Equipment Advice

deductress

deductress

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Hello,
I'm a student photographer who's always focused mostly on macro or landscape photography. I've decided to dabble in some portrait photography, i'm hoping to begin with children, move on to pets and see where it goes from there.
In all honesty, i'm a little overwhelmed at the amount of equipment required when it comes to moving into portrait photography, and i'm seeking advice.
Now i already have a couple of locations for my photography, areas with lots of sunlight, etc. So i *assume* lighting won't be so integral if i'm depending on natural light? (But do feel free to correct me.)
Basically i'm asking what's the most important equipment i should have. The budget is theoretical at this time, so suggest what you like. I just don't know whether all i need is a sufficient lens, or if appropriate lighting equipment is required or if i only need a white backing board - i am genuinely ignorant to the processes of portrait photography.

If anyone would like to add in any other advice relating to beginning in portrait photography (or child photography in particular), feel free too. I'm more than happy to learn.

Thank you for any help given.
 
I don't know what gear you have, but really there's no specialist gear required to shoot people. But things you might find useful:

A fast telephoto (for background separation)
A 5 in 1 reflector

You might later want to consider flash gear and triggers, but really if you start simple there's plenty to learn.
 
Phil V said:
I don't know what gear you have, but really there's no specialist gear required to shoot people. But things you might find useful:

A fast telephoto (for background separation)
A 5 in 1 reflector

You might later want to consider flash gear and triggers, but really if you start simple there's plenty to learn.
Click to expand...

Aaah, okay, awesome. Thank you for replying.
I've added the reflector to my wishlist, but may i ask if you happen to know any brands (or whatnot) of telephotos to go for? I'm seeing a few in varying prices and am unsure what is the right way to go.

Thanks again!
 
What camera do you have? What lenses do you already own?
 
FWIW my go-to lens for ambient light portraits of any kind, either on full frame or 1.3 crop, was always the 85/1.8L.

But I'd always be guided by my learned friend from Doncaster, who seems to know what he's talking about ;)
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
FWIW my go-to lens for ambient light portraits of any kind, either on full frame or 1.3 crop, was always the 85/1.8L.

But I'd always be guided by my learned friend from Doncaster, who seems to know what he's talking about ;)
Click to expand...
And who loves his 85mm 1.8 :)

But if he was shooting full frame would go for a 135 f2 :confused:

Speaking of which - bargain of the century - there's a 135 2.8 soft focus in the classifieds for £150 if the OP shoots Canon (i had one in the days when SF was still a bit cool - but its a cracking lens without the SF dialled in)
 
in regard tot he 5 in 1 reflector they sell large rectangular ones that fold down ( oddly into circular shape ) on ebay for under a tenner and are great. being rectangulr you get a little more size and a little easier to prop up.

one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-in-1-90...Controls_Light_Reflectors&hash=item485ae3bb12

also even outdoors you may want to consider a flashgun for fill light etc.
may be a little out of budget but
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yongnuo-Y...ories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item2a269b508d

fully auto TTL flash with auto zoom and a def worthwhile edition to your kit

( dont forget to include batteries and sanyo eneloop cant be beaten )

as for lenses .. again if on a budget you cant go wrong with the nifty fifty f/1.8 for around £50. on a crop sensor this will give you around 80mm focal length and is ideal for budget based portrait shooting .
 
Phil V said:
What camera do you have? What lenses do you already own?
Click to expand...
Nikon D3200, kit 18-55, nikkor 40mm 1:2.8G and a couple of other mini lenses i've found online that work as wide angle or macro.
 
Serendipitous Sid said:
FWIW my go-to lens for ambient light portraits of any kind, either on full frame or 1.3 crop, was always the 85/1.8L.

But I'd always be guided by my learned friend from Doncaster, who seems to know what he's talking about ;)
Click to expand...

Thank you, added it to wishlist. =]
 
Phil V said:
And who loves his 85mm 1.8 :)

But if he was shooting full frame would go for a 135 f2 :confused:

Speaking of which - bargain of the century - there's a 135 2.8 soft focus in the classifieds for £150 if the OP shoots Canon (i had one in the days when SF was still a bit cool - but its a cracking lens without the SF dialled in)
Click to expand...

Nikon unfortunately... =/
 
dean messenger said:
in regard tot he 5 in 1 reflector they sell large rectangular ones that fold down ( oddly into circular shape ) on ebay for under a tenner and are great. being rectangulr you get a little more size and a little easier to prop up.

one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-in-1-90...Controls_Light_Reflectors&hash=item485ae3bb12

also even outdoors you may want to consider a flashgun for fill light etc.
may be a little out of budget but
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yongnuo-Y...ories_CameraFlashUnits_JN&hash=item2a269b508d

fully auto TTL flash with auto zoom and a def worthwhile edition to your kit

( dont forget to include batteries and sanyo eneloop cant be beaten )

as for lenses .. again if on a budget you cant go wrong with the nifty fifty f/1.8 for around £50. on a crop sensor this will give you around 80mm focal length and is ideal for budget based portrait shooting .
Click to expand...

Excellent, thank you for all the suggestions (particularly the links, that's very helpful!). My wishlist is getting bigger and bigger. XD
 
Then the 85mm should be the next thing you buy.
 
I agree 85mm + a 70-200mm f2.8 is also a useful lens to have- and for Macro I use a Sigma 105mm f2,8 a cracker of a lens and can double as a Portrait lens too

Les ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bear in mind if you're on a 3200 a lot of lenses (50mm 1.8 included) won't autofocus. This isn't the end for portraits, but can be a bit annoying initially. I like my 50mm personally, it's not the greatest lens in the world but then it's very, very cheap. If you're on a tight budget, that's where I'd start. I also use a Nikon 70-210 F4 (I think, I'm useless at knowing what stuff is). Lovely for outdoor portraits (or where you have space) and if you want a blurry background you just have to move your subjects a bit.
 
^Joe said:
Why...? Granted I've not used the Nikon equivalent. But (the canon), as a starter portrait lens, it's sharp, wide, and an easy to use lens.

If you need to throw the background out, have a background that's further away :LOL:
Click to expand...
My opinion, I personally find the 50mm too short to use as a tele and too long to use as a general lens on a crop. IMO 85mm on full frame would be the minimum I'd describe as telephoto, and when I shot film my 'portrait' lens was 135mm on 35mm film.

And on crop it's 85mm and on my 645 it was 150mm (some might say 100mm equivalent).

Like I said though - opinions. My 50mm (everyone should have one) has probably shot 100 frames in 10 years.
 
Excellent, thanks for all the responses lads, super helpful! Will check out the 50mm next too.
 
At the moment it looks like i'll go for a 85mm since everyone seems to agree it is the best choice, the 70-200 would be nice but wow expensive. XD
 
deductress said:
At the moment it looks like i'll go for a 85mm since everyone seems to agree it is the best choice, the 70-200 would be nice but wow expensive. XD
Click to expand...
so get a seocond hand one like i did £660 :):):)
 
Unfortunately still a little expensive for me at the time being, however the other equipment costs i can reach to. XD
 
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