ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

I am going to be doing a sweet 16 birthday Portraits for friends have not done this
in a while. Needing suggestions on the lens I should use. I will list them here: EFS18-55mm IS/AF f3.5-5.6 original when I got my canon d300-EFS 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS/AF- EF 28-90mm AF non IS f4-5.6 III- EFS 18-135mm IS/AF STM f3.5-5.6 and a newly purchased EF 50mm f1.8 AF lens non IS- I now have a Canon T4i. I don’t know how many people will be in the shoot, or if it will be indoors/or out. I have till June 18th to find all the info. Also I have a Canon EX flash that I plan on using, and maybe if I have others who could assist in holding round 32’’ light reflectors. I am hoping for outdoors weather permitting. I will be using a tripod. I am under the notion that this is just parents an child. Also could use some pointers on posing a small family. All though nothing is written in stone as of now. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

If it was me I would use the 28-90mm lens.

Dennis

ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

I was thinking along that line but at f4-5.6 even using flash- I had doubts. Hope some of the PRO UHH members chime in. Thanks for the comment Dennis. Hal

Rongnongno Loc: FL

You did not do this for a while and you forgot everything?????

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Since you will be using a tripod, IS will not be a consideration. I would therefore use the 50mm 1.8 . If you need more room, no problem as the shoot will be outdoors. Light will be less of a problem with the 1.8. If you have to be indoors the 18-135 might be best (make sure IS is off when using the tripod) Use a cable release.

hlmichel Loc: New Hope, Minnesota

Out doors is easy, just have to worry about harsh sun depending on the time. Personally, I've always preferred shooting birthday parties indoors. I'd use either the 18-135 or the 29 - 90, make sure I had plenty of batteries for the flash and just ceiling bounce through the entire party.

ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

I will see if it is going to be in or outside but the 50mm1.8 -28-90mm4-5.6 - 18-135mm3.5-5.6 I will take all three to give me lots of choices an zoom. I always have lots of batteries with me as well as a tripod i am getting olderrrrrrrrrr so i need the remote as well. shakey hands
don't make for good photos LOL :) Thanks for your positive input, i am sure since this is kind of a casual occasion things should go well.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

So you haven't shot portraits in a while and you forgot how to shoot them?


My advice would be to not do something that you don't know inside and out.

If you do happen to practice (on a large stuffed animal for example) and you get to where you know your equipment and you lighting patterns like the back of your hand, THEN go ahead and pull out that camera to shoot portraits of folks.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Many of us "shoot portraits of folks" when we don't know "equipment" and "lighting patterns" like "the back of" our "hand". We are amateurs with a hobby, even though we don't understand it "inside and out".
Sometimes, like a wild pig in the woods, we even stumble upon an acorn---we capture an acceptable image.

Grnway Loc: Manchester, NH

Just did my daughters sweet 16 and shot indoors, at night. This party had about 12 of her friends. Used a 28-70mm with external speedlight on camera, but bounced, and got some very good shots. Tripod wasn't necessary, even when I had a photo area set up, nor was it desirable. Too much spontaneity.

Given the very limited information that you have, so far, I'd narrow to 50mm and 18-135. Lens speed, and not reach, is the premium here, even with flash. I think once you get more information, you'll probably answer your own questions.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Any decision without all the facts is always a poor decision!

To suggest a lens, or any other equipment without knowing if it will be inside, outside, in the sun, in the shade, small group or a large group, would be really stupid!

Here's an array of posing suggestions that might help you once you know what you are up against, plus one basic rule with people portraits is to use a longer, rather than shorter, focal length lens when possible. Good luck!

http://www.antsmagazine.com/photography-2/50-outstantding-examples-of-family-photographs/

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I'd use the 50mm f1.8 to have maximum light and a nicely blurred background which also allows a higher shutter speed to freeze any subject movement which may be minor but enough to ruin a perfectly good shot. The rule of thumb in the film SLR days was 70mm to 135mm for portraits. In the crop sensor dSLR world that can easily be handled by a 50mm lens. Just move in closer or out to make your compositions. Whether indoor or out, use flash with a diffuser on it. Indoor use ISO 400 or higher which allows more ambient light and not as much flash is required. Point it upward if it's a low ceiling or at a 45 degree angle if it's a high ceiling For outdoors you'll set the amount of flash (in your camera body) for just fill flash. It takes shadows out of their faces and balances light behind them with flash in front of them. It also creates a separation of the subjects from the background. You might want to practice with that method before the event. With on-camera fill flash you don't need reflectors unless you're looking for dramatic effects. You describe this is taking portraits but I feel you're actually going to be shooting a party with some relatives and 16 year old friends there and that's not really portraiture unless you set up a location with lights and such for all subjects to come to your setup.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

If indoors I would bounce the flash off the celling. If out doors I wouldn't use flash at all unless its very overcast. Today you can lighten or darken PP. Shoot many different ways There is no cost for film.

ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

Thank You Marco for your informative reply I believe you may be right, won't know for sure until next week. Like you said the 50 1.8 will give me more light, even indoors. Hoping for outside photo shoot if possible weather holding up. Thanks

ramblin21 Loc: Sharon,Wisconsin

Thanks Hal81 I always bounce flash off ceiling or a wall if possible, frontal flash is never flattering to your subject so I stay away from that. Yep I will be doing several different ways. This is a free bee- I know the girl an will meet her parents soon enough so I really don't anticipate much of a problem. Where there is a WILL there is a WAY. Thanks Again Hal