Best Portrait Settings

Hi Kira

Welcome to the board!

It's a bit more complicated than that from my limited experience. Are you planning to take shots indoors or outdoors? What sort of lighting will you be using? Are you thinking of using flash?

There are lots of tutorials / ideas on here (and google) that may be a good starting point for you.

HTH
 
Not sure how much you know about photography (or how much I know for that matter), but I'll give it a go:

ISO - base on the light
100 for full sun
200 - 400 for shade / cloud
Shade will provide nicest lighting (full sun is harsh)

If you want the background out of focus then you need a large aperture (small number) so F4 - 5.6. If you're doing a group you'll want a smaller aperture (large number) like F8 to get everyone in focus.

Don't have people close to the wall if you want the wall out of focus.

Shutter speed - don't go lower than 1/125 (ish) if you aren't using a tripod.

If you don't have a chance to practice then use auto or P mode to see what that does rather than going to manual. Bit safer if you're not 100% sure.

Stand on a chair or something for a different angle.

If any of that is wrong then I'm sure someone will correct me!
 
Sorry, also meant to say that if you only have the pop-up flash then I'd avoid using it as it is quite harsh.
 
use largish apertures for hand held so you get high speed
if you use a tripod then you can do some smaller apertures
get the eyes sharp
not the background
place the sitter well away from the background and if you can use around 100mm lens length
dont get shadows under the eyes ...a small one under the nose is ok
and try to use some side lighting for modelling
if its a lady shot you may not want it too sharp
and take some form of reflector to lighten any shadows
dont have the sitter looking into a bright light source as they will screw the eyes up
get catchlights in the eyes
if using flash try to soften it with diffusion or bounce it indoors off a white surface
lots more i am sure which others can advise
i dont take much portraits but do like to observe the above
welcome and lots of luck

ps..its good to know your sitter to get the 'wall' down..this is my younger sister..i am experimenting with black to white from colour...i dont think my camera has a b/w setting..

 
Rudesing said:
Not sure how much you know about photography (or how much I know for that matter), but I'll give it a go:

ISO - base on the light
100 for full sun
200 - 400 for shade / cloud
Shade will provide nicest lighting (full sun is harsh)

If you want the background out of focus then you need a large aperture (small number) so F4 - 5.6. If you're doing a group you'll want a smaller aperture (large number) like F8 to get everyone in focus.

Don't have people close to the wall if you want the wall out of focus.

Shutter speed - don't go lower than 1/125 (ish) if you aren't using a tripod.

If you don't have a chance to practice then use auto or P mode to see what that does rather than going to manual. Bit safer if you're not 100% sure.

Stand on a chair or something for a different angle.

If any of that is wrong then I'm sure someone will correct me!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, I think roughly that's what I was planning to try out. I wanted advice to see if I could make it better. I wasn't sure on shutter speed so thanks for that. Hopefully the weather will be ok tomorrow!!
I was thinking of putting the F number to about 8 maybe but I may try some lower ones for close ups and blured backgrounds!

Thanks again for the advice!:thumbs:
 
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