Beginner in need of some advice!

Hello i am a beginner in photography, i have a canon rebel t5 and i'm not sure which settings are best for portraiture? i have been using the automatic setting but i would really like to step it up and play around with manual settings any suggestions?
thank you in advance you guys!

 

Hello and welcome! You're in the right place!

Understanding Exposure (someone link please) is a very easy to read book that will really help you to learn what settings to use. Personally and in short, I would suggest using a spot meter, single focal point and expose properly for your subject.

 

"Understanding Exposure 4th Edition"
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding...dp/1607748509?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0
You may want to also check your local Library and the internet.

 

Thank you so much! <3

 

Thank you!! <3

 

Get the right lens.
Add light.
Watch the poses.
Make sure your depth of field is correct.
Focus on the eyes.
Shoot in Raw.
Frame wide and crop in post.

 

Awesome thank you for your help! any tip on searching for a Great quality lens?

 

With a crop sensor body I'd say any lens over 50mm that can open to f2.8 or wider. Canon makes a gorgeous 135L that is just magical.

 

Thank you so much for all your help! going to look into that right now! <3

 

I have another question for you, do you have any tips on photographing an indoor event that would require you to not use flash?

 

I find it easier to not use flash most of the time, as long as there's a fair amount of available light. You need a fast lens, higher iso to put it basic but I feel you are getting way ahead of your self. Learn your gear.

 

Thanks for the advice! Just want to catch some photos of a school play but no flash photography is allowed..was curious how to capture photos of my cousin while she is on stage with out breaking the rules. Definitely learning my gear and doing research thanks for all your help you have been wonderful!