buddhaman

I am new to photography any help would be greatly appreciated. I have Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 85mm f1.4g lens. I like to learn and start taking portrait. What other equipment that i might need to get started? Also, what settings on camera? Please help...

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

When you say "Senior Portrait" and getting started, what are you asking about?

As for settings, noone is going to be able to answer that question for you unless they are standing right beside you and working with the same lighting. There is no magical settings to get wonderful images, there is only practice, practice, practice.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Indoors or out: Lighting, or light modifiers (reflectors, etc).

How to use light: http://www.amherstmedia.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=AM&Category_Code=L

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

You want to do professional-level work and you have to ask "what settings?"

If you were ready to do this kind of work you would not have to ask that question.

OK, here is the secret setting....it all depends.

Well, you need to get the flash off the camera, and a way to trigger it, you need reflectors and someone to hold them, you need a few million in liability insurance, a business/tax license. If you expect to get paid for this you should have two cameras. You need to have at LEAST Lightroom and Photoshop Elements and Photoshop is better. You need - probably already have - a computer to handle the retouching.

And you need to know enough about photography that you don't ask, "What settings?"

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

oh Captain I was trying to be nice, I didn't want to run into the "can't you be supportive" or "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything" group here today.

tim57064

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

Captain said it as nicely as possible, while still being "To the point" honest.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Captain, if you don't have anything nice to say, then you're probably right!

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

Annie - Yes I know that group is always around. I ignore them. I really don't care what they they think.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I do get a little upset when I read posts along the lines of “I just got a DSLR camera, who do I get clients?” or “I have a session on Saturday, what settings do I use?” It seems to be an ongoing theme here and it takes a lot of will power on my part not to be nasty or snarky in replies. It takes a lot more than a new camera and a “passion” to turn your hobby into a business. If it was easy then everyone would do it.

Charging $35, $50 or a $100 for an hour session and giving away a disk full of images does not make one a professional, it makes you a fool that does not value yourself or your work.

tramsey Loc: Texas

Every one is being so nice today. I remeber what the Captain and a few other said to the perosn that said something like,'I want to be a wedding photographer. What camera and lens should I get?' People weren't so nice to that person.

buddhaman

Capt C...I'm so sorry to upset you. I'm truly an amateur. Camera and
Len that I have are from reading this forum and taking advice from it. I
Have no desire to be in business what so ever...I only want to learn to take
Better pictures of my families and friends. I am so regretful in asking this question as to upset you. I will try my best to word my question better in a way not to upset you or anyone else.

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

Yes you did say you would like to learn. Where the miss interruption came in is the title Senior portrait. This kind of made me believe the same as CaptainC responded to until I re-read the post. There are so many people now days that think just because they have a DSLR they are a professional (This takes may years). Just be a little more careful with your wording.
Now back to your question. Are you wanting to do traditional more formal Portraits or the more casual showing the seniors personality? Indoors or outdoors with or without natural lighting?
The 85mm lens will be fine as a starter lens. You can start outside with natural lighting and an assistant holding a reflector to get a little light to the places that is needed. Remember the eyes this can make or break a portrait. Use a large aperture (small f number) in order to blur the background.
Every thing has to do with the style you want.
This is just a beginning. Do searches online to see how others are posing and try to duplicate. There are many books and post on Portrait work.
Come back to us with some more information of what you want and we do what we can to help.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

OK - as normsImages noted, your post indicated you wanted to to "Senior Portraits," not family stuff. HUGE difference. Here, senior portraits means high school seniors and is something that requires a level of skill well beyond that which is possessed by someone who has to ask, "...what settings."

So, to get back to your question on settings: it depends. You need to read up and study how a camera works and understand exposure. People here seem to like Bryan Peterson's book, "Understanding Exposure." The 85MM 1.4 lens is a wonderful portrait lens.

buddhaman

Thank you normsImages and Capt C for your understanding and advice. I will be careful how i word my topic and question next time. What i meant by senior portrait is my son is graduating from high school next year i wanted to learn to take his portrait. I will take your advice, study hard, and practice hopefully i will be able to take an ok picture of him. Once again thank you.