I've never done portraits. HELP!!!!

[IShootThings]

Hello. I've been volunteered to take a few portraits of my grandparents for their 60th wedding anniversary! I've never done any sort of pictures of people other than a few messing around with the point and shoot and the wife. I'm working from scratch and could use any useful information!! I only have a 430ex to work with and will probably use the 50 1.4 unless someone else thinks the 18-55is will work better. My biggest concern is lighting. Should we do it outside with the sun or inside in a bright room? What about a makeshift backdrop or lighting? F-stop wide open or f/22? I think the best composition is to get in tight to get a few good head shots? Again, any help is appreciated. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe Ravenstein]

That is one area I do a lot of my shots of. I personally use my Canon 55-250 almost exclusively. I then crop in PS and clean up the image. I use a stofen on my flash and bounce it to soften the wrinkles on old farts like myself.

[IShootThings]

That is one area I do a lot of my shots of. I personally use my Canon 55-250 almost exclusively. I then crop in PS and clean up the image. I use a stofen on my flash and bounce it to soften the wrinkles on old farts like myself.

interesting. thanks!!

[Brain Mechanic]

Let me advice you to use the 50mm to do those portraits.

[YankeeMom]

I would definitely use your 50 1.4 over that kit lens. I do all my portraits with my 50 1.8 and get great results. So far, all my portraits have been done with natural light. I usually go out in our mudroom because it has nice, brick walls and a lot of light, but I have also used the light from my living room window. Most of my shots are 2.5-5.0 in those conditions. I rarely go above 8.0.

If you go outside, I recommend a diffuser or overcast day (just don't get the white sky in the picture.) If you are in the sun, then a fill light might be necessary (but I avoid full sun.) Good luck!

[IShootThings]

thanks Brian and Krisin!

[redskymedic]

I absolutely agree with the 50mm lens, but avoid going wide open or you may have some focus issues if you haven't done portraits before. I'd stay at f/4 or above. Also, try and find some nice shady location if you're outdoors (avoid direct sunlight unless you really want to pull out and play with your flash for fill) or indoors with bright incoming natural light.

(just realized this is a week old, sorry if this is too late!)

[Frugal]

I'd stay at f/4 or aboveUnless they are both exactly the same distance from the camera, you'll need to go above f4 to ensure they are both are in focus. Google online DOF calculator.

Also:
Pose them so their heads are about the same height and close together.
Keep the background as plain as possible so as not to detract from your subjects.
Most people pose themselves very close to backgrounds. Instead have them several feet away.

[JoYork]

Avoid shooting outdoors in the middle of the day. It produces really unpleasant light to work with, your images will be too contrasty. Shooting later in the day will result in nicer light, although a slightly overcast day can be to your advantage as the light will be more diffused.

If you shoot indoors bounce your flash off a white wall if you can, or even the ceiling. Shoot Raw mode so you can tweak the white balance later.

Above all, be relaxed. If you're relaxed, they're relaxed. Get them used to the camera being in your hands... talk to them, get them to talk to each other. Get them to laugh, tell stories. Tell jokes. All the while, tell them you're just taking some test shots so it's just a warm up. Now the pressure's off you and off them for a little bit, so you can see what works and what doesn't before you actually start taking photos properly.

The shoot should be about them and how they feel towards each other, not bogged down with too many technicalities. They (and other family members) will look at the photos and see the people, and feel the personalities shine through. Only photographers will look and wonder what f/stop you used.

If it's all boggling your mind too much, set your camera to Av mode, f/5.6, ISO 200 and let the camera select whatever shutter speed it likes, leaving you to concentrate on taking some lovely photos.

[JoYork]

BTW I would recommend you use the 18-55 IS lens instead of the prime. You'll have more options when it comes to framing and composition.

The prime is handy if you want a shallow depth of field, but in this instance you want both people in focus so the prime isn't such a good idea.

[joewulf]

I would recommend you use the 18-55 IS lens instead of the prime
I know I'm a newbie, but I would think the prime would have superior optics compared to the kit lens.

[YankeeMom]

I know I'm a newbie, but I would think the prime would have superior optics compared to the kit lens.

Absolutely.

[JoYork]

Kit lens has better bokeh than the 1.8 prime and is just as sharp. Prime has more potential for a shallower DOF and therefore more bokeh.

Even if the prime did have noticeably better IQ, I would still recommend the kit lens for the job because the kit lens is more versatile. For portraits, composition, lighting and capturing the moment are far more important than what lens you use.

[egordon99]

I know I'm a newbie, but I would think the prime would have superior optics compared to the kit lens.

Yeah, but you are limiting yourself creatively by using only the 50mm focal length. Group shots might be extremely difficult at 50mm as well.

The 18-55 is the BEST lens for someone new to photography. I'd think compositional/perspective issues would "trump" IQ in a situation like this.

[YankeeMom]

Group shots, maybe. IMO, the 50 is much sharper than the kit lens and the creamy bokeh is gorgeous. Light bokeh, it depends on if hexagons bother you or not. Some people prefer them; I just avoid light bokeh altogether. Portraits are more controlled environments, so flexibility in various situations shouldn't be much of an issue here.

[Bobster]

if you have the room to manoeuvre then 50 over the kit, let your legs be the zoom..

[JoYork]

Group shots, maybe. IMO, the 50 is much sharper than the kit lens

Citation needed?

This one's taken with the 18-55IS kit lens:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/41858/IMG_2690.jpg

I focused on her eye. I doubt the prime lens is much sharper even if you pixel peep, and even if it was it certainly wouldn't be noticeable in photos.

and the creamy bokeh is gorgeous.

The bokeh is pretty ugly. I never noticed when I first got mine, but I can spot the bokeh from that lens from a mile off now.

[YankeeMom]

The only citation I have is my own experience. I cannot get the kit to focus for portraits like my 50. Here is an example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yankeemom/4633787678/sizes/o/

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4633787678_598b85b737_b.jpg

Your shot is good, but I think that a beginner (portrait) photographer has a much better shot of getting consistently good results from a 50 1.8 over the lens kit any day. A long-time photographer might get luckier.

As for creamy bokeh, I doubt you could tell that these are from the 50 1.8:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3752095903_6f35c0862a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3986503281_db114a0d02.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4686672565_d46d62249f.jpg

Light bokeh, yes -- creamy bokeh, no.

I just want the OP to know that the 50 1.8 is a super portait lens. He might get good portraits with the kit, but if he has the 50, then I highly recommend he use that over the kit lens. Of course, testing both is the best way to find out what works for him. :)

[Bobster]

I focused on her eye. I doubt the prime lens is much sharper even if you pixel peep, and even if it was it certainly wouldn't be noticeable in photos.
50 is so much sharper than that @f/4

[Brain Mechanic]

Kit lens has better bokeh than the 1.8 prime and is just as sharp.

I dont think so...and I own both.;)

[YankeeMom]

Brain Mechanic -- did you take that photo in your avatar? Just curious, because I saw the exact same picture on a Facebook ad.

[Brain Mechanic]

Brain Mechanic -- did you take that photo in your avatar? Just curious, because I saw the exact same picture on a Facebook ad.

Really? Its not mine. I was looking for a an avatar and typed "funny Canon pic" and this came up in Google Images.:p

[YankeeMom]

OK, just wanted to make sure because when I saw it on FB, I had to wonder if someone snagged a shot of yours. :D