Family portrait help

addie · 03-09-2010, 07:46 AM

HELLO!
Someone I know is expecting a baby in May, and they asked me to take family photos of the family (basically the pregnant mom, the dad and their 8 year old son).

I have a Nikon D60.
The photo shoot will be done in their own living room.
They want the pictures to look somewhat like these:

I'm not anyone professional, just love photography.
I don't have any fancy white curtain to hand in the background.
What I have to work with is basically:
wood floors
plain beige wall in the background

Now my questions for you are:
What settings on the camera would I use to obtain these results?
What kind of lighting should I use?
How to I position the camera?

and any other tips you have would be useful.
thanks so much

PJL · 03-09-2010, 08:07 AM

Check out this site, it's a great primer on lighting.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html

I also found a video on YouTube called the portrait masterclass (or something along those lines) that went over basic portrait lighting techniques. I can't get youtube here or else I'd find it for you.

Johnboy2978 · 03-09-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by addie

HELLO!
Now my questions for you are:
What settings on the camera would I use to obtain these results?

Really, that's much like asking how long is a string? You use whatever settings are necessary to properly expose the image and to obtain the depth of field you are looking for. These examples you posted don't really set the bar too high as they are rather haphazard in their composition. I would guess these are probably shot around an aperture of f/8 to f/11 to get everyone in focus. The shutter speed would then be whatever was necessary to avoid camera shake, likely something around 1/180 or 1/250. Do you know how to use your camera's built in light meter? If not that is something you need to learn by then.

Do you have a king size bed sheet? That's pretty inexpensive and makes a decent background. You could use some sort of lighting at least a speedlight off camera, unless there is a lot of good natural light inside.

SNAPaPHOTO · 03-09-2010, 09:31 AM

Johnboy gave you some suggestions. The only thing I might add is if you don't have proper lighting or mulitple strobes and are proficient at using them, go outside. Use natural light.

03-09-2010, 07:46 AM	#1
addie TPF Noob! Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 12 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Family portrait help HELLO! Someone I know is expecting a baby in May, and they asked me to take family photos of the family (basically the pregnant mom, the dad and their 8 year old son). I have a Nikon D60. The photo shoot will be done in their own living room. They want the pictures to look somewhat like these: I'm not anyone professional, just love photography. I don't have any fancy white curtain to hand in the background. What I have to work with is basically: wood floors plain beige wall in the background Now my questions for you are: What settings on the camera would I use to obtain these results? What kind of lighting should I use? How to I position the camera? and any other tips you have would be useful. thanks so much

03-09-2010, 09:11 AM	#3
Johnboy2978 TPF Junkie! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 1,617 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by addie HELLO! Now my questions for you are: What settings on the camera would I use to obtain these results? Really, that's much like asking how long is a string? You use whatever settings are necessary to properly expose the image and to obtain the depth of field you are looking for. These examples you posted don't really set the bar too high as they are rather haphazard in their composition. I would guess these are probably shot around an aperture of f/8 to f/11 to get everyone in focus. The shutter speed would then be whatever was necessary to avoid camera shake, likely something around 1/180 or 1/250. Do you know how to use your camera's built in light meter? If not that is something you need to learn by then. Do you have a king size bed sheet? That's pretty inexpensive and makes a decent background. You could use some sort of lighting at least a speedlight off camera, unless there is a lot of good natural light inside. __________________ ---------------------- "If my answers scare you Vincent, then perhaps you should cease asking scary questions" www.johncountsphotography.com

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03-09-2010, 08:07 AM	#2
PJL Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 152 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Check out this site, it's a great primer on lighting. http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101.html I also found a video on YouTube called the portrait masterclass (or something along those lines) that went over basic portrait lighting techniques. I can't get youtube here or else I'd find it for you.

03-09-2010, 09:31 AM	#4
SNAPaPHOTO No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Myrtle Beach SC Posts: 71 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Johnboy gave you some suggestions. The only thing I might add is if you don't have proper lighting or mulitple strobes and are proficient at using them, go outside. Use natural light.

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