Equipment Review: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART Lens

Equipment Introductions with Sam

I’ve been wanting to review the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART Lens ever since I first put it on my camera, but I’ve been so busy using it that I never got around to it, and then ultimately forgot about equipment reviews entirely for about 3 years (whoops…). Now that I’ve remembered though, the first lens I wanted to review is my all-time favorite lens, and the one both Rob and I use most frequently for weddings and portraits! For those who haven’t checked out an equipment review by us, we keep it pretty high-level and straight to the point, and our focus generally is on applications for wedding or portrait photography. With that said, here we go!

Great For The Following:

• Wedding photography where the size of the space you’re in may change frequently

• Portraits (the bokeh with this lens is amazing)

• Family formals for small groups

• Non-macro close-up shots

• Low light settings like wedding receptions

• Street photography

Would Not Recommend For:

• Wide angle photography (there isn’t much I wouldn’t recommend this lens for, clearly)

If there is any “con” to this lens, it’s that from particularly far away, it isn’t always tack sharp, but that’s asking quite a lot from a single lens that is so amazing in all other ways. This lens is so incredibly versatile (whether you’re on a full-frame or crop sensor), and the bokeh is so beautiful (have I mentioned that yet?!) that I wouldn’t hesitate to use it in nearly any situation. It’s even amazingly sharp on fine detail, despite not being a macro lens.

Hands down, if I could only shoot on one lens for the rest of my life, this would be it! Check out the images below, all taken by Rob or I on our Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lenses (we each have one, that way we don’t have to fight over it), and if you’re so inclined, tell us what you love (or don’t) about the 35mm if you have one!

-Sam

What's In Our Camera Bag?

A Look At The Photography Equipment We couldn't do Without 

If you're like me, you probably love looking at what equipment other photographers use! I find it endlessly fascinating (although admittedly, I'm a photography nerd). So, since I totally dig it when other photographers share what equipment they're using, I wanted to do the same!

Camera Bodies

• Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless (Sam’s primary camera)

  • After making the switch to mirrorless, I can see what folks are raving about! The moveable LCD screen is very handy for getting shots from odd and interesting angles, and the performance of the camera is excellent. I love everything about it except that the battery life isn’t quite as long as DSLRs, so if you’re shooting weddings or other longer events, just make sure to have an extra battery on hand

• Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Rob’s primary camera)

  • This is a badass camera body, and it's the one Rob uses in his day to day and for weddings, and while it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the R5 (the LCD screen is stationary for instance), it produces excellent images and is the best DSLR for weddings hands down

• Canon 6D Mark II (Sam’s backup camera)

  • I wanted a full-frame sensor for my backup camera body, since I do shoot with two camera bodies on wedding days to avoid a lot of lens switch outs, and the 6D Mark II is a great backup body that performs well in low light

• Canon EOS 7D Mark II Rob’s backup camera)

  • If you don't need a full-frame sensor, the 7D Mark II is the way to go! It's a workhorse camera with excellent low light performance and so is great for wedding photography if you’re on a tighter equipment budget

Lenses

• Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art Lens for Canon

  • I have barely taken this lens off my camera since I got it! It's sharp, fast and accurate auto-focus, and has the dreamiest bokeh imaginable (seriously gorgeous) and the focal length also makes this a very versatile lens as well - this is definitely my go-to lens!

• Sigma 24mm f/1.4 Art Lens for Canon

  • In my time as a wedding photographer, I’ve struggled to “zoom out” and get those beautiful, wide-angle shots, in part because I’d never found a wide angle lens that I actually liked, but now that I’ve got the 24mm from Sigma, the world of stunning, scene-capturing wide angle shots is mine!

• Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art Lens for Canon

  • Okay, this is also an amazing lens, and I just love all of my Sigma lenses so much it's not even funny

• Canon EF 100mm Macro f/2.8 Lens

  • This lens is a great prime lens to use as a telephoto during wedding ceremonies (particularly outdoors) and a great macro lens to capture close-up details like rings, etc. (This lens seriously takes the best ring shots)

• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L Lens

  • We call this lens The Beast, and with good reason! It's not for the faint of heart, or weak of arm! It's a heavy but magnificent lens that's sharp, great for getting that close up feel I love during moments where perhaps we can't get that close (wedding ceremonies anyone?) Be prepared to have sore arms the next day, but at least you’ll be able to admire the gorgeous images you got while you were getting in that upper body workout!

• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L Lens

  • This is such a versatile lens, particularly for wedding photographers, and even though I generally prefer prime lenses (lenses that don’t zoom), the 24-70mm will always hold a special place in my heart

Lighting

• Godox V1 Speedlites

  • I cannot say enough wonderful things about this flash. We have 5 of them, and coupled with using one as a wireless transmitter (that can also itself fire flash or not, as you choose, or we also have several wireless transmitters), they create the easiest and quickest-to-use wireless lighting setup for off-camera flash imaginable! Plus the batteries are rechargeable lithium ion batteries, so gone are the days of bringing 50+ AA batteries with us to every wedding! (The flash recycle time can wane sometimes if you’re shooting on ETTL, and that’s my only complaint about these, but that’s an issue with all speedlites, which is why I tend to shoot in manual mode on my speedlites and when I do that, the recycle time is much faster)

Accessories

• SanDisk 64GB and 128GB Extreme PRO Memory Cards

  • You can also never have too many memory cards, and these are our favorites 

• Peak Design Camera Bag and Straps

  • I just ADORE this brand! It's stylish, unisex, and sturdy. <3 

• Rose Anvil Two Camera Leather Harness

  • I like this first and foremost because I look like a badass in it (very important), but second, because it allows me to have two camera bodies on me at all times, with different lenses, so I’m always ready whatever the shot calls for, and it takes all the pressure off my neck and lower back (yay!)

• Sipsey Wilder Hip Bag

  • Yeah…. I know fanny packs were unfashionable for a very long time, but they’ve come a long way since the eighties and nineties, and Sipsey Wilder makes super stylish hip bags (i.e. not your mama’s fanny pack) that I can throw a few extra batteries, memory cards, and chapstick in so I’m prepared during the wedding day

Photo Editing Software

• Adobe Lightroom 

  • Lightroom for LIFE! I've been hooked ever since the Beta came out back in 2006, and although I've shopped around, nothing beats it for intuitive workflow. There are also mobile versions that make on-the-go editing and culling a breeze

• Adobe Photoshop

  • There are certain things Lightroom can’t do as well as Photoshop (though very few in my opinion) and adding texture to images for a more fine art feel is one of them, so we use Photoshop for that

In Closing... 

I am so excited to share our camera bag info with you, and if there is anything in particular you'd like to see a review on, leave us a comment and let us know! 

-Sam

Olivia + Jim: A Lush and Intimate Wedding at Westmorland Park

Olivia + Jim had a small, laid-back wedding within walking distance from their house at the lovely Westmorland Park in Madison, Wisconsin

The two of them wanted to have a simple and beautiful wedding day, and they absolutely nailed it! All of the small details of the day were absolutely perfect, as was the Pizza Brutta and the Baron’s Gelato (yum!). The wedding ceremony itself took place in a little area of Westmorland Park that’s tucked away almost like a little secret garden and Olivia + Jim’s closest friends and family were there to celebrate with them and cheer them on as they tied the knot. Their wedding vows even mentioned one of Olivia’s favorite things, which is all the adorable pet names Jim has for her (I’m a big fan of pet names so I just think this is the cutest)!

Congratulations to Olivia + Jim, and enjoy the photos of their beautiful wedding day!

-Sam

Here are all the wedding vendors (with links) that helped make their wedding day magical:

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Westmorland Park

Officiant: Jason Kirkwood (a friend of Jim’s from college)

Bridal Jumpsuit (!!!): Rebecca Schoneveld jumpsuit (via Honey Bridal wedding shop in Chicago)

Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: William Thomas Custom Jewelry

Hair & Makeup: Lyndse at Aniu Salon

Desserts: Baked goods from Batch Bakehouse, Gelato from Baron’s Gelato, and guest cookie packs from The Missing Pastry

Catering: Pizza Brutta Mobile Pizza Oven

Abby + Matt: A Gorgeous Rooftop Wedding at MMoCA

Abby + Matt’s wedding was vibrant and filled with joy!

And the views of the Capitol building and the Orpheum on the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA) in the heart of Downtown Madison didn’t hurt either. ;)

Their wedding day theme was world-building, with the colors of the sea and sky worked into the details of their wedding day. Abby’s bouquet was made of paper flowers which were in turn made out of pages of The Hobbit (no one knows more about world-building than Tolkein), and instead of a unity candle, they symbolized their union with two adorable little birds making a nest together.

Help me wish Abby + Matt a hearty congrats, and enjoy all the lovely details and big moments from their wedding day!

-Sam

Here are all the vendors (with links) that helped make their wedding day awesome!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA)

Officiant: Dana Pellebon (friend of Bride & Groom)

Bridal Gown: Vera’s House of Bridals

Hair & Makeup: Where it's At Studio (Bride’s hair) & Brideheads for other Hair & Makeup

Wedding Jewelry: Jeweler's Workshop

Paper Bouquet & Boutonniere: Made by a friend

Florals: DIY

DJ: John Frerick (DJ Senseless)

Catering: Fresco

Wedding Desserts: Batch Bakehouse

Rentals: Projector from Game Crafter

Winnie + Fiona

I got to spend a lovely summer day with Winnie, Fiona, their parents, and their grandma!

