Photobiker1 Loc: Mullica Hill, New Jersey

I was asked if I would take pictures of a friends daughter in her holy communion dress. I need some pointers on poses, backgrounds, anything that you can think of. I have one week to prepare.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well...I might have a different opinion as everyone else but I'll give it. I don't think you should just wing it with some scattered bits of disconnected information that you might get from us here.

I think you should spend 25.00 and buy an Ebook called "Portrait tips and techniques" by Wayne Radford.

http://www.portraittipsandtechniques.com/e-book/

It's a how-to Ebook that's jam packed with real life examples of how to pose, light, dress, and do everything to get good portraits of kids. It's readable in a day and you can refer back to it while you prep for shooting.

Also, the other thing is proper exposure. In my opinion you cannot go wrong with buying a used hand held light meter.

It takes the guesswork out of shooting.

You just get your friend's daughter where you need her based on the books recommendation, you put the light meter under her chin, push the button and then set the camera like the meter tells you...no guess work...no chimping, no bad shots to rescue later...it will relieve so much pressure you won't believe it.

You can get a polaris SPD 100 at KEH for $119.00 or less.

http://www.keh.com/camera/Light-Meters-Light-and-Exposure-Meters/1/sku-GM709990296210?r=FE

So to summarize; buy the ebook, learn to pose and light with natural light, and if you want to take the extra step, get a hand held meter...you'll wonder why you never had one before.

Photobiker1 Loc: Mullica Hill, New Jersey

Thank you much. I will check out the book and the light meter suggestion.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

No problem...PM if you have any questions :)

CAM1017 Loc: Chiloquin, Oregon

If you have a lot of white in the photo you may have to adjust the exposure for the white's to look natural. Experiment at the beginning by over exposing in 1/2 stop increments until the whites look natural along with the rest of the photo. Metering systems tend to under expose when you have a lot of white like snow and under expose when you have a lot of dark tones.

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

$119.00 + $25.00...all to learn to take pictures with white in them? Why not just learn to use your camera and practice this week?! Spot meter the white dress,the meter will recommend an underexposure,you then add exposure compensation in 1/3 step increments. Assuming you use a digital camera you can see what you did when you practice.
You may get away with not having to compensate if the subject doesn't occupy most of the frame and can go with jusst using multi-pattern metering. Practice doesn't cost anything and you will learn how to expose a picture for the rest of your life!

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Not at all.

119.00 to learn to understand exposure and to have a useful piece of gear to help her to expose images without guessing and chimping and salvaging in LR.

25.00 to learn FOR REAL how to take effective portraits that look great, are properly posed and lit.

Sounds like a great deal to me. That's a lot of useful knowledge that will serve her for her whole photographic life for chump change.

barbkelly Loc: Delaware

I agree. Nothing is as valuable as practice, practice, practice, imo.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

My latest First Communion shoots:

http://robert-photos.smugmug.com/St-John-the-Evangelist-Church/2012/2012-04-21-1st-Communion
http://robert-photos.smugmug.com/St-John-the-Evangelist-Church/2012/2012-04-28-1st-Communion
http://robert-photos.smugmug.com/St-John-the-Evangelist-Church/2012/2012-05-12-May-Crowning-1st

PM me with any questions you have. :thumbup:

henrycrafter Loc: Orem Utah

To answer your question ther are some questions that need to be addressed
1. Where are you making the image?
2. When are you making the image?
3. What is the light source for the image?
Having addressed thes questions one of the most important things will be color temperature of the exposure.
If you have the operaters manual you should be able to find a good solution to you problem.
Also if you can practice with the actual garment before the shoot it would put you at great advantage

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

those were excellent

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Go to a thrift store and buy a cheap white dress. Then get a real person to wear it, or make a dummy to hold it up. Now you can practice and work out most of the kinks.

colo43 Loc: Eastern Plains of Colorado

have some one wrap a white bed sheet around themselves and take some practice shots.

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

Thanks.....just a bit different from shooting wildlife and animals.
Truth be told, I hate the posed shots requested by the parents.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I'd just like to endorse this advice as right on. It includes the two key elements: overexpose (not under as the bright white might cause you expect) and look at what you are getting.

You might think spot metering on the white would work. It usually doesn't for the reason CAM noted. You can try spot metering on the non-white; e.g. the face or eyes without exposure adjustment.