Got a photoshoot on Sunday

Casperd360 wrote in post #9407189
I agree with everything he has said. The umbrella lighting is it continuous light? I see you said its flash. Just curious. Mine are continuous and it makes it easier to adjust my lighting.

It is not a continuous light, it is more less just the flash behind the white umbrella on a stand, though outdoor

yogestee wrote in post #9404085
C'mon,,give 400dabuser a break.. Fair questions deserve fair answers..

I'd use One Shot AF with a single focus point on the subject preferably around the eyes.. Now the problem you have is that you need to shoot two people so it's advisable both are sharp.. You need a smallish aperture of around f/11 to achieve this.. Bring your flash in close but far enough back to get even lighting..

Shoot quite a few frames focusing on different parts of the subject(s) and allow the depth of field to look after itself.. You can also step back a bit and shoot more loosely..This will give you more depth of field at the subject and you can always crop during post processing..

Why not?? The best way to learn is to be thrown into the deep end..

We don't know who these people are,,could be his friends or siblings..

Sweet Geezus,,how many times did I take s**t photos of friends and family when I was first starting out..

Thanks for your advice there

Karl Johnston wrote in post #9407224
As long as you're not masquerading as a pro whos very experienced I don't see any problem with it ! Best way to learn or do anything is to jump right in there and do it

Thanks, though they did like my photos on my flickr account

lol, I fully understand why people are hating on you,
but then again, no real paid pro photogs ever go on forums either...

Assuming they're not moving, you wanna use One Shot with a manually selected point,
but I'd think you have 9 AF points and it can getting annoying trying to focus on the eyes.

Assuming they're moving and you don't own a 1d4 or 7d with AF tracking, you would
want to go with AI Focus with no points selected, or if you know the direction and can
track the movement you can also try using a single point.

You should really provide the lens(es) being used because that will determine how your
AF and other camera settings will be, e.g. if you're using a 50 1 8 you might as well give
up AF; even on One Shot, it's just not really happening.

---

For flash you should always go off camera if you haven't been told already, the only
time you would ever want on camera is for ridiculously generic candid shots... which
you might as well use a P&S for.

Consider the sun's direction, and where your subject is standing, as well as how the
lighting is showing on your subject, since it can act as a key light or a back light. Assuming
you have the means to shoot off camera flash, you can then shoot it from the side
without any modifiers since direct flash really only looks bad straight on, you'd be surprised
how good direct flash can look in day light, as long as you angle it properly.

Seeing you have an infared transmitter, you might run into issue of the flash not
firing since the sun will overpower it, be sure to point the red (AF assist lamp) part of
your flash towards your transmitter, if it still wont fire, go closer.

If you wanna play it safe, just use a standard umbrella setup or have someone else
hold the flash pointing into the umbrella, ghetto but its quicker.

---

Last but not least... please shoot in manual (camera) and RAW, especially since you're
using a flash. Just batch convert them to JPG in camera raw in PP, doesn't really require
a lot of effort, it'll just run on its own for a long time. As for flash settings, just go
with ETTL, manual flash might just confuse you more; ETTL with manual it'll automatically
shoot it as fill.

Hope this helps, if all else fails just say you're just a hobby photog, what can they say.

channel_49 wrote in post #9437791
but then again, no real paid pro photogs ever go on forums either...

What? Lots paid, pro photogs (myself included) hang around the POTN forums...

PMCphotography wrote in post #9437960
What? Lots paid, pro photo gs (myself included) hang around the PO TN forums...

Yes, and those of us needing help do truly appreciate you guys being here too.

28 years as a pro photographer, 17 of those with a newspaper.. I'm now retired from full time pro photography but still shoot the odd paid gig..

PMCphotography wrote in post #9437960
What? Lots paid, pro photogs (myself included) hang around the POTN forums...

Well there's always tons of exceptions, but the vast majority of "photogs"
onlines are a little less than they claim to be. As far as I'm concerned, pro photogs are
all rather nice and helpful, quite far from "elitists" that you see online.

Plus... most pro photogs aren't that knowledgeable in small nitty gritty technical
details, contrary to what most people think... It's actually the amateurs that seem more
caught up in attitude...

Anyways I'm not a photog or ever claim to be, but as a designer I get to work with
a lot of well established individuals and they're probably the easiest types of people you
can ever work with, not to meant obviously no question is too stupid to them.

philwillmedia wrote in post #9403821
If you need to be asking such simple and basic questions, then you are not even close to ready to be shooting this gig, even if you're not being paid for it.

Did people not take pictures before AF? Photographers from 20 years ago wouldn't know this basic knowledge either, are you saying you shouldn't let them near a shoot?

If the guy understands light, then who cares about his camera body knowledge?

channel_49 wrote in post #9439503
Plus... most pro photogs aren't that knowledgeable in small nitty gritty technical
details, contrary to what most people think... It's actually the amateurs that seem more
caught up in attitude...

This is absolutely true in my experience as well. Only on internet forums do you find people who give a **** about technical details of cameras and lenses.

channel_49 wrote in post #9439503
Well there's always tons of exceptions, but the vast majority of "photogs"
onlines are a little less than they claim to be. As far as I'm concerned, pro photogs are
all rather nice and helpful, quite far from "elitists" that you see online.

Plus... most pro photogs aren't that knowledgeable in small nitty gritty technical
details, contrary to what most people think... It's actually the amateurs that seem more
caught up in attitude...

Anyways I'm not a photog or ever claim to be, but as a designer I get to work with
a lot of well established individuals and they're probably the easiest types of people you
can ever work with, not to meant obviously no question is too stupid to them.

I think you are making quite the generalization. Stick on this forum for awhile and you will see.