Some advice on which lenses to use for these situation..

I have been absorbing and learning from the threads here but now wanted to ask a question that's specific to my own situation.

I am a recent photography student. I mostly shoot Live Band photos, Casual Portraits, and small Group Shots (usually indoors and with low lighting), also kids portraits.

I recently purchased a Canon EOS 350D. I have also bought the following Canon lenses;

EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6

I would like to ask advice based on the lenses I do own, (rather than the one's I wished I owned) and for my own situations what would be the better lenses to use for each of these situations. I have been testing them out to a degree and of course will continue to trial and learn, but wanted to get some advice as well.

Thanks in advance.

ps) I also have the Sigma 28-70mm DG Lens on it's way to me too.

The only lens you have that would work well in any kind of low light situation is the 50 f/1.8. Everything else, you will need flash and / or decent light. The 50 is a good lens for portraits and kids. It can be good for group shots if you have enough room. In tight spaces you are going to have to go wider, so you only other choice is the 18-55.

For Live Band photos where I assume you aren't going to be on the stage you will need more range, not sure which of your telephoto's would be actually better to use. I would consider selling at least one of those.

Your correct that I am not on the actual stage but with most of the local Live Band Performances I am very close upfront.

I have been thinking about selling one of the zooms but can't decide which to keep as yet, the 75-300mm is new and quite heavy, the other (EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6) is discontinued now, I bought it from ebay.

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.

Live Band photos - 50mm f1.8 may be ok if you are close (or better buy an 85mm f1.8 or a fast zoom - but I realise you may be limited in what you can spend. the zooms you have are probably too slow unless there is a lot of light.)

Casual Portraits, and small Group Shots - Without flash you may need the 50mm f1.8 again. Problem here may be depth of field as you will need a large apperture and higher ISO to maintain good shutter speed but smaller apperture to get everyone sharp. Indoors I'd say your best bet is to use flash with something like the 18-55 at f8 to get decent depth of field. THe 18-55 is pretty sharp at f8. You may wish to invest in a decent tripod for these shots if you can.

Kids portraits - that 50mm f1.8 is a great lens for portraits.

Your other lenses are slow. Save up and buy a faster lens like the Tamrom 28-75 f2.8 or the new 17-50 f2.8 from Tamron. Fast and sharp. Sell one of your longer zooms and possibly the 18-55 (if you get the wider Tamron).