On location lighting questions

I am trying to practice some and I have lined up some informal shoots of children and families. I will be either at the families homes or at other locations. I have the 430 exII and the 580 exII.

I think for family shots on location and for shots of children it seems best to use less equipment to keep everyone comfortable.

So for family shots, to candids of kids, and newborn sessions what kind of set up do you use? Do you try to use mostly ambient or do you use lighting to wash out backgrounds if necessary? Any tidbits of info or advice on this would be great. Examples of shots and what you did for lighting would be great too!

Also (and if this should be asked somewhere else please redirect) I feel like my 40D underexposes quite a bit but I don't really know what to do about that except to just go into manual mode which is what I have been doing lately.

Wow... No replies.

I like ambient light but a little flash in the right circumstances really helps.

for example if you are shooing outdoors in the full sun you will want some fill flash to help witht he harsh shadows.

Hopefully some of the pros will chime in.

leahmt47 wrote in post #11279460
I am trying to practice some and I have lined up some informal shoots of children and families. I will be either at the families homes or at other locations. I have the 430 exII and the 580 exII.

I think for family shots on location and for shots of children it seems best to use less equipment to keep everyone comfortable.

So for family shots, to candids of kids, and newborn sessions what kind of set up do you use? Do you try to use mostly ambient or do you use lighting to wash out backgrounds if necessary? Any tidbits of info or advice on this would be great. Examples of shots and what you did for lighting would be great too!

Also (and if this should be asked somewhere else please redirect) I feel like my 40D underexposes quite a bit but I don't really know what to do about that except to just go into manual mode which is what I have been doing lately.

Have you tried to dial in some exposure compensation?

leahmt47 wrote in post #11279460
So for family shots, to candids of kids, and newborn sessions what kind of set up do you use?

That's a big question and each group (families vs. kids vs.newborns) would have a different answer. Newborns can be done easily (and best) in natural indirect window light with merely a reflector or a bit of fill flash. Family shots require a bit more lighting power depending on the size of the group and the ambient light of the location. kids candids, you aren't going to be able to control the ambient light if they are running around all over the place, etc.

Perhaps you might consider reading the lighting section and the kids and family sections to find answers and formulate your question a bit more narrowly?