Exposure settings with kids?

I'm wanting to make my way into child (and maybe family, too) photography. I want a mix of "set-up" shots and also some with a photojournalism feel. The "set-up" shots are easy in that you select your settings based on the specific environment you've chosen.

BUT, when doing more photojournalism/candid shoots and the child is on the move, how do you select the proper exposure settings when the light might be inconsistant from shot to shot (as they run from one end of the world to the other ).

daystar wrote in post #15915007
I'm wanting to make my way into child (and maybe family, too) photography. I want a mix of "set-up" shots and also some with a photojournalism feel. The "set-up" shots are easy in that you select your settings based on the specific environment you've chosen.

BUT, when doing more photojournalism/candid shoots and the child is on the move, how do you select the proper exposure settings when the light might be inconsistant from shot to shot (as they run from one end of the world to the other ).

There's always the option of Program AE autoexposure, a feature that's been included in Canon cameras for more than three decades, predating the EF mount. Program AE works very well, especially when combined with Canon's latest implementation of Auto ISO. Both functions were used to gather these images in indifferent available light.

Wow, that's neat. I hadn't considered that approach. I guess I've spent so much time trying to learn manual that I forgot about the other options available. I'll try that out on my in-house guinea pigs aka my kids. Lol. Thanks!

daystar wrote in post #15918174
Wow, that's neat. I hadn't considered that approach. I guess I've spent so much time trying to learn manual that I forgot about the other options available. I'll try that out on my in-house guinea pigs aka my kids. Lol. Thanks!

Manual settings are very useful in situations where you have static illumination and can use a light meter to take an incident reading. Having photographed many basketball games where I stood under the basket pushing the button on an incident meter to get light readings, I've learned that's a very good choice to get settings under those conditions. However, when light is changeable, it's a good time to trust Canon's three decades of developing Program AE auto exposure. With all of exposure and metering options available with the modern DSLR, part of the challenge of being effective under different conditions is learning, through experience, which exposure options are most useful. And, those exposure options include choosing whether flash needs to be used. It can take years of experience and experimentation to be able to learn how to make the most useful choice.

DC Fan wrote in post #15919510
Manual settings are very useful in situations where you have static illumination and can use a light meter to take an incident reading. Having photographed many basketball games where I stood under the basket pushing the button on an incident meter to get light readings, I've learned that's a very good choice to get settings under those conditions. However, when light is changeable, it's a good time to trust Canon's three decades of developing Program AE auto exposure. With all of exposure and metering options available with the modern DSLR, part of the challenge of being effective under different conditions is learning, through experience, which exposure options are most useful. And, those exposure options include choosing whether flash needs to be used. It can take years of experience and experimentation to be able to learn how to make the most useful choice.

I feel as though I am in an endless sea of information trying to learn how to be a better-than-good photographer. Sometimes my head just spins! lol Yes, lots of time and experience needed.........and great people willing to help, too! Thank you.