OK, so I know I'm not a great photographer. I'm ok, but I'd like to be better. I positively LOVE these shots of Z. My outdoor shots always make me happier than the indoor shots. I know it has everything to do with the lighting but I know that my indoor shots CAN be better, sharper, and well-exposed with some basic adjustments to my camera. So, please tell me (sloooowly) what I can do to get better, sharper, well-exposed shots INSIDE (and I have pretty decent light in my house too so I know it can be done!)
Hmmm. If you want to send me your camera and let me use it for awhile, I'm sure I could figure out what you can do to be a better photographer (WHATever!) You should know I have this thing about learning where I have to do something about 100 times before it finally clicks. So I might have to keep it for 5 or 6 years. But I'm happy to help.
ReplyDeleteBTW, you're a hottie with your new do! LOVE it!
ReplyDeletewell not much help here, just wanted to say that is the cutest photo :) Love Z's cute hair-do!!
ReplyDeleteI WISH I knew how to take good pictures - I'm actually hoping to get a new camera soon, and then Sarah is going to have to teach me how to use it, lol!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your new hair cut, the style and colors is GORGEOUS!!!
CUTE pictures of the kids, love that title!! Can't wait to see it scrapped!!! =)
What kind of camera do you have, E?
ReplyDeleteHey, it all changed for me when I got my new lens (50 mm 1.8) and it was so much faster that I got good ones indoors. Before that, it was crap city.
ReplyDeleteI'll be happy to lend myself as a model at CHA. ROFL. (here comes the email, LOL)
E
ReplyDeleteWhat kinda of camera do you have? Do you use photoshop to proof your pictures? If so sometimes I find using my extra flash and giving the picture alittle to much light and then tone it down in Photoshop. I know as a mom you follow them around with the camera but if you have them posing stay within 5-6 feet of natural light and the wearing white or black always helps with the crispness. E these are just some that works for me, hope I helped just alittle.
Huggs
Le Anne
I wish I had some quick and easy brilliant advice for you. For starters having a lens like the 50mm 1.8 helps. There are several comparable lenses, but that is the probably the most popular. Put the subject in a bright room or near a window and walah. I like my settings around f/2.2 (the shutter will usually fall around 1/80, but my house is fairly dark) you could put a black sheet behind them or just take a shot. If you're still learning you could just put it on AV mode, I know you have the 20D, you could also try manual and look at the in camera meter until it's exposed properly. Anything else and you'd have to be more specific :)
ReplyDeletePS. Love the shot of the Z man!
ReplyDeleteHey Erica,
ReplyDeleteInside lighting is a struggle. Like one poster said, try and be near a good light source. Also watch your shutters. Try apeture priority mode and then you can choose what apeture you want ie. shallow dof or not. If you use a wide open apeture then it will help with your light. But don't let your shutters fall below around 1/125 or so. You will get camera shake and likely not have a sharp image.
Also if you have to... bump up your iso's. I have to often shoot with 800 or 1600. The grain isn't always fun but I would prefer that then a flash anyday. I hate flash.
Email me anytime and I can try and help out.
OK Dude. You and I have the same camera... and I'm purdy sure I recall you saying that you have the 50mm lens. I'm going to suggest a couple things: 1) get an external flash. I have the Speedlite 550ex and it rocks my little inside picture world. Now, I know you are a procrastinator (hee hee hee) and won't do it... so here is advice 2) Use your 50mm, crank up your ISO to at least 400 and open up your lens. I shoot in AV mode about 90% of the time so I can adjust the aperture. YOU CAN DO THIS! :) Oh and if you ever freaking make it over to my house (hee hee hee) I'll let you play with my flash.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late with this- hope you see it. People have already offered some good camera advice so here is some practical.
ReplyDeleteTry to have your house photo ready whenever possible - not talking clean here though- no need to freak. ;)
What I mean is, first thing every day I open all the blinds all the way to make sure that there is as much light as possible. I've also situated DS craft table right under a set of windows- that way if he does something cute, he's usually right by the windows.
Another thing- figure out what setting are best before hand and which rooms it's even worth taking pictures in. That way no time is wasted capturing the moment, and if you know that in certain spots in your house the pictures will never ever turn out well, you set your expectations much lower.
And last thing- send me a picture that you aren't pleased with. I'll edit it, and if it is better I'll tell you what I did.
great advice. a couple of things about the lighting in your home too: change your bulbs to those "reveal" bulbs. they offer a "cleaner" light, per se. it's not yellow. so in the event your light is on it's white and not yellow.
ReplyDeletei always shoot @ ISO 1600. even outdoors. if i don't like it later, i photoshop it down.
the 20D is such a great camera. i've been able to play with it tons. and if you do indeed have the 50mm lens, you're golden. this makes it "wide angle" and just has better light capture. try to avoid close ups though because a wide angle will widen noses, etc. i myself am a fan of the telephoto lens but this doesn't really do well in the house because you can't get image stability unless you've paid the extra dime for it.
and when all else fails... get the Photoshop book by Scott Kelby. he'll teach you how to do anything and everything... and in terms you'll understand