I am not sure if this works on a Cannon--but here is pretty much how Disney does it with Nikon--set the ISO to about 400 and set the flash to under expose by about a stop and you will get a pretty good shot. when doing weddings I usually set the flash to underexpose by about a stop and a half--experiment and you will find that if you are shooting in raw you will be just fine, and have a nice looking picture--there is no such thing as a good picture that hasn't been worked on after the fact--at least I have never seen one, although the D-800 when shooting with the 85 f1.4 isn't bad. I don't know why the 85 has something to do with it, but it does, and each of the Nikon series starting way back with the D-70 has handled color better than the one before it.
Stan

I have a Linhof Heavy Duty--list about $3000 (you wouldn't want one) that I got on eBay for less than $100--won't happen every day, but if you look and are patent you will find what you want--for a lot less.
Stan

Thanks for the question--I have taken about 2 million pictures and even then would cringe if I had to color correct a batch of JPEG's. Color correcting raw is just so much easer--and I wouldn't dream of using anything other than Adobe Bridge CS 6 to do it (I own Lightroom--but it is a lightweight). Back in the days of film, the red base in color negative film did wonders to keep things in balance--but digital is sort of like slide film--you get what you get--but with after the shot processing it is easy to get great color--and it is just part of the way things work.

Well, you need to be able to take a picture-that is science--but you also need the picture to be what you want it to be--that is craftsmanship--Michelangelo was great at polishing marble--a true craftsman. Once done, your image has to react with the viewer--that is art. Unless there is an interaction there isn't art. It follows then, that what is art for one may not be art for another. Proclaiming something "Art" may well be saying "I perceive this as art"--but that doesn't make it art to anyone else. There are those who have a rather good track record of creating images that others do react to--I was lucky enough to study with Adams who has a good record in this regard. As a portrait photographer you need to be able to capture the image, both operating the camera and getting the subject to do what you want them to (actually, basically show you who they are) so subtly that the subject isn't even aware you are doing it. This is done by interaction--the world is a mirror--if you come on as hesitant, nervous, unsure--that is exactly what you will see reflected back. To get someone to show you who they are began by showing them who you are--remember the world is a mirror bit? Leonardo said that he had spent his entire life painting his own reflection--but what did Leonardo know---Also being schooled doesn't hurt you, you really should be able to say "How would Gainsborough--or Rembrandt--or whom ever, handle this?" Also, while nobody knows everything Photoshop will do, knowing what you can will certainly help you effect the image you want to create.
Stan

You want an inexpensive tripod--not a cheap one. You live and die by your tripod, and you want a good one--I like Linhof--at a camera store they will set you back several hundred--but--not on eBay. If you haven't been using eBay it is important to know that all sellers are rated by those who have bought from them, and the number of "sales" is part of any eBay sellers "name"--so if several hundred have bought and none complained, likely you won't either. In any event, eBay guarantees that you will get what ever you buy (or they will pay yoxur money back)--all that said, figure out what you want, and then start looking. All bidding early does is raise the price, wait until it is almost over, and know if you don't get the first one there will be another.
Stan

Green screen can be lots of fun, and a valuable tool--a couple things, First don't use green--if you do you are 100% going to get green in their hair, and they won't like it. Removal software has gotten much better and if you use a white background (but don't light it--so it will go grey) you will be much happier. Then light your subject pretty evenly--shadows can fool software--particularly "shadows at the subject's edge". For lighting I have found "cold lights" into umbrellas work really well--and they are cheap. Then, I think I have tried them all, use Photoshop 6--6 for sure--to remove the background. If you do this you will find it works very well--you can reference all this by reading Scott Kelby's Photoshop 6 book--Scott writes very well and is easy to follow--I f you don't try it this way plan on a lot of new grey hairs, because it can really be a mess.

Good example of "green screen"