HELP! Graduation pictures for first timer!

Hello POTN members! I need help on whats the best locations for taking pre-graduation pictures with a group of 2+ people. I am location in Santa Clara, and the equipment I am using is 5D II, 50mm 1.4, 24-70mm II, 70-200mm II.

My question is, where's the best place to take pictures in Santa Clara that is outdoor or indoor. What settings should I use? and do you guys have any sample pictures with settings so that I may look at your work?

This will be my first time ever taking a graduation picture, since I mostly use my camera to make videos. Any tips or comments is welcome, please help! thank-you in advance!

Use Flickr as a good starting point. Search for "Santa Clara Seniors" or "portrait" and you may find a few places. I've also had luck looking at other local photographer's websites and some list the locations they like to work at.

Aside from the above, just look at Google Maps for some of the bigger parks in your area for outdoor locations. You can also find pictures of specific parks online and on Yelp (along with reviews). Ideally you would scout these locations in advance so you can figure out if they will work with whatever theme/feel you are going for.

thank you so much! yelp was a big help, and I'm choosing a rose garden theme, thanks guys! lets hope my pictures turn out like I want it to be haha.

Scout the location first. Seriously. Take pictures of every location and composition that you could see a person fitting in at. Go home and try to find a few poses to link up to the spots you found. You won't remember all of them the day of the shoot, and something inevitably will be wrong about the lighting, but it will give you a frame of reference to start the shoot with some confidence.

Clay Kerri wrote in post #16789492
Scout the location first. Seriously. Take pictures of every location and composition that you could see a person fitting in at. Go home and try to find a few poses to link up to the spots you found. You won't remember all of them the day of the shoot, and something inevitably will be wrong about the lighting, but it will give you a frame of reference to start the shoot with some confidence.

thanks! I will be doing that sometime soon.

LostViet408 wrote in post #16778239
Hello POTN members! I need help on whats the best locations for taking pre-graduation pictures with a group of 2+ people. I am location in Santa Clara, and the equipment I am using is 5D II, 50mm 1.4, 24-70mm II, 70-200mm II.

My question is, where's the best place to take pictures in Santa Clara that is outdoor or indoor. What settings should I use? and do you guys have any sample pictures with settings so that I may look at your work?

This will be my first time ever taking a graduation picture, since I mostly use my camera to make videos. Any tips or comments is welcome, please help! thank-you in advance!

Heya,

While I can't tell you locations there, I can at least give you some really big tips regarding something different, but very important.

Time of day matters immensely. Shooting in the bright sun, is a no-no. You want early morning, or later afternoon before sunset. Otherwise, if that's not an option, you want shade. It really limits locations.

Use the 200mm at F2.8 outside. Use it at 70mm at F2.8 inside.
Use the 24-70 at F2.8~F4, outdoors, for group shot if they want a group.

Take a flash with a diffuser.

Scout your locations before you go.
Check weather religiously.
Practice on an object, like a basketball or a soccerball in these locations.

Settings, use Manual. Pre-meter to get an idea of what you need to do. Odds are, wide open aperture, F2.8 to F4, shutter speed to suit exposure, or to synch with flash, or below synch speed for ambient light purpose. ISO only to exposure.

Very best,

MalVeauX wrote in post #16789614
Heya,

While I can't tell you locations there, I can at least give you some really big tips regarding something different, but very important.

Time of day matters immensely. Shooting in the bright sun, is a no-no. You want early morning, or later afternoon before sunset. Otherwise, if that's not an option, you want shade. It really limits locations.

Use the 200mm at F2.8 outside. Use it at 70mm at F2.8 inside.
Use the 24-70 at F2.8~F4, outdoors, for group shot if they want a group.

Take a flash with a diffuser.

Scout your locations before you go.
Check weather religiously.
Practice on an object, like a basketball or a soccerball in these locations.

Settings, use Manual. Pre-meter to get an idea of what you need to do. Odds are, wide open aperture, F2.8 to F4, shutter speed to suit exposure, or to synch with flash, or below synch speed for ambient light purpose. ISO only to exposure.

Very best,

wow thank you! So I should use 24-70mm for group pictures and the 70-200mm for single person picture am I correct?

So I should stay away from the direct sunlight from above and find a shade and use my flash for better exposure of the client am I right?

Also how should I use natural light correctly if I do plan on using it? do I have the client facing away from the sun or directly at the sun?

thanks in advance!