DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Group portrait help...
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 3 of 3, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 05/25/2007 06:08:33 PM · #1
My wife works at an elementary school and has volunteered me to take a group portrait of the faculty and staff for the Principal.
I don't feel that my portrait "skills" are all that great but I would like to do this as a favor and for the practice.

I'm hoping someone can offer some pointers or tips for this project.
The portrait will be done outside hopefully in an area that is not in direct sunlight. I'm looking for help mainly with camera settings such as metering mode and AF mode. Anyt help would be appreciated!!!

Thanks
 05/25/2007 06:23:43 PM · #2
My suggestion:
Put in manual mode, ISO100 or 200, assume you will be using the 50mm f/1.8 unless you need a wider view and end up using the 18-55mm kit lens, start with f/8.0 (thumb on Av button on the back of the cam, use thumbwheel to dial up/down), center metering, push the flash release button to manually pop-up the flash, then half-click the shutter and adjust the shutter speed until you get the bar graph in the middle. I have my camera's menu option for my flash set to 1/200, and that will be my max shutter speed with flash. If the exposure needle in the viewfinder bar graph is still to the right of center, drop the ISO to 100, and if still to the right, thumb on Av button on the back and thumbwheel the aperture up as necessary. Experiment with the menu settings too on the flash level. I typically have mine set to -1EV.
Click and check the LCD.

Fill flash outdoors is a wonderful thing.
05/27/2007 09:14:20 AM · #3



However, I would not recommend manual mode unless you are fully comfortable with it. Av mode or even P mode will probably be fine, and will reduce the complications, risk of getting it wrong on the day, and your stress. Go with what you are comfortable with. If everyone is relaxed, you'll all enjoy the process as well as the result. Hey, if you're really comfortable with Manual mode, for sure, use that.

Lower ISO will be better for noise reasons, but if you're in the shade, it might be worth using ISO 400 for a faster shutter speed. Use a tripod if you have one, to reduce camera shake, and also to save you carrying the camera around while you organise the people in the shot.

Probably the setting that's most likely to cause problems is white balance. Maybe I'm just picky about white balance, but auto white balance in the shade is not always great. If you can preview the location, check that the auto-white balance is doing a good job, and manually set the shade WB option if it needs it.

And yes, I fully agree with the fill-in flash!

Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 12:04:06 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/30/2025 12:04:06 PM EDT.