Candid photography, the art of capturing genuine, unposed moments, is a cornerstone of our work at Salt and Pepper. It’s about freezing fleeting emotions, in a split second. One attempts to capture authentic interactions, and the raw beauty of everyday life. But to truly excel in this genre, having the right tools is essential. Among those tools, lenses play a crucial role. So today, I’m sharing my personal favourite lenses for candid photography, the ones I consistently reach for when aiming to capture those precious, unscripted moments.

The Occasion decides the Lens

First things first, we look around. Are we going to be in a tight situation, or a bright situation, or an open ground, or far away from Mandap. If you can visualize the  event’s flow and your placement well ahead in time then the choices become much simpler. Let’s look at some of the situations we get into, and then let’s discuss the lenses:

  • Baraat 
  • Sangeet on a stage
  • Mehendi in a room
  • Pheras in a tight Mandap
  • Haldi Madness
  • Church Wedding
  • Dimly lit room

You need to be able to react quickly, capture subjects in varying lighting conditions, and maintain a discreet presence. For instance, when capturing documentary style or photojournalistic photos, you must be ready for any moment.

My Lenses for Storytelling Candid Moments

For tight spaces and to great grandness: Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8:

  • Storytelling happens between 15 and 35mm for me. This is one of my most favourite ranges ever. This lens helps me capture all the actors and the story in its full glory.
  • The very wide perspective makes things look grand and larger than life. Which is ideal for decor shots 
  • Imagine 8 people dancing in a tight group, at a Baraat, and 2 Dhol Waalas and surrounded by 50 more people. In this Chravyuh, imagine a camera and lens in the center. That lens will be a RF 15-35mm. Its that wide and wonderful, while staying sharp.

For the Love of Stories: Canon RF 35mm f/1.8:

  • This is arguably my most beloved lens for candid work.
  • The 35mm focal length closely mimics the human eye’s perspective.
  • Its wider field of view allows me to capture subjects within their environment.
  • The fast aperture (f/1.4 or f/1.8) is crucial for low-light situations.
  • The shallow depth of field creates a pleasing bokeh effect.
  • The 35mm is small and light.

For the love of beauty and aesthetic frames : The Canon RF 50mm Prime Lens (f/1.2):

  • Offers a slightly tighter field of view than the 35mm.
  • Excellent for capturing both full-body shots and tighter portraits.
  • The fast aperture provides exceptional low-light performance and beautiful bokeh.
  • Allows for a more intimate feeling photograph.
  • This lens is used often for candid couple photography.

For the Love of Bokeh and Portraits : Canon RF 85mm Prime Lens (f/1.2):

  • Indispensable for capturing intimate portraits and isolating subjects.
  • Creates a beautiful compression effect.
  • Allows me to maintain a comfortable distance from my subjects.
  • Great for events where subjects may be far away.
  • The background blur is wonderful.
  • This is a common lens used for candid wedding photojournalism. Many Canon users prefer this lens. 
  • It’s an expensive lens but worth every penny!

The One Hand Wonder. The Allrounder! Canon RF 28-70mm Zoom Lens (f/2):

  • Versatile zoom lens.
  • Allows me to quickly adjust my framing.
  • The constant f/2 aperture provides decent low-light performance.
  • Fantastic for events where you need to change your focal length quickly.
  • Excellently sharp lens which does the job of 3 prime lens for me. Most of the weddings I am using this lens alone.

Why These Lenses Stand Out

  • Fast Apertures: Crucial for candid photography. Allows for shooting in low-light conditions, creating a shallow depth of field, and capturing sharp images of moving subjects. Natural light candid portraits are made possible by these fast apertures.
  • Prime Lens Advantages: Offer superior image quality, faster apertures, and smaller sizes.
  • The Canon Quality Advantage: The most superior glass quality in weather proof lens cases which are reliable for decades!
  • Versatility: Capture a variety of shots. So I carry at least 6 of them for every wedding and based on the occasion I pick out my lenses for the camera.
  • Discreetness: Capture candid moments without drawing attention. The Canon USM Motors are quiet and lightning fast, this makes for a great tool for candid work.

Salt and Pepper’s Philosophy

At Salt and Pepper, we believe that the best candid photographs are those that capture the essence of a moment, the genuine emotions and interactions that make life beautiful. These lenses are essential tools in our arsenal, enabling us to deliver emotion focused photography and authentic and timeless images to our clients. For example, we frequently do candid event photography Bangalore and use these lenses. We also believe that it is important to know how to capture candid moments correctly. We focus on unscripted moments and photojournalistic style candid photography as well.

Ultimately, the best lens for candid photography is the one that feels most comfortable and intuitive for you. Experiment with different lenses, find what works best for your style, and never stop capturing those precious, unscripted moments. If you are reading this, and are confused on what to pick for your wedding shoot. Reach out to me and I will help you with it.