portraits of people with glasses? help please!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

11/04/2007 09:02:24 PM · #1

I'm not sure how much anybody will be able to help me since I can't post the pictures here. But I did portraits of a family today. A few of the shots I had to use my flash- not external. Anyhow, Of course the flash reflected off of the glasses. It probably wouldn't have been that noticable but they ALL wore glasses- all 3 of them.

So for future reference, what do you do in this situation?

I'm thinking I should have put something over the flash to soften it? Didnt bring anything today. Everything else turned out perfectly except for those glasses.

Noel_ZH

Canon EOS-40D

11/04/2007 09:07:03 PM · #2

I'm no pro myself but I'm assuming it wouldn't reflect via the camera if the light source was pointing at a different angle than the camera (i.e. side, etc.)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

11/04/2007 09:12:02 PM · #3

That's what I was thinking too. So long as I have an onboard flash I'm sunk? Sucks lol. I've never done protraits of someone with glasses- much less 3 of them. I sent them the link for the proof earlier and they were very happy with them. So I guess it's one of those "what they don't know/notice, won't hurt them"

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

11/04/2007 09:12:10 PM · #4

I like to ask the customer if they have an old pair of glasses that we can remove the glass on and they can wear just the frames.

breadfan35

Nikon D3

11/04/2007 09:15:19 PM · #5

A circular polarizer might at least cut down on it.

Shadowi6

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX-DC HSM

11/04/2007 09:18:48 PM · #6

Strobist has the answer here

edit to say make sure you read the posts down at the bottom as well, some other good solutions

Message edited by author 2007-11-04 21:20:16.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

11/04/2007 09:21:59 PM · #7

Try having them turn their heads just a bit away from the flash. I guess with 3 people that could be sort of awkward, but possible if they look like they are interacting with each other. You should only get flash reflections on the glass if the flash and the glasses are more or less facing each other.

11/04/2007 09:23:32 PM · #8

Originally posted by Shadowi6:

Strobist has the answer here

edit to say make sure you read the posts down at the bottom as well, some other good solutions

Okay, I see my first mistake after reading that. Thank you for posting the link. I had the boy sitting on the railing of the bridge- that's where he was comfortable and looked his most natural, then I had his mom behind him, then dad behind her. The boy was the only one straight forward, and mom and dad were more at an angle. The bridge was the only place I needed the flash. But now I see if I had just turned them the opposite direction the whole flash problem could have been avoided. Problem was there was no color in the bg with them facing the other direction.

Am I the only one that has a notebook to write all this stuff down? lol