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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Informative Topics on Photographing People

Photography Question 

Julie Wall 		 

Portrait Photos: A Shadow Question


 
 
I am shooting with a camera that does not have a hotshoe for an external flash. I don't do a lot of portraits, but have been asked by family and friends to do them, so I try to accommodate. When we go to view the images, I get shadows, and in some cases we can live with them and in other cases we can't. I would REALLY appreciate any suggestions you guys can give me. Thanks!


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0 March 25, 2005

 

Julie Wall 		 
 
 
And I can't seem to get the images to display here. trying again.


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0 March 25, 2005

 

Julie Wall 		  ok...couldn't get them to show here, but do have them displayed (temporarily) in my gallery. Would be the pictures of the cute little girl and my not so cute ex husband. ha ha. ;)


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0 March 25, 2005

 

Diane Dupuis 		  Hi Julie! We have the same camera! Try having them stand further away from the wall. Also you can try having more light in the room (natural or artificial by bringing in lamps) so you don't need to use the on-camera flash. Good luck!


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0 March 26, 2005

 
- Jyan L. Crayton

Contact Jyan L. Crayton
Jyan L. Crayton's Gallery 		  I'm having the same problem with shadows behind the subject, and it's always the cute pictures. How far should a subject be from the background? And if I use a studio strobe with an umbrella without camera flash, would this help? Also, if the light is on in the house when photographing my subject, would it give mixed light from the strobe?


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0 March 26, 2005

 

Maverick Creatives 		  When doing studio work against a backdrop, it is suggested the model be positioned approximately 6 feet from the backdrop. You can purchase an off-camera slave flash for your S5000 that will fire when your on-board flash fires. If you position this second flash as a backlight, it will eliminate the shadows. There are many choices out there; however, this flash I have seen used with the S5000 gives good results, and it isn't too expensive.
http://www.vivitar.com/Products/Flashes/flash.html#DF200
Regards, Gary


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0 March 27, 2005

 

Julie Wall 		  Hi, all! Thanks for the advice. I'd been having my subjects only a foot or two from the backdrop (space was an issue), but will figure out a way to pull them closer to me. Gary, thanks, I'm going to hit that link now. :) Diane, I've seen the pictures in your gallery. I had no idea our camera was capable of those kinds of results. Your photos are amazing!


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0 March 27, 2005

 
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