Fiona’s 1 year portraits (check them out here) were the last family portraits I did before the pandemic, so it was nice to get to see Fiona 18 months older and to meet her new little sister, Winnie, for my first family portrait session post-vaccination!

Welcome to the world, Winnie!

-Sam

Caitlin + Nick: An Elegant and Beautiful Wedding at Harvest Moon Pond

Caitlin + Nick performed an amazing ballroom dance routine for their first dance!

Which makes total sense since these two met through ballroom dance competitions. (How cool is that?!)

Their wedding day was hot as all heck, but absolutely gorgeous and filled with tons of laughs, delicious food, great music, and that was all in addition to the beautiful ceremony and amazing dancing!

Congratulations to Caitlin + Nick, and help me wish these two all the best!

-Sam

Here are the vendors (with links) that helped make Caitlin + Nick’s wedding day awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Harvest Moon Pond

Officiant: Eric Whaylen (friend of the couple)

DJ: Kuhl Entertainment

Bridal Gown: Love Couture Bridal

Groom Tux: The Black Tux

Wedding Bands & Engagement Ring: Washington Diamond

Hair & Makeup: Arch Apothecary

Florist: Sunborn Gardens

Wedding Pies: Hubbard Ave Diner

Catering: Blue Plate Catering

Decor Rental: Black Sheep Events (formerly Eventfuls) for the Wedding Arch

Aubrey + AJ: A One Year Anniversary Session

Aubrey + AJ revisited their wedding ceremony venue, the Field Reserve for their one year anniversary

And it was awesome! They even busted out the smoke bombs again! Check out their Engagement photos here and Wedding photos here!

Happy anniversary to Aubrey + AJ!

-Sam

Matt + Drew: A Willy Street Summer Engagement Session

Matt, Drew, and Olly had a great portrait session on Willy Street!

Matt + Drew and their furry son Olly joined me for an engagement session on a not too hot summer day, and we had a blast, as well as a great walk up and down Willy Street! Enjoy the photos from this sweet summer session. I can’t wait for the wedding in 2022!

-Sam

Charlie's Newborn Portraits

Chelsea, Doug, and Charlie had a Pride-themed family session to celebrate Charlie’s birth!

Charlie’s newborn session was filled with cuteness (obviously), matching outfits, and Pride-themed apparel. I was so happy to get to celebrate Charlie with Chelsea.+ Doug! Enjoy this adorable family and welcome to the world, Charlie!

-Sam

Jena + Nick: A Golden Hour Engagement Session

Jena + Nick wanted to celebrate their upcoming wedding with an engagement session at the beautiful UW Arboretum

And my goodness was it a gorgeous day!

A big, hearty congratulations to Jena + Nick!

-Sam

Cat + Sam: An Intimate Olin Park Wedding Day

Cat + Sam had their first look at the same spot where they first said “I love you”

And if that isn’t the sweetest thing you’ve heard today, I don’t know what to tell you. Their first “I love you” came at the first metal bench on Picnic Point, so on their wedding day, that’s exactly where they wanted to do their first look. It was a little rainy, and a little cold, but absolutely gorgeous, and I’m so happy I got to photograph them at such a special place!

For their wedding at Olin Park, they wanted to keep things casual with their closest family in attendance, and to celebrate with pizza and donuts afterward. I loved the purple and lavender accents they used for decor, and also of course the heating lamps because brrrrrr was it cold out!

Congratulations to Cat + Sam!

-Sam

Here are all the vendors who helped make Cat + Sam’s wedding day awesome:

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Olin Park

Officiant: Judge Jennifer Nashold

Bridal Gown: Lulus’s Bridal

Wedding Jewelry: Brilliant Earth (Bride’s necklace was her dad’s wedding ring)

Hair Stylist: Kismet Salon

Florals & Decorations: Ling’s Moment

Wedding Dessert: Level 5 Donuts

Wedding Pizza: Roman Candle

Shake Rag Alley Family Portraits in Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, Wisconsin is a magical place for family photos

When Kat mentioned Shake Rag Alley, and said how magical a place it was, my first thought was “I could use some more magic in my life, I’m in!”

Kat was not wrong, it’s a freaking magical place and was so sunny and gorgeous when we were there on Mother’s Day weekend! It was awesome to see how big the girls have gotten since the last time we did family photos (check those out here!) The girls also got to make fairy houses after the portrait session!

Enjoy these fun family photos, and if you get the chance, go check out Shake Rag Alley sometime!

-Sam