I am freaking out a little bit because I somehow managed to book an engagement shoot for my cousin next weekend and all I have right now is the basic kit lens that came with my A7IV. It is okay for travel and stuff but definitely not for professional looking portraits with that nice blurry background. I need to get a dedicated prime lens like literally yesterday.

I have been looking at two main options and I am totally torn between them. One is the Sigma 85mm f1.4 DG DN Art and the other is the Sony 85mm f1.8. The Sigma seems like the gold standard for that creamy bokeh look and I love the build quality but its definitely heavier and way more expensive. I have a budget of about $1100 max and that Sigma is right at the top of it or even slightly over depending on where I shop here in Austin.

On the other hand the Sony 85mm f1.8 is way cheaper and super light so I could use the leftover money for a decent flash or some extra SD cards but I am worried I will regret not getting the f1.4 for that extra wow factor in the shots. I also looked at the Samyang 85mm f1.4 II because its cheaper but I have heard the autofocus can be hit or miss on Sony bodies sometimes and I absolutely cannot afford to miss focus during this shoot since it is a one time thing for them.

I am going to be shooting in a botanical garden so there will be lots of light but I really want to isolate them from all the other tourists and people walking around in the background. Is the Sigma actually worth the extra weight and the extra $600 for a first-timer doing a paid gig or should I just stick with the reliable Sony 1.8 and call it a day? I have to order this by Tuesday night to get it in time for the Saturday session so I am kind of rushing to make a choice...