Tips for taking a whole body portrait
Aug 1, 2012 13:34:58 #
I will be doing a photo shoot. Whole body shots of the models. The photos will be used to make life size cut outs. Can anybody give me pointers? Thank you.
I will be using a Canon 7D with 24-70mm 2.8 lens.
430ex II on a stand with a 60" bounce umbrella. I also have 2 smaller shoot thru umbrellas, but only one speedlight.
I will be using a Canon 7D with 24-70mm 2.8 lens.
430ex II on a stand with a 60" bounce umbrella. I also have 2 smaller shoot thru umbrellas, but only one speedlight.
Aug 1, 2012 13:45:37 #
I would imagine a plain, single-color background would make it a lot easier to make the cutouts.
Aug 2, 2012 08:49:57 #
Georgia Peddler
Loc: Brunswick, GA
Be sure to position camera height to maintain approximately the same level as a person would view the subject when normally looking at them. Since the final product is a life-size cutout, you don't want the viewing perspective to be looking either up or down when facing the subject.
Good Shooting
Good Shooting
Aug 2, 2012 10:56:24 #
Georgia is right, I would probably want to start out with the camera directed at midpoint of the subject in the vertical (portrait) format, so the perspective is even up and down.
Aug 2, 2012 11:04:33 #
Buy a reflector and use one of the shoot through umbrellas. You can bounce some of the key light off the reflector as fill light. You will need an off camera cord too but you can try using the 430EX II as a slave and use the 7D pop up to control the 430. If the 430 is burried in the umbrella, it might not work remotely. You need to experiment before hand to see if your equipement will meet your needs.
Aug 2, 2012 11:38:40 #
Aug 2, 2012 11:39:34 #
Aug 2, 2012 12:22:03 #
Robeng
Loc: California
Photoready,
If you have time check out my site www.robeng.smugmug.com. Go to people gallery. If there is a image you like, let me know and I'll tell you how I did it. The password is "Girls".
If you have time check out my site www.robeng.smugmug.com. Go to people gallery. If there is a image you like, let me know and I'll tell you how I did it. The password is "Girls".
Aug 2, 2012 15:33:38 #
Aug 2, 2012 15:39:30 #
photoready wrote:
What do mean by a prime lens?
I looked it up. Prime lens is a fixed focal length. Thanks. I didn't know it makes a better res.
Aug 2, 2012 16:35:42 #
You really need to define the style you're hoping to achieve. My avatar photograph was made with two lights from the same location. The main light was modified with a 20° grid and the fill light was placed in a 48 inch soft box. By varying the filter to main ratio, you essentially very the drama. On the other end of the spectrum. I just read an article in the old copy of "The Complete Photographer" circa 1941. The title of the article was "medical photography". Their method for lighting a full-bodied portrait Incorporated three paned lights 15° on the left of the model and three paned lights 15° on the right of the model. They also used a fairly long lens from a somewhat low perspective. The lens arrangement produced a pleasing composition. The lighting was flat but totally informative.
Once you decide the style or mood of the image are trying to create your lighting scheme should be pretty obvious.
Once you decide the style or mood of the image are trying to create your lighting scheme should be pretty obvious.
Aug 2, 2012 18:36:23 #
Sorry, I didn't define prime lens.
The reason is that primes have fewer lens internally. Everytime, light goes through a different surface you loose resolution. Zooms have more lens and some are moveable which creates other problems. Zooms today are very good, they compete very well with primes. However, most quality primes are still better. If you are making extreme enlargement you need the resolution. All my lens are "L" series which are very pricey, unfortunately. I was just thinking. The 50mm Canon has great glass inside a cheap plastic housing but it is an excellent lens. I think it's around 120 dollars. However, most portraits are shoot with lens between 75 and 135. But since you have a crop frame camera, it will give you the same effect as a 75. The reason for the longer focal lengths is that is gives you a little more subject compression which most people find more pleasing.
The reason is that primes have fewer lens internally. Everytime, light goes through a different surface you loose resolution. Zooms have more lens and some are moveable which creates other problems. Zooms today are very good, they compete very well with primes. However, most quality primes are still better. If you are making extreme enlargement you need the resolution. All my lens are "L" series which are very pricey, unfortunately. I was just thinking. The 50mm Canon has great glass inside a cheap plastic housing but it is an excellent lens. I think it's around 120 dollars. However, most portraits are shoot with lens between 75 and 135. But since you have a crop frame camera, it will give you the same effect as a 75. The reason for the longer focal lengths is that is gives you a little more subject compression which most people find more pleasing.
photoready wrote:
I looked it up. Prime lens is a fixed focal length. Thanks. I didn't know it makes a better res.
photoready wrote:
What do mean by a prime lens?
I looked it up. Prime lens is a fixed focal length. Thanks. I didn't know it makes a better res.
Aug 3, 2012 16:43:29 #
Aug 3, 2012 22:20:33 #
Here is a full body shot from a party. I used a 35mm prime and bounced flash. I shot in portrait orientation with the lens aimed at her chest. The focus point was on her eyes, though. Had to take this one from my knees.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hlmichel/7047756507/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hlmichel/7047756507/
Aug 4, 2012 00:56:36 #
Jer wrote:
If possible, use a prime lens. Better resolution for large enlargements.
True in 1980. Not now. The good zooms are every bit as good as a prime. The Canon or Nikon 24-70 is indistinguishable from a prime in the same range.
Now if you compare that to a kit lens, that is a different story, but as a blanket statement it is no longer true.
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