School Picture Day - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/25/2004 04:09:12 PM · #1

In the second and third weeks of January, I will be running school picture day for a performing arts school, about 250 kids. I will have my Rebel with the 50 1.8, two umbrella's and a mediterranean backdrop. I'll also have an assistant for posing.

Plans: Have camera on tripod, raise and lower to suit height of each kid(age range from 4-18 years old), have one umbrella at 1/3rd power off to the the camera's back-right, four feet. Have full power umbrella directly to camera's left four feet. I'll have the chair about 5 feet or so in front of the camera, and the backdrop 3-5 feet behind the chair. As I said in the thread I just posted under hardware, I have Canon's wireless shutter release. However, I cannot focus with it.

Is there some way I could save myself the trouble of composing each student's picture in the viewfinder?

ADGibson

Canon EOS-20D

12/25/2004 07:25:07 PM · #2

I think there is a way to link up the camera to a PC. I have not tried this but I think I remember seeing it in the instruction manual.

12/25/2004 08:16:35 PM · #3

USB 1 prevents me from even thinking of doing this. If there was a fast way to take pictures straight onto the computer, I would do it. I will see about bringing a TV for viewing photos after being taken and to advertise, as the students parents will be able to purchase the photos.

Even if I could record them straight to the laptop quickly, I see little appeal in this possibility...

12/25/2004 11:45:47 PM · #4

Anyone have some advice or comments or ideas? Would be much appreciated...

delconchey

Canon EOS-10D

12/26/2004 12:28:09 AM · #5

I would have the background at least six feet behind the subject. I take it the chair will never move. I you shoot at F9.5 or 11 and on manual focus you shouldn't have a problem with focusing for each subject. And, if you are shooting on auto focus, it only takes a second for each subject. Good luck.

Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II

01/10/2005 12:15:29 PM · #6

School picture day is tomorrow, anyone have advice on lighting, composition, anything?

debitipton

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/10/2005 01:20:37 PM · #7

Show No Fear!

Bring wet wipes for the snotty noses and dirty faces. Run a comb through their hair. The mom's will thank you. I've not purchased school pictures for the past 4 years because the kids had either dirty faces, messy hair, eyes closed (yes!) or that dorky forced smile.

soup

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/10/2005 01:25:33 PM · #8

the wireless remote will trigger the autofocus for you, and won't snap a shot until it locks focus. but i see that as a less than ideal solution...

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/10/2005 01:33:14 PM · #9

i don't know anything about portraits, but i would think you should want to look through the viewfinder everytime just to double check. how else are you gonna know if the kids are posed and fitting properly in the picture area anyways.. i'm sure you'd hate to come back and later see that their ear got cropped off or that the camera focused on the backdrop instead.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/10/2005 04:50:13 PM · #10

Originally posted by soup:

the wireless remote will trigger the autofocus for you, and won't snap a shot until it locks focus. but i see that as a less than ideal solution...

The Canon remote does not autofocus. I'll take delconchey's advice and take the picture at a high F-stop. For a typical yearbook shot (shoulders and up with eyes on top third-line, vertically oriented) will I need to worry about focus? Neither the stool or tripod will move, will the small varience in distance from the camera from student to student make a difference in focus?

brianlh

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

01/10/2005 05:28:26 PM · #11

again, i have no experience, but i figure some reply is better than none. i suppose that the higher f-stop could be a good workaruond and the focus probably won't be a big deal with the small variance - but again i wonder about kids of diff sizes and if you can make sure that everyone is relatively centered in the photo.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

01/10/2005 06:47:28 PM · #12

I'm having trouble understanding why you don't want to compose each shot.

01/11/2005 09:29:21 AM · #13

I realize I'll have to compose each shot, so I guess it isn't a big deal. I'll report back tonight!

soup

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

01/11/2005 09:44:42 AM · #14

mine does...

RC-5 - i have used it many times for self portrait type shots... it most definately will focus for me.

BTW you gonna respond to my PM>?

Originally posted by Plexxoid:

The Canon remote does not autofocus.