Now that the 2023 wedding season is done, I thought it’d be useful to look back at the lenses I actually used and why. Not in a theoretical way, but based on real weddings, real situations, and the photographs that came out the other end. There are loads of images in this video, because that’s the only honest way to talk about lenses for wedding work.

I go through each lens and where it fitted into my coverage: when I reached for it, what it helped me do, and what its limitations were. Some lenses earn their place because they’re technically brilliant, some because they’re fast and reliable, and some simply because they suit the way you see.

The lenses I cover include the Fujifilm XF18mm f/1.4 (a wide lens that lets you get close and still fill the frame), the XF56mm f/1.2 (for that tighter, more intimate storytelling), and the XF50mm f/2 as a smaller, practical option. I also include the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2, which is a bit of a beast but has a look that can be worth the size, and the Fujifilm XF33mm f/1.4 as a strong all-rounder when you want something versatile without feeling generic.

If you’re a wedding photographer thinking about building a simple prime kit for Fujifilm, or you’re just curious how these lenses behave in real wedding conditions, this should give you a clear, experience-based