What do you do with your lenses?

Here's how I figure for mine...

Sigma 15 f/2.8 - fun shots and creative use of environments that would benefit from the distorting effect. Used for posed photos with the right environment, ceremony and reception sites, and for dance and other things that are fun. I'd love to try a bouquet/garter toss shot by being in between the thrower and the receiving crowd and shooting upward from the floor with this...but I'd have to have a second shooter do that because I don't dare risk missing the shot from a more standard PoV.

24L (should arrive next week) will be for all those unique wide-angle shots with narrow DoF or in low light that I can't get with anything else. Will be fun to try detail shots, overhead shots in the dressing room etc., possibly dress shots, and environmental. Will be replacing the 35L for bouquet and garter toss.

35L - still my mainstay lens that gets the most use, but am starting to use the Canon 50 f/1.4 too. Used all the time during ceremony processional, reception dance, detail shots, posed photos, formals, etc. Because of its middle-road focal length that has some distortion and some DoF control but not a lot of either one, I may eventually stop using it in favor of the 24 and 50. If I sell it, the 135 and the 70-200, then the 200 f/2L IS would be a mere $2000 purchase....

50 f/1.4 - starting to see some significant use since I bought it a few months ago. Good alternative to the 35L for less perspective distortion while retaining reasonably close minimum focus distance compared to 85mm. Used for shots during the reception, posed photos, some details, and possibly w/extension tubes for rings. Still don't trust the AF system for the processional.

85L - mostly for posed photos, processionals and other parts of the ceremony, as well as dancing and general reception use. I have never liked the long minimum focus distance - sometimes this is a reason to use the 50 f/1.4.

135L - almost never use because the 85L does just about everything it does except with somewhat slower AF. I like the lens, but without IS it just seems to be a bit limited in usefulness. May sell eventually. Good for dancing and reception photos, and well-lit ceremonies.

Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6 - used when there are tall landmarks + scenery I want in the photo. Could be used creatively for the line-convergence effect, but IMO it's too slow for most things during the reception. Good for the church or reception hall interior.

Tamron 28-75 - I keep it around because it's a good lens, but I don't use it anymore unless I'm on vacation.

70-200 f/2.8 IS - the IS is the only reason I still own this lens. I will bring it out for 10-20 shots during the reception before putting it away again because there's nothing it can do that I can't do better with the 85L - except during the ceremony. Good for sniping candids and shots at a distance during the ceremony when I can't get closer. I'm sure it would be nice for some posed photos, but I haven't done much of that.

I never imagined I'd own 9 lenses - and there's room for a macro and a TS-e lens. Someday, perhaps.

So what do you use, and where?

10-22 - group shots or anything where I don't have enough space
17-55 - pretty much everything can be done with this lens
24-105 F4L - my main lens for outdoor ceremonies
30 f1.4 - when I want a narrow DOF, but sometimes I use it for most of the wedding party/couple photos. Usually used for prep photos too, along with the 17-55
70-200 F2.8 IS - when I can't get close, or sometimes on a 5D for the looking down on the bride type photos with razor thin DOF
100mm macro - ring and flower photos, very occasionally a portrait

I could use the 30 F1.4 for most of the day, if it weren't for the fact it's sometimes not wide enough for a ceremony

15mm fisheye -- haven't used it in ages.
16-35L -- party dancing shots.
24L -- close up portraits shot a f/1.4.
24L tilt -- portraits. Wide shot of the entire ceremony.
50L -- all the time.
45 tilt -- portraits. randomly throughout the day.
135 -- ceremony a ton. speeches and dances.
70-200 2.8L IS -- haven't used it in a couple years.

Bobby

16-35 / 35 for wide shots, tubes for macro, the rest portraits. Simple, easy to remember.

Sigma 10-20: Group shots, church interiors, when I want to feature some of the architecture or landmarks in the scene.

Canon 28 f/1.8: some getting ready pics, limo shots, dance shots at the reception, small groups.

50mm f/1.8: getting ready pics, pics of kids (it's lack of sharpness works great for kids portraits and playing.)

50 f/1.4: Low light getting ready pics, some of the ceremony if possible.

85 f/1.8: Portraits mostly. Not used much.

24-105 F/4L : General purpose outdoors stuff. Bridal party, outdoors receptions.

70-200 F/2.8L: My main and favorite lens. Used for everything possible during the day- the ceremony, portraits, and speeches during the reception.

Bride's house:
- 35L on my 5D2 for shots of multple people
- 100L Macro on the 50D for portraits and detail shots

Ceremony:
- 24-70 on my 50D for the processional
- Switch the 50D to my 85L for the ceremony
- 35L still on the 5D2

Portraits:
- 24-70 on the 5D2 so that I have true 24mm if I need it but the convenience of a zoom when I don't.
- 35L on the 5D2 if I need an especially small DOF or it's too dark to handhold the 24-70 and I don't want to use flash for some reason
- 85L on the 50D for head & shoulder shots

Reception:
- 24-70 on either the 5D2 or the 50D based on whether I think I want to be longer or wider

I also keep an old Rebel XT in the bag for super-wide shots. I go back and forth between Sigma's 10-20 and Tokina's 10-17 fisheye. I find myself using the FE more and more.

In the bag but rarely coming out is the 70-200 2.8 IS. It keeps my bags from blowing away.

On some level, the new 100L macro IS is making the 85L 1.2 a little redundant. It is super fast and offers spectacular IQ, but tactically, I could work with the 100L IS in every situation that would otherwise require the 85L.

It's my opinion that many lenses come to life more when used on FF. I notice a difference every time I use the 85L or 70-200 f/2.8 on the 5D vs. the 40D - the images change completely, always for the better. Of course, this is because of the relative DoF "effect" of FF. It's almost to the point where I don't have a use for my 40D anymore, but I am tempted to still consider using it for church processionals with the 85L for the extra DoF while staying at wide apertures.

17-50 2.8 - Mostly used
85 1.8 - Portraits and candids

Hoping to add 30 1.4 soon for my other general use which these three lens should be all I need..

form wrote in post #9766334
It's my opinion that many lenses come to life more when used on FF. I notice a difference every time I use the 85L or 70-200 f/2.8 on the 5D vs. the 40D - the images change completely, always for the better. Of course, this is because of the relative DoF "effect" of FF. It's almost to the point where I don't have a use for my 40D anymore, but I am tempted to still consider using it for church processionals with the 85L for the extra DoF while staying at wide apertures.

I don't use my 70-200 very often at all, but I never put it on my 50D. I just don't like the look. There are times that I think about going with a pair of 5D2's, but I also like the versatility that a crop brings to the mix, i.e., it turns my 85 1.2 into a very fast 135L.

I finally got a second 5D after a year of frustration with 5D and 40D. The 40D was the most expensive lens holder I ever had.

Hmm I never thought about it. I usually just pull out what will work for that moment in time.

I show up with my 24-70 on the camera and just go from there.
Each lens has been used in each situation above on more than one occasion.
So in short, I fly by the seat of my pants.

Same as Jolene, I don't have a specific recipe, I just use what lens feels "right" for the shot. If I'm after something specific, then I'll throw on a fish or T/S.