You have probably noticed it in wedding photos — the subject is sharp and the background melts into soft circles of light. That effect is called bokeh and it is created by shooting at a wide aperture on a prime lens.
Every wedding I shoot is on a 50mm and 85mm prime lens at f/2.2 to f/2.5. Here is why.
What aperture actually does.
The aperture is the opening in your lens that lets in light. A wide aperture like f/2.2 lets in a lot of light and creates a very shallow depth of field — meaning only a thin slice of the image is in sharp focus and everything else blurs.
A narrow aperture like f/8 or f/11 keeps almost everything sharp from front to back. That is great for landscapes. It is not what I want for portraits.
Why f/2.2 specifically.
At f/2.2 on an 85mm lens the background compression is significant. Venue lights become large soft circles. Garden greenery becomes impressionistic color. The couple becomes the entire image.
At f/2.2 on a 50mm lens the effect is subtler but still present — enough separation to isolate the subject without losing context.
The 85mm is a portrait lens. The 50mm is closer to how human eyes see. Together they cover every situation across a wedding day.
The tradeoff.
Shooting wide open requires precise focus. At f/2.2 there is very little margin for error. That is why I shoot many frames and why 150 weddings of practice matters.
Getting ready photos in dim hotel rooms — f/2.2 lets in enough light to keep ISO low and grain minimal.
Ceremony photos from a distance — the 85mm at f/2.2 isolates the couple at the altar from everything around them.
Reception dance floor — the combination of low light capability and subject isolation captures genuine moments without flash disrupting the atmosphere.
Is this look right for you.
If you have looked at the portfolio and you like what you see — that is the lens, the aperture, and ten years of practice.
If you want everything sharp and detailed in every frame — I am probably not the right photographer for you and I would rather you know that before booking than after.