Help needed: 50mm 1.8 and outdoor portraits

[Big John]

Please Help!

I am going to be taking some outdoor portraits soon with this lens and I want some really nice close-ups as well as 3/4 shots, high school senior portrait-style shots etc.....

This will be my very first time working with models other than my immediate family, and I want to produce some good quality photos. It is a TFP deal, but it really means alot to me!

I am wondering about using fill flash at the close distance required for the facial close-ups. Will it wash out the portrait because I am so close? I am also looking for suggestions on how to get a decent DOF for the longer view shots. I am using a canon d-rebel/300-d and a canon 420ex flash, neither of which have any kind of FEC.

I have not yet experimented with AV mode and flash, and I have not downloaded the undutchables hack due to some computer issues at home.

Any suggestions?

[mgbeach]

I have this lens and camera combo, although I have the hack installed. do you have a flash diffuser? If so, try tilting the flash up on close shots so that less light is kicked into the face. Of course, if you're shooting in Av mode it should probably get exposure balanced about right even straight on. I'll post some I took outside when I get home with the settings, etc.

[Big John]

That would be great!

[PhotosGuy]

Personally, I'd shoot the head shots inside, but these might help:
http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/
http://www.photoflexlightingschool.com/Lighting_Lessons/BASIC_LIGHTING/PORTRAIT_OUTDOOR/index.html

[tim]

One suggestion: practice a *lot* more before you do your shoot. You should be confident that you can take good shots by the time you do this shoot, not experimenting during the shoot. Posing is much more difficult than just exposing the shot well.

[mkh]

TFP ???

[Big John]

Thanks for the heads-up Bloo Dog!

I guess what I meant was manual flash exposure compensation. I can use the built in exposure lock button " * ", but it gets a little dicey trying to get the exposure just right.

As for the lens distortion: Thanks! I never knew that. I guess I was thinking that this would be good for close-ups at the right f-stop because it can let in so much ambient light and because it is so sharp. I was thinking that the nice bokah effect would be desirable too.

Would you recommend this lens for a 3/4 or full-body shot? Again, I will be shooting in open shade, with fill flash and hope to have enough DOF to show the surrounding area, but with nice bokeh.

[PhotosGuy]

I can use the built in exposure lock button " * ", but it gets a little dicey trying to get the exposure just right. I've only used that a few times & seem to remember that you have to do that for each exposure?
Which is why I like "M" so much! ;-)