portrait help

[rcpilot_971]

some frends of my wife and I want me to take senior portrait in a park. I mostley take pictures of my sons baseball games. I told I would give it a try .I plan to do it in the evening out doors but Im not sure what settings I should use I have never used manual mode before so thats out. I mostly shoot in AV mode @ f4 or lower Im using a 1D MK ll and a 24-70 2.8 & a 70-200IS 2.8. what would be the best mode to use. what should my shutter speeds be around.

hear are a few I took of my nephew a month or so ago the skin tones look to light to me

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcpilot_971pictures/4450748311/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcpilot_971pictures/4451522698/sizes/l/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcpilot_971pictures/4066969742/sizes/l/in/set-72157622713096562/

any sugestions would be great

Thanks Tim

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

Hey Tim, Nothing wrong with using AV mode. Make sure your using a tripod and get yourself a reflector of some sort. Check out the work that Fuzzy Duenkel does: www.duenkel.com

Best to ya, Ernst

[DocMike]

All of them are noticeably out of focus. So before you do anything, be super-critical about nailing your focus point. For these types of shots, I think one-shot autofocus, with one selected autofocus point is mandatory. Get used to shooting with an autofocus point besides the center point and nail it on the eyes.

Without that, the photos will always remain soft and you'll always end up focusing on a nose or a hand in the foreground and leave the eyes very soft. If you need to, stop down to f/8 or so just to give yourself some more leeway.

[rcpilot_971]

ok thanks I will give it a try

Thanks Tim

[argar]

like above.. all of photos are out of focus... if you want more precision.. take with you a tripod specially that you will be shooting on evening time... if you use the AV mode the shutter will adjust automaticly... if you will be getting low shutter speed tripod will come with help...