For my Sister

My sister recently sent me a text stating that she was going to borrow our mother's camera to get some shots of her girls in their dance recital costumes.  She was looking for a little advice.  So this post will be what I've learned works for me and my advice to her.

Layover

I obtained a BFA in Theatre Production with an emphasis is Design/Technology.  I was required to take classes in all aspects of the theatre world, including directing.  This class has helped me with my photography, as you are always trying to create a picture on stage. Be conscious of your decisions with regards to composing an image.  Make sure the background is clean and clutter-free.  The only thing that should be in a photograph is the elements you put there.  Also be aware of any lines in the background, you want a fence to look like a flat horizon if that is the way the fence is in real life.  Never let a pole or tree sprout from your subjects head.  Always pay attention to everything that is in your viewfinder, not just your subject.  This piece of advice applies to any style of photography. 

My sister said that she was going to pickup a large piece of muslin for the background drop.  Since it is in the background, she should make sure there are no wrinkles, folds, stains, or anything else that is going to be distracting.  There should be enough material so that the only thing in the shot are the girls and the fabric.  The girls should stand a few feet in front of it, and combined with a wide aperture, should be able to be soft and out of focus.  

When photographing people, eyes are always the first place one looks.  When using a wide aperture, it can be easy for most of the face to be out of focus.  The eyes should be sharp as that is the first place people will look, they are afterall, the windows to the soul.  

However, since this is a shoot to capture the costumes, I would also recommend some of the full body shots to have a little narrower aperture so not only the eyes are in focus, but the entire costume. Also be aware of where you crop on the subjects body (http://petapixel.com/2013/03/04/a-guide-on-good-and-bad-places-to-crop-on-your-portrait-subject/).

She will be photographing her daughters in the living room, with a combination of window lighting and the lights inside.  The white balance of this setup could be problematic, so I suggest shooting in RAW.  That way, one is able to tweak the white balance after the shot with Lightroom, or the included Canon software.  (Here is just one of many articles about JPEG vs RAW: http://digital-photography-school.com/raw-vs-jpeg/)

My professional life is lighting. Understanding angles and quality of light is something I am familiar with, though photography and entertainment lighting are a little different.  Light is everything in photography; without it, there would be no photograph.  So always be aware of your lighting, the direction, quality, even the color.  This will make all the difference in the final product.


Since the shoot will be in her living room, she has a large window on either side of the room.  This may serve as a nice soft light. The more light, the faster your shutter sppeed and lower ISO you are able to use, helping the final image.


Playing with a flashlight will show how the angle of light changes the perception of the subject.  Harsh light will have a different look than a soft diffused source.  For a dance costume portrait of her daughters, I would aim for a soft diffused look. 


I also suggest a tripod to help stabilize the camera. Compose your shot, then it leaves you free to interact with the subject. I have made the mistake in the past of not be ready to shoot my daughter, and working with a toddler, there is a small window of opportunity with which to get them to follow directions.  Though her children are older, I suggest that all the camera settings are dialed in, so you have more time to get the shot.  As in life, being prepared is key.  

Some useful links:
http://www.lightstalking.com/how-light-aperture-time-and-sensitivity-affect-exposure
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/12/10-rules-of-photo-composition-and-why-they-work/

Force

The first shot in this post is from January 4th of 2014.  Canon 60D EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 40.0mm
Shutter Speed: 1/60s
ISO: 3200

The final photograph is from June 9th of 2012. Canon 60D EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS 

Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 39.0mm
Shutter Speed: 1/60s
ISO: 320