Framing Forever

Luxury wedding photography company, Silent Capture, specializes in creating iconic wedding portraits using the Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 all-in-one zoom lens.

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By Jenn Gidman
Images by Silent Capture (Jenna & Matt)

When Jenna Russo Rodriguez accepts new clients at Silent Capture, the Long Island wedding photography and videography studio she runs with her husband, Matt, she never knows what she’s going to get—and that’s one of the aspects of her job she loves the most. “The unpredictability and uniqueness of each couple is exciting,” the portrait and lifestyle photographer says. “I also appreciate the confidence a good portrait can give to someone who’s normally camera-shy.”

To create compelling, timeless wedding images that are both romantic and edgy, Jenna & Matt rely on their Tamron 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD all-in-one zoom for their Sony mirrorless camera. “The versatility of this lens can’t be beat,” Jenna says. “I’ve photographed an entire wedding using only the 35-150mm F2-2.8 lens. On wedding days, we don't always have a lot of time for portraits, so switching between lenses isn’t an option. Having the ability to shoot at 35mm with an F2 aperture—which complements my style of shooting so well—then zooming in on the details at 150mm allows me to capture a wide range of images I know my clients will love. The 35-150mm F2-2.8 has become my go-to lens for portraits and for the wedding ceremony itself.”


35-150mm (35mm), F2, 1/1600 sec., ISO 100
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Jenna & Matt even had the opportunity to photograph the 2022 wedding of Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives of New Jersey fame, at New Jersey’s Park Chateau estate. “The ceremony was beautiful, but because Bravo was there recording the event, there were so many people and film crew cameras,” she says. “The Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 proved invaluable in allowing me to zoom in to capture all the important moments without any extra bystanders or cameras in my frame. This lens did not disappoint!”

QUICK TIPS FROM JENNA & MATT

Seek out flattering lighting.
Lighting is the highlight of our wedding photography. We have a passion for both soft and hard light, adapting to suit the shoot's atmosphere. Typically, we’ll look for soft, even lighting on wedding days, or backlighting from the sun during golden hour to create ethereal-looking images. We also enjoy playing with harsh sunlight and shadows, as well as use direct flash.


35-150mm (75mm), F2.5, 1/1000 sec., ISO 100
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Put those backgrounds to work.
We always look for an aesthetically pleasing background, ideally with greenery. We will typically place our subjects slightly away from the background to add depth to the image. The Tamron 35-150mm F2-2.8 helps to create depth and separation in our images. We love the bokeh it offers at every focal length. Also, because we shoot events and often shoot in a more documentary style, we can’t always control our backgrounds, so this lens is terrific for those less-than-optimal locations. It’s wonderful at helping to isolate the subject between the 85mm and 150mm range.


35-150mm
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Zoom in and out for the perfect image.
When composing our shots, we typically like our subjects in the center of the frame, with more space on the top of the frame for wider images. For tighter images, we’ll often fill the frame with our subjects to lend them a more intimate feel. The 35-150mm F2-2.8 is ideal for this. While shooting, we are constantly doing a 180 around each subject, capturing the moment from every angle. We typically capture shots at eye level, below eye level, and even from above. The choice of angle depends on the person in front of the camera and which angle enhances their features the most.


35-150mm (113mm), F2.8, 1/800 sec., ISO 100
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35-150mm (35mm), F2, 1/400 sec., ISO 100
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Be yourself to help your clients be themselves.
Don’t be afraid to be open and vulnerable in front of the client, or fear that you’ll look silly while offering direction or saying funny things to make them laugh. This gives the couple the opportunity to be themselves as well. And be confident and assertive with that direction. This type of gentle hand-holding helps to ease our clients’ anxiety and trust our process more. By the end of the shoot, their guard is down and they’re much more comfortable in front of the camera.


35-150mm (61mm), F2.5, 1/250 sec., ISO 1600
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Emphasize movement.
During our sessions, we aim to create a relaxed atmosphere to prompt our subjects to engage, interact, and enjoy themselves. We prompt them to savor the moment, embrace each other, and forget about our presence. While we slightly refine poses for a softer look, our focus is on a natural approach. Our goal is to avoid generic poses and instead capture images that are distinct to each wedding, showcasing the couple's style, personality, and bond on their special day.


35-150mm (35mm), F2.8, 1/2000 sec., ISO 100
Click image to view larger

To see more of Silent Capture’s work, check out her website and Instagram.


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