Portrait help with limited kit.

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James.Thomas

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Hi everyone.

Basically I have some family coming over to stay from Oz for 2 weeks in early December for a family wedding.
I would like to take some photos while they're here staying with us (not the wedding :D ) especially their 3 year old little boy.

Lens wise I have a canon 70-200 f/4 IS, a Canon 50mm f/1.8 and a Canon 85mm f/1.8.

I'm taking for granted (being December) that I will have to take most of them indoors in poor light.

Apart from the built in flash on my camera I have a 430 EX II flash with a Sto - Fen diffuser the shop gave me too.

What I would like to know is what would be my best approach with the flash technique etc to get the best results with limited kit?

I am fairly new to using flash too by the way :(

Many thanks for any help.
 
the 85mm f1.4 ( wide open) will cope with indoor shots, say close to a window-much nicer to use natural light than a flash, in my opinion and at 1.4 nice out of focus back ground too

Just a thought

Les :thumbs:
 
as les said as much natural light as possible a reflector and maybe just a little flash for a bit of fill.

Or sometimes you get lovely sunny days in december so a trip to the local park and get more of a candid protrait shots??
 
Yes, natural light is great. If there are net curtains, they will diffuse window light nicely. Outside, I would avoid really bright direct sunlight because of the strong shadows it will produce and also it tends to make people squint.

One thing you could do before they arrive is to practice, particularly inside, so you know what's what on the day.
 
I completely agree with the natural light, the 85mm wide open and the outdoors. These were all taken on a very cold day in January when the sky was very overcast. Cloud creates a wonderful natural diffuser, softening shadows and skin and is excellent for some top quality black and whites.
Whilst they're there though, experiment! Try indoors by windows, outdoors at different times of day and get creative :-) Have fun!
 
Dont worry too much about the quantity of light, go look for somewhere with good quality of light. You'll find some lovely spots of light even round the house, just bump up your ISO :)
 
Mank said:
Dont worry too much about the quantity of light, go look for somewhere with good quality of light. You'll find some lovely spots of light even round the house, just bump up your ISO :)
Click to expand...

What Rob said - I couldn't believe your kit list after promising 'portrait with limited kit' you've got at least 3 lenses capable of great portraits.

More important, as Rob said is the light, don't just stick your flashgun on, find some window light - or get outside, winter skies are nice light for portraits. Get the people engaged and shoot whilst they're happy.

Good luck.
 
Phil V said:
Get the people engaged and shoot whilst they're happy.
Click to expand...

Too late, they're over for a family wedding ;)

But yes, as I've learnt (far too late) - Light is about quality, not quantity.
 
Lez325 said:
the 85mm f1.4 ( wide open) will cope with indoor shots, say close to a window-much nicer to use natural light than a flash, in my opinion and at 1.4 nice out of focus back ground too

Just a thought

Les :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the reply Les.

I haven't had the 85 for very long (just under a month) and haven't really tried it wide open yet.
But I'll be sure to give that a go before they come over in December :)

PS mine is a 1.8 I think?
 
SpikeK6 said:
as les said as much natural light as possible a reflector and maybe just a little flash for a bit of fill.

Or sometimes you get lovely sunny days in december so a trip to the local park and get more of a candid protrait shots??
Click to expand...

I think candid shots will be what I'm aiming for as I don't have any reflectors as such.
Plus from what I can gather,since seeing him on his first birthday 2 years ago he's obviously found his legs and doesn't hang around for anybody or anything :)
 
DrGed said:
Yes, natural light is great. If there are net curtains, they will diffuse window light nicely. Outside, I would avoid really bright direct sunlight because of the strong shadows it will produce and also it tends to make people squint.

One thing you could do before they arrive is to practice, particularly inside, so you know what's what on the day.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply.
I'll be practicing a lot in conditions I expect to have to tackle :)
 
Christo said:
I completely agree with the natural light, the 85mm wide open and the outdoors. These were all taken on a very cold day in January when the sky was very overcast. Cloud creates a wonderful natural diffuser, softening shadows and skin and is excellent for some top quality black and whites.
Whilst they're there though, experiment! Try indoors by windows, outdoors at different times of day and get creative :-) Have fun!
Click to expand...


