5 minute read

Wedding photography with GF55mmF1.7 R WR

Wedding professional Caroline Tran explains her soft and romantic style, and how FUJINON GF55mmF1.7 R WR has become her lens of choice

“On a couple’s special day, it’s my job to create the most perfect version of their time together,” begins wedding professional Caroline Tran. “I want it to be authentic. I won’t make stuff up, but I’ll present everything in the most beautiful light I can, with all the emotion, excitement, and joy they’re feeling, too.”

Working with FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF55mmF1.7 R WR to photograph a beautiful bride and groom in a picture-perfect spring garden, that task might not seem so hard. But, as ever, Caroline adds a little extra magic. In her images, the setting almost comes to life as a third character, with everything from the location’s vintage summer houses to its hanging baskets, manicured lawns and gently bowing trees seeming to throw their arms around the couple. On days like this, even the light seems to be at Caroline’s command – bright, airy, soft, and gentle.

Woman in white wedding dress holding bouquet

Photo 2023 © Caroline Tran | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF55mmF1.7 R WR, 1/200 sec at F1.7, ISO 50

“My style is to make weddings look dreamy,” she continues. “After all, for brides, grooms, and parents, this should be a dream come true, right? It’s something you’ve been wishing for or fantasizing about for a long time. It should always be the most romantic version of what they have in their mind.”

Of course, a wedding setting is not always perfect, and it’s here that a great photographer like Caroline needs to switch into low gear, reacting and directing, as well as using technical skills and A-grade gear to create calmness and balance. “Having access to fast lenses on my GFX100S is a big part of that,” she reveals, “but I always tell my couples, ‘I’m your art director as well as your photographer.’ I’ll get involved in making everything look as good as it can.”

Bride posing for a photo sat down in a wedding dress

Photo 2023 © Caroline Tran | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF55mmF1.7 R WR, 1/320 sec at F1.7, ISO 50

“For instance,” Caroline continues, “I might not be able to control which room the bride gets dressed in, but I can certainly control where in that room she does it. I would maneuver everything, so the bride is on the most flattering side of the space with the best light. Often, this process is subtle and not a case of ordering people about, which isn’t what they want on their wedding day! For example, when I’m photographing details like her shoes or dress, I leave them in the good light, so that’s where she’ll naturally go to get ready. I’ll also rearrange furniture and declutter to translate the space into a cleaner frame.”

In these situations, the benefit of those fast lenses is the control they give over foregrounds and backgrounds. Working wide open, as is Caroline’s preference, and with the extra-shallow depth-of-field afforded by GFX100S’s large format sensor, a lot of clutter can fall away into serene bokeh. “The getting-ready room can be a bit messy,” she explains, “as they most likely slept in it and the makeup artist’s stuff will be spread all over, too. But at an aperture like F1.7, I can isolate the important elements and blur out everything else.”

Bride in wedding dress posing for portrait photo

Photo 2023 © Caroline Tran | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF55mmF1.7 R WR, 1/125 sec at F1.7, ISO 125

“Up until this point, my wedding workhorse has been GF80mmF1.7 R WR,” Caroline continues, “which gives stunning bokeh and is great in low light, but in smaller spaces that focal length can be a limitation. At 80mm, it’s quite close, and I often find myself photographing from the closet or bathroom! With GF55mmF1.7 R WR, I can get a lot closer with a similar separation, so it’s perfect for making every moment look beautiful.”

The depth-of-field offered by the new lens means Caroline can continue to frame her subjects in creative ways, deliberately creating through aspects of the setting like windows, foliage, and blossoms. “That’s another advantage of that kind of aperture control, and foreground bokeh can be easier to achieve as you get closer to it,” she explains. “Working this way adds an extra layer of texture, but without distracting from your main subjects. If they’re in a private moment, it’s like we’ve been granted special time with them.”

Caroline is aware that she needs to tell the full story of a day, letting those who can’t attend experience it. That also goes for the aspects that those on center stage, the bride and groom, may not get to enjoy due to big-day commitments. “This storytelling is about communicating what the day felt like as a guest; the bride will have been in the bridal suite while much of the day is happening.”

“Guests are enjoying what she put together,” she continues, “and a lot of brides put huge thought into details. I want them to feel that enjoyment, too. It’s the color of the flowers, texture of the linens, even the detail of the silverware. Beautiful shots of table decorations, the words on the invitations, and the floral arrangements are vital – and GF55mmF1.7 R WR is the perfect lens to do it.”

“It’s not a macro lens,” she explains, “but the close focus and extra depth-of-field let me pick out individual buds or the weaving in the linens. Focal length is also important. Being at 55mm on a GFX System body gives a natural view – a human perspective – so even if someone couldn’t attend the wedding, they should feel like they’re a guest and part of the experience. That level of detail goes for any family members who haven’t come along yet, too!”

Bride and groom posing in lobby with bouquet of flowers

Photo 2023 © Caroline Tran | FUJIFILM GFX100S and GF55mmF1.7 R WR, 1/125 sec at F1.7, ISO 320

“Could this be the best GF lens for GFX System yet for storytellers like me?” Caroline wonders. “I certainly think so. It’s a perfect fit for the kind of romantic photos I want to make, and lets me add that soft and gentle look with ease. It’s very flattering on skin and lets me work in almost any space or light. I’ve photographed a lot of weddings, and met a lot of very happy couples,” she laughs, “but me and GF55mmF1.7 R WR could be the most perfect match yet!”

Shop FUJINON GF55mmF1.7 R WR today. Learn more and read the full specifications here.


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