re: Question for Photographers

Quoting awesomebrandi:" First off, newborns are pretty much the most difficult portrait session you can shoot. Especially because ... [snip!] ... you feel you're GOOD at AND things you feel you can improve. Then you go down the improvement list and tackle them one by one."

Thank you. I guess I needed to hear that. My biggest problem I believe is indoor lighting. My outdoor isnt perfect either, but I dont do indoor portraits. I really need a workshop or something in lighting.

Quoting privet devushka:" 3500? Do you mean D3000 or D3100?"

3100.... d'oh! Sorry Was in a hurry! LOL

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" Thank you. I guess I needed to hear that. My biggest problem I believe is indoor lighting. My outdoor ... [snip!] ... lighting. My outdoor isnt perfect either, but I dont do indoor portraits. I really need a workshop or something in lighting."

Well lighting is really what makes a photo so it makes sense. Do you have a flash? What indoor scenarios are you finding yourself frustrated with?

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" 3100.... d'oh! Sorry Was in a hurry! LOL"

 

I have a D3000 and I feel exactly like you do.
I know for a fact it's limiting me in how badly it performs. Ken Rockwell actually called my camera the worst dslr ever, lmao.

If you can, start saving up for a better body! Tax time I'm upgrading to the D7000.

I would use your services  

Quoting privet devushka:"   I have a D3000 and I feel exactly like you do. I know for a fact it's limiting me in how badly it ... [snip!] ... my camera the worst dslr ever, lmao. If you can, start saving up for a better body! Tax time I'm upgrading to the D7000."

I wish I could upgrade too, but we're so freaked out over this new baby coming that we are saving every penny. I'm going to be off work and AZ doesn't give maternity pay/disability, so I'm just outta luck there. I would love a new camera, jeez.

Quoting That Girl.:" I would use your services  "

Thank you so much. That was so sweet of you!

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I wish I could upgrade too, but we're so freaked out over this new baby coming that we are saving every ... [snip!] ... to be off work and AZ doesn't give maternity pay/disability, so I'm just outta luck there. I would love a new camera, jeez."

AZ doesn't give maternity pay? That's ridiculous!

Quoting awesomebrandi:" Well lighting is really what makes a photo so it makes sense. Do you have a flash? What indoor scenarios are you finding yourself frustrated with?"

I have a cheap flash because I don't really like to shoot indoors at all. This newborn one was the first I had used indoors in I dont know how long. Maybe 2 years? I used natural light in the living room, but no huge open windows. I cranked the AF down because of the lower light but realized that it limited my DOF so much that it didnt look good, and camera shake at that low setting made most of my pics blurry and not in focus. I dont want to use a flash for a newborn shoot, but I dont know what to do with little lighting. lol.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I wish I could upgrade too, but we're so freaked out over this new baby coming that we are saving every ... [snip!] ... to be off work and AZ doesn't give maternity pay/disability, so I'm just outta luck there. I would love a new camera, jeez."

I haven't used that particular body but I think there are things you could work on to improve without upgrading your body, honestly. What lenses do you have right now? I feel like I could shoot extremely similar photos on an old XTI body and 50mm 1.8 cheapie lens the same as I do on my MarkII.. I would go do that and show you but I gave that camera to my brother. I would still make a list of what you want to improve and go down that list. You can still work on capturing the best light possible, creative compositions and continuity with the body you have.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I have a cheap flash because I don't really like to shoot indoors at all. This newborn one was the first ... [snip!] ... blurry and not in focus. I dont want to use a flash for a newborn shoot, but I dont know what to do with little lighting. lol."

Sometimes you just HAVE to use light because some homes just do not have the right light available. However, you really want it off camera otherwise it'll be very flat looking. The downside to a cheap flash is that it's going to have less flexibility in the amount you can control it.

Quoting privet devushka:" AZ doesn't give maternity pay? That's ridiculous!"

Nope, nothing here. So at least 6-8 weeks with no pay. Our mortgage is super cheap, but DH and I dont make a whole lot between us so we need every penny we can get. We scrape by for sure, but when I have to go back to work, daycare for a toddler and a newborn freaks me out, so new camera equipment is the last thing on DH's mind right now... understandably.

We do have PS5, lightroom, and tons of actions though..... But I think I need to play with LR more.... as far as lighting and correction goes, that should help, and maybe shooting in RAW will help. I did for a while, but I got lazy.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" Nope, nothing here. So at least 6-8 weeks with no pay. Our mortgage is super cheap, but DH and I ... [snip!] ... far as lighting and correction goes, that should help, and maybe shooting in RAW will help. I did for a while, but I got lazy."

Oh definitely shoot in RAW! It makes a world of a difference.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" Sometimes you just HAVE to use light because some homes just do not have the right light available. However, ... [snip!] ... very flat looking. The downside to a cheap flash is that it's going to have less flexibility in the amount you can control it."

I have one that fits in the hot shoe, and it swivels a bunch of different directions, and a mini softbox for it?

Quoting awesomebrandi:" I haven't used that particular body but I think there are things you could work on to improve without ... [snip!] ... list. You can still work on capturing the best light possible, creative compositions and continuity with the body you have."

I only have the kit, and a 35mm fixed 2.8. I also have a 55-200 but that doesn't do me much good indoors. lol