Family Portrait Advice
Joe Wilson
and two kids (3 and 1 years old). I'd like some advice from those of you
that have done this type of work before.
I've mainly done individual portraits just for fun - my most recent can be
found at http://www.pbase.com/thenelseif/d60_studio_shots. I think in a one
person situation, I have been pretty successful with the lighting and have a
pretty good idea with my current equipment (lighting, meter, camera, etc) on
how to get at least one decent picture out of a setting.
Currently, I have the following lighting equipment:
http://www.novatron.com/catalog/kits/k-242-2c.html
I also bought an additional standard light that goes with this kit and a
barn door. I also have an incident light meter to use with this studio light
system.
My first concern: Do you think this is enough light? This system isn't very
powerful and I got it just to experiment around with for individual
portraits. What sort of positions would you have them pose? I was thinking
of using a black background so I wouldn't have to light it separately and
could use the other studio light to help lighting the family members. Should
I put some reflectors in the mix? I don't have any but I've used white
poster board with single subjects before.
Second concern: What lens do you think would be best suited for this? My
Canon 50 1.8? 28-135? I don't have a 28-70 :(. (I have those two, the
70-200, 100-400, Sigma 100 macro, and Sigma 15-30).
Third question: Any samples that you might have that you have taken would be
very helpful with details. I've done plenty of research on the web and
looked at a couple of my studio lighting books for ideas/suggestions but any
additional help would be good.
I would really like to do a great job on this and have them hang it in their
living room with their others they've had done. And trust me, before I get a
flood of "hire a pro" messages, if it turns out bad, that is already in the
plan! :)
Thanks very much in advance!
Joe Wilson
B. Skelton
First, I think you'll have enough light. It's not just how many or how
powerful your lights are, but how efficiently you use them. Your baby
photographs have good modeling on the face, so you're using your lights
properly. Back up your camera a bit to make room for four faces, move your
lights back a bit and then by all means have a reflector to fill in
shadows as you see fit. You could even put a white board in front of your
subjects, just out of view to fill in shadows under noses and eyes.
Second, I don't know how much room you have in your studio, but if you can
get everyone in the frame with about 80-100mm of focal length, you'll be
fine with several of your lenses. (BTW, why do you think you need the
28-70? That focal length range is covered)
Third, you know what these folks look like better that we do. Sketch how
you'd like to see them positioned in the frame (i.e. head & shoulders,
full body, whatever) and even show it to your adult subjects and get their
input (it's them you have to please after all).
Advice? Have your equipment set up and tested well in advance. Young
children have shorter attention spans of course, so you'll need to be
ready as soon as they get into position. And then have something that will
engage them and make them look at the camera (a noisy toy or colourful
stuffed animal can work).
Good Luck.
Bruce
Greg Macklem
news:ukekaf1...@corp.supernews.com...
Joe,
Try http://www.zuga.net/new/archives.shtml for articles on portraits. Read
the wedding link also. Monte has very simple techniques for posing and
lighting that yield great results.
Hope this hepls.
Greg Macklem
gmac...@rev.net
Joe Wilson
tomorrow and try and get as much set up and practice in as possible.
As far as the 28-70, I've just been a little less than impressed with the
28-135's contrast and would like to give this lens a shot but if I buy any
more camera equipment my wife will probably leave me...and get half of my
equipment anyway. :)
"B. Skelton" <str...@golden.net> wrote in message
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