First time doing a photo shoot - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/11/2011 09:32:44 PM · #1

I'm shooting on the lakefront at about 2pm. Its for a friend and im shooting his 4 year old son. I have a SB600 flash and a 5 way reflector. On a sunny day which color of reflector would be best and how should i utilize my flash if at all.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

03/11/2011 09:44:34 PM · #2

I like a warm reflector on a sunny day, the gold one. You may not need the flash if the reflector fills well enough. If you shoot in open shad0w, the flash may come in handy as a main light.

R.

jbirkman

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro for Canon

03/11/2011 10:18:26 PM · #3

I choose between the gold and silver based on the overall tone of the subject. The gold will warm things up, but maybe too much if they have rosy skin to begin with.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

03/11/2011 10:18:29 PM · #4

What about lenses? Would my 35mm 1.8 be a good lens to shoot this? I seem to get sharper crisper images with more of a blurred background with it which I think would be nice for these shots. Or I could use my kit lens?

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

03/11/2011 10:26:33 PM · #5

I'm no expert in this area, but I would think you would want a 50mm or longer lens. With 50mm, the subject will be normal proportions. With less than 50mm, the subject will widen, normally causing some unflattering-ness (I'm sure that's not a real term). With longer than 50mm your subject will tighten, which is great for photographing women, as it means they looks a bit more slender :)

Of course, I could be way oversimplifying things or completely wrong, but that's how I understand it.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

03/11/2011 10:37:54 PM · #6

Originally posted by giantmike:

That would be true IF it was a full-frame camera, but 30mm is close to the classic "normal" lens for a 1.5 crop, which is what the Nikon D70 is, so he's good to go there. 30mm x 1.5 = 45mm equivalent focal length, a nice lens for all-around, environmental portraiture, though longer is maybe better if you are only doing head shots.

R.

chromeydome

Nikon D7000

03/12/2011 12:45:26 AM · #7

your 35 is certainly worth bringing and trying--as mentioned, it is about 53mm on a crop factor.

With the reflectors, gold can often be too much warmth, but it is very dependent on the situation, setting, available light, hair color, skin tone, etc.

Use caution: the silver and gold reflectors can really be harsh and bright in your subject's eyes. You may find that using the white diffuser in closer will work better, less painful for the child.

And, play with the diffuser: instead of just holding away from the subject to create "shade", block the sun with it, but bring it in as close as possible to the child but not in frame. It becomes a luminous softbox sort of lighting in that case--sort of magical lighting.

03/12/2011 10:35:26 AM · #8

I would recommend to shoot in open shade as R. mentioned but I would add that I would also shoot into the shade as well. Meaning position your subject in the open shade and shoot to where the background is shaded (darker). Of course you can also use your speedlite to drop the ambient down a stop so that the background is darker that way.

Also it probably goes without saying but when shooting young kids shoot down on their level. Get low with the camera then after you get those you can play around with perspective and shoot high looking down as well as really low to give them a larger then life appearance.

03/12/2011 12:16:32 PM · #9

Thanks for the advice!! from what I have read I think I will try mainly the silver and gold and determine how harsh it is on the face them move to the diffuser.

jminso thanks for the advice on shooting angle. I will keep that in mind.

When you say "open shade" are you meaning put the sun to my back? Also, I've seen photographers using a white card strapped to the speedlite with the speedlite pointed straight up. I understand that they are trying to reduce shadows and get a soft light on the subject but is that mainly for indoor shooting?

Message edited by author 2011-03-12 12:38:41.

03/12/2011 12:51:05 PM · #10

Originally posted by SEG:

When you say "open shade" are you meaning put the sun to my back?

Best definition of open shade I have heard is when you are standing in shade but can look up and see the sky. You can also look for any covered areas and that will provide some light fall off and will help. I would say not to have the sun at YOUR back but to position your subject (if you must shoot in the open) so that their back is to the sun. This will let the sun act as a strong rim/hair light and you can fill in the shadows of their face with the reflector or flash. Watch your metering and you may want to spot meter on the subjects face, This will likely blow out the background but it is more important to have proper exposure on the face. You can't really recover any blown highlights.

03/12/2011 01:03:11 PM · #11

This was shot around 3pm in the summer in open shade with two off camera flashes

Middle of the day but the sun was blocked by a structure, one flash in softbox

This was taken at the same time and the sun was actually to my back but I had a diffuser held up to block the sun. You can see the shadow on the slide from the diffuser.

I am no expert but I hope this helps.

03/12/2011 01:56:56 PM · #12

On my way now. Thanks for all the advice.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

03/13/2011 09:29:28 AM · #13

How did it go?

MattO

Nikon D4

03/13/2011 10:10:32 AM · #14

Originally posted by jminso:

This was shot around 3pm in the summer in open shade with two off camera flashes

Middle of the day but the sun was blocked by a structure, one flash in softbox

This was taken at the same time and the sun was actually to my back but I had a diffuser held up to block the sun. You can see the shadow on the slide from the diffuser.

