How to prepare for a high school Senior Photoshoot?

So I've shot photography as a hobby for about a year and a half now. Started out with cars and then branched into street photography. You can see the gear I've owned in my sig.

My mom has been in and out of the hospital with cancer, and our finances have been focused on that. My brother is approaching his Senior year in highschool, and my dad asked me if I'd be willing to try his Senior pictures. I have never done a staged shoot before. Anything I've done with people has been candid.

I won't have to do this until May or so. So I have time to purchase a few things and read up. I've been studying senior pics in the theads here on POTN.

I'll have a 40D and 50mm 1.4. I've been looking at Alien Bee 400 and 800 monolight strobes with softboxes or even a on camera flash unit like the 430EX.

I only have Photoshop Elements 8/Canon RAW for editing solutions.

What do you guys suggest? Any reading material? Id like to do a really good job for my mom.

Not a decent enough question for any love huh? I'll keep searching

Hey Taylor. Positive thoughts for all your family is going through right now. Best to your mom as well.

Onto the Sr. photo opportunity. I did the same thing last summer. My son and a few of his friends whose parents simply couldn't swing the several hundred dollar investment. I got good shots of the kids ... not great compared to some of the work you'll find in the Sr. Photography thread.

Go back and reread that entire thread. Some of the kind folk have provided links to stuff like posing guides, what to wear for the kids, where to shoot, etc. Getting the logistics down is the first order of business. And just based on your short post, you come off like a pretty smart guy, (or girl) who understands the value of getting things off on the right foot.

What I would suggest is working on a couple of 'go-to' type shots and poses for your brother, (if he can make time for you!) then take them outside. You probably don't have to invest big money in strobes and softboxes. You'll see in that senior pic thread many are doing great work with speedlites and umbrellas. Consider anything you purchase an investment in your future!

Good luck and let us know how things progress.

dave

Hey Dave,
Thanks so much for you reply, and I appreciate your positive thoughts. I love to research and learn so I think I'll have my bases covered. I'm going to start going through that Sr. Photoshoot thread post by post.


I guess I have been wanting to purchase a flash to play around with and this will give me an excuse. I have a buddy willing to lend me a 420EX and I can purchase it if I like it. I'm not sure if its a decent flash though. Otherwise I'll just get the 430EX.

I know literally nothing about using those flashes off camera or in umbrellas.

Just start with what you got, 40d and 50mm f1.4. Add a simple foam core reflector or one of those 5-in-1 types.

Wishing your family the best. This is my recommended budget portrait lighting kit. Get a couple of bungy cords and the umbreall sits next to the stand and you can take it anywhere. The off camera triggers have built in umbrella holders. Wind usually is not a problem where I shoot, or I use my camera bag as a sandbag. To really understand light, my recommended book is: Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. For something not so "heady" anything by Neil van Niekerk. Add his blog to your rss feed and you get a ton of useful stuff.


Flash trigger
http://cgi.ebay.com …l-Wirele...item33626aa1f​f

YN-560 Flash Speedlite
http://cgi.ebay.com …lash-Spe...item255f7d813d

CheetahStand C8
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/servlet/...h-stand/Detail

umbrella Rubberized White
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/servlet/...brell​as/Detail

IUnknown wrote in post #11887232
Wishing your family the best. This is my recommended budget portrait lighting kit. Get a couple of bungy cords and the umbreall sits next to the stand and you can take it anywhere. The off camera triggers have built in umbrella holders. Wind usually is not a problem where I shoot, or I use my camera bag as a sandbag. To really understand light, my recommended book is: Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. For something not so "heady" anything by Neil van Niekerk. Add his blog to your rss feed and you get a ton of useful stuff.


Flash trigger
http://cgi.ebay.com …l-Wirele...item33626aa1f​f

YN-560 Flash Speedlite
http://cgi.ebay.com …lash-Spe...item255f7d813d

CheetahStand C8
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/servlet/...h-stand/Detail

umbrella Rubberized White
http://www.cheetahstan​d.com/servlet/...brell​as/Detail

Hey thanks for the resources, I'll be sure to read up. I don't know if its me...but none of those links work. Can you specify the products (flash triggers mainly) so I can look them up?

Run a search on ebay for PT-04.

For all things off camera lighting, peruse strobist.com. There are lighting 101, 201 and on assignment lessons and an off camera subculture. Good luck.

Thanks guys, I will begin reading this stuff in my free time!

What are thoughts on using a YN560 or 420EX on camera and a reflector to bounce the flash?

Or just simply using natural light and reflectors?

Taylor02GT wrote in post #11892183
Thanks guys, I will begin reading this stuff in my free time!

What are thoughts on using a YN560 or 420EX on camera and a reflector to bounce the flash?

Or just simply using natural light and reflectors?

Like I said earlier, try this first. Now I am not natural light fanatic, I will use strobes/flashes for most shoots but if you just starting try this and it doesn't cost you anything (you did mention expenses in your post).

Finances are an issue for my parents, I have my own funds/job so I can do whatever. I could probably spend 200-300 on some lighting. But that does really get me anywhere besides a YN560

for 200 dollars you could get two YN460s for the most part.

Problem is quality control; my copy sucks.

I've been looking at at YN460, Trigger, and Umbrella/Stand. Will I need anything else to get my 40D to fire the flash?

You need a trigger & receiver, hot shoe on camera and a flash that has a manual adjustment capability.

Before you go down the road I did... don't get a Canon 420 EX flash. It does not operate on manual mode and will simply fire at full power every time your trigger tells it to flash. In order to adjust the intensity of your light from the flash, you need to have control over a few things:
Flash head zoom
Flash power (1/1 through 1/64 or 1/128) in at least full stops (preferably 1/3 stops)
Flash distance from subject

The 420EX will only give you one of those: the ability to move the flash (lol). So be careful on your purchase.

The YN460 will suit you well, but so will some good quality late afternoon light coupled with a large 36"-48" 5-in-1 reflector (gold side). Set your WB to "win" (cloudy for that nice warm glow) and position your brother with the sun to one side and the reflector to another. Use one of them as a backlight for added effect.

Hope this helps.