Help - Senior Portraits with a reflector

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/14/2005 07:45:50 PM · #1

There are so many terrific portait photographers here I know someone will be able to help me. I've been asked by a friend's daughter to take her senior portraits. Luckily, we will all be comfortable as we're friends and I told her I would give it a shot and if they weren't happy they could go somewhere else with no hard feelings.

Other than playing around taking my nieces photos, I've never 'officially' done portraiture. The images will be taken outdoors. I only have an on-camera flash and one 43" 5-in-1 (white, black, gold, silver, and a softbox-like center) reflector. Could someone explain the best way to use the reflector? Especially to get nice catclights? I've only ever tried once and I used direct light and many were washed out.

Can any of you offer some good sites to get some posing ideas for a beautiful almost-a-model hip senior??

Thanks in advance!

- Jen

Message edited by author 2005-09-14 19:46:01.

alixmiles

Canon EOS-1D Mark IIn

09/14/2005 09:06:10 PM · #2

Hey Jen...My brother in law is shooting some for some seniors in his town too. He has found some old houses and barns to use as a backdrop. He also uses stuff they are into also. Either their car...or a basketball goal or basketball. Maybe a football or some other sport. I have seen some where he colors just the basketball and maybe the letter jacket....selective color is good. Just my 2cents. Hey I also looked at your smug site. Great shots. Do you like that site? I am looking for somewhere to host my pictures for the sports stuff I shoot. Also...how do you keep people from stealing them?

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/14/2005 10:18:59 PM · #3

Barry, thanks. Those are great ideas. I like the barn idea...the rough wood would be perfect. I'll talk to her to see what kinds of things she can bring along...I'm sure a basketball will be one of them!

I just sent you a PM about Smugmug. Let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks again!

Jen

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/14/2005 10:33:20 PM · #4

I haven't done any real portraits, but have played around reflectors a little. On board cam flash will be pretty much useless unless you are close to the subject.

Things I have found is:

Don't have your subject (facing towards) in direct sunlight as this will force them to squint and make unnatural faces. Sun at their back isn't a great Idea either as it makes it hard to get proper exposure without blowing out sky etc.

Find kind of a half shady area under a tree, next to a barn etc. bring the light in to them from below with the reflector. The things that you are looking for is harsh shadows under chin, eyelids and nose. Have your assistant position the reflector to fill those areas.

Just some stuff that I have run into while playing.

Andy

Message edited by author 2005-09-14 22:33:39.

twm122

Olympus E-3

Olympus 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 ED Zuiko Digital

09/14/2005 10:35:16 PM · #5

Jen,

Here are few sites that I used for inspiration. Just something to get your own creative juices flowing.

//www.bryanbetzphotography.com/senior/samples.html

and //www.tripleaphoto.com/ (someone else here also posted this one)

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

09/14/2005 11:20:39 PM · #6

reflectors are pretty straight forward. all you have to do is make sure you dont get any bad shadows on the model's face. that is, shadows under the eyes or below cheeks and such. but also, dont reflect to much light or the model will squint. when the sun is high use the white side of the reflector because you dont want to blind the model with the silver. and later on in the shoot when it gets darker use the silver side. i wouldn't use gold, unless the model's skin is pale and you want to warm it up. because if you use gold or gold/silver too much you might make the whole picture look like it has bad white balance. have fun

really, no matter how hard you try, the reflector will only flatten the lighting, you most likely wont be able to get dramatic highlights or a whole lot of contrast from it. but bending the reflector into a concave shape might help you concentrate the light better. an assistant is a must.

oh and be creative, i assume that you were planning on using your 50mm 1.8 but try out your sigma 12-24, you can get some cool perspectives. while many people will tell you not to use a super wide or wide on portraits since they distort the picture, you can actually use this distortion to your advantage. wider angle lenses tend to thin up your model and also make them look taller if you shoot from below waist level.

Message edited by author 2005-09-14 23:25:50.

Erin_K

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/15/2005 10:52:29 AM · #7

Wow, I prepare for my first post since april, and I see a recent post that is just what I'm after!

I've been asked to take some nice outdoor portraits of my nephews and my niece by the river bank next week, so I was needing some posing advice for teenagers.. looks like I got it, that site was wonderful for ideas, twn.

I also just bought a 42" silver/white reflector for my assistant to use, so this should be a great learning experience all around.

Good luck with your shoot, Jen!

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

09/15/2005 11:20:28 AM · #8

I met a fellow who had the opportuniy to work with Robert Mappelthorpe once and he told me that he had his assistants take the acctual shot while he moved about whith the lights often holding on to two light scources, playing with shadows and creating a dynamic setting where the model was not as concerned with the camers but in making the light fall where it was best for that sitting. And that guy knew how to get good portraits.

Your shot in your profile looks good IMHO, black backdrop and the 50mm lens is the classic. I like shooting outside, under a white utility tent in the backyard, sort of like shooting in a big softbox. Also a flashlight taped to something neary shoots a light too weak to change the overall lighting, but makes a nice catchlight in the eyes. a few peices of white foamcore poster board make nice reflectors, picking up the tones that the modle is wearing and adding them to the bounce. i would be warry of shotting below 24mm, anything near 12mm and you get the funhouse mirror effect, besides you will be so close you influence the lighting.

09/15/2005 08:45:05 PM · #9

Andy - Thanks! Good advice, especially about the squinting. It's not something you'd probably think about at first but you're right, you don't want a close eyed model.

Theresa - Thanks for those links! I went through them quick but will spend more time looking them over this weekend for more ideas.

Justin - Thank you. That's sort of what I was looking for. I know silver is cool and gold is warm, but I didn't know what the white side did....and am still not sure about the black side...? I do have an assistant - my friend/the girl's mom. I usually use my 70-300mm lens and plan to try out the 50mm 1.8. I'm not sure I'll use the 12-24mm because the model is tall and very thin. She doesn't need any slimming. Me on the other hand... If I have time maybe I'll try the 12-24mm just for fun. Because we know each other it will be comfortable and I won't feel stressed or rushed.

Erin - Glad I could help! :-D One thing I may be able to offer is to be careful of the reflections of the water. It may throw your meter off and underexpose your models. Best of luck to you too! We'll have to post our results. :-)

Brennan - That's an interesting approach he has. It makes sense in that he would have total control of the lighting and the settings on the camera because he would set up the camera and just have someone push the remote release. Good idea. Thanks for suggesting the foamcore posterboard. I have some matboard that's foamcore and looks like it would reflect light nicely. I will try to remember to take one or two along.

Thanks for all the great info and suggestions!

Erin and others, I was given this site and it has some nice shots to get ideas for posing. //www.evayo.com/

Thanks again,
Jen

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/15/2005 09:06:16 PM · #10

Oh, and would you use a tripod, handhold, or a combination of both?

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/15/2005 09:55:20 PM · #11

Possibly both but less tripod. I Like to shoot angles. Don't be afraid to get your knees dirty...and if you have a step stool (small ladder) take it with you to get some top down shots.

When I shoot with a pod for some reason I end up getting locked into a lot of shots taken from the same height. Very Static and lifeless. Free hand it as much as you possibly can.