Portrait Setup

[BFiredup]

Hello everyone...

I am usually on the sports forum, but I needed to ask a question...I am looking into buying a lens for portrait photography...Can you guys make a suggestion? I have looked at the 50mm f/1.8.

We have a new addition to the family...a Ragdoll kitten...and I want to pose him, and get some really good shots...And I also have some awards ceremonies to go to, that I will need to get some Really good posed shots for sale....

I would love any info you can get me started with, since this is new to me...any setting info would be greatly appreciated as well....trying to expand my capabilities....

Thanks everyone...

[JTcooper]

Hello my friends, your 85mm work just fine for portraits. But if you in a small room that would be a wall you re going to back into, I thinks your 18-55 is a good choice for that. remember trying to keep it somewhere between 25mm to 55 to avoid distortion.

[brmill26]

The 85mm would work, as would the 70-200 f/2.8 at the wide end - wedding photog last weekend used that almost exclusively. But if you want/need something a little wider, the 50mm takes fantastic portraits. Besides, everyone should have that lens.

Settings, I don't have any fancy equipment, but for the 50mm I keep the aperture in the 2.8 - 5.0 range to get good bokeh but not so shallow the hair is out of DOF. I'll go wider if I have to in poor light. Window light makes for a great look. That's all I've got.

[BFiredup]

Thank you so much, I have looked into the "nifty fifty" though maybe it should be an addition to my lenses....my living room is small, and I am not sure the 85mm will work, but I am going to give it a shot tonight....I have just ordered a new flash, since all I have is the built in flash...is that something hard to learn to use...something new again...always something to learn that is for sure....

Thanks again

[dliveleyphotography]

For portraits I love my 50mm f1.8 but the build quality is rather poor, I went cheap b/c I didn't know how much I would be using it. I wish I would of just spent more now and got the F1.4 for better build b/c I use this lens all the time.

[Sebastian]

I like 85mm at 1.8 or 2.2 or the 70-200 at 130-200/2.8. I also like the 17-40 wide with a cool environment to give the subject context.

[JETA]

Betty, the flash is a whole new ball of wax.

This link may help. There are some good links in it and some good info too.
http://forums.photographyreview.com/...d.php?p=173608

[BFiredup]

Thank you Jeta...
At least I know you had to ask the same questions....at one time anyway...LOL...
Sounds like I will have to learn to get the hang of it...just like everything else....LOL

Thanks again...