Basic photo shoot set up

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freeman3030

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James
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Hi, my sister is coming home to the UK for christmas this year which our family is really excited about and as shes home I want to take a nice family portrait and get it printed on canvas as a xmas present for my parents.

I'm a real photography novice, I have a Nikon D3100 & understand the basic manual controls and have had a handful of what I would call 'successful' shots... along with hundreds of rubbish ones! I researched online and bought myself a Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G lens which I think gives really good portrait photos considering how cheap it was.

What I really need help/recommendation with is:

1) A Stand & Background - best material, size of background etc

2) What sort of flash - soft boxes, umbrellas etc. Is this something a beginner can do/set up or is this really for professionals?
 
Probably the easiest thing to do flash wise is to get a separate flash that will attach to the hot shoe on top of your camera. You can then point this at either the ceiling or a light coloured wall to give an even reflected light. As for background, you could just use a wall in the house that's uncluttered. It really depends on how much you want to spend. To get a studio set-up with soft boxes, flashes and a background you really are looking into at least £200+. At that cost you'd be better off going to a studio or getting someone to come to you.
 
Thanks, unfortunately all our walls have a dado rail running around and I fear it would ruin the look as I would really like there to be nothing in the background for a clean look. I have been looking on ebay and could pick up a stand and white background for around £70 which I didn't think was too bad.
With regards to the flash - this may seem like a dumb question, but I take a speedflash and a flashgun are the same thing?
 
If you're on the hunt for a flashgun, I've got a Metz Mecablitz 48 that I used on my D3100 before upgrading to my D300s. It's a great flash for the money, charge between flashes could be a little faster but for what you're using it for I can't see that being a problem.

I've got a cheap studio lighting kit which seems good for starting with - it's a set of two lights on tripods, with umbrellas. Cost me about £100 on eBay, there's loads like it. It's by no means pro, but will give the result you're after.

You can always upgrade that if you choose to go into portrait stuff properly!
 
Basic photo shoot set up = natural light.

If you don't know what you're doing with flash, then chances are you'll end up spending a lot of money to end up with worse pictures.

Find somewhere in or around the house, garden, local park with an uncluttered background. Go on on nice cloudy day if you're going outside (shouldn't be any shortage of them at that time of year), put the sun behind the family so people aren't squinting, and fire away.
 
Thanks for the replies, very useful. Have looked and watch videos on youtube and think im going to get the SB-700 flash. I've learned about using the ceiling/wall to bounce light off to make the photos look better and not get harsh shadows. under your chin etc. Will take some practise im sure to master it. Thanks once again :)
 
I've done a bit of portrait work. I'm still learning, but I've found for me that a plain, light coloured wall opposite a window is a good starting point. If its at Christmas there's going to be precious little good daylight! I use a couple of speedlights fired remotely into reflective brollies on stands to up the light. A reflector might help too. Have fun, that's the main thing. In my view, a well-lit but boring shot hasn't got the appeal of one that has some character. Think about getting everyone outside, with hats and scarves in the park as well as just indoors.
 
Jayst84 said:
Basic photo shoot set up = natural light.

If you don't know what you're doing with flash, then chances are you'll end up spending a lot of money to end up with worse pictures.

Find somewhere in or around the house, garden, local park with an uncluttered background. Go on on nice cloudy day if you're going outside (shouldn't be any shortage of them at that time of year), put the sun behind the family so people aren't squinting, and fire away.
Click to expand...

True that 1000x over.

Plonk your subjects in some open shade, get a reflector in there, some nice shallow DOF, bosh. Instant "nice" portrait :thumbs:
 
Hire a studio.

Couple of hours in a pro studio will cost less than an SB700. If you ask nicely they will also set lights for you to get decent results out of the box.

To make it even better, hire a makeup artist too.
 
I would hire a studio and ask then to set up the lights and your camera for you. I wish I had a studio near me I could hire like that. Unfortunately the only place I found locally had a s&m dungeon in it :)

Best option is natural light though IMHO.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Hire a studio.

Couple of hours in a pro studio will cost less than an SB700. If you ask nicely they will also set lights for you to get decent results out of the box.

Get the sb700 and it's a flash in you collection :whoop:
Click to expand...
 
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