Help!! Christmas picture

[BVC4us]

I'm somewhat new to SLR digital photography. I have had quite a few point and shoots and on the whole, have been quite happy with my pictures. In fact, I make greeting cards with them. Because of the cards, someone has asked me to take her children's Christmas picture. She wants it in front of the tree with the Christmas lights on. I have tried different ways of doing this and I still can't capture it. I have a Nikon D40. Would someone please tell me what settings to put the camera on so I can get a decent picture. (Please!!) I have an 18-55 lens, just the kit lens. The picture will be taken inside with daylight shining through and the lights of the tree on. I'm supposed to do this tomorrow!! YIkes!

Anyway, thank you so much for your help. I love this board!

 

[ukcatfan]

My guess is that you will still need a flash. I would also suggest going full manual. Make sure you keep the shutter fast enough to prevent blur (i.e. at least 1/60). Then set the aperture and ISO accordingly to get the right exposure. If white balance is still a problem, set it custom or use RAW.

 

[scoot241]

I did this last Sunday. You'll probably still need the flash; I did even though I had all the windows around open. What worked for me was -1 flash compensation on the pop-up flash so that it wasn't so overpowering.

 

[manning]

First make sure the ceiling is white.

Now if you have an external flash that tilts, tilt it up to the ceiling.

Why a white ceiling? Because the flash will bounce back as the color of the ceiling.

 

[krimi]

large aperture..faster speeds. If flash is blinding try taping some wax paper over camera flash to diffuse.

 

[wenrob]

If you don't want the tree to be a black hole with lights drag the shutter and use a flash, preferably a bounced external flash. Depending how steady your hands are a tripod might help as well. The slower shutter speed will let in the ambient light and the flash will freeze the subjects. As ukatfan mentioned put the camera in manual. Set your ISO about 400, SS 1/40-1/60, AP small enough to get everyone in focus, (I find 4-5.6 perfect for 3 STILL children on the same plane) and your flash in rear sync so you control the SS. Ignore your meter, in this situation, your flash will be your main light source.(if for some reason your meter says overexposed then you may be able to get away without a flash) Then play with your settings until the exposure looks good to you. I would practice on something in front of your tree before you do this to get a feel for things. Good luck!

eta:Oh yeah set them a few feet in front of the tree rather then right in front of it. Though if they're anything like my kids they'll end up right in front of anyway.

 

[wenrob]

large aperture..faster speeds. If flash is blinding try taping some wax paper over camera flash to diffuse.

Disagree, the OP won't get the lights of the tree at all this way, it will appear unlit or very dim.

 

[JoeDif]

Disagree, the OP won't get the lights of the tree at all this way, it will appear unlit or very dim.

Maybe try 1/30 sec and flash set in 2nd curtain sync with a -1 to -2 flash compensation. This way you get the ambient light from the tree and the fill from the flash at the end of the exposure.

 

[ukcatfan]

Maybe try 1/30 sec and flash set in 2nd curtain sync with a -1 to -2 flash compensation. This way you get the ambient light from the tree and the fill from the flash at the end of the exposure.

IMO 1/30 sec is getting a little too slow for children. They never sit completely still even when sitting still. It would be frustrating to have a great shot ruined by some small part of the kid blurred. You also likely need to get a tripod for something that slow to prevent camera shake blur, in case the OP does not have one available.

 

[wenrob]

IMO 1/30 sec is getting a little too slow for children. They never sit completely still even when sitting still. It would be frustrating to have a great shot ruined by some small part of the kid blurred. You also likely need to get a tripod for something that slow to prevent camera shake blur, in case the OP does not have one available.

I guess it depends on the kids, their age and the OP's own steadiness. Unless the kids move rather suddenly the flash will freeze them, though the back round might be a little shaky if the OP isn't steady. I'm fairly confident at 1/25 hand held with my two four year olds as long as I'm using a flash. But then I've learned to anticipate and compensate.

 

[BVC4us]

Thanks so much for your advice. I took quite a few pictures and most of them came out good. Some were a little dark but....she found one that she really liked and used it for her Christmas cards. Thanks again