How bad are these family photos? CC welcome!

[rCOSIO]

I can ... but im using 430exII and 580exII .... that might be why you cant use ETTL.

 

[Robin Usagani]

right.
you wont need to though.

Can I do HSS?

 

[o hey tyler]

right.
you wont need to though.

Can I do HSS?

No, but then again, you probably won't need that either. I've gone to 1/250th, and 1/320th, but after that I start to get a rolling shutter kind of effect.

I'm also using t1i/canon flash/cactus v4s, etc.

 

[SrBiscuit]

true dat

 

[ababysean]

Yep, if you go much faster then 1/200 you will probably end up with a black/grey line at the edge of the photo....

 

[kundalini]

...also, it's really helpful to have a voice activated light stand when using a reflector.

:lmao:​

I'll use TTL indoors sometimes when I can't be bothered, but generally keep the flashes on Manual when outside.​

 

[Derrel]

Big Mike and Ayria's comments "sort of" mirror my own feeling about these. I do think these look "over-flashed" because the on-camera flash is the main source of light for the people, and the background looks dark in some frames, and with the on-camera flash being the main, majority source of illumination, the balance of foreground light (flash) to background light (natural light) seems to me to be "over-flashed".

I dunno...I think you need to consider using an off-camera flash that has more power, and a light modifier, to create 1) a bigger source of light and 2) a flash source that is closer in power to the daylight exposure and 3) light that comes from another direction besides right over the lens.

Like Big Mike touched upon, on-axis (meaning right on the lens-to-subject axis) light looks good as fill light, but when on-axis lighting is the MAIN SOURCE of light for the people, it tends to look flat and shadowless, and unfortunately, a bare flash can also look a bit harsh and point-source-like. If the flash were more powerful AND in a bigger form, like say a 30x30 inch softbox, the character of the light would look better. An umbrella or softbox would have made the flash look much more-professional, softer, and just "better".

I'm sure you have seen other people shooting flash in this park, but the way the majority does things is not always the best way. A reflector, like a 72x72 inch panel, would have really been a nice way to go. Or, just allowing the backgrounds to blow out would have been an alternative way to go no-flash, and get an entirely different look (although with their dark clothes, the blown-backdrop look would NOT be my first choice..if they'd been dressed in pastels, it'd be different and more viable to blow the backgrounds out and go for a light,airy summertime look).

At the very least--an 18x18 inch mini-softbox held at arm's length on an off-camera TTL Cord would have improved these photos. Ideally, a 300 watt-second monolight and 24x24 to 36x36 inch softbox or 40 inch umbrella about 6 feet off to the side of the camera would have been my preference. Just flood the posing area with softish, bright light, and shoot.

 

[prodigy2k7]

This park is a hot spot for photographers. I saw maybe 5 other family photographers and they all used a flash on the camera. I feel like it is too hard to do. Maybe do it on models?

they'd all be pretty good if it wasnt for the direct on camera flash. getting the flash off the top of the camera will do a world of good in the future

If I use more ambient light, the more blown background you see. I personally like this better than seeing yellow bright grass or white sky.

More ambient light, less flash. Use the flash to reduce the harsh shadows, not make it look like they are in a studio.

Most of these don't have sky and have dark grass.

 

[thunderkyss]

I liked #4... I understand #5 is the inverse of #4, but I don't like it.

As been said, the last two are really nice & natural.

 

[thunderkyss]

As far as the lighting I do like 4 5 and 9 because they look more natural to me. As far as the pictures go, I like them all except for #5 because for that I wouldn't have had the parents look at the camera. Only because they're being out of focus and the kids are what should be focused. So I would have had them do something else, where they don't look like they're paying attention to the camera. Perhaps look at eachother, or give eachother or look away, or even look back at the kids.

But nontheless they're good pictures and I know for a fact the family will be extremely happy with them. Good job man

I think this is a good idea. If the parents (I'm assuming those are the parents) we kissing (no tongue) that would have been perfect.

 

[SrBiscuit]

nah...needs tongue.

 

[thunderkyss]

Not sarcasm at all supraman. I am just saying even with the flash on my camera I already find it difficult already. It will be super difficult for me to direct 4-5 individuals at the same time and not being able to control my flash where i am standing. Plus maybe I have not shot long enough but so far I have not seen one photographer used off camera flash at the park. I have seen many photographers in action there.

I would only consider off camera flash on models. I think doing it for family pictures will just make my job a lot harder LOL. I have enough to worry about .

Is this sarcasm? What's the point of this thread then? :er: I thought you wanted to make your work better, or just better without a lot of work?

Totally new here, so the chances are pretty good that I don't know what I'm talking about. But do you really want to be one of many? Or do you want to be the best? The have to have guy? The one that does it right?

A real professional, or just another guy fleecing money from the general public?

Along those lines, did you have an idea of what shots you were going to take ahead of time, or did you wing it once everyone showed up? I'm just thinking with a little forethought & planning (professionalism) it shouldn't be too hard to incorporate the suggestions being made here.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Ive been shooting for only 6 months. I dont want to bite off more than I can chew .. thats all. I will try it though. Cant do it right now because I am missing the equipment to do that.

 

[Robin Usagani]

So when I get this remote trigger, where shall i put it? About 45 degree? Just experiment?

So which canon has the color aware metering?

 

[eccs19]

So when I get this remote trigger, where shall i put it? About 45 degree? Just experiment?

I'm just learning to, so I'll probably be corrected, but my understanding is to take the remote flash, and move it arms length to the front / left or right of the camera, take a few shots, and adjust as needed. I'm sure it also makes a difference if your just using the flash alone, or using it with a softbox / umbrella, etc.