How can I do better?

I try to take some portrait of my older daughter, using 50mm F1.8

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Try it with the 420EX bounced off the ceiling rather than direct.

To me it looks like the flash is already bounced, otherwise I think we'd be seeing some very harsh light against her skin. To me it looks like the first one was bounced off the right side wall therefore throwing a lot of shadow onto her front side. The second two look to be using a pocket bouncer or maybe a mini softbox on the flash. They look a tad dark, but not too bad, IMO. How to get the pic lighter is something I'm still working on in a single flash setup using my 420EX, so unfortunately, I can't help you there. To get the shadows to go away, people have been telling me to get the subject away from any walls or furniture. If you have her out in the middle of the floor and use a pocket bouncer/mini softbox with a large aperture on the lens, you'll blur out most anything that's too busy in the background and keep the subject in sharp focus.

I am still strugglin hard with trying to get my single flash, portable portrait setup to work, so I apologize if my advice didn't help too much. But, that's what I would try first.

Edit: By the way, I think the posing and composition look great. In the first picture, I think I would have included a bit more of her left arm in the shot. Other than that, I think you've did good on posing and composition. Just need to work on lighting (and I'm right there in the same boat with you on that one).

FlipsidE

Nice shots all. The first was my favorite...I liked the pose and sense of serenity it conveyed.
#2 was my next favorite, with just a hint of a smile.

Keep taking pictures! As you do, your lighting and poseing skills will continue to improve.

He just asked about it in #2, where the flash was not bounced. If he were using a Lumaquest of something here and still got a shadow, I would think the shadow would have been lower than this. Probably just an Omnibounce used here or something like that maybe at most.

This shot was taken with my portable, flash bracket, single flash setup and the flash was either bounced at an angle, off the celing, through a pocket bouncer, or possibly even though a mini softbox. Whatever way it was done, it wasn't direct flash. And, look at the shadows I still get. This is why I truly believe that the flash was bounced. I *think* if the flash had been direct, the face wouldn't have turned out so soft...a lot more direct light would have been put on the face causing it to look a good bit harsher than it does. I see what you mean by the angle of the shadow, but by the way it looks, it was bounced sideways rather than through a pocket bouncer or diffuser. At least that would be my take on it.

Anyway, here's the pic I was talkin about earlier. This was taken with some kind of bounced flash (though I can't remember the exact method anymore).

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Thanks for all the comments, keep them coming. On the second and third picture, I used omni bounce at 45 degree angle and with a softbox on the right side. I will try to move her away from the wall or furniture next time.

I'm not sure. #1 yes, but not #2 which is the one he asked about (same as #3). Looks like a direct flash shadow with the camera in portrait mode to me, with the flash off to the side.

I just never seem to get these shadows when I bounce my flash off the ceiling because the light is coming down at such a sharp angle. Sorry about the herrendous quality of these two. I did it so quick just now I didn't even bother to check the settings. ISO 1600 ooops.

This one was direct in portrait mode with my 580EX. I forgot to pop down the built in diffuser too (another oops). Note the same shadow as walkien's #2 and #3:

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Phil,

That second one looks GREAT!! I wish I had the option to bounce off the ceiling on all pics like that. Unfortunately, I'm down on the ground on my knees and lower getting that shot of my niece. I don't think I can get a good bounce off the celing that low to the ground. That's why I used the 80-20 with the white insert (at least I *think* that's what was used there...really can't remember). I'm still tryin to get the whole lighting thing down.

I have been able to get some shots that I really liked with my 420EX bounced off the celing. But, with younger kids, I don't necessarily think that'll be an option as the flash will be just too far away from the ceiling.

FlipsidE

The 420 is a pretty powerful flash too. I wouldn't think being down a few more feet would make that big a difference. Unless it's a dark ceiling absorbing some of the flash. I once shot in a dark laser tag room that actually had a mirrored ceiling. I had focus issues, but the flash bounced off that was just amazing.

Even with that slight shadow, btw, that is a beautiful shot of your niece. Her parents must really love that one.

I'd be really careful about the costumes... With these laws you never know if it's porn or not.

I have nothing against it personally, and IMO the kids are the sole property of the parents while the parents provide for them...

BTT: Nice pics. Diffuse the flash. Add another flash from the side as a slave...