Anyone have tips for taking portraits?

[Daisy57b]

I'm attempting to do some today - indoors during the day. Any tips? Should I use flash? What setting should I use? And tips?

Thanks!!

[Kelly Grannell]

1. Try to use available light
2. if you use flash, bounce it so there's no hot-spot on the face
3. you don't need to take the entire head (see samples)

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f159/landakmedia/People/6282a45c.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f159/landakmedia/People/66bc3110.jpg

[manning]

Remember when you bounce the flash it is going to reflect the color of the ceiling.

[Kelly Grannell]

unless you use Gary Fong diffuser ;)

[geetey]

I doubt this will even go through... but...

I have been playing with my 50mm f1.8 lens today with just indoor light, camera in P mode, but the results have some blur. I am 'guessing' that I need to pump up the ISO higher than 400. Does that sound correct? Or should I take the XT out of P mode and use the Tv mode, and push the shutter speed up?

I am going to take some newborn pictures tomorrow for a friend and wanted to use my new lens!

[Anewman]

What shutter speeds are you getting?

Maybe try shutter priority with an extra stop from what P is giving you.

Also work on breath and bracing when it comes to hand holding the camera.

[geetey]

I checked the shutter speeds and they are ranging 1/160 to 1/250, so I guess I need to put this down to a user error.

Here is an example
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g13/geetey/IMG_1079.jpg

[geetey]

This one had a little slower shutter at 1/80 but I would think that *I* could hold it steady enough for that speed. This lens is so light - that could be part of my problem too. I need to really focus on bracing!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g13/geetey/IMG_1106.jpg

[Anewman]

Not really user error...

Look at the doggies nose, looks in focus to me but the eyes not so much.

Does not look like camera shake to me, just shallow DOF. That is what happens when you get down to F:1.8.

[Kelly Grannell]

also the 2nd picture, the teeth are in focus, but not the eyes.

Try focusing on the eyes.

[geetey]

Thanks, Kelly. That was just a quick snap. My dd wasn't feeling very cooperative. :rolleyes:

The couple tomorrow is looking for some shots of toes, fingers, tiny hands w/mom's hand, naked bottoms... that kind of stuff. I have done the newborn photos for all of my nephews. They want some of the same.

Am I standing too close? I didn't realize was possible to get my dd's teeth in focus and not her eyes. Or is it just that we tend to notice when eyes aren't in focus?

[Anewman]

Am I standing too close? I didn't realize was possible to get my dd's teeth in focus and not her eyes. Or is it just that we tend to notice when eyes aren't in focus?


The larger the the aperture(as in F1.8 with this lens) the shallower the depth of focus, distance to the subject also affects DOF. I actually like working with shallow DOF, it could make for interesting pictures if used properly.

Yes you can move farther back to increase DOF but that would alter the compisition of your photo. It is all a compramise. Shooting in lower light equals larger apertures and slower shutter speeds, focus points and keeping camera still become very important.

[geetey]

Thank you for your reply! It looks like rain here tomorrow, so it will definitely be a low light situation. I will bring my other lens with me, in case the 50mm won't give me good full body shots tomorrow. I think it will perfect for those baby feet shots, since I really only want the feet to be in focus.

I only have the built-in flash if I need fill in flash.

There is no pressure when I do this for family! I can always just come back again! Who knew this would worry me so much?!? :confused3

[Quinn222]

Remember when you bounce the flash it is going to reflect the color of the ceiling.


It's better to bounce from the side, not the ceiling. A white or light wall or even a white piece of paper off to the side will give you better results.

[Kelly Grannell]

It's better to bounce from the side, not the ceiling. A white or light wall or even a white piece of paper off to the side will give you better results.

bouncing to the side will cast unwanted shadow on the reverse side of the subject. It will not give better result.

The simplest solution is spend $50 and get the Gary Fong diffuser. I don't even use my CB camera bracket anymore.

[Marinerbaby]

Even for indoor shooting I love using natural light. For portrait shots especially children close is good. Closer can be even better. Sometimes the less background the better. I tried to post a few sample shots but I do not have enough posts to do so.

[Marinerbaby]

I guess I do now. :cheer2:

Disney...
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL554/460897/1963340/130444030.jpg

Into The Eye's of a Child....
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL554/460897/1963340/137359407.jpg

Window Light...
http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL554/460897/1963340/135654690.jpg

[manning]

I couldn't have done better!!!!!

[Kelly Grannell]

Gorgeous

[Quinn222]

bouncing to the side will cast unwanted shadow on the reverse side of the subject. It will not give better result.


No, it will give me a wanted shadow on the side of the face and give more depth and interest to the portrait and a better result. For me.

[Kelly Grannell]

DOH! Forgot we're talking about portrait, not full-body shot! My bad! Sorry.

[Quinn222]

Marinerbaby, those portraits are beautiful! As are the children in them.

[0bli0]

natural light is best if you have it available. you can gather it on the face using a reflector - white posterboard works well, but even a sheet or two of printer paper on cardboard can be used. this works well indoors and out.
you can also use fill flash in both cases, too.

[blackjackdelta]

bouncing to the side will cast unwanted shadow on the reverse side of the subject. It will not give better result.

The simplest solution is spend $50 and get the Gary Fong diffuser. I don't even use my CB camera bracket anymore.

I thought you are at war with Gary Fong right now?

Jack pirate:

[Kelly Grannell]

I posted that before the Gary Fong war. LOL!

Still a great product though. Abysmall customer service. If they hadn't promised me the 2-day processing time + 2-day guaranteed shipping option, I wouldn't be furious.
The previous GF LightSphere I bought was at the same price, but they didn't have the US$47 2-day shipping option so I 'only' paid $28 for 1-week shipping and I actually got it within 2 weeks (at the time, they also didn't promise "your item will be shipped within 2 business days")

I still highly recommend GF LightSphere, just don't get the 2-day shipping option, and make sure you have LOTS of time to wait (browsing through various forums, some people receive the item only after 1.5 months waiting).

[0bli0]

...Still a great product though. Abysmall customer service.

lol - i got this mental picture of Abis Mal answering the phone, speaking to Iago, trying to order a Lightsphere...

the original Lightsphere was a good product, but bulky for travel. it's definitely far better than a omnibounce. (i also had to put some velcro to keep it from falling off the flash. but it's not very effective with high ceilings and not appropriate outdoors - a diffuser- yes, but bouncer- no. it's not bad in landscape orientation outside and high ceilings, but not very good in portrait.

i still use my custom bracket often and i carry a lumiquest promax everywhere i go.

btw did you get the hard plastic one, or the softer one? how do you like the new one over the original?

[Kelly Grannell]

I have both the original (which is great for portrait, IMO) and the soft clear one (great for high-ceiling situations due to its inverted dome acting as a ceiling). I'm ordering another one because I will soon get another body and another flash.

I will still use the original (albeit there is a hairline crack from being crushed in my bag) for closeup (tried Lumiquest, tried Omnibounce, IMO GF LS1 is the best)

Nothing can actually replace an actual camera/flash bracket, especially Custom Bracket, but with my wrist problem, sometimes I just can't use my CB for longer than 2 hours straight and GF LS helps (and I can't imagine using 2 sets of body+lens+flash with two Custom Brackets. Not only I will continue having wrist problem, I will have back problem too, especially because 1 camera will be using 17-55 f/2.8IS and the other will use 70-200 f/2.8L IS)