a crop sensor), I am also planning to add the 85mm to my arsenal (another fabulous portrait lens), but I know the 50 will always hold a special place in my heart.

Interestingly enough, even though we often shoot the same subjects, I was surprised to see that many of my other photografriends had completely different favorites!  Read on to see which lenses work best for them and why:

Allison Carpenter of Allison Carpenter Photography, Birmingham, Alabama  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Nikon D7000 (crop sensor)

What is your favorite lens (and why)? I love my Nikon 35mm 1.8.  This is the lens that lives on my camera! I have a smaller studio and my 50mm wasn’t giving me enough room to do families and the 35mm allows me to stay very close to newborns.

How long have you had this lens?  I have had this lens for almost 2 years. I was using my 24-70mm before the 35mm but found a love for prime lenses!

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? This lens is wonderful for a variety of subjects! I photograph families, newborns, and children.  It also gives me enough depth to be able to leave it on the camera when taking my kids to the zoo, trips or other fun places!

Janine Stone of Janine Stone Photography, Miami, Florida  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Nikon D800 (full sensor)

What is your favorite lens (and why)? I love my Nikon 70-200mm 2.8.  I love the versatility I have with the zoom and love that I can get all that close-up detail even when I’m standing 20 feet back.

How long have you had this lens?  I have had this lens for over four years.

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? When I shoot events, the 70-200 and a wide angle are all I need, except when I decide to get a little more creative. I’ve adopted a similar style with my portrait work, so it is usually my go to lens!

Leah Brady of Leah Brady Photography, Cincinnati, Ohio  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Nikon D800

What is your favorite lens (and why)? 35mm 1.4. I’m a story teller, this lens lets me tell it.

How long have you had this lens?  Almost 24 hrs!!!

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? This will be my go-to for indoor sessions and newborns. The DOF wipes out all the background distractions  that tend to ruin my newborn sessions. For portraits, the speed, sharpness and amount of light it allows in will save me sooo many editing hours (my justification for the cost!).

Laura Folk of Laura Rossi Photography, Montgomery & Bucks County, Pennsylvania  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Canon 7D

What is your favorite lens (and why)? I switch back and forth between my 50mm prime and my 24-70mm zoom.  When photographing my favorite subject, children, I will quickly reach for my 24-70. It gives me much more flexibility on where I am in relation to the children and how fast I am moving.

How long have you had this lens? I have had this lens for about 8 months.

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? Children and families

Melissa Wilson of Melissa Wilson Photography, Pensacola Florida  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Nikon D700

What is your favorite lens (and why)? Nikon 85mm f/1.8. The bokeh is unbelievable on this lens! The clarity is unreal when shooting wide open (I primarily shoot around f/2 for portraits), so the definition between my subject and the background is stunning. It’s recently replaced my Nikon 50mm 1.4 as my favorite lens.

How long have you had this lens? One month and it’s already stolen my heart! I’m so used to “zooming with my feet” from using my 50mm for years that this was the natural next lens for me.

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? I specialize in engagements, love, and weddings and I use this lens for ALL of them (along with my trusty 50mm of course – NEVER leave home without it either)!

Susan Willis of Susan Willis Photography, Murphysboro, Illinois  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Canon 5D Mark II

What is your favorite lens (and why)?  Canon 50mm 1.4. I love this lens because it is tack sharp, super fast, and a workhorse.

How long have you had this lens? I started using the 50mm a couple months ago and am in love. I just had to get used to being the zoom instead of using the zoom.

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? I specialize in high school seniors and women. But I shoot families and children with it too.

Stephanie Stremler of Stephanie Stremler Photography, Lynden, Washington  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with?  I shoot with the Canon Mark II 5D (full frame).

What is your favorite lens (and why)?  Choosing a favorite lens is a little bit like choosing a favorite child for me!  I love each and every one of them for different purposes and am constantly switching them.  Though if I had to choose one favorite lens it would probably be my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.  I love shooting wide open and with it zoomed all the way in for beautiful bokeh.  I also find if I start my sessions with this lens it allows my families and couples to loosen up and relax as I shoot them from a bit of a distance.

How long have you had this lens?  I have had this lens about 6 years.

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens?  I shoot everything from newborns to families to wedding couples with this lens.  If I have the space to use it I will.

Teryn Robinson of Teryn Robinson Photography, Thornton, Colorado  | WEBSITE | FACEBOOK

What body do you shoot with? Canon 7D

What is your favorite lens (and why)? Canon 50mm f/1.2

How long have you had this lens? 2 years

What “subject” do you shoot most with this lens? I specialize in family portraiture now but I have used this lens to shoot seniors, couples, weddings, newborns, kids, maternity