Need advice on Family Portraits

[AirTahoe]

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie here. I need some advice on family portraits.

I have a good deal of experience shooting digital photos on the Canon EOS system and lots of experience with DV video on my Canon XL1. I have mostly focused on sports, home photography and aerial images.


I was recently asked to take some family portraits in a week. I have never done this before. Therefore, I need a crash course. How to arrange people, what lens are good to use, what types of composition, natural backdrops and lighting works best, etc. Just the basics for now.

I have a Canon 20D. These are the Canon lens that I have 28-90mm 5.6, 15mm fish eye, 75-300mm 5.6 IS). I don't have any external flashes, just the onboard one.

Also, what should a newbie like me charge for such photos? I have no idea how the pricing on this would work. I normally charge $300 to film a home for magazines and takes me 4 hours of work.

Thanks a bunch. Hopefully I can chime-in on the other forums and help people out in my other areas of expertise.

[Big Mike]

Here is something I found useful The Zeltsman Approach to Formal Classic Portraiture (http://web.archive.org/web/20011230113846/www.zuga.net/freelessons/jzindex.shtml)

I'm thinking that you might need a different lens, or a lot of space...to shoot a family portrait. You don't really want to shoot with the fish eye and 28mm on the 20D...just is not that wide. The 18-55 kit lens is no gem, but would have be wide enough for this type of thing, they are pretty cheap, should you decide you need a lens. Since you don't have a flash or other lighting (don't even think about the on-board)...you will probably have to be outside anyway...so you may just be able to back up.

Stay out of direct sunlight...especially in the middle of the day. If it's sunny, look for a shaded area.

As for pricing...I suggest finding out what Photographers in your area are charging...and use that as a benchmark and go from there.

[liza]

Great link, Big Mike!

[tim]

Good luck, you're going to need it. Read this book (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1584281340/002-3047575-5896047?v=glance&n=283155), it's very helpful.

[Kristy]

Maybe you can arrange the shoot outdoors at a scenic location.. then you won't have to mess with backdrops and lighting.. bring a large reflector and you should be good to go... :) How many people in the family and what ages are they?