Portraits/Backgrounds

dawntwist

dawntwist

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In a few weeks Im going to do some family portraits of my sisters, and I'd like some advice on a subtle, effective background, is the home a reasonable enough place to do this, or are there any other areas I havent considered? If the weather doesnt get itself together, it may very well have to be indoors. Whats the best way of getting a soft background that doesnt interfere with the photographic theme?

-Dawn
 
2 girls, aged 20 and 22, and possibly my sister and her boyfriend, aged 22 and 25. not sure of theme, something fun, wanted to do it for my mum as a print for her birthday
 
do you have photoshop?

do you like white backgrounds?

outdoors in the park be good on the slide or roundabout.

or by a lake feeding ducks?

???????
 
yes, i have photoshop
love white backgrounds
those ideas sound great, thanks. :)
 
there is a thread on here bout whiteback grounds its really easy in photoshop.

i just need a bit of tweaking to perfect it.

hope that lot helps

post soon and let me know how it goes
 
Outside, f/2.8, fill in flash. If its overcast all the better as long as you don't have sky in the shot. You won't get harsh shadows on peoples faces. White backgrounds are so dull imho. They're too clinical. Go out, have a fun day on location. Capture the day.
 
Sounds like a great idea :) Are there any special locations or anywhere that is recognisable as somewhere visited by the family (just to give it that tie in) as that might work well for a location or background and also act as something more than just a "background". A white background might be nice as Photomad suggests, but I have found (with the limited portraid work i have done) you need to nail the lighting and exposure if you want an image to work on a white background. Any blown hightlights and it starts to blend with the background.

I would just recommend trying to keep the shot happy and lively if its for your mum. I wouldnt make it too posed and formal and also take plenty of shots when setting up or trying things out, you might get people off guard looking more relaxed and natural.

For a soft background I would just use a small depth of field (IE a low fstop) but keeping enough to make sure the people are still in focus...so maybe dont shoot too close to the background whatever it maybe, give space for the focus to go so its just turns nice and soft and blurry. I know this would probably be hard if indoors.
 
Damn Pete kinda beat me too it in a far more simple way!
 
thanks for the advice guys, got some good ideas now :)
there are some great gardens nearby, it was a spot that was used to take my cousins wedding photos too, as the gardens are neatly kept by gardeners.
 
Remember, if its overcast hide the sky with something else or it'll be white. So nice over hanging trees will do. If its a sunny day don't shoot until the evening as the light will be too harsh.
 
Id agree with the above pair, anytime I do portrait work I often use longer lenses to make use of the distance compression. If i cant do longer focal lengths I tend to use my 50 f1.8 to get the nice soft bokeh.
 
Environmental portraits >>>>> regular portraits (especially clinical, white backgrounded ones) IMO.
 
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