Robert1258 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

My Daughter ask me to take their picture Saturday for their Christmas cards. its going to outside at a local park. I have Canon t3i w/kit lens 18-55 and I also have the 50mm 1.8. ( i am a cheapo) wondering on what would give me the better photo in this setting? or should I just try them both and lot of pictures. what you all think. thanks in advance for your input

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

You got it. Just shoot shoot shoot as much as you can. Digital is cheap. Toss what's no good. You're bound to get something worth while.

(Purists will cringe at that advice. They'd rather you spend 45 minutes setting up a shot,making sure everything is perfect technically, and then making ONE exposure, and spending 6 hours in Photoshop tuning it. That will work too. )

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Either of the lenses should work well. If the weather is cloudy and overcast or rainy, I would suggest you use the l.8 lens as you wouldn't have to increase the ISO for the light. But, if it's sunny, and you find a shady spot to shoot, either should work well. You will want to move your body to increase and decrease the size of the folks in the frame with the prime lens tho and don't have to do that with the zoom. Have a good shoot!!

Sundog Loc: Sedona, Arizona

You're going to get two different kind of images from these two lenses.

The 50mm 1.8 if you shoot down under f2.8 will give you a beautiful soft background so the photo will be focused on the subjects.

The crop factor for your sensor makes that zoom at 55mm an 88mm lens. This can help compress the background into the shot and the f stop being 3.5+ will show that background.

So, it all depends on what kind of shot your are looking to create. I would do both. You are there, shot a lot. If you have a flash and a reflector panel you should shoot with the sun behind or off angle over the shoulder. Not in their faces. The popup flash can even help with no reflector. I know, counter intuitive to use the flash outdoors in daylight... You have to force it on rather than let it determine if it wants to fire.

There are some great video on Adorama.com in the Leaning Center. See the Adorama TV. Good stuff on outdoor portraits and flash.

Oh, and avoid getting mottled shadows on the faces.

Hope this helps

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I vote for cloudy and/or bright/open shade. Along with that use your flash as fill flash. I probably use my flash outdoors more than indoors.

If you must shoot in the sun have them face away from the sun and use fill flash.

It is always nice to get shoots during the magic/golden hour (within the first of sunrise or the last hour before sunset).

Have a good shoot and post the best result!

Robert1258 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

here is a picture from the shoot we did today.

Carioca

Good work!

Robert1258 Loc: Springfield, Illinois

thanks

heltonjkv96 Loc: southwest Virginia

Thats a nice one. Don't think you need advce....!

Meggalette Loc: Southern Illinois

That is an outstanding portrait! I can't see why you would need any help from anyone on taking shots of that beautiful family! (Not trying to brown nose here, I just expected to see a not-so-great portrait!)

jerryg Loc: NE Pa

In the 2nd phot you have some of that "straw" running right into the little girl's mouth. Otherwise they are nice shots

johnr9999 Loc: Carlton, OR

Maybe it's just my old eyes, but they look ever so slightly out of focus.