Which lens would you suggest for this type of photography?

[sharse]

I still have much to learn, but eventually I want to build a business where I come to the client's home and photograph them and their small children in their own environment. I have a Canon T2i and right now am using an 18-135 3.5/5.6. (I also have a Canon 550EX speed light)

I had been planning to buy a 50mm 1.4, but have just starting to think about the 85mm 1.8. I have a good friend (a pro) who loaned me her 85mm 1.2L and I fell in love! No way can I afford that sucker, but I'm thinking that maybe an 85mm would be better for chasing toddlers around their family room since I wouldn't have to get quite so close. I could give them some more space.

My space will be capturing those every day moments -- the child playing with their favorite toy, wrestling in the living room with daddy, making cookies in the kitchen, playing on the swing set in the back yard... etc.

Your lens choice for shots such as that would be...???

[RLucas]

Every space is a different size. 85mm may be too long in certain spaces. You may want to take that in to consideration, and think about something a little wider for indoors shots. I think something in the 35mm-50mm would be more suitable and versatile in that type of situation.

[sharse]

An excellent point. Thank you for your thought. I guess I should just play with my current lens, leave it at 35 for a while, then 50, then 85 and see what I think in terms of space indoors. I can't get below 3.5 on my current lens, but I could play with focal length.

[sk66]

Canon 17-55 or 24-70 f/2.8 would be my "choice". But the 18-55/18-135 is no slouch given decent light/flash....

Right now, forget about a new lens for your future "specialty"....learn to use your equipment fully and upgrade later when/if the lens is the limiting factor.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by sk66

Canon 17-55 or 24-70 f/2.8 would be my "choice". But the 18-55/18-135 is no slouch given decent light/flash....

Right now, forget about a new lens for your future "specialty"....learn to use your equipment fully and upgrade later when/if the lens is the limiting factor.

I fully agree + support SK's statement. Currently the limiting factor for me myself is the skill...

[inkista]

Given that you're probably not thinking of getting a $1k+ f/2.8 zoom lens, I say go ahead and get a fast prime just to learn what wider apertures can do for you, but would recommend you shoot a lot of portraits with the lenses you have first, and then analyze the EXIF information from the shots you like best, and see what focal lengths you were sitting around or used the most overall, and then decide between a 28/1.8, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 100/2, or 135/2.8 SF, that way.

ExposurePlot or PhotoStats can help with the EXIF stuff.

[ccting]

Originally Posted by inkista

Given that you're probably not thinking of getting a $1k+ f/2.8 zoom lens, I say go ahead and get a fast prime just to learn what wider apertures can do for you, but would recommend you shoot a lot of portraits with the lenses you have first, and then analyze the EXIF information from the shots you like best, and see what focal lengths you were sitting around or used the most overall, and then decide between a 28/1.8, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 100/2, or 135/2.8 SF, that way.

ExposurePlot or PhotoStats can help with the EXIF stuff.

"18-135 3.5/5.6. (I also have a Canon 550EX speed light".. For indoor photography, i believe he needs short focal length, that means the aperture should be around f/4. With the extremely good Canon speedlight, I think he should be able to solve the problem. He has much faster len than mine, with much better speedlight....