First shoot today, any tips?

[AndyKH]

Hi and good morning guys,

Today I have my first paid job. I'm shooting a coleagues 3 month old baby for them. I'm looking for a bit of inspiration and any tips you guys may be able offer me?
I've decided i'm going to shoot with my 50mm 1.8 and use natural light with either my silver reflector ar my home made mirri board reflector to 'fill in' and hopefully avoid using any flash at all. I've got a few ideas on the shots i'd like to take etc etc but it never hurts to have other peoples input to ignite other sparks in the brain.
So over to you guys, any tips/inspiration would be greatly appreciated and feel free to post any images you like/have taken.

Thanks.

[Snapper7]

I think on your 50mm you will be a bit close, I would suggest 85mm. Make sure that there is a lot of natural light other wise you won't have any depth of field

[Chicken Pox]

what other lenses do you have?
take/borrow rattle to get little un to look at you eye contact adds alot if doing for others imho (our second is the same age, mrs is too paranoid to let me put lots of pics up (other than this one I got away with with the same lens you're using on my 350D)

(link to large version: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16388901@N02/42487593... )
50mm shallow depth doesn't leave much margin for error especially for movement, take your laptop with you to check your pics (primary reason for moving from 350D to 40D was screen as much as anything,) not so much of a problem if your own pics, annoying but if someone is paying or you want to show off your skill you'll be pissed off if they are all of the kids nose in focus etc.

Have fun

[AndyKH]

I have the 18-55 kit lens and a 70-300tamron (basically the same gear as most other hobby togs). The only reason they asked me is because they've both seen my shots of my nipper on my mac at work, i initially said i'd do it for free as i'm not in it for the cash but then he said he'd pay for the 50mm if i did it so i thought why not. It's nice and sunny here in Hull today so i'm hoping light shouldn't be a problem, especially wide open at 1.8. I've been getting a bit of practice getting the focus bang on and think by photographing a very lively 2 yr old and i think i've nailed it now.

[Chicken Pox]

AndyKH said:

I have the 18-55 kit lens and a 70-300tamron (basically the same gear as most other hobby togs). The only reason they asked me is because they've both seen my shots of my nipper on my mac at work, i initially said i'd do it for free as i'm not in it for the cash but then he said he'd pay for the 50mm if i did it so i thought why not. It's nice and sunny here in Hull today so i'm hoping light shouldn't be a problem, especially wide open at 1.8. I've been getting a bit of practice getting the focus bang on and think by photographing a very lively 2 yr old and i think i've nailed it now.

so how did it go?

[AndyKH]

Went really well thanks, i was a bit nervous at first with this being my first but soon settled in when i started to understand what they were aiming for. Got plenty of usable images and one in particular that they said they'd be happy with even if no others had worked which was good. Couldn't thank me enough and said they may have me back to do more as he grows up which was good.

Shot all except 2 or 3 with the 50mm due to low light levels in the house and me not wanting to ramp the iso up too much but with the reflector i managed. I'll pop a couple up here if the client is okay with me doing so.

All in all though i really enjoyed it and would happily do it again, just fancy some portable studio flash to overcome the low light indoors.

[Dogsey]

Slightly late to the party I know but this was shot with the 50mm f1.8 set at 1/60th at f4, lit with my 430EX on top of the camera but bounced off a translucent reflector to camera left.



You don't always need studio lighting for a studio look. Click the pic full fullsize.

[Chicken Pox]

AndyKH said:

Went really well thanks, i was a bit nervous at first with this being my first but soon settled in when i started to understand what they were aiming for. Got plenty of usable images and one in particular that they said they'd be happy with even if no others had worked which was good. Couldn't thank me enough and said they may have me back to do more as he grows up which was good.

Shot all except 2 or 3 with the 50mm due to low light levels in the house and me not wanting to ramp the iso up too much but with the reflector i managed. I'll pop a couple up here if the client is okay with me doing so.

All in all though i really enjoyed it and would happily do it again, just fancy some portable studio flash to overcome the low light indoors.

Nice one glad it worked out for you (and the customer)

[AndyKH]

I do have a flash with a twistable (?) head that i could bounce off a reflector, i think i'll have a bit of a play about with that as that may have worked on this shoot. Just having a quick scan through the images and have maybe 30 to proccess and do a spot of re touching on, i may be some time!..............................................