I am no expert but I hope this helps.

Can I suggest you get a CTO gel for your flashes. The subjects in all of these are very flash wb when the backgrounds are much warmer. Or perhaps you should just warm them up in WB they all seem very cool.

Matt

fotomann_forever

03/13/2011 10:22:17 AM · #15

Originally posted by MattO:

I agree with Matt. They do seem a bit on the cool side, which I find odd, because Canon's tend to render skin tones on the warm side, sometimes overly warm.

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

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

03/13/2011 10:41:44 AM · #16

For a four year old at the lake front, I'd use my 100-400 and give the kid some bread to feed the geese. That way I could hang out on a beach chair and sip on some beer. Or maybe stick bread all over the kid and make him stand near a bunch of geese and get some shots of the attack, that would be optimal.

03/13/2011 03:18:08 PM · #17

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Originally posted by MattO:

Can I suggest you get a CTO gel for your flashes. The subjects in all of these are very flash wb when the backgrounds are much warmer. Or perhaps you should just warm them up in WB they all seem very cool.

Matt

I agree with Matt. They do seem a bit on the cool side, which I find odd, because Canon's tend to render skin tones on the warm side, sometimes overly warm.

I haven't bought any filters but I have started warming up the skin. Those were all taken back in the summer when I first started shooting on location with flash. I also have calibrated my monitor since then as well. Thank you for the advice, I didn't even pay attention to things like that at all back then.

03/13/2011 07:23:50 PM · #18

Well...where are the pics?

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

03/13/2011 08:42:03 PM · #19

Matt...would I use my CTO even at mid-day in the shade if I have to use flash to light a face?

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by jminso:
This was shot around 3pm in the summer in open shade with two off camera flashes

Middle of the day but the sun was blocked by a structure, one flash in softbox

This was taken at the same time and the sun was actually to my back but I had a diffuser held up to block the sun. You can see the shadow on the slide from the diffuser.

I am no expert but I hope this helps.

Can I suggest you get a CTO gel for your flashes. The subjects in all of these are very flash wb when the backgrounds are much warmer. Or perhaps you should just warm them up in WB they all seem very cool.

Matt

MattO

Nikon D4

03/13/2011 08:48:31 PM · #20

Originally posted by kenskid:

Matt...would I use my CTO even at mid-day in the shade if I have to use flash to light a face?

CTO gels come in different intensities. I keep a 1/4 1/2 and full CTO with me at all times. I use a CTO gel anytime I am shooting outside during the day with off camera flash. I've never had anyone complain that I "warmed" them up. as long as you don't go too far and get them too warm compared to the surroundings.

03/13/2011 09:37:11 PM · #21

Thanks...I'm going do my daughter's senior portraits in the next few weeks (about 8 months early...just in case!). I will be using a gold/silver reflector along with SB800 and SB600 if flash if needed. I have two gels that came with the speedlights but really didn't have to use them in the past. I'll bring the gels with me !

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by kenskid:
Matt...would I use my CTO even at mid-day in the shade if I have to use flash to light a face?

CTO gels come in different intensities. I keep a 1/4 1/2 and full CTO with me at all times. I use a CTO gel anytime I am shooting outside during the day with off camera flash. I've never had anyone complain that I "warmed" them up. as long as you don't go too far and get them too warm compared to the surroundings.

03/13/2011 10:48:11 PM · #22

Originally posted by jminso:

How did it go?

I have been sooo busy this weekend. This is the first time I'm sitting back at my computer but I'm about to go to sleep. Worn out from a day of fishing. I'll find some time between now and next weekend to get them off the card and work with em. I'll post them then.....if they are not an embarrassment. LOL

I think the advice came in handy though. As I was shooting with the gold reflector I could tell it was way too harsh on the child's face. Switching to silver about 3/4 of the way through the shoot gave some improvement and looked more natural. I'm still a little scared to see them off the card being that this was my first time and I was really playing with the setting of my camera and putting my limited skills to the test.

03/13/2011 10:56:45 PM · #23

Rugman wants you to do his Fleet Manager Portraits.

Originally posted by SEG:

Originally posted by jminso:
How did it go?

I have been sooo busy this weekend. This is the first time I'm sitting back at my computer but I'm about to go to sleep. Worn out from a day of fishing. I'll find some time between now and next weekend to get them off the card and work with em. I'll post them then.....if they are not an embarrassment. LOL

I think the advice came in handy though. As I was shooting with the gold reflector I could tell it was way too harsh on the child's face. Switching to silver about 3/4 of the way through the shoot gave some improvement and looked more natural. I'm still a little scared to see them off the card being that this was my first time and I was really playing with the setting of my camera and putting my limited skills to the test.

03/14/2011 08:32:14 AM · #24

Originally posted by kenskid:

Rugman wants you to do his Fleet Manager Portraits.

A picture of an empty office with 7 people waiting in line to check in?