Event photography is a fun but challenging specialty that requires not just technical skills but the right equipment, and in event photography, it can be difficult to capture moments that are fleeting due to fast-moving action taking place in a variety of tricky lighting and location scenarios.
Choosing the best lens for event photography means considering the various focal lengths, apertures, af systems, and considerations regarding how these elements react in varying lighting conditions and venues.
This comprehensive guide is meant to help you understand these options so you can be prepared for any type of event, whether indoors or outdoors, and whether it’s night or day.
- Why Lens Choice is Important for Event Photography.
- Things to Consider:
- The Best Lens for Event Photography
- Matching Lenses to Event Scenarios
- Lens Choice – All Events
- Lighting and Lens Selection: A Vital Combination
- Zoom vs. Prime: Which is Better for Events?
- Professional Recommendations: What the Professionals Use
- Pro Tips for Event Lens Selection
- Building Your Event Photography Kit
- Conclusion
Why Lens Choice is Important for Event Photography.
The unpredictable element of each event is what makes them enjoyable but can also be challenging while photographing.
One moment you may be standing from 100ft away on the opposite side of a ballroom photographing a keynote speaker on stage, and the next, you are put in a dimly lit corner to capture candid photos of guests interacting or group portraits with 30 people in the photo.
By choosing the right lens, you can quickly adapt to any situation, ensuring you capture a sharp, well-exposed, candid image regardless of the scenario. The ideal combination of versatility, speed, and reliability in an image is extremely valuable.
Things to Consider:
1. Focal Length Range
It is important to have a versatile focal length. It is acceptable if each lens only lands you in a sweet range from 24mm to 150mm, whether that is in one zoom lens or a combination of several.
This focal length will allow you adequate coverage and versatility to take wide group photos, tight portraiture of individuals and candid moments without having to switch lenses.
2. Aperture
Maximum aperture is very important for non-flash low-light performance and the beauty of subject separation.
A wider maximum aperture can allow you to increase shutter speed, which helps reduce motion blur, use a flash less often in dim venues and capture images quicker before the moment passes.
3. Image Stabilization
In lower light conditions and/or in longer focal lengths, having built in stability is invaluable for handheld photography.
4. Autofocus
Fast, accurate, and silent autofocus can help photographers capture fleeting moments during events without drawing attention to themselves or missing the moment.
5. Build Quality
Having good build quality is important even for events that are not outdoors. If the event is outdoors, it is good to have weather-sealed glass with strong material.
A wide aperture allows for faster shutter speeds therefore reduces motion blur, while allowing you to shoot without flash in badly lit venues.
The Best Lens for Event Photography
1. 24-70mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens: The Workhorse
Versatility: Great for wide-angle group shots to zoomed-in candid portraits, and balances of range so you can use it practically everywhere.
Low-Light Performance: The fact that it is f/2.8 across the entire range is a big plus when shooting in dark venues, allowing faster shutter speeds and smooth background bokeh.
Build & Autofocus: High-end brands (looking at you Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S, Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM, Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM) offer weather sealing, and superior anti-glare coatings, along with smooth, fast and closed-to-silent auto-focusing to handle almost every lighting and ambient sound scenario.
Use Cases: It’s a no-brainer lens to use for weddings (ceremonies, receptions, candids), corporate events, galas, parties, concerts, both indoors and outdoors, both day or night.
2. 70-200mm f/2.8 Telephoto Zoom: When You Need Distance and Compression
Why: It allows good distance to capture events in large venues or stages and to get candids while standing back and not intruding openly.
Aperture: The f/2.8 allows you to get sharp images in low-light scenarios, while creating beautiful bokeh and blur.
Why it Matters: If the wedding ceremony were the most important event, it would be safe to say the 70-200mm f/2.8 is the most important lens, as every event photographer should have this in their bag.
In events such as ceremonies, award presentations, performances, with every angle and distance possible to capture one of the most important moments of someone’s life.
3. 16-35mm or 14-24mm Wide-Angle Zoom: For Dramatic Scenes
Cover/Reach: Getting a wide view, whether capturing many people or the entire venue, a wide-angle lens is essential, for small groups, venues, and establishing, opening, or panning shots.
Low-Light: The f/2.8 versions are better for shooting in the dark, the f/4 versions are lighter and less expensive, and the stabilization allows for sharp images whether shooting in darkness or in a moving shot.
Examples: Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM, Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR.
4. Prime Lenses (35mm, 50mm, 85mm): For Low Light and Artistic Narrows
Sharpness & Speed: Primes like f/1.4 and f/1.8 give you the most sharpness and perform in low-light with creamy blur in the background.
Weight: Easier to carry while shooting for long periods. Good for shooting small, intimate, candid, or creative angles.
Use Case: Excellent lens choice for portraits, detail, and when you want the most subject separation.
