Welcome back to our “What’s in Our Bag?” series where we talk all about our gear! Whether you’re just starting your journey in photography or you’re an experienced photographer just itching to purchase a new lens, we hope today’s post is useful to you.
Up until now, every piece of gear we’ve written about in our series has been a Canon. For a long time, I refused to even look at anything other than those gorgeous Canon lenses with the red ring… until I discovered the Sigma Art 35mm 1.4! The day I decided to purchase a 35mm lens, I walked into The Photo Center with every intention of purchasing the Canon version. However, I had heard about the Sigma Art line of lenses and how amazing they were so I decided to try out the Sigma Art 35mm 1.4. Luckily, The Photo Center had one available for rent so I took it home with me that day and tried it out (Side note: I highly recommend renting a lens for at least a few days before making a big purchase!). Well, after trying out the Sigma Art 35mm at home and then on a wedding that weekend, I was in love! The image quality is amazing, it is excellent in low-light, and this lens is SHARP! Suddenly I didn’t care about adding a lens to my collection that wouldn’t have that red ring! Below are photos from Melissa and Jason’s Park Savoy Estate Wedding to show you how I use this lens on a wedding day.
Like the Canon 50mm 1.2L, the Sigma Art is a prime lens. Therefore, you cannot zoom in and out. You must zoom with your feet! This is the first lens that comes out of my bag on the morning of a wedding day. I always start by photographing the bride’s wedding day details, and I love using this lens for the dress, the invitation, and other bridal details that don’t require a macro shot. 
I also love the Sigma Art 35mm for make-up shots because it allows me to get shots in tight spaces while still being able to show the surroundings.
Once it’s time for the ceremony, the Sigma Art 35mm allows me to capture wide shots of the ceremony space without worrying about distortion on the edges.
The Sigma Art 35mm is my go-to lens fo the processional because it allows me to capture the bride and her dad from the end of the aisle all the way up to the altar.
Once the father of the bride gives his daughter away to her groom, the 35mm is a great focal length because generally, the space is tight and I have to squeeze between the bridesmaids and the cinematographer.
I don’t generally use this lens during the ceremony itself because my second shooter captures all the wide shots during the ceremony, but once it’s time for the recessional I put the 35mm back on my lens so that I can capture everyone walking down the aisle. At that point, everyone is excited and happy and they generally walk very fast, so the 35mm focal length is key!
The Sigma Art 35mm is the lens I use the most during the reception. It’s the perfect lens for capturing wide shots of the reception room and tables: 
And once the dancing starts, the Sigma Art 35mm comes in really handy! I like to be on the dance floor with the guests so I can capture all the energy and the 35mm focal length is ideal for this. I am able to get shots from a close distance without my subjects looking huge in the frame: 
The Sigma ART 35mm 1.4 is an incredible lens. It makes me want more Sigma Art lenses :-) I hope this blog post is helpful to you! If you have any questions please leave a comment below or email me at info@idaliaphotography.com.
