What do you use to shoot Character Meals

[Tnkrbelle565]

What lens do you use the most often to get good shots at Character Meals???

I currently have the Xti, have the kit lens, a 50mm, and a 70-300mm lens. I am planning to rent a fisheye for our trip and am debating renting a 2nd lens. I always end up pulling out my P&S for character meals and I really would rather not!

 

[WDWFigment]

Go with the 50mm if you have the room to manuveur. I like that lens for character shots. I think it's also important to remember that you don't need the entire person and the entire character in each shot. When I handed my camera over to character attendants, no matter how many times I said "just a closeup, please" they invariably backstepped to get (or rather, try to get) or entire bodies in frame.

 

[mom2rtk]

Go with the 50mm if you have the room to manuveur. I like that lens for character shots. I think it's also important to remember that you don't need the entire person and the entire character in each shot. When I handed my camera over to character attendants, no matter how many times I said "just a closeup, please" they invariably backstepped to get (or rather, try to get) or entire bodies in frame.

Do you use a flash with your 50mm? I have one of those for the first time, but do prefer close ups in addition to full lenth, so I'm thinking I might have to stick with my wider angle (you know... so I don't back into the table behind us composing my shot......)

 

[VVFF]

Do you use a flash with your 50mm? I have one of those for the first time, but do prefer close ups in addition to full lenth, so I'm thinking I might have to stick with my wider angle (you know... so I don't back into the table behind us composing my shot......)

Be careful with the wide angle. Especially if you don't lower your shooting level so that you are shooting perpendicular to your subject you will emphasize their head and make it look large compared to the rest of their body. If you're going to shoot wide angle try crouching a bit when taking the shot so you aren't aiming your camera downward.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I should clarify that I'm a sewer. I spent a lot of time making boutique clothing for my DD for character meals. While I don't mind SOME close ups...I prefer to get more full bodied shots as the clothes are part of the pictures for me

 

[mom2rtk]

I should clarify that I'm a sewer. I spent a lot of time making boutique clothing for my DD for character meals. While I don't mind SOME close ups...I prefer to get more full bodied shots as the clothes are part of the pictures for me

Me too!!!

 

[RBennett]

I should clarify that I'm a sewer. I spent a lot of time making boutique clothing for my DD for character meals. While I don't mind SOME close ups...I prefer to get more full bodied shots as the clothes are part of the pictures for me

I'm sorry but I had to comment on this. When I first read that, you said that you are a "sewer" I though "Does she work in sewers for the city, or is she calling herself an actual SEWER??" It wasn't till I read it a second time and put the comment about making boutique clothing with it that I got that!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'm sorry but I had to comment on this. When I first read that, you said that you are a "sewer" I though "Does she work in sewers for the city, or is she calling herself an actual SEWER??" It wasn't till I read it a second time and put the comment about making boutique clothing with it that I got that!

Were you also trying to figure out how that affected my picture taking?

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sorry but I had to comment on this. When I first read that, you said that you are a "sewer" I though "Does she work in sewers for the city, or is she calling herself an actual SEWER??" It wasn't till I read it a second time and put the comment about making boutique clothing with it that I got that!

I thought that too, but since I work in the "sewer" business myself and have met her on the Disboutiquers thread, I knew better!

Any more suggestions for character meal photos?

I do leave my all purpose 18-250 lens on my camera for most stuff and shoot at the wider angles, but usually not close enough to cause distortion. I save that super wide shot for when I'm going for pictures of my daughter sitting right next to me on a ride, like the Teacups or Dumbo!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I thought that too, but since I work in the "sewer" business myself and have met her on the Disboutiquers thread, I knew better!

Any more suggestions for character meal photos?

I do leave my all purpose 18-250 lens on my camera for most stuff and shoot at the wider angles, but usually not close enough to cause distortion. I save that super wide shot for when I'm going for pictures of my daughter sitting right next to me on a ride, like the Teacups or Dumbo!

Thanks for the backup

I looked at your Flickr acct...you got some beautiful shots!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the backup

I looked at your Flickr acct...you got some beautiful shots!!!

Thank you!

