I'm extremely nervous, advice required please

[ArvThePie]

I have been asked to cover a series of face painting classes for my wife's friend (for free), now personally I don't think I'm anywhere near ready to take working portrait shots, but also feel if i don't do it now I will never learn.:oops:
However my question is to get as much info to help me and my basic set up work as best as possible.
I will be using a 40D with either 17-85, 18-55, or a 100 f/2.8, standard flash.
or should i go out today and buy the sigma 50 f/1.4 lens in a panic!!

Now, the majority of the shots will be face's painted, but I have seen thighs, legs, pregnant bellies, backs, and fore heads of men.

Im in need of any advice please...;)

[Jim G]

100 f/2.8 would do awesomely. It may even be -too- sharp ;) Not that that's a bad thing.

It's a good headshot length. Just pop the subject next to a window or some nice, diffused light source and go at it.

[ArvThePie]

Marco it is then..Ah forgot to say its night time.:confused:

[breathless]

If it were me, I'd choose to mount the 17-85 on a 40D. the 100mm may be a bit long for comfortable shooting.

[DennisW1]

If it were me, I'd choose to mount the 17-85 on a 40D. the 100mm may be a bit long for comfortable shooting.

I think I'd opt for this lens also. It gives you from sufficiently wide to tight enough.

I'm more concerned about what you mean by "standard flash". If you mean the on-camera flash I'd be looking more at getting a Speedlite and some sort of bouncer/diffuser unless you're certain you're going to have enough available light (window light for example) to work with. The on camera flash is going to be harsh and very unflattering to faces especially.

[ArvThePie]

If it were me, I'd choose to mount the 17-85 on a 40D. the 100mm may be a bit long for comfortable shooting.
I was happy the 17-85mm considering we had no other light to play with.

[breathless]

Nice pictures. Cool face painting, too.

[dentonian25]

love the face paintings really good shots youve caught them well

[Daniel Browning]

The lighting, background, and composition will be the most important factors.

Will you have control of the background? Do you have an off-camera flash solution?

If not, you might be able to get by with even a single umbrella, above and behind your camera, with the flash pointed at it.

(Anything is better than the mugshots caused by direct flash.)

[ArvThePie]

Hi Daniel,
I would rather not take a picture inside, than use the standard flash, but fortunately i got away with using no flash at all.
Its early days for me and lighting extra's..

[nwa2]

You will have great fun, I would stick to two lenses your 17-85 + the 100mm prime.

I have some great face painting shots, don't stick to the plain old front on. Lots of opportunity to get shots of painting in progress.

Experiment with the ISO, you might have enough light to avoid using flash.