I agree with docrob totally. meter for the window(s), make interior adjustments with your lighting (speed lights).

okay, okay, okay! I'm tired of people trying to determine who, if or when they are old farts. You are an old fart when you start smelling like one. So go take a shower and then shoot some photos and get other old farts mad at you. You can consider me a former old fart (I bathed today!)

The original question provoked answers about using UV filters for protection. I do use them for protection and am glad I do. A few weeks ago I was out and bumped up against a metal rail. I am glad I damaged a $12 filter and not my $600 lens. By my calculations, I have 49 more filters to scratch and then I'll buy a new lens!

If you feel uneasy because of the way she spoke, then don't do it. I've done free shoots (I'm a good amateur, or so I've told myself) and all the people appreciated my work. I've had people give me gift cards and the like, for which I'm appreciative, and I used them to purchase more camera equipment. If I was uneasy with someone, I'd never do the shoot.

Macro will NOT be the best setting. Macro is used for ultra close up photographs.

Depending on the size of your living room, you will probably need a wider angle lens than you'd think. The problem is, if you shoot with to wide an angle, the photo will be distorted (noses will seem larger than they really are). I would start shooting at 50 0r 55mm and either zoom in (not likely) or zoom out as needed to get the photo you want.

I purchased the Bower SFD728N (for Nikon) off of E-Bay and haven't had any problems with it. I used it when I need to take no hassle flash photos. I used it to shoot an outdoor living nativity, an indoor fashion show, and a few other venues where I didn't want to bother adjusting my manual flash. I set the camera for 1/125 @ f/8 or 11 and let the TTL do the rest. As long as you wait for the flash to recycle you get spot on photos. I recommend it as an economical alternative to the more expensive Nikon flashes.

Here's my little contribution from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Suffield CT. Even though I parked up from the sign, it still caught my car's reflection! I have to learn about the angles or refraction!

I bought a Tamron 70-300 w/VR zoom for my Nikon and couldn't be happier. After my experience with my Tamron, I'm not sure that I would buy Nikon lenses even if I could afford them.

It sounds like you need to do "street photography"! Get some professional looking business cards made up. Take your camera, one lens, a light weight light stand, a speed light and walk around places people congregate. Go up to someone, smile, hand them your card and say, "Hi, I'm Jim the Photographer from here in Manchester. I'm a serious amateur photographer and you have a great look. Would you mind if I took a photo or two of you? I'd be glad to send you copies by e-mail." 80% of the people I approach let me take their photograph. After I'm done, I thank them, get their e-mail address, and definitely send them copies of the photos I took. One woman actually spent 20 minutes in the park having a great time posing for me. I do not use an umbrella or soft box. There is a great tutorial at www.learnmyshot.com that goes through the process of using this lighting technique.

Youtube!

My converter was the WORST investment I made. It is heavy, I'm afraid that it will burn out the motor in my lenses. I wound up buying a 70-300mm zoom lens. My opinion/suggestion: don't buy it, save your pennies, buy the zoom lens you really want!

I use the "Q-strap". I bought in on Ebay very reasonably. They ship it from China (shipping free), so it may take 2 weeks to get it. I actually have two of them and have used them for a couple of years. They are strong, sturdy, and ease the pressure on your neck. I heartily recommend them.

The decision is yours--why would our opinions matter?

Simple: Tell them to shoot in either A or P Mode with Auto focus on.

I'm a Nikon shooter because my Nikon was on sale for $50 less than the Canon equivalent. Get what you can afford, learn to use the various settings, get an entry level camera so you don't buy too much technology that leaves you wondering why you bought the camera in the first place!