the two lenses i shot most with are 85m and 17-40mm

my regular and must have setup is :-
Canon 5D2 + 85mm lens
Canon 7D + 17-40mm f4 lens
most of the time

if i need an ultra wide angle shot, i'll use 5D2 + 17-40mm f4
if i need to take group photos, i use 7D + 17-40mm or 5D2 + 17-40mm
for actual day moments, i normally shoot candids with 5D2 + 85mm
if i need to take candids from further away (coz people can sometimes be shy/uncomfortable), i shoot with 7D + 85mm
during the Chip San Leong / games, i normally shoot funny close ups with 5D2 + 17-40mm and candids with 7D + 85mm
during dinner events, i use my 5D2 + 85mm for bokeh shots and 7D + 17-40mm for safe/compulsory shots

i do own a 50mm lens and a 70-200mm f2.8 lens but i try not to use them both much nowadays coz most wedding photographers use these two lenses a lot.

i do my best to differentiate myself from the rest of the wedding photographers. i feel, the more different my photos look, the more 'creative' is the perception i create when potential clients evaluate my wedding photography work.

if i were to start all over again with a minimum budget and can only afford 1 camera, i'd shoot with a Canon 7D + 17-40mm f4 + 50mm f1.8. when i have money, i'd buy the 85mm f1.8 lens or if i have money to spend, i'd buy the 70-200mm f2.8 non-IS. then i'd build a decent photography portfolio of images.

once i get good at all those gear and i can nail all the compulsory shots in each wedding event with ease, then i'd take risks and shoot with gear that most photographers do not use. most photographers hate prime lenses / fixed lenses coz it's inconvenient and it requires a lot of legwork and changing lenses during a shoot. once i get good at anticipating each segment of each wedding event and i know when to change lenses to shoot what part of the event that comes next, this is when i start developing my wedding style and by differentiating myself from the rest, this is when i can start charging higher that the norm and come up with more and more creative shots for my clients, while still nailing the standard/compulsory shots that must be captured to ensure there are no gaps in the flow of the wedding events.

i hope this helps. all the best!

Q : what is the best lens to buy next?
A : only you know what you need next. hehe

Q : what is the best camera to use for a wedding shoot?
A : the one you own right now. hehe

Q : what gear can i buy to get better wedding photos.
A : none. get good at communicating with the client during their actual day, get good at recognising good light and shooting with the appropriate lighting for the right moments, get good at doing something most other people are not good at doing eg posing your bride and groom, etc

hehe

This post has been edited by johan2: Jan 24 2014, 02:15 AM