Portrait help

J

jimmy83

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Name
James
Edit My Images
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I've been trying to take some portraits of my family buy iam struggling, can you guys give me some pointers? I've been using auto and I feel like iam linda cheating by doing so. But could really get good results using av mode.
 
Do you have a flash?

Are you taking them indoors?

What camera and lenses do you have?

What is wrong with the shots you have taken?

Can we see some examples?

What do you want to achieve?

We just need a little bit more information so that we can give you some pointers :)
 
cowasaki said:
Do you have a flash?

Are you taking them indoors?

What camera and lenses do you have?

What is wrong with the shots you have taken?

Can we see some examples?

What do you want to achieve?

We just need a little bit more information so that we can give you some pointers :)
Click to expand...

Yeah sorry was abit vague, just become an uncle! So now ive got the joy of taking a million snaps of the little un' :D

Yeah most indoors and hospital :D -do they allow DSLR's? :s

Examples, will try to get some online tonight

Just a nice sharp looking image, iam not really sure. Are there many different types of portrait shots?
 
jimmy83 said:
Yeah sorry was abit vague, just become an uncle! So now ive got the joy of taking a million snaps of the little un' :D

Yeah most indoors and hospital :D -do they allow DSLR's? :s

Examples, will try to get some online tonight

Just a nice sharp looking image, iam not really sure. Are there many different types of portrait shots?
Click to expand...

First we have the camera in hospital question and use of flash.....

Both times I have done this the staff have been more than happy and have even posed in them. They have not complained about flash either....

Then we get onto normal portrait stuff such as FOCUS ON THE EYES and watch what your background looks like (if this is possible).

We than get on to depth of field. A wide aperture (small f number) will give you a narrower depth of field DOF. This is often a good way of localising the subject and bringing them out of the picture plus it reduces the effect of the background. Sometimes you will want a wider depth of field as you may want the ward in focus but lastly most lenses have a sweet spot maybe between these say 5.6 - 6.3

If I were doing this tomorrow I would take the 24-70 but previously I have used the 50mm to good effect.

IF the baby is a new born which it will be you might not get a picture with eyes open.

Good luck
 
Thanks alot, cant go tonight as its only a limted no. allowed.

My kit is

400d
24-105 L
50
sigma 30-200
redsnapper tripod

cheap flash gun
 
jimmy83 said:
Thanks alot, cant go tonight as its only a limted no. allowed.

My kit is

400d
24-105 L
50
sigma 30-200
redsnapper tripod

cheap flash gun
Click to expand...

The 24-105L should be absolutely ideal :thumbs:

I would probably leave the tripod !


Darren
 
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What do you think? All straight off the camera. Would really appreciate some advice on them :)
 
for that kinda crop I'd use the 50 at f2 and either bin the flash or keep it as v low fill, in those pics its pretty powerful
 
They are all a bit tight crop wise. Try and decide what you want first and then take the shot. If you are taking a head shot then at least some of the neck and shoulders helps plus you want all of the head.

At least to begin with err on the side of taking too much of the picture and cropping later. That way you can learn what looks best.
 
david1701 said:
for that kinda crop I'd use the 50 at f2 and either bin the flash or keep it as v low fill, in those pics its pretty powerful
Click to expand...

Sorry I dont quite follow when you say 'with that type of crop'? Also whats low fill?

cowasaki said:
They are all a bit tight crop wise. Try and decide what you want first and then take the shot. If you are taking a head shot then at least some of the neck and shoulders helps plus you want all of the head.

At least to begin with err on the side of taking too much of the picture and cropping later. That way you can learn what looks best.
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Ok thanks, whats the best way to have a plain background? Use a white bed sheet?
 
jimmy83 said:
Sorry I dont quite follow when you say 'with that type of crop'? Also whats low fill?



Ok thanks, whats the best way to have a plain background? Use a white bed sheet?
Click to expand...

If you're doing baby shots in hospital then you really can't
 
cowasaki said:
If you're doing baby shots in hospital then you really can't
Click to expand...

Yeah kinda gathered that.

Would it be best to move this thread to general photo sharing to get more views and advice?
 
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