Please share your typical settings for natural light portraits

[marino420td]

I am a self-taught hobbyist and I am curious to see what settings professional photographers use for outdoor portraits.

Here is what I'm interested in knowing:

Camera mode- AV, TV, Manual
Aperture- describe what f stop you choose for different portraits (close up, full body)
ISO
Focus point-
AF drive- one shot, A1 servo
Metering mode
tripod- yes or no
favorite lens to use


Basically, I'm wanting to know exactly how you set up for a typical outdoor shoot. Obviously the environment determines a lot of it.

[4honor]

- I start with Av, then if the metering gets weird, I will switch into manual for my exposure likings.

- I always try to shoot as open as I can, unless it's a full body shot, then I shoot at like f/5.6 to make sure everything is in focus.

- ISO100 all the time. Even in shade, it should be sensitive enough to get fast shutter speeds.

- Always Center AF point for me. Just out of habbit...

- Always one shot AF, because I recompose.

- Umm... usually evaluative. My XSi seems to meter pretty well. But then once I go Manual mode, I don't really care anymore.

- for what I shoot, portrait on location, never a tripod yet.

- Well, given all I have right now, it's the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS all the time. My 18-55 IS when I want to do full body shots...

Something else pretty important is location. Find shade, shade is your best friend! Use a reflector if you have one.

[bsaber]

I am a self-taught hobbyist and I am curious to see what settings professional photographers use for outdoor portraits.

Here is what I'm interested in knowing:

Camera mode- AV, TV, Manual
Aperture- describe what f stop you choose for different portraits (close up, full body)
ISO
Focus point-
AF drive- one shot, A1 servo
Metering mode
tripod- yes or no
favorite lens to use


Basically, I'm wanting to know exactly how you set up for a typical outdoor shoot. Obviously the environment determines a lot of it.

I'll play.

Camera mode - Manual 99.9% of the time, sometimes Av if I need to move fast
Aperature - Whatever I think is best for the shot
ISO - Whatever is needed. I've done a shoot where I'm at f/1.8 and ISO3200
Focus Point - Whichever is closes to the eye usually. Having 45 of them comes in really handy :D
AF Drive - 99.9% one shot. Will use AI Servo if the subject or I am moving.
Metering mode - Usually evaluative or spot.
Tripod - No
Favorite lens - Most used is the 24-70L followed by 70-200 f/2.8 non-IS. I've been making a move to primes lately though (50 1.8 and 85 1.8).