I'll be sure to look at them when I have access to a PC. As I'm only using my iPhone at the moment.
Thanks for the help. It's much appreciated :)
 
Mank said:
Dont worry too much about the quantity of light, go look for somewhere with good quality of light. You'll find some lovely spots of light even round the house, just bump up your ISO :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Mank.

I think that's where a lot of my inexperience will show,in knowing good quality light!
Just have to crack on and practice :)
 
Phil V said:
What Rob said - I couldn't believe your kit list after promising 'portrait with limited kit' you've got at least 3 lenses capable of great portraits.

More important, as Rob said is the light, don't just stick your flashgun on, find some window light - or get outside, winter skies are nice light for portraits. Get the people engaged and shoot whilst they're happy.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Sorry Phil. Probably should have titled it limited experience rather than kit :)
I think the flash (if needed) will be my worst area. I've had it nearly 2 months now and still haven't got to grips with which angle etc to use it for in what condition and such :(
Just have to get my head down and do some practicing over the next month or so!

Thanks very much for the help. Much appreciated :)
 
sk66 said:
If you need to use the flash, bounce it. If possible, backwards bounce will give the softest/ most even lighting.
Click to expand...

Thanks Sk66.
When you say backwards bounce do you mean pointing upwards and facing towards me?
Would the diffuser be needed or not?

Apologies for the daft questions. I really am bottom of the pile in terms of flash knowledge :D
 
I mean up and behind you...but that requires a smaller room/more flash power. I wouldn't use the diffuser for bounce flash (i.e. walls/ceiling). I will use the diffuser in combination with a bounce panel (i.e. flashbender) w/ the flash on camera, but that's a different type of "bounce."
 
In my opinion you should be more than fine with that gear. I would look out for some outdoor locations with shelter but access to an outdoor background. Ask around see if any one has a barn or look out for shelters in local park with enough space to fit every one in. Bit of creativity with some pre planned locations it should be a piece of cake :-)
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm going to a camera club run by a local pub landlord this evening.
Hopefully it's a nice bunch willing to give me a little help too :)
 
You can make reflectors from anything. Cover cardboard in tinfoil or paint it white. In the past ive painted doors white to use as full length reflectors - ok so this wasn't the original plan but i found them very good.
 
I carry a piece of A4 card/board in my bag - white on one side and black on the other. Can be used as a reflector or a shade.
 
Another trick for softening flash is to take some white toilet roll, fold it at least 4 sheets thick then fold in half and tape over the front of the flash, this will diffuse and soften the light from the flash gun, cream toilet roll works well too and gives a nice warm tone.

PS I always found the 85mm F1.8 best around F2.5 it should still give a fast enough shutter speed for hand holding, even in winter light and you can happily shoot up to ISO 1600 with your camera with no loss of quality or noise.
 
magicaxeman said:
Another trick for softening flash is to take some white toilet roll, fold it at least 4 sheets thick then fold in half and tape over the front of the flash, this will diffuse and soften the light from the flash gun
Click to expand...
That's not doing anything but reducing the output while still eating batteries. Better to just turn the power down. (-FEC)
 
No, the toilet roll acts in a similar way to the material in a softbox, it softens the light.

Of course anything in front of a flash reduces the light it produces.
 
magicaxeman said:
No, the toilet roll acts in a similar way to the material in a softbox, it softens the light.

Of course anything in front of a flash reduces the light it produces.
Click to expand...

Not quite it doesn't, the large shiny surface on the interior of the soft box is doing half the work (that's half the work of the soft box - which is greater than doubling up the effect of the toilet roll).

Try before and after portraits with the toilet roll, to see how much effect it has;), indoors a stofen type diffuser is much better, as is any type of bounce technique /device.
 
So far I've just bought toilet rolls as a single-purpose item. But maybe a single sheet held over my lens would give a nice diffused effect?
 
magicaxeman said:
No, the toilet roll acts in a similar way to the material in a softbox, it softens the light.

Of course anything in front of a flash reduces the light it produces.
Click to expand...

To "soften" the light you have to make it larger. TP in front of the flash doesn't do that.

Try a shot with the TP and then another w/o it but w/ the flash turned down ~.5-1... They'll look the same; and turning down the flash saves batteries and helps freeze motion.
 
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