So which character meals are you attending?

 

[WDWFigment]

Holy cow! Those are some awesome costumes. I'm going to have to show my fiancee those, she has been salivating over getting a princess dress for Halloween (unfortunately she cannot sew quite that well) and doesn't like the chinsey ones you see in stores or online. She will be quite jealous! I can see why you would want full-body shots!

Back on topic, do you have an external flash? Would you consider buying a 30 or 35mm lens?

 

[mom2rtk]

Holy cow! Those are some awesome costumes. I'm going to have to show my fiancee those, she has been salivating over getting a princess dress for Halloween (unfortunately she cannot sew quite that well) and doesn't like the chinsey ones you see in stores or online. She will be quite jealous! I can see why you would want full-body shots!

Back on topic, do you have an external flash? Would you consider buying a 30 or 35mm lens?

Thanks! Now you can see why I find it challenging to carry around a lot of lenses and such.... too many COSTUMES in the bag! Have your fiance PM me if she's looking for something..... We're doing the Halloween party this year and I'm making my self an evil queen costume. It should be a lot of fun.

I don't know if your flash question was for me or the OP, but I like advice too. I have a Speedlite 420EX. I'm considering another lens, but probably not one with a fixed focal length. I got the 50M f1.8 to use for the parade. But with kids and costumes, it's hard for me to cart much more stuff around or even think to change the lens....

All suggestions are welcome though.... I'm constantly reevaluating ways to improve my photos. Thanks for any help!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thank you!

So which character meals are you attending?

This time we are going to CMs, 1900 PF, and Crystal Palace (I think that's it for character meals).

Are you totally excited for MNSSHP??? It's FABULOUS!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Would you consider buying a 30 or 35mm lens?

I was thinking of renting the 30mm before I bought one. Do you think it would work out better for character meals???

 

[mom2rtk]

This time we are going to CMs, 1900 PF, and Crystal Palace (I think that's it for character meals).

Are you totally excited for MNSSHP??? It's FABULOUS!

I'm WAY excited about MNSSHP. We've never been. I've made costumes for others attending for years, but thought this year was my turn to go!

We're doing the Snow White thing one night (me as evil queen, DD as Snow) and Cinderella our second night (me as FG and DD as Cindy in pink or blue.... don't know yet....)

My husband and son will probably be going as party goers who do NOT know us......

I want to have fun, but I don't want to miss any of the great photo ops either.

Have you been to those character meals before? I seem to have the most trouble at 1900 PF. The lighting is fairly dim or something.... My photos seem to turn out with a yellowish cast..... I want to get it right. My DD is dressing as Lady Tremaine on her birthday there...... Should be a lot of fun!

When you're in a restaurant with lots of external windows, the photos do seem to turn out much better. Try to arrange your photos with the window light coming in over your shoulder toward the character and your child. Take your time. I know you feel rushed, but they usually will cooperate. I"m always asking "can we turn this way?" or "can we just step out into the aisle?" The only one who gave me any grief was Lady Tremaine herself once. She just announced "photo session over" and moved on. It was hysterical.......

 

[WDWFigment]

Thanks! Now you can see why I find it challenging to carry around a lot of lenses and such.... too many COSTUMES in the bag! Have your fiance PM me if she's looking for something..... We're doing the Halloween party this year and I'm making my self an evil queen costume. It should be a lot of fun.

I don't know if your flash question was for me or the OP, but I like advice too. I have a Speedlite 420EX. I'm considering another lens, but probably not one with a fixed focal length. I got the 50M f1.8 to use for the parade. But with kids and costumes, it's hard for me to cart much more stuff around or even think to change the lens....

All suggestions are welcome though.... I'm constantly reevaluating ways to improve my photos. Thanks for any help!

I actually was responding only to you in so far as I looked at your costume pictures (I know I've seen your pictures before many times, but I had never noticed the outfits before). For some reason, I thought you were the original poster. What can I say, it's been a long week.

