Maine & NH Wedding Photographer // Mentor Series:Prime vs Zoom – Let’s Settle This Like Grown Lens Nerds

Taken with my favorite portrait lens, 135mm.

Alright folks, it’s time to wade into one of the spiciest debates in the photography world: prime lenses vs. zoom lenses. Grab your popcorn—or your lens cloth—because we’re going in.

If you’ve ever met me (or looked inside my camera bag), you already know where I stand. I’m a prime lens photographer through and through. Ride-or-die loyal. The “I’ll zoom with my feet” kind of person. Yeah, I know, wild concept in a world where we can zoom in with the flick of a wrist, but hear me out.

So… Why Prime?

Let’s just put this out there first: I love my prime lenses more than I love my morning coffee. And that’s saying something.

I’m fully aware that prime lenses aren’t the most “convenient” option. You can’t go from wide to tight in one smooth move. There’s no spinning the barrel and magically getting a new focal length. You’ve gotta walk. You’ve gotta move. You’ve gotta squat, climb, lean, and sometimes dangle precariously off a chair. But I choose that inconvenience every time—because what I get in return is picture quality.

The Prime Lens Love Affair: A Breakdown

1. That Sweet, Sweet Sharpness
   Primes are just sharper. Full stop. There’s no group therapy needed because your photos turned out a little soft—these babies bring the heat and nail the focus. Every. Single. Time.

2. Wide Aperture = Dreamland
   Give me that f/1.2 or f/1.4 deliciousness. I want buttery backgrounds, low-light power, and the kind of depth that makes a portrait punch you right in the feels. Primes eat zooms for breakfast in this department.

3. They Make Me Work (and That’s a Good Thing)
   Prime lenses keep me engaged. I move around more. I see more. I find new angles instead of relying on a lazy wrist twist. It pushes my creativity and keeps me in the moment instead of hiding behind the glass.

4. They’re Light and Fast (Like a Ninja)
   No lugging around bricks. Primes are smaller, faster to focus, and easier on your spine after a 10-hour wedding day. Trust me, your back will thank you.

But Do I Hate Zooms? Nah.

I’m not out here zoom-shaming anyone. In fact, I own a few zoom lenses myself. I even use one regularly…my ceremony lens. It’s my secret weapon for getting wide altar shots and tight emotional moments without playing aisle frogger during vows. It’s respectful, efficient, and totally necessary.

But outside of that? Nah. I’m all prime, all day.

The Bottom Line

There’s no “one size fits all” in photography. If zooms work for your style, awesome. If you love your 70-200mm like it’s your firstborn, I respect that.

But for me? I’ll keep my bag full of primes, my feet ready to hustle, and my images sharp enough to cut glass. Because sometimes “less convenient” equals “more intentional.” And that’s where the gold is.

Prime gang 4 life.

Let’s hear it: Are you Team Prime or Team Zoom? Drop your go-to lens combo below and let’s nerd out.

Taken with a 70-200mm at 200mm from the very back of the ceremony.