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04/28/2006 02:55:46 PM · #1 |
Going to start doing some outdoor portraits. Nothing big, just using a couple teens from church as models for my portfolio. See where it goes. I don't want to spend a bunch of money before hand. I have a tripod, a friend mentioned an external flash but said it's not THAT necessary depending on what time of day and where I am shooting. Everything I've done of our daughter in sunlight in the evening or early mornings has turned out well without it.
I'm going to buy a 1GB CF card this coming week and I have 2 512MB cards already.
Anything else I REALLY need and any other tips. Not looking to go professional here but the interest is there from the outside and just want it as a little side endeavor, not something huge. |
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04/29/2006 02:52:58 PM · #2 |
| Anybody going to help me out here? Would REALLY like some input please! |
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04/29/2006 03:04:07 PM · #3 |
I would say a reflector. They come in really handy for outdoor portriats. Ofcourse, that can be a white piece of poster board or what I use a LOT is silver wireframed collapsible windshield covers.
Edit: punctuation
Message edited by author 2006-04-29 15:04:50.
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04/29/2006 03:11:31 PM · #4 |
Well hey i have 2 of those in the trunk. Those are cheap and easily accessible. Thanks for the suggestion.
I have NO idea where to start but I figured a portfolio would be good. Having a friend who has a portrait studio over for dinner next weekends so I guess I'll get into the legal stuff with him. |
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04/29/2006 03:19:02 PM · #5 |
Make sure you shoot later in the afternoon or earlier in the morning. Skip the 10am to 3pm shoots. Sunset tends to be a little harsh, but you can balance that out by useing a reflector on the other side like fotomann said.
Another idea, if you have to do it in the middle of the day, dfind a decent tree for them to sit in, and let the light add it's own drama.
//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=269367
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04/29/2006 03:22:25 PM · #6 |
Flash to fill shadows is a must. Use highest sync speed possible.
Nick
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04/29/2006 04:04:35 PM · #7 |
| gary fong's lightsphere II - can't live without it. |
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04/29/2006 04:12:15 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
gary fong's lightsphere II - can't live without it. |
That requires an external flash... :-P
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04/29/2006 04:48:40 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Originally posted by skiprow:
gary fong's lightsphere II - can't live without it. |
That requires an external flash... :-P |
oh, whoops. then at some point soon, you'll need an external flash in order to be able to use the lightsphere ;-) just like put on your shoes and socks, but not in that order...
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04/29/2006 05:12:44 PM · #10 |
I have to wholeheartedly agree about the reflector thing. I just recently purchased a 5-in-1 by Impact and it makes a world of difference. Now I find myself reaching for my reflector instead of my flash. Can also help add some great catchlights as well.
Also, you really want to start hunting around (if you haven't already) for places with great backdrops for you photos. Especially since you'll be doing outdoor portraits. I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for that next great photo spot. Other than that, just have extra memory and back-up batteries for those just-in-case times. :)
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04/29/2006 09:08:21 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by jenesis:
Also, you really want to start hunting around (if you haven't already) for places with great backdrops for you photos. Especially since you'll be doing outdoor portraits. I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for that next great photo spot. Other than that, just have extra memory and back-up batteries for those just-in-case times. :) |
Yep, been doing that. Plenty of places around here. I'm waiting for a call back from a girl at church and hopefully weather will be nice this coming weekend. I've got a couple spots picked out= actually one location in particular has a lot of different spots which would save from having to drive around.
So basically a reflector at this point is all I would really need to get started. Like I said I'm just starting out and don't even know how far I want to take this so I don't want to invest in a bunch of eqpt and extras yet.
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04/29/2006 09:43:46 PM · #12 |
How good do you want them to look?
First you need some knkowledge (how to take shots, see the light, posing)
then you need to practice that.
I have done some, been to school on some of it, and practiced a bit.
Some examples of things...
You can do shade shot without flash - you get things like these:
 
Not bad, but missing a certain sparkle that would make them really look great.
These have fill flash thrown in - perhaps a tad heavy handed on the one (the white pants are a bit too bright, huh?). He likes to make goofy faces, so ignore that.
 
Playing in the sun (as in early or late in the day) can cause as many problems as it solves. The sun can make things too yellow/gold.
Diffuser panel. You need a BIG one, or you have to be very creative with the use of shade. My senior pics last fall //www.pbase.com/cpphotography/onloc I experienced a flash failure..and i learned to get a diffuser/refelctor. The one was a sunny day - so the girl was either backlit (no fill flash...no pic), was looking into the sun (squinting, no eyes) or turned sideways (too much contrast on her face). The only ones that were 1/2 decent were the all shade ones. The other girl had better weather - overcast - but I got real good in PS at adjusting teh exposure on her face. A fill flash would have solved that problem.
Of course learning to use the fill flash outdoors is my next challenge. The shots of my son were test #1. I have a week to figure it out 100% correct...a paying gig, outdoors...
Anyway, you can see my son was in the shade. Here is another shade shot, sort of:  This shade was not as dark as the one with my son in it. You can also see comparing the two that the kid has better color, contrast and the BG is not blown out as much as the wedding pic.
As for a reflector...I got one after the senior sessions last fall and recently got a stand and almost had my daughter stand still long enough to play a bit:
It works MUCH better if you get someone to hold it for you.
I have the knowledge and the tools - I am in the practicing stage now.
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04/29/2006 09:47:42 PM · #13 |
I vote for using fill flash...most definitely. Even if you don't need any fill, having catchlights , especially for the eyes, enhances portraits immensely. There is no need for a light dome or any other modifier for the fill light with outdoor portraits, since by definition, the fill light simply fills in the shadow area - it doesn't create any shadows of its own. Using a soft box or other "large" light source defeats the catch-light effect by making the reflections distractingly large. A "point-source" is your best bet. Even the on-camera flash works just fine if used correctly.
I have done hundreds of outdoor portraits and always use fill and backlight from the sun when possible.
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