Family portrait photography question

Blondie1009 · **Family portrait photography question -** 05-13-2012, 17:16 | posts: 1

I have a nikon d90 and want to take family portraits against a White vinyl backdrop using only natural light. When I have tried before not everyone has been in focus. What am I doing wrong?

I do a lot of child portrait work and usually shoot in shutter priority, always with natural light.

Any suggestions and advice appreciated

Icebird · 05-13-2012, 18:21 | posts: 11,592 | Location: North

Uhm.. I might be making a dumb ass out of myself here, perhaps you are well aware of how a camera functions.

If you are not getting everything you want focused, the problem is the aperture. You need to use high aperture levels (ex. F22 = aperture the size of a pinhole) to keep everything in focus; the lower f-stop the smaller focus area.. and vice versa.

TARNY · 06-02-2012, 22:12 | posts: 180 | Location: Ardsley

you need to go to F8,F10 aperture. So everyone is in focus unless you get them all in a line from left to right and then you could go F4.5 but natural light is hard to work with a white background. The camera will see it not as white but grey or a really dark back ground and you will see the actual background...

sirrith · 06-03-2012, 10:54 | posts: 1,574

"Standard" aperture for studio style shots is f8. Good sharpness, good DOF. Don't use too wide angle for the lens, otherwise people at the edges will be stretched. With natural lighting, it'll be hard to get everyone lit evenly (assuming you're using window light) unless you're outdoors. Place a reflector(s) opposite the window to brighten up the subjects farthest from the windows.

Nathan · 01-02-2013, 07:04 | posts: 5

Hello friends i just want to aks you that i am a beginner and i am wondering what kind of filters are best for this kind of outside portrait photography also what are some other useful things i would need like a flash ect to have the best portraits i have get the information after read out this therad but need a little your help...
Thanks...

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