Railroad family portraits

[Buckster]

i'm so happy, thank you both!! yes, shopping for a flash right now, gonna order today... i have a canon xsi.. should i stick with a canon 430EX, or can i get a cheaper non-canon that's decent? 250 is pushing it!!

I have 2 Canon 580EXII and two Yongnuo YN-565EX flashes, and use them all. The Yongnuo flashes and triggers work great, and will save you a lot of money, especially if you don't need ETTL.

Buckster...on that YongNuo, will i miss not having the high speed sync? i only shoot outdoors at the moment, and i like raising the ss for kid action shots, but could i do ok without the flash for those action shots?

I think you can live without it. There are several Yongnuo flashes available, and the ones that don't feature ETTL are way cheaper. I'd recommend one of those non-ettl speedlights, like the 560 II.

 

[GlowingAmber]

just bought a 560ii...thank you so much buckster!

 

[unpopular]

Amber - i'm impressed. most of us will hemm and haww over every little detail. Your enthusiasm and willingness to make equiptment decisions will do well as a professional.

 

[kathyt]

thank you kathy! i have reflectors on their way, i should get them anyday! now i have to learn how to use them as well!

I have a couple of large round reflectors for one or two people and then I have a really big rectangular gold/silver mixed one that I use for families that I LOVE! My returning clients all make fun of me and my reflectors, because I will not let them control it (if they are out of the shot of coarse) and I always have at least one with me.

 

[GlowingAmber]

i'm excited!! i have a girlfriend who used to help out a photographer friend in exchange for portraits (nice deal, right!). she would be the one holding the reflectors. now, she can help teach me- and i'll be taking her sons photos this week, so it'll be perfect!

 

[GlowingAmber]

Amber - i'm impressed. most of us will hemm and haww over every little detail. Your enthusiasm and willingness to make equiptment decisions will do well as a professional.

thank you unpopular! i spent too much time reading reviews and watching videos today, and i needed to make a decision. when i have something on my mind i can't let it go. i just assumed i would get a canon, but my hubby wasnt too excited about the price. i figure if i want something more in the future, i'll only be out $70...or i can continue to use them both. maybe i'll use that money saved and take some lessons!

 

[GlowingAmber]

Something pulls me to this one, i really like it. what do you think?



60mm, f/14, iso 800, says shutter speed is 7.38? it was on TV mode.

 

[unpopular]

To me, she kind of looks like that point when you're done having fun, and you're about to throw up.

 

[unpopular]

Amber - i'm impressed. most of us will hemm and haww over every little detail. Your enthusiasm and willingness to make equiptment decisions will do well as a professional.

thank you unpopular! i spent too much time reading reviews and watching videos today, and i needed to make a decision. when i have something on my mind i can't let it go. i just assumed i would get a canon, but my hubby wasnt too excited about the price. i figure if i want something more in the future, i'll only be out $70...or i can continue to use them both. maybe i'll use that money saved and take some lessons!

Keep an eye out for these: Sunpak Pro-System 622 Super Flash with Nikon Shoe Mount 90729100143 | eBay

It's a *ridiculously* powerful flash at a reasonable price. I've owned one, and was very fun piece of kit. I'm pretty sure you can use any Sunpak TTL module, provided that you have the cable, you may need to look into that. You can always use it in manual mode with a PC cable.

But it's a very versatile, capable unit. It has a 1/4" thread built-in, and typically very inexpensive on ebay.

 

[bratkinson]

My assistant (and GF) likes "the tracks"!

I'd call her borderline hobo, but better not.

You gotta be kidding me! Climbing up on a car????

What's to keep a freight train from coupling up to the string of railroad cars she's on? And, depending on the length of that string of cars, the locomotive and the mile long train it's pulling may be completely hidden from view! (and earshot, as well). Normal coupling speed is enough to jar the entire length of the parked train cars an inch or more, often with a ground-shaking crash.

And the sad thing is, should someone get hurt doing stunts like this, the 'poor grieved family' says the railroad should 'take care' of them, etc, etc, etc. Nobody should have to pay for stupid except the idiots doing it.

 

[Dikkie]

What about wooden-toy-train-family-photoshoots?

 

[Dikkie]

Or like this:

 

[Tony S]

. It's a fad and

... and been a fad for over 30 years. lol

 

[Tee]

Everyone should do a railroad track session once. It's a right of passage.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

My assistant (and GF) likes "the tracks"!

I'd call her borderline hobo, but better not.

You gotta be kidding me! Climbing up on a car????

What's to keep a freight train from coupling up to the string of railroad cars she's on? And, depending on the length of that string of cars, the locomotive and the mile long train it's pulling may be completely hidden from view! (and earshot, as well). Normal coupling speed is enough to jar the entire length of the parked train cars an inch or more, often with a ground-shaking crash.

And the sad thing is, should someone get hurt doing stunts like this, the 'poor grieved family' says the railroad should 'take care' of them, etc, etc, etc. Nobody should have to pay for stupid except the idiots doing it.

STUNT? Dude this was two train cars outside of a power plant and a conductor let us on it for a shot. Maybe you're quick to $%#^ing judge huh?

You think this is "risky", should've seen the the time that gal put on a race soon, climbed on the back of that bike in my avatar signed a track waiver with the rest of us, and went on the Road Atlanta race track with me.

Your post made me smirk...... =)