Advice on family portrait

Hey thanks gonzogolf and digital paradise.. it was nice of you guys helping me out..

Is there any link or video that you know which could help me getting better understanding.
I know I could google search.. but looking from u for more valuable info... thanks..

robienyshe wrote in post #16775445
Is there any link or video that you know which could help me getting better understanding.
I know I could google search.. but looking from u for more valuable info... thanks..

Are you planning on doing this indoors or out?

gonzogolf wrote in post #16775621
Are you planning on doing this indoors or out?

Mostly indoor. At my house. Haven't thought how it would be @ outdoor.

robienyshe wrote in post #16775656
Mostly indoor. At my house. Haven't thought how it would be @ outdoor.

Indoors the disparity in brightness between the ambient light and the flash determine how deep your shadows are. The umbrella will help soften the edges, but not the depth (how dark the shadow is). For a group you almost always want the light near the camera axis so that you arent casting side shadows from one person onto another.

Here is a good video on outdoor fill flash. He pimps the meter, but you dont need it, but they are a sponsor. Pay attention to what he says about balance between ambient and flash. https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=Y01cwu4RouI

Got a few outdoor videos but I'm coming up short on indoor. There is not much too it. Put the umbrella above you and point downwards towards the people. Minimum 10 feet away.

Camera on manual, ISO 400, shutter about 1/125 and aperture at F8. Two options with the flash, ETTL or manual. Both are really pretty much the same as you will probably need to tweak the FEC when in ETTL for correct flash exposure. The big difference is in manual you are guaranteed to get consistent exposures because you select it, not a computer.

You probably don't have flash meter. This is not a perfect tool but it can be helpful. The white towel method. Expose for the whites and pretty much the rest falls into place. Start at about ½ flash power in manual, take a shot, look at your LCD and observe the histogram to to see where the whites are and the overall look of the shot. Adjust flash power to fine tune. Oh yes. make sure there is good separation between the people and the background to prevent shadows.

Scroll down and look at the gent holding the towel.

http://super.nova.org/​DPR/Histogram/

Here is another outdoor video that does not use a flash meter. You have to be careful how you shoot outdoors because if the sun behind your family one flash will not be enough to illuminate them.

I would find a nice shade tree or something like that where the background is nice and bright. Put your family under the shade. Make sure there are no hot spot dimples from the sun poking through the trees. Turn the flash off and adjust your camera the way you want the background to be. ISO 100 and do not exceed 1/160 on your shutter speed. That can be different. I don't know your cameras sync speed and what off camera triggering system you will be using. Ignore the people for now. When you get the background the way you want it then turn the flash on and adjust flash power to correctly illuminate the people.

http://www.youtube.com …vEnAhkL0i38&fea​ture=feedf

If you want to really get create you can explore high speed sync however the flash loses power when this feature is enabled.

Videos- tutorials - lighting tutorial. He does use a softbox outdoors but ti is good info.

http://www.stansphotos​.com

Thanks guys.. both of you... will look at them..