Better indoors photo's & lens upgrade ?

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Jim
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Hey Guys,

I'm a real newb with a camera, we only recently got a dlsr and a couple of lenses and I've been practicing using it but obviously I'm only using the presets and trying to get the composition right before worrying about the technical side. I am hoping to take a course as soon as life slows down a bit :D

Basically we have a new baby girl and I want to get plenty of shots of her but they are mainly in doors, could anyone point me in the direction of some good advice on taking photos in doors but not in a studio ?

I've got a Cannon 550d with the two kit lenses 18-55 & 55-250 I think and also the cheap cannon 50mm as well, I much prefer this lens as the photos seem to have more depth of colour & be sharper than the 18-55 but find it a struggle in smaller rooms but also want a good walk about lens for when were out and about.

So with that in mind i'm wondering if an upgrade to the 18-55 might help and maybe a flash ? Looking at £500 ish ?

As I said I really not to hot on the techy stuff yet but want to get the best results a I can before she grows up too much, any advice is gratefully received.

Regards Jim.

http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w325/bigjim_078/Lottie/IMG_2163_zps05ee596c.jpg
 
A good flash would help immensely and I recommend a Yongnuo. As for a lens then perhaps a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8?
 
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Good fast wide angles are a problem on the smaller sensor cameras like 550D. The 50mm you have becomes 80mm which is a bit long in confined spaces. Flash as suggested by Connor is a very good approach, especially if you invest a bit time in learning how to use it off camera (google strobist for incredibly good tips). If you upgrade the lens, try sigma 30mm f1.4. I have used it quite a lot and it is very nice even wide open. If that is two narrow for your apartment, then you will have to look for a bit slower lenses and crank up the ISO. Luckily pictures of babies do not look bad even if you use 14mm lenses! :)
 
Try to take the photos near the window. If you have patio doors they are great. Make sure the subject is not in direct sunlight and try to have them around 4ft in from the window (the light is wonderful). you need to stand just to one side so you are shooting back into the room. The window will also give you a nice big catch light.
 
Net curtains over windows can help difuse any direct sunlight - make sure they're plain white or set a custom white balance for them.

Lens choice? Look back Through the photos you like best among the ones you've already taken. Check the EXIF and see what focal length you use and like most. From the sound of it, your 50mm is a little too long in your house, so maybe a 35mm would be a better choice. f/1.8 ones tend to be far more affordable than f/1.4, unless you feel you really need the minimal DoF an f/1.4 gives wide open. Not familiar with the Canon range of flashes - personally, I would stick with the manufacturer's range - no compatability issues and they should just work! Given that you'll be working quite close, no need for a powerful flash, a basicish one should do all you need. With all the money I may have saved you, you could take her out for an ice cream - pictures of a kiddy's face covered in melted gack!
 
A good replacement for your kit lens would be the Tamron AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II LD (or the stabilised version) or a Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS which would give you a good fast zoom and a Nissin Di622 MkII flash. You should be able to get them with your budget and you could then put your 18-55 kit lens up for sale to get a bit of cash back.

Alternatively you could get a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, a Canon 35 f2, a Canon 40 f2.8 STM, Canon 50 f1.4 or an 85 f1.8 depending on what focal length you require, but with a prime lens you are limited compared to a zoom lens in reach.
 
I've got the Canon 17-55 f2.8 is it's a cracking lens and a big step up from the kit lens.
If you look on the sale forum they are around secondhand for the +ish side of your £500 budget.
 
Exactly the same here set up wise apart from the fact I have the 450d and exactly the same reason I got an Dslr, taking pictures of my new born son (he is now 19 month) the 50mm is perfect for low light stuff with the aperture at 1.8 but i have found it to be just a bit too close for in the house stuff and I am set on getting the 35mm f2 when I have the money .
 
I also just started out in photography this year, and also own a 550d. Just like you I wanted better pics of the kids indoors so I bought a yongnuo 560 flash and a shoot through umbrella, which improved my pics no-end. I recently bought a canon 15-85 which has improved my pics even further, in-fact probably my best buy out of anything camera related.
 
Buying a flash as the best thing I ever did (Canon 430ex ii). Stick the 50mm lens on, put the camera in manual mode and set the shutter speed to around 1/100 to minimize camera shake.
I use an aperture of around f4 - the flash should fill in the correct amount of light.

Direct flash can be a bit harsh so bounce of the ceiling or wall. Try to find a white or light coloured wall to bounce off.

Wish I new then, what I know now, when my son was first born. I've got hundreds of blurred or under exposed photos because of my bad photography skills.
 
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Nod said:
Net curtains over windows can help difuse any direct sunlight - make sure they're plain white or set a custom white balance for them.

Lens choice? Look back Through the photos you like best among the ones you've already taken. Check the EXIF and see what focal length you use and like most. From the sound of it, your 50mm is a little too long in your house, so maybe a 35mm would be a better choice. f/1.8 ones tend to be far more affordable than f/1.4, unless you feel you really need the minimal DoF an f/1.4 gives wide open. Not familiar with the Canon range of flashes - personally, I would stick with the manufacturer's range - no compatability issues and they should just work! Given that you'll be working quite close, no need for a powerful flash, a basicish one should do all you need. With all the money I may have saved you, you could take her out for an ice cream - pictures of a kiddy's face covered in melted gack!
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Now... that's good advice :thumbs:
 
yep you will not regret investing in an external flash so you can bounce the light..

also shoot RAW and read up on basic post processing so you can easily recover WB, tone, saturation and add noise reduction/shaprness if needed when you shoot high ISO.. its not that hard to get to grips with..

also when baby is asleep and static a tripod will help if shooting a slow speed, but external flash should be first on the list.
 
Nick_1981 said:
Now... that's good advice :thumbs:
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Thank you, nice to be appreciated!

I always try to give good advice and/or offer my own opinion. I never presume to tell people what to do but I will offer suggestions! I'll also tell people what I do and why I do it but freely admit that my way isn't necessarily the right way. Some of my methods are rather old fahioned - probably as a result of me having learned many of my skills rather a long time ago!
 
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