Portrait Photography - Tips/Tricks?

CCericola · Oct 21, 2011

I sign up for everything just in case. Most of the time there is a replay later that night. And if you really liked it and want to see it over and over you can order it. It is about the cost of a college text book. $99 I think, preorderd

DiskoJoe · Oct 21, 2011

Use the fifty. If it is out of focus then shoot the picture again. Really have no idea of a reference point for your work to base advice from. Post some pics after you take them and people could give you better advice.

Village Idiot · Oct 21, 2011

Do you have an umbrella and stand and can you shoot with your flash off camera?

tevo · Oct 21, 2011

Village Idiot said:
Do you have an umbrella and stand and can you shoot with your flash off camera?

I cannot - although I have never tried.. my flash is an older Vivitar.

Bitter Jeweler · Oct 22, 2011

shootermcgavin said:
If they're free female models I suggest your bedroom, if they are male models the football field. I wish all answers were this easy.

That's a pretty narrow world view.

tevo · Oct 22, 2011

Bitter Jeweler said:
shootermcgavin said:

If they're free female models I suggest your bedroom, if they are male models the football field. I wish all answers were this easy.

Click to expand...

That's a pretty narrow world view.

Exactly!

Sex in the living room and Soccer are two completely different, yet acceptable outlooks.

Village Idiot · Oct 24, 2011

tevo said:
Village Idiot said:

Do you have an umbrella and stand and can you shoot with your flash off camera?

Click to expand...

I cannot - although I have never tried.. my flash is an older Vivitar.

You would need a way to trigger it and a stand, umbrella, and adapter. About $95 all in all, but it would allow you to get much more creative. I had my camera at a friend's birthday last Saturday and a girl there said the wasn't very photogenic and something else about photos of her not turning out well. 5 minutes and 3 shots later with the speedlight I carry in my bag and an umbrella and adapter that happened to still be laying in my back seat from a shoot in DC a few weekends ago, I had proved her wrong.

tevo · Oct 24, 2011

Village Idiot said:
You would need a way to trigger it and a stand, umbrella, and adapter. About $95 all in all, but it would allow you to get much more creative. I had my camera at a friend's birthday last Saturday and a girl there said the wasn't very photogenic and something else about photos of her not turning out well. 5 minutes and 3 shots later with the speedlight I carry in my bag and an umbrella and adapter that happened to still be laying in my back seat from a shoot in DC a few weekends ago, I had proved her wrong.

Seems like a worthwhile investment! Links?

altitude604 · Oct 24, 2011

Kerbouchard said:
Start here...
The Rules Of Good Portraiture

Advice from a worldclass portrait photographer. I would link to a similar thread on this forum, but there just isn't one as good as that.

Great link! Thanks!

photo guy · Nov 13, 2011

You could also use the local park with the trees as a backdrop

tevo · Nov 14, 2011

photo guy said:
You could also use the local park with the trees as a backdrop

That's a good idea - I'll consider that when looking for a location!

Village Idiot · Nov 14, 2011

mpex.com makes kits in their strobist section. You can put the items together yourself on B&H for cheaper and with out some of the extras.

tevo · Nov 14, 2011

Village Idiot said:
mpex.com makes kits in their strobist section. You can put the items together yourself on B&H for cheaper and with out some of the extras.

Will check it out, thanks!

Oh btw the village called..

MReid · Nov 14, 2011

If you feel you must use flash and lights.....don't try to learn on the fly at the shoot.
Set up a lamp shade out in your back yard and learn how to use all that stuff.

Or leave it all at home and shoot natural light....which will be your best chance for success.
It still takes a lot of practice but at least it is can be more productive while you are learning.

Village Idiot · Nov 14, 2011

MReid said:
If you feel you must use flash and lights.....don't try to learn on the fly at the shoot.
Set up a lamp shade out in your back yard and learn how to use all that stuff.

Or leave it all at home and shoot natural light....which will be your best chance for success.
It still takes a lot of practice but at least it is can be more productive while you are learning.

Why not? If you have free models that realize that you're learning, I say that's the best time to try out the lighting.