Mormorazzi Loc: Temple, Texas

Take some shots in the pole barn and then take some outside as well. Your gut instinct is screaming "Noooooo," so gently let them know you have additional ideas that they may like as well. Plan both locations thoroughly, keeping in mind the look they're going for, but be the professional for them! That's what they're paying you for!

gr8goofy

Not sure exactly how they want the shot set. But I have used white sheets on the floor to bounce more light into the picture. I have a strobe light set but have never mastered it and because of the how I photograph, I invested in a multi angle flash and a diffuser that attaches to it. If they want head to toe shots then the sheets will not work. I have also used the silver reflective windshield covers to bounce light in a pinch

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

This thread has got my curiosity up as to how all this will play out. Very interesting to me.

Toby

Looks to me as though you can do it without too much trouble. First I would turn the ISO up to about 800 if you can go that high with out too much noise. Set aperature as wide as you can go but no more than f3.5 then a speed of no slower than 1/60. I am not sure if I would use the flash.
If you don't want to spend much money you could buy some cheap work lights with reflectors and aim at them but you will need to watch the white balance and hot spots and /or post correct. Shoot in RAW to give yourself the most help for post processing.
I would also move them away from the wall so as to blur the background somewhat.
Good luck, show us your results

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I know that you are going to get this message too late to help, but I'll mention it anyway for future portrait work. I've got a DVD tutorial on how to use the Canon Speedlite by Blue Crane Digital. It explains how to use Speedlites. It shows many uses for them and goes into detail about portrait lighting. I don't know how much of this equipment you already have but lighting is the key to good portraits. You can set up (2) Speedlights and (2) reflectors to get all the lighting you need to get good portraits. You will also need a stand for each strobe, a stand for each of the reflectors and a cord for connecting camera body to the master strobe. Sit a practice subject down and practice practice practice. The DVD explains how to use one of the strobes as the "key" light and the other as a more soft light or fill light to soften and reduce harsh shadows. I don't know how important a good backdrop is if you have good lighting, but I suspect it's pretty important as well.

Oh, they make these DVDs for most makes brands of Speedlite, not just the Canon. Just google Blue Crane Digital.

kruse Loc: Illinois

Wow you guys are great...I love all the help I am getting. Well I don't have lights are stands well you know the professional stuff. So with this new challenge coming at a very bad time( well you know to order a studio kit), I improvised a bit.

So here is a couple of pics of what Im working on to help fix my situation.


1. All the pvc hardware I picked up at Lowe's this morning

2. These are the light stands I made with the reflectors I made as well.

Stands can be made to any height I have several 1' sections to add to them as well as a third leg for stabilizing them.

Now just to get them to the location and make them work!!

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Looks good for make shift in a hurry equipment. I like them. Keep us posted. Thanks

kruse Loc: Illinois

Ok guys here they are I feel the shoot was a disaster, but I will see what I can do with them...I am glad it was just for a friend who was letting me practice....

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

Overall i think they are pretty good a bit dark but it is something that can be fixed. But i am just an amateur. the folks on my right are darker than the rest, but as i said it is fixable.

kruse Loc: Illinois

Yeah I noticed that I had what a thought was equal light to both sides, but now that I got home, I think I should have considered reflective light on the family in white!

So my question is how do you adjust for a family in white or how would you guys have done the lighting in this pic?

normanhall Loc: Leslie Missouri

I wish i had a good answer for that i am sure someone on here will. But i would say take your light reading from there face so this exposure is correct.

Toby

All things considered I think you did quite well. May have set exposure comp up a little but a little PP should be fine. White balance looks great.

One thought, not as a criticism, I wonder what would have happened if there were a light set behind them?

A lot of work, saved some money, nice job.

kruse Loc: Illinois

I wondered about that but didnt now how to set it up, I will have to practice with that!

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

Nice photos. A little dark but not bad.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I know nothing about portrait photography, but considering that you are taking these in a pole barn you did great. The only thing that I would do different next time, that hasn't been mentioned is to not cut the feet off at the bottom.
They should be happy with these.