Brooklyn NY wedding: 85mm lens wedding photos

An entire wedding photos gallery on just an 85mm lens. Let me tell you this story of how I messed up and recovered from a wedding day’s potential disaster as a wedding photographer.

First, I am very good at masking my emotions (it’s a good and bad thing, I know). So when I am stressed, I do NOT want my couples/clients to know I am stressed out as it affects their mood and experience on the wedding day.

The story of how I photographed a wedding with only an 85mm lens

I began the wedding day, as per usual, showing up to the hotel suite an hour early to begin photographing wedding details. I unpacked my bag, and started to put together my gear (which I had carefully packed the night before?!). I noticed that one of my important 35mm lenses was missing the adapter (FtoZ mount) to function. Mind you; I ONLY shoot weddings on my 85mm and 35mm prime lenses. I also carry a 50mm macro and 14-24mm SOMETIMES. At this wedding, I chose ONLY to pack the 85 and 35… FML!!! I could NOT believe that I forgot the adapter and left it on my 14-24mm lens and didn’t switch it off on my 35mm… I thought for a moment, “this is a SICK JOKE”. I am over an hour away from home – my boyfriend was 2 hours away with family and could not help me. The local camera shop was about 30 min out – which would mean I would have to leave and come back, and that would not look good.

I panicked.. SECRETLY.

I then had the idea…my 2nd shooter, Alvin, was across the hall at groom prep. He shoots with Fuji while I shoot with Nikon. Fuji is like learning a new language to me – super difficult. So I asked my 2nd to wrap up groom prep earlier and join me for bridal prep to use his 35mm while I shot 85mm. I couldn’t express how grateful I was that he was there!

Originally Alvin was only contracted for 4 hours, but I needed him to stay the entire day, and he agreed to do just that – and I paid him more, OF COURSE. An angel came to my rescue. Because if he weren’t there – I would have had to explain everything OR leave the wedding that morning early and arrive later – and I feel like both actions would’ve made me feel UNRESPONSIBLE AND A FAILURE.

I am so happy with how this wedding ended up being photographed, despite me only having an 85mm to shoot with while my 2nd shooter shot with his 35mm!

THANK GOODNESS FOR SECOND PHOTOGRAPHERS!! YAY.