Need help shooting people indoors with my D90. Please help.

[noonephone]

Hi, I just recently purchased my 90 with the 18-105 lens. I'm going to people shooting people in an indoor convention center pretty soon and I need to know the best idiot proof settings to work with. I will learn how to use manual later but for now I just need something that works.

I was thinking of using jpeg fine large (don't want to change this) and Program mode with central focus point and neutral with Sharpness on 6 and Saturation +1. Will the +1 be too much for skin tones?

My other option is Portrait mode. I'm unsure of what this actually does. I don't want to have to control apature and exposure. But I heard it does something better with skin or skintone? I'm new to this bare with me.

Anyway, any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks.

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[Hardrock]

Im not sure about that lens but I would use an off camera flash. If you can not use flash use Av mode and select the largest F-stop ie: f2.8 or f4. You will probally need to bump the iso to around 2000 ( for a starting point) depending on the lighting. Also be aware of you shutter speed try and keep and 1 to 1 focal length to shutter speed.

[Fedaykin]

How long till this event?

[mwcfarms]

I dont suppose you can go to the location before hand and do some test shots so your prepared?

[noonephone]

Not really. Could I just increase the ISO to 2000 and set it on P? How's the noise on a D90 at 2000 ISO?

[K.Li]

2000 ISO would produce noticeable noise, but I guess with a bit of PP it might be just fine.

But you have to understand in the world of photography there are no "best setting" we can't tell you what will be best because we have no idea what the lighting would be at your location, its best if you go there before hand to find out and test some shots.

If this is a paid job I have a feeling you might be not be up to the standard yet in terms of knowledge about your camera and how to use it properly. A camera is just a tool if you don't know how to use it it's just a overgrown P&S.

[noonephone]

Yeah it's not a paid job. It's just I just got the camera and there's an event coming up. Might as well try my luck.

[Fedaykin]

Yeah it's not a paid job. It's just I just got the camera and there's an event coming up. Might as well try my luck.

How long till the event?

[noonephone]

Tomorrow lol. As suggested elsewhere I think I'm just going to use aperture priority mode, set it as low as possible and shoot with 800 or 1600 ISO. Thanks for the help by the way.

[Restomage]

Definitely use aperture priority mode at it's widest if possible. From experience, don't go above 800 iso on the D90.

Do you have a speedlight? If so, try bouncing it off a wall or ceiling so the light isn't as harsh.

If all you have is your pop-up, put a piece of tissue paper over it to soften the light.

[Fedaykin]

Tomorrow lol. As suggested elsewhere I think I'm just going to use aperture priority mode, set it as low as possible and shoot with 800 or 1600 ISO. Thanks for the help by the way.

Ah, I was gonna suggest you read your manual and try out Av mode as well. Try not to go over ISO 800 and shoot lower than that were you can, if you see your shutter speed go lower than 1/60 turn up your ISO. That's just my suggestion though.

[noonephone]

Tomorrow lol. As suggested elsewhere I think I'm just going to use aperture priority mode, set it as low as possible and shoot with 800 or 1600 ISO. Thanks for the help by the way.

Ah, I was gonna suggest you read your manual and try out Av mode as well. Try not to go over ISO 800 and shoot lower than that were you can, if you see your shutter speed go lower than 1/60 turn up your ISO. That's just my suggestion though.

OK thanks for the help. Will let you know how it goes.

[mwcfarms]

Tomorrow lol. As suggested elsewhere I think I'm just going to use aperture priority mode, set it as low as possible and shoot with 800 or 1600 ISO. Thanks for the help by the way.

Ah, I was gonna suggest you read your manual and try out Av mode as well. Try not to go over ISO 800 and shoot lower than that were you can, if you see your shutter speed go lower than 1/60 turn up your ISO. That's just my suggestion though.

Aperture Priority=Canons Av mode.

[Felix 222]

for a cheap last minute aid, use the gary fong pop up flash diffuser.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0011000R6/sfrevu05]Amazon.com: Gary Fong Puffer Pop Up Flash Diffuser: Camera & Photo[/ame]

[noonephone]

Hmm, leaving in a bit. If I'm using a single center focal point, should I be aiming at the face or the body? Thanks.