Anyway, the Speedlite you have is a good option. I like anything that can bounce inside, really (I only use an SB-400, which is Nikon's small model). I like the 50mm, but if you're looking for a parade lens, I would rather use the zoom lens for that. I guess what I'm saying is, for your purposes, I'd rather have a 30mm for family shots and a zoom (maybe an 18-105?) for parade (and other family shots) than a 50mm and a zoom.

Probably doesn't help at all, but hopefully it offers something of use!

The original questions that I posted at the end of my last post still apply to the OP, too, though! I'd love to see your shots, too.

 

[WDWFigment]

I was thinking of renting the 30mm before I bought one. Do you think it would work out better for character meals???

I have expressed my opinions on renting lenses before, so I will save that spiel. In short, yes I think the 30mm would work out better for your purposes. I also think it's a versatile enough lens that you won't regret buying it, so don't waste the money renting. If you need any proof, check out that long thread around here on the Sigma 30mm (it's changed names, I think).

I'm WAY excited about MNSSHP. We've never been. I've made costumes for others attending for years, but thought this year was my turn to go!

We're doing the Snow White thing one night (me as evil queen, DD as Snow) and Cinderella our second night (me as FG and DD as Cindy in pink or blue.... don't know yet....)

My husband and son will probably be going as party goers who do NOT know us......

I want to have fun, but I don't want to miss any of the great photo ops either.

Have you been to those character meals before? I seem to have the most trouble at 1900 PF. The lighting is fairly dim or something.... My photos seem to turn out with a yellowish cast..... I want to get it right. My DD is dressing as Lady Tremaine on her birthday there...... Should be a lot of fun!

When you're in a restaurant with lots of external windows, the photos do seem to turn out much better. Try to arrange your photos with the window light coming in over your shoulder toward the character and your child. Take your time. I know you feel rushed, but they usually will cooperate. I"m always asking "can we turn this way?" or "can we just step out into the aisle?" The only one who gave me any grief was Lady Tremaine herself once. She just announced "photo session over" and moved on. It was hysterical.......

Taking your time is important. Set up before the shot, and take pictures of (essentially) nothing to make sure your settings are still fine tuned. At least, this is what I do, as I really struggle with character shots.

We are going to MNSSHP for the first time this Octobe, too, so I better get practicing before we arrive!

 

[mom2rtk]

I actually was responding only to you in so far as I looked at your costume pictures (I know I've seen your pictures before many times, but I had never noticed the outfits before). For some reason, I thought you were the original poster. What can I say, it's been a long week.

Anyway, the Speedlite you have is a good option. I like anything that can bounce inside, really (I only use an SB-400, which is Nikon's small model). I like the 50mm, but if you're looking for a parade lens, I would rather use the zoom lens for that. I guess what I'm saying is, for your purposes, I'd rather have a 30mm for family shots and a zoom (maybe an 18-105?) for parade (and other family shots) than a 50mm and a zoom.

Probably doesn't help at all, but hopefully it offers something of use!

The original questions that I posted at the end of my last post still apply to the OP, too, though! I'd love to see your shots, too.

No problem at all. She asked a question I wonder about too!

I posted a question a while back about photographing the nighttime parade. I used my flash last year at the christmas parade, but it took too long to recycle between shots. So I asked about going flashless without a huge investment. That's why I bought the 50mm f/1.8. The zooms with a comparable aperture were more than I wanted to spend at the time.

I guess my problem is that my lens needs are too varied for the budget I have! (probably a problem for many others too....) I also need something for photograph my son's high school soccer games from the stands.

I've been using my Tamron 18-250 F/3.5-6.3 but end up with too much blur a lot of the time.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have expressed my opinions on renting lenses before, so I will save that spiel. In short, yes I think the 30mm would work out better for your purposes. I also think it's a versatile enough lens that you won't regret buying it, so don't waste the money renting. If you need any proof, check out that long thread around here on the Sigma 30mm (it's changed names, I think).



Taking your time is important. Set up before the shot, and take pictures of (essentially) nothing to make sure your settings are still fine tuned. At least, this is what I do, as I really struggle with character shots.

We are going to MNSSHP for the first time this Octobe, too, so I better get practicing before we arrive!

When are you going? We'll be there 9/29 and 10/1.