Hired to take Senior portraits... and suddenly...

[ElizK]

...my equipment seems hopelessly inadequate. So maybe I need to pre-spend my sitting fees???

Anyone else do this?

 

[C&B Young]

Portraits are tough, my least favorite thing to photograph by far. If you're gonna go spending, spend it on lighting!

 

[ElizK]

That's exactly what I am needing! And perhaps a new lens... and a back drop... and maybe even a new camera!

 

[JoeDif]

What gear do you currently use

 

[ElizK]

Just beginner stuff... I have an Olympus E-510, using a kit 70-150mm lens. I don't even have a separate flash, so I told them we'd have to shoot outside either very early in the morning, or just before sunset.

See??? I NEED new stuff!

 

[JoeDif]

Just beginner stuff... I have an Olympus E-510, using a kit 70-150mm lens. I don't even have a separate flash, so I told them we'd have to shoot outside either very early in the morning, or just before sunset.

See??? I NEED new stuff!

We all need stuff

The E-510 is a very capable camera to handle your situation and you can most likely get by with the kit lens for now. Your best bet as another poster said is to go the lighting route. The FL36R is a good choice, the FL50R even better.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Pick up the FL-36R. It's almost always on my camera. I also picked up a couple of lights with umbrellas for around $100 which I didn't think was too bad. The flash works remotely with my E520 but I don't know if it does with your 510.

Good luck! I would be intimidated to have to do portraits.

 

[C&B Young]

I think your options are to pick up the recommended flash, shoot outside, or to pick up a fast prime lens so you can make the best use of available light. Some Googling informed me that there isn't a very wide selection of primes for the Olympus, but hopefully there are some Olympus users on here that can steer you in the right direction.

 

[JoeDif]

The Oly 50mm f/2 is a fantastic lens (my next purchase hopefully)

Sigma also make some fast prime lenses for Oly but I hear it can be hit or miss whether you will have front or back focus issues with them.

 

[ElizK]

I don't think the 510 will fire the flash remotely. I've been trying to justify spending the $200 on the FL36R, would LOVE the FL50R. I have this job for sure, plus one other, as well as two more possibles. All are senior pictures. I have done two seniors before (one was my daughter, who was not too happy to have me do them. I told her I'd pay the money if she wasn't happy with what I did. Fortunately for me, she was happy!)

I have wondered if I made a mistake getting the Olympus. As much as a I really do like the camera, and preferred the feel to the Nikon and Cannon, but the lenses are SO expensive for the Olympus.

 

[AndrewWG]

Don't limit yourself to just mornings and evenings. Many good portraits are shot at mid day in the shade of a tree or building. This "Open Shade" is a great lighting situation that you should certainly not avoid.

 

[ElizK]

Don't limit yourself to just mornings and evenings. Many good portraits are shot at mid day in the shade of a tree or building. This "Open Shade" is a great lighting situation that you should certainly not avoid.

Good point! I was at a store early this afternoon that had a cool brick wall that I thought would be a good place to shoot.

 

[JoeDif]

I don't think the 510 will fire the flash remotely. I've been trying to justify spending the $200 on the FL36R, would LOVE the FL50R. I have this job for sure, plus one other, as well as two more possibles. All are senior pictures. I have done two seniors before (one was my daughter, who was not too happy to have me do them. I told her I'd pay the money if she wasn't happy with what I did. Fortunately for me, she was happy!)

I have wondered if I made a mistake getting the Olympus. As much as a I really do like the camera, and preferred the feel to the Nikon and Cannon, but the lenses are SO expensive for the Olympus.

You are correct. The E-510 will not communicate with the 36R or 50R.

 

[ElizK]

WOW! I just got ANOTHER senior portrait job! WOO HOO!!! I'm kind of excited!

Now... if someone could just give me a dose of confidence before the 1st job...