Canon Digital Photography Tips

1

What's a good Digital SLR camera for a beginning portrait photographer?

I want a camera that's under $700 That will take great portraits. I'm going to take photography classes in the fall, so I'd like a better camera. Meanwhile I've been taking portraits for people with a point & shoot. I'd prefer Nikon or Canon, but preferably Canon. Any photography tips are appreciated also!

Hi,

There is some good advice from other contributors - particularly Photoace. For me either the Canon or Nikon would be fine. You will need at least a 70mm lens to take decent portrait.

For me, the camera is one of the least important elements in portraiture - as incidentally is the lens. You and your rapport with the subject is Absolutely critical. An in-focus, well light image of someone who looks as if they would rather be anywhere ales than in from of the camera, is pretty worthless.

Developing a posing routine is a good start - though do not always use the same sequence, as it will appear contrived and not natural. Try and really find out something about your subject: hobbies, interests, family, pets, sport, holidays, greatest achievements etc. Once you are able to have a conversation with your subject, the poses will flow. Always try and have 2 or 3 poses ready in your mind, should the show start to slow down.

As for equipment: -

In my own portrait studio I have a minimum of 4 x 500w/s strobes on a white backdrop, a 500w/s boom mounted hairlight, up to 4 x 500w/s modeling and/or fill lights, and 2 x 1,000w/s strobes which drive very large (7 feet x 5 feet) softboxes. Oh yes and a couple of 500w/s heads with a portable battery pack for use on location, away from a line power socket This, with the light modifiers, stands, backdrop holders, meter(s) etc etc is >> $15k, without a single camera or lens.

Now don't panic! It can be done for much, much less, but you need to think about what you are planning to do.

A so-called one light setup, with one strobe and a white/silver reflector, can produce some great shots. I would always recommend buying the best - in Europe: Bowens/Elinchrom in The States AB's I guess (I don't know the US market). But if you have a budget, what can you do? Well, there are some Chinese units available on ebay - link below, ships free to UK, for £72. I expect the US ebay has the same item on offer for <$100 also. It will probably only last a year, but by then you will know if portraits is your thing, and will have more confidence to invest in better kit. Even this smallest unit will be c2 to 3 x more powerful than your off-camera flash and 5 x more than the on-camera one - which is in any event useless for portraits. Plus you will have much more control. You will almost certainly be disappointed if you use the camera built-in flash for portraits.

As a white reflector, I use a piece of Styrofoam - cost £1/$2, and for silver, an auto screen sun reflector cost £1/$2.

Set the camera to auto white balance as a start.
Camera in manual mode (M) do not use P, green rectangle (if you get a Canon), programmed modes etc. You are in control of the lighting, and you must be in control of the camera. Set the shutter to 1/125th and crank the aperture to get correct exposure.

For a head-shot: -

Set the strobe pointing 45 degrees downwards, adjust its height to direct it onto the face, about 3 feet away, we will call this the main light. Position you and the camera at an angle of c30 degrees with the main light - and take a few shots. Now, hold (ie get someone to help) the white board on the opposite side of the subject to the main light to reflect some of its light back onto the face. Experiment with different main light and reflector angle and height combinations.

He presto! - you are a portrait photographer!

The XTi is c$550, with the 18-55 lens, which leaves $150 for the strobe and bounce boards.

Good luck
Charles

Canon EOS 450D Digital Rebel XSi Camera - New EOS 450 DSLR


canon digital photography tips5
canon digital photography tips5
canon digital photography tips5