Aspiring portrait photographer questions regarding Canon Digital SLR’s? Please help!?
I am extremely interested in photography and hope to one day have my own business. Unfortunately, even with my photography classes, I’m very limited in my knowledge of camera attachments such as different types of lenses and off-camera lighting. Are there any good resources to help teach the basics of this kind of thing? I’m interested in portrait photography in particular.
I currently have a Canon Digital Rebel xSI but am saving up for a 5D Mark II.
While looking at images other people have produced professionally with the same camera as mine, I noticed that it doesn’t even look as if the same camera produced those images, the image quality of there’s is MUCH better, like it could be in a magazine. This isn’t because of amateur faux pas on my part, I have even light and focus and basic photographer knowledge in that area, so why is it that the raw image quality of theirs looks stunning? Is it because of a different lens?
Thank you for your help!
I do have a very good eye and DO have talent, and I of course manually operate f-stop, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc. my images are properly exposed and framed, and are all touched up in Photoshop. However, I am working with the kit lens and am wondering what this other girl learned to make it look as though her camera is a 20 megapixal quality camera, as opposed to a 12.2.
I do have a very good eye and DO have talent, and I of course manually operate f-stop, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc. my images are properly exposed and framed, and are all touched up in Photoshop. However, I am working with the kit lens and am wondering what this other girl learned to make it look as though her camera is a 20 megapixal quality camera, as opposed to a 12.2.
Check out a battery grip, the vertical controls it gives you are awesome. I got mine on Ebay from some seller in Hong Kong for about $35 (I own a Rebel XSi as well). Also, for longer shoots, the extra battery power is quite nice.
If you’re only using your kit lens, you’re limiting yourself a lot. If you’re on a tight budget, look at the Canon 50mm f/1.8. It’s about $110, and optically it’s miles ahead of your kit lens. If you’re ready to invest a bit more into your business/hobby, get the 50mm f/1.4 instead. Optically, it’s better glass, and the build quality is far superior to the f/1.8. Also check out the 85mm f/1.8 for tight-in shots.
Don’t worry about getting a 5D Mk II just yet; get some quality EF-mount lenses first. That way when your business starts making you money, you can upgrade camera bodies as needed.
And… I’m glad that you’ve learned how to shoot Manually, that puts you miles ahead of most people who consider themselves "photographers." However, a 20 megapixel camera does not take any higher quality images than a 12.2 megapixel camera. Megapixels determine ONLY the size and dimensions of the photo, and have NOTHING to do with quality. Likely what you’re seeing with professional photos taken with the XSi were using high-quality lenses.
If you want to replicate an image like this, for instance:
You need to shoot for a few things:
-Shallow DoF (this is very easy to achieve using any of the lenses I listed above, you should know how)
-Good composition and posing
-Retouching (I used Lightroom; the "Skin Soften" adjustment brush does wonders for those who know how to use it)
Frankly, I think the biggest thing you’re not seeing in your photos is really soft, even lighting, and professional-quality retouching. Practice both of them.
Posted in digital portrait photography
August 30th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Because most of the ”magazine quality” images are retouched usin fotoshop…
lens help, but photoshop helps more…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HGvDNpClls
check out other vdos too..
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 11:25 am
remember, "it isn’t the equipment that makes a good shot, but the talent behind the equipment"…
you could buy a 5D Mk II and still suck at taking photos…
if you haven’t learned the basics, then don’t think that an upgrade will help…
References :
http://photo.tutsplus.com/articles/round-ups/100-helpful-photography-tutorials-for-beginners-and-professionals/
August 30th, 2010 at 11:36 am
From what I read here you should join the Pro group or groups in your area.
http://www.ppa.com
is the one I have been part of over the years and will help a lot. Also
Rangefinder Magazine for Pro Photographers will help as well. You will want to spend the time going to meetings, talking with the photographers and listening a lot. The yearly contest and conventions are great as well. How knows you just may end up with a job where you get to learn it all from the ground up in a studio or three.
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Its probably due to the fact that they know how to use the camera to its fullest capacity.
If you are taking dull pictures with your camera, then its NOT the cameras fault.
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
A lot of model/portrait work is done with fast prime or zoom lenses, which optically tend to be high quality. Lighting, though, is key to good portraiture (well good photography generally) and knowledge of controlling off camera lighting is essential – balancing key, fill & ambient light, ratios, high key, low key – all can take a portrait beyond the mediocre or kill it stone dead.
A good place to learn about off camera lighting is the Strobist blog;
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/02/welcome-to-strobist.html
Starting with small, manual speedlights can be a great way to learn how to light. As photography equipment goes, they’re not expensive (a manual flash can be had for £40 and a set of radio triggers to fire it off camera for £27) and just one light, off camera, can dramatically improve your shots.
Remember, its not just about light, but about shadow too – and using both to portray a 3D object on a 2D medium. With off camera flash, you can control its directionality and shape & mould it – that’s light control!
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Check out a battery grip, the vertical controls it gives you are awesome. I got mine on Ebay from some seller in Hong Kong for about $35 (I own a Rebel XSi as well). Also, for longer shoots, the extra battery power is quite nice.
If you’re only using your kit lens, you’re limiting yourself a lot. If you’re on a tight budget, look at the Canon 50mm f/1.8. It’s about $110, and optically it’s miles ahead of your kit lens. If you’re ready to invest a bit more into your business/hobby, get the 50mm f/1.4 instead. Optically, it’s better glass, and the build quality is far superior to the f/1.8. Also check out the 85mm f/1.8 for tight-in shots.
Don’t worry about getting a 5D Mk II just yet; get some quality EF-mount lenses first. That way when your business starts making you money, you can upgrade camera bodies as needed.
And… I’m glad that you’ve learned how to shoot Manually, that puts you miles ahead of most people who consider themselves "photographers." However, a 20 megapixel camera does not take any higher quality images than a 12.2 megapixel camera. Megapixels determine ONLY the size and dimensions of the photo, and have NOTHING to do with quality. Likely what you’re seeing with professional photos taken with the XSi were using high-quality lenses.
If you want to replicate an image like this, for instance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturesmugshots/4823108736/
You need to shoot for a few things:
-Shallow DoF (this is very easy to achieve using any of the lenses I listed above, you should know how)
-Good composition and posing
-Retouching (I used Lightroom; the "Skin Soften" adjustment brush does wonders for those who know how to use it)
Frankly, I think the biggest thing you’re not seeing in your photos is really soft, even lighting, and professional-quality retouching. Practice both of them.
References :
Pro photographer, camera store employee
August 30th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Of course a question such as this could never be intelligently answered without viewing your images.
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
professionals use lighting to make great images,
invest in lighting and learn how to use it before getting an upgrade if your serious
References :
August 30th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
"very limited in my knowledge of camera attachments such as different types of lenses and off-camera lighting, – look as though her camera is a 20 megapixal quality camera, as opposed to a 12.2"
These are why your photos aren’t as good. These are very basic things they should have taught you in class before they hand you the camera. Again like everybody said it’s about knowledge, not cameras as you said yourself, people do great with the same camera you have. Instead of saving money for a new camera or even new lenses, put that energy into learning. Get books of "how to" or "the best of" from the city library. I’ll hand you a D3 and talk my boss into letting you use his portable $15,000 studio setup right now. But if you shoe flash someone at 17mm, the picture will look bad. I’ll give you my C3 from 1951. And it will still be the same.
You may have talent but if you don’t know what your doing your pictures will suck. The mentality of thinking some new thing will give you good pictures is what your problem is. Learn, and then your pictures will be good.
References :