What is a good outdoor portrait set-up?

**powers_brent** · 05-14-2009, 01:23 PM

In the near future I will be doing some outdoor photoshoots for my friends. One shoot being a bride and groom and the other being a 7 person group. I currently shoot a Canon XS. I have the kit lens, 50mm f/1.8, 75mm-300mm f/4-5.6. I just ordered a 42" 5-in-1 reflector (gold, silver, transparent, white, and black). I currently do not own a speedlite, but want to very soon.

What is the best way to go about these shoots? There are no specific requirements for each shoot. They are leaving that up to me and I am not sure what would be best. They are not expecting professional grade work, but I want to do the best that I can for them.

**powers_brent** · 05-14-2009, 01:24 PM

I do have a Dolica Proline Ballhead tripod (the one that was in the deals section a month or so ago)and a cable release in case that affects anything.

**Keith B** · 05-14-2009, 01:55 PM

I shot a whole pee-wee football kid league outside with a 580EXII a 30" shoot through. Lit the team shots of about 12 pretty well.

I'd probably use a 60" umbrella now instead of the shoot through. It harnesses and directs the light better than just a shoot through.

**clemmb** · 05-14-2009, 11:13 PM

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<p class="MsoNormal"]For outdoor portraits I use a fill flash.<span> I operate the camera and flash in manual and
meter my light with a Sekonic L-358 FLASH MASTER.<span> This flash meter allows me to meter both the
available light and the flash and control my ratios to get exactly what I want.
<p class="MsoNormal"]Mark
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**Dallasphotog** · 05-15-2009, 01:00 AM

There are so many possibilities...

The 430 or 580 flash will help you a lot, especially on an off camera bracket. I fill flash everything outdoors to prevent shadows and uneveness.

Also, you might consider a rental lens. The EF24-70 F/2.8 L USM rents pretty cheap in my area.

Tripods are nice, but not mandatory.

I'm a big fan of shallow depth of field, so I like to shoot Av mode with the camera pretty close to wide open. I posted the shot in for below the picture.

[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.24.00/TN_5F00_8x10_5F00_IMG_5F00_8136.jpg[/img]

Canon XTi, EF24-70mm F/2.8L USM, 70mm, ISO-100, F/2.8, 1/125, 430EX in E-TTL II

**powers_brent** · 05-15-2009, 03:12 PM

Thank you guys for your replies, but I do not think you understood my question. I am saying what is the best way to go about this with whatI do have? I know I do not have much, but what can I do without having to rent or borrow gear?

**Mark Elberson** · 05-15-2009, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by powers_brent

In the near future I will be doing some outdoor photoshoots for my friends. One shoot being a bride and groom and the other being a 7 person group. I currently shoot a Canon XS. I have the kit lens, 50mm f/1.8, 75mm-300mm f/4-5.6. I just ordered a 42" 5-in-1 reflector (gold, silver, transparent, white, and black). I currently do not own a speedlite, but want to very soon.

What is the best way to go about these shoots? There are no specific requirements for each shoot. They are leaving that up to me and I am not sure what would be best. They are not expecting professional grade work, but I want to do the best that I can for them.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

Since you'll be outdoors, as long as it's not cloudy, you should have no problem with light. And even if it is cloudy your subjects should not being moving around too quickly so there shouldn't be a problem achieving a shutter speed fast enough to stop action. Where a flash would come in handy is if you have bright sun which will cast harsh shadows. One way to overcome that problem without a speedlight is to use your 42'' reflector. Do you have someone who can hold and position it for you?

I'd use your 50mm f/1.8 (or your kit lens, but you'll be able to achieve a much thinner DOF and blurred background using the 50mm f/1.8) for group shots and the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 for tight portraits. You'll probably want to stop down the 50mm f/1.8 to around f/2.8 but optimum sharpness and DOF but you'll have to experiment with that. You may need to adjust either way depending on how far away you'll be from the group....now that I think of it, if you don't mind getting a little closer to your subject the 50mm f/1.8 does a fine job as a portrait lens (on a 1.6X FOVCF camera) as well. You could get a lot done with that! I prefer to take tightly framed portraits with a telephoto lens though so I can hang back a little bit. I feel that it makes everyone a little more comfortable

If they don't notice you as much you tend to get much more natural smiles and other expressions....that's at least my experience

Remember that digital is free so take lots pictures and don't be afraid to experiment!

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