Portraits

OK, the time has come, my better half has suggested I get some "proper" portraits of the kids. This scares even more than street photography, so, any tips?

The equipment I have available to me is:
*istDL
Kit lens
Manual 50mm 1:1.7 lens
Manual 70mm to 162mm ( if I remember correctly )
Polarising filter.
Couple of ND grads.
AF160 flash
Kood reflector with Silver, white, gold and black surfaces.

Your camera and the 50mm should do you. You didn't say how old the kids are.

Don't use the small flash on the hot-shoe as it will give just a 'snap'looking result-for 'Proper Portraits'you should take trouble to use better lighting and background,such as a plain paper roll or a plain wall-why not use tungsten lights as you haven't got studio flash? You can put in the 'white balance'for tungsten.

It depends what type of portraits your better half wants
If it's "school photo" type ones... that requires setting up a little bit of kit (preferably off-camera flash), reflector, backdrop etc.

If it's a more relaxed type of individual shot then this is my tuppence worth:
* Use the 50mm
* Position them facing a large window (at about 45 degrees to the window)
* Use the reflector on white to bounce back some light onto the darker side of the face
* Keep them well enough away from stuff behind - preferably hang a sheet behind

Above all, have fun

You might find it easier to practice first with your other half to get a feel for things, then do the kids when you're more confident (they'll get bored quickly!).

Matt

Sorry, yes! They are 7 and 10.

It is the school photo type stuff, ... to begin with. The money the school wanted this year didn't reflect the quality ( or lack of it ) of the photos on offer! Maybe I'm just getting more critical these days. So it was decided I could do the job instead

The 50mm lens is what I had in mind, i fact, it's why I bought it, so I'm glad you confirmed that.

Having taken them you then have to print them as well don't forget

Mike

The flash you have isn't really up to that much - especially if you cannot position it off camera.
If you have a good sized window with a net curtain (to soften and diffuse the light) you can get away with natural light... assuming it's not damp and horrible weather

Get yourself a cheap sheet - dark blue is the school photo colour - and hang it from the ceiling at 45 degrees to the window. Hold the reflector just out of shot - hold it so it lights the opposite side, pointing slightly up towards their chin.

Shoot with the 50mm at somewhere between f/3.2 and f/5.6

Just experiment until you get something that works. You don't need to spend much at all - just improvise. Even use sheets of white packing foam for reflectors. Just use anything

Here's some examples:
Window light (non diffused)
Using the "reflector" without a cover as a diffuser in sunlight
Window light with some Photoshopping

With a remote triggered AF540+brolly and AF360 flash, backdrop

Have fun
Matt

Matt's advice is pretty much what I would offer but with one difference, I'd use the silver reflector. In the past I've improvised with large 8' x 4' sheets of wall insulating polystyrene because it is really thick and rigid, you can glue aluminium foil to one side and easier to use in windy conditions outdoors. Of course you can cut it into more handleable sizes.

I dont really like the school format, although it occasionally helps pay the mortgage, I've got a 450 head shoot coming up.

Candid pictures can be very telling if you can get the kids involved with something, and always get down to their level.

Ken

Thanks guys, I've got just the window in mind. Well, 3 side by side actually, which are about 2m tall and catch the evening light.
Good idea about the dark blue sheet.

Gartmore... I have heard that the silver side can give a "colder" light and the gold gives a "warmer" light. Is that right?

I tried a couple of candid shots, but Emily can detect a camera at 200m and will stand and pose. I really need to sneak up on her, also,as Chris said in the one photo of her I put on here, " All I see is teeth"

engage the subject in a conversation.
you can get any expression imaginable, if you touch the right subject.
ask kids to talk about pets, vacations, thier friends music/tv stars etc.

hard to holld that "All I see is teeth" grin, while talking, thinking etc.

I have no experience of this but Scott Kelby in his Digital Photography Book 2 suggests using the silver side indoors, and the gold side outdoors. He says it gives a more natural effect. Maybe others can confirm this?

Useful hints, all.
So, I suppose..watch this space.

As for getting them printed off. Let's see if I get anything worth printing first

I use depending on the light, Med'size Silver and small Gold for indoor.
Large Gold and small White/Silver outside.
But saying that it is trial and error as light changes all the time, ( No two days/light are the same).
Hope this helps..

My sincere condolences Ted

My suggestions are;

1) hit the bottle
2) get you camera ready
3) hit the bottle again
4) check the cameras insurance policy
5) hit the bottle again
6) let the kids take thair own pics

Alternatively you could follow Matts advice and start with window lighting, you could even try a few shots of them looking wistfully out of a rainy window (light depending), and if you dont fancy the idea of draping sheets everywhere you could always snap them in their natural surroundings, just make sure its not too cluttered and thrown out of focus.

Quick Edit.....you could always set the camera up on a tripod and use a remote, might help reduce the all teeth shots if they dont think your ready.

LOL.

Probably the best advice yet