Jesse L.

I am the Warehouse Manager at a local produce warehouse and we are buy a new fleet of semi trucks. My boss knows that I just bought a new camera (Nikon D3400), and he asked if I would take pictures of the CEO receiving the keys to them. He knows I am just starting out, and is not expect professional results. However, I would really like the photos to turn out great.

It is normally very sunny and bright outside at the time I will be taking these pictures. I only have the 2 kit lenses ( 18mm-55mmVR, and the 70mm-300mm). I am thinking of using the VR lens on shutter priority.

Does anyone have any other suggestions that may help me ?

Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

Practice before the event. To take good face picture you need a flash or reflector. But use your auto setting and practice beforehand. Good luck.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

If you think that there is a possibility that your CEO will be moving when you snap the shutter then use shutter priority. However, if your CEO will remain stationary use aperture priority and set the aperture at F5.6 and fire away. I agree that using you lens with VR is a good idea, however, set this lens at least 50mm to get the best and closest head or head and upper torso shot. Good luck.

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

Personally, I would go with Aperture priority. It does not sound like you need to control motion, which is when I would go with Shutter priority. With AP, you control depth of field.

lesdmd Loc: Middleton Wi via N.Y.C. & Cleveland

I would use aperture priority. That way you can better determine depth of field and how much of the image is in sharp focus. (Do you want the CEO and the trucks to be the subject, or primarily the CEO?) Set the ISO low if it is a sunny day, and the white balance accordingly. Take advantage of the camera's ability to auto focus. Take lots of photos in quick sequence. Some are bound to turn out well.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Maybe use a tripod. Your long zoom lens might work as well, or better than your shorter zoom, with a tripod. Maybe use about 100-150mm. Lowest ISO setting. If hand held, use the mode that allows numerous FPS and hold the shutter button down for three images each time you want a different composition. Camera shake will/should be less on the second shot.
Have fun

OviedoPhotos

Set the camera to auto.

Practice more or less at the location at the time the keys will be presented. Noting where the sun is. If the sun is behind the subjects then pop up the flash to get flash fill on the faces. If the sun is behind you be careful of your shadow. For the most part I think the 18-55mm lens should be used to include the subjects and a truck.

Good luck.

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Yes indeed. The trucks should be in the shot.

d3200prime

Set your camera to aperture priority and trust your cameras light meter. Of course you could use auto mode and hope for the best. I would shoot at 35mm since yours is a cropped sensor camera. Sounds like the sun will be an issue so use the lens hood. If the pic is a little underexposed or overexposed you can fix it in post. Take a full length shot of the subjects with the trucks in the background. Then move in for a closer shot maybe from the waist up again making sure the trucks show up in the background. Now, take a third shot with just the two people handing the keys off. Make sure your composition is good. No cut off heads, hands, etc. What ever you do make SURE you are steady and in focus on the CEOs face! Flash if faces in the shade. Never shoot with the sun in your subjects face as all you will see are squinting eyes, NG! Let your boss know before hand you would like to take three shots so he can choose between the three and you will be a hit! Take a deep breath and go for it! It would be great if you would post the pics and comment on them. Good shooting to you!

erinjay64

ISO 100, Aperture Priority, F/11, frame the people from the waist up, smiling, looking into the lens, exchanging the keys, with a truck in the background, nearby....all sharply focused. Put the camera on a tripod, far enough away to focus sharply on the people's eyes while using the 55mm lens. On the APS-C sensored camera, that will give a field of view equivalent to an 82.5mm lens on a Full Frame camera....a nice Portrait focal length. The people, keys, and truck, will all be nicely focused, as all are the collective subject. The subjects can stay stationary for the time it takes to shoot. Use the timer, set for ten seconds, and press the shutter release. Then stand away from the camera, let the vibrations from having pressed the shutter die down, and let the camera fire itself. Use a flash. Fold a white hanky in half, place it over the flash head, and hold it in place with a rubber band. This will soften the light from the flash, and eliminate harsh shadows. Repeat several times to be sure of getting at least one shot with no one blinking / sneezing, etc.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

You will probably want the CEO and at least one truck in the picture. Being right out in the sun has advantages and disadvantages. You would have plenty of light, but the light might be harsh. Especially if the light is coming at an angle. If it is bright and the truck and people could be in the shade of the warehouse (you know with the warehouse sign in there too), you might have enough ambient light to take a nice shot. If you are not in the shade, keep the sun behind you if possible.

After they hand off the keys, ask them to get a little closer, no closer than that, NO! A LITTLE CLOSER and then say "and now you may kiss the bride" Then, hopefully, get a shot of them laughing ...or chasing you either works.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Maybe while it's almost the weekend now, you should go there with a friend on Saturday or Sunday, while nobody is there, and take a few practice runs and see what you can come up with. Do a few with different DOF to see what you like. At least you'll have somewhat of an idea to what to expect when you actually doing it, be prepared!

Jesse L.

I'd like to thank everyone for the advice! I know this is a very novice question, but I'm very grateful for the information.

speters, I think you are the closest (geographically) member I've seen on here. Our trucks actually go down through Grangeville!

Jesse L.

This is awesome, I think I will try it.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

If the sun is behind you it means it will be in the face of the people, beware of subjects squinting into the sun. facing into the sun can make for difficult exposures without fill flash. Better to have the sun at 1 side or the other. If you are really unsure of settings use auto. As above practice at the location before the shoot.