Advice please?

[SJD2011]

Some friends of my parents are celebrating their 40th Wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks time, and have asked me to do some portraits for them.

I was planning on taking my 50mm prime and my 55-250 for this. They want the photos taken in their house & garden, so I figured these lenses would be the most suitable from the ones in my bag.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to how to ensure I get the best images I can. Both parties are a little stiff in front of the camera, and whilst I know them a little, they are mainly my parents friends.

Does anyone have any 'fail safe' (if there is such a thing) poses, or tricks I could use?

Also, I was wondering about whether to get a reflector for this as well? What do people think, and can anyone recommend one?

Cheers!

 

[SJD2011]

Anyone??????

 

[Richard King]

You need shorter lenses. something like a 18-70 and your 55-250

You need to be in control of the shoot, this is especially tricky if the couple know you

You don't want to be in full sun, you want to be in partial shade. Keep an eye on what is behind the people you are shooting

If you use on camera flash, do NOT point it off the person you are shooting at

Use your feet. If you pose a couple side by side, and they are embraced im a natural pose, if you take a shot of them and move, take another and move, by doing a 360 all the way round them, varying the shooting distance, and height, you can end up with a set of substantially different shots from one pose (you ask the couple to turn their heads slightly as you walk round them

Use your eyes - spot distractions and crap in the background before you shoot

If you pop the couple under a shady tree, use a reflector as a fill light (option)

I don't know how tall you are, but do watch your shooting height (there is a reason they used to shoot from the hip)

Don't try anything too clever (especially with lighting), stick to the basics, unless you are super confident and seamless with it

Relax, walk away, then walk back in when the sitter has relaxed and catch them off guard

Watch the framing - feet.... heads . arms... and for shots likely to be printed, think about a little extra breathing room for mounting

Watch out for auto ISO etc.. it can bite

If you end up doing groups, start big and work down. have an idea what you want, and what angle of view your lens covers before you start arranging people

Shoot it in RAW

 

[Furtim]

If none of them are particularly fond of being in front of the camera, I'd probably avoid as much formality as possible! Perhaps stick to the long lens, shallow DoF as snap candids from afar at the start of the evening, then when the booze has kicked in, and their less conscious of you, you might try for something more structured?

 

[SJD2011]

Hi guys,

thanks for the advice. Richard - the tips are amazing - thank you!
David - again, brilliant advice - and worth bearing in mind so thank you as well!

Is a reflector an essential purchase? I have a flashgun that I can move, with a diffuser, but wondered if a reflector would be a worthy purchase?

 

[Richard King]

A cheap round pop up 5-in-1 reflector is a brilliant purchase for photography in general. you can get pretty looking ones, but they all do the same job