Matching Lenses to Event Scenarios
| Scenario | Recommended Lens(es) | Why It Works |
| Indoor/Night | 24-70mm f/2.8, 35mm f/1.4 | Wide aperture for low light, fast autofocus |
| Outdoor/Daytime | 24-70mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 | Versatility, weather sealing, range for candid shots |
| Large Venues | 70-200mm f/2.8, 35-150mm | Telephoto reach, compresses distance for stage/performers |
| Small Spaces | 16-35mm, 24-70mm | Wide angle for tight spaces, flexibility |
| Group Photos | 16-35mm, 24-70mm | Wide field of view, sharpness across frame |
| Portraits | 50mm/85mm f/1.4, 70-200mm | Beautiful bokeh, flattering perspective |
Lens Choice – All Events
Morning/Daytime (Outdoor):
- There is optimum natural light so you can use f/4 zooms if you want to reduce your weight.
- Choose a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm for most content, plus a wide-angle to get large group images or dramatic venue shots.
Night/Indoor:
- There is limited light, and it consists of mixed lighting (LED, candles, spotlights).
- Fast primes (f/1.8 – f/1.4) or f/2.8 zooms define a need, plus image stabilization is a big plus for photos taken handheld.
- When photographing indoors and low light, image stabilization becomes key.
Outdoor Events:
- Weather sealing is critical.
- Longer focal lengths (70-200mm) help isolate subjects and compress backgrounds.
- Wide angles for environmental portraits and crowd shots.
Indoor Events:
- Indoor events require fast performance and large depth of field/expansion factors to maximize opportunities within a specific area.
- The most used lens is the 24-70mm f/2.8, with a fast prime for creativity or low-light situations.
Lighting and Lens Selection: A Vital Combination
How you light your event can determine whether your photos are successful or not. When it comes to light, knowing how your lens works with the light around will be critical:
Available Light:
Always use wide apertures to maximize light, and avoid using a flash that is too harsh. Gelling your flash to your ambient tones will help in maintaining skin tone and mood.
Artificial Lights:
When shooting with artificial lights, using fast lenses allows you to shoot at lower ISOs, which helps reduce noise.
Image stabilization optical elements can be helpful if your shutter speeds must be slower.
Advanced Lighting Situations:
In an advanced environment, using LED panels to strengthen available light will provide subtle fill light, and using bounce flash provides beautiful soft light.
Prime lenses are at their best because they have wide-open apertures and are generally sharper.
Zoom vs. Prime: Which is Better for Events?
| Feature | Zoom Lenses (e.g., 24-70mm) | Prime Lenses (e.g., 35mm f/1.4) |
| Flexibility | High | Lower (fixed focal length) |
| Low-Light | Good (f/2.8) | Excellent (f/1.4, f/1.8) |
| Weight | Heavier | Lighter |
| Sharpness | Very good | Outstanding |
| Speed | Quick framing | Faster aperture |
| Cost | Higher (pro zooms) | Lower (some primes) |
It’s important to note that most event photographers will rely on zoom lenses for their flexibility, but they will rely on prime lenses for portraits, low-light situations, and to get creative with a shot.
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Professional Recommendations: What the Professionals Use
- 24-70mm f/2.8: The most common lens used for events by professionals, and looks good at any focal length.
- 70-200mm f/2.8: The second most common lens used by professionals and it’s most common in people shooting ceremonies, speeches, and candid moments from afar.
- 16-35mm or 14-24mm: Used for the dramatic wide shots or shooting in tight spaces.
- Prime Lenses: 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm for portraits, details, and low-light photos that are more artist in composition.
Some professionals even use an 18-55mm lens for versatile shooting, or they will carry a 35-150mm as they feel confident covering almost everything with that one lens.
Pro Tips for Event Lens Selection
- Extra Lenses: Equipment can break, or you may need to adjust for variable situations quickly.
- Weight: You’re going to be on your feet for a while, and you’ll be tired! Lighter-weight lenses will make things easier.
- Know Your Event Location: If possible, you should familiarize yourself with the event’s venue. What else is above you? What about the black hole that could be a corner? Are you shooting an outdoor event like a festival? That will also dictate your lens and lighting selections.
- Lens Hoods and Filters: Use them to protect your equipment, prevent flare when using strong stage lighting, or shooting into sunlight.
- Be Invisible: Silent autofocus systems and small prime lenses are more likely to help you be invisible, which can yield a better image of an event moment or candid.
Building Your Event Photography Kit
A professional event photography kit in 2025 should include:
- A versatile zoom (24-70mm f/2.8)
- A telephoto zoom (70-200mm f/2.8)
- A wide-angle zoom (16-35mm or 14-24mm)
- One or two fast primes (35mm, 50mm, or 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8)
This setup ensures you’re ready for any lighting, venue, or subject-indoors or out, day or night.
Conclusion
The best lens used for event photography is the most useful lens suited to your style, the types of work you are asked to capture, and the lighting conditions presented.
A good-quality zoom lens that is versatile for event shooting can be a good investment to complement with telephoto and wide angle lens and keep a fast prime available to spark creative moments, or simply when you need a different lens to respond creatively or to stigmatizing lighting situations.
If you have the lens that enables you to be responsive to event moments, you’ll be able to capture that important moment – and potentially every meaningful moment you experience, regardless of when or where that moment is taken.
