Taking Family Portrait At Home

[pooh83]

Hi All,

I am thinking of taking a family portrait at home due to my wheelchair bound grandmother who is not accessible to most photo studio.

Basically I have the following :

- Nikon D5100 with a tripod

- 3rd party basic flash

- A Wall that had a black textured Formica at my living room with is wide and long enough.

- 3 'Warm Light' Spotlight along the stretch of the area.

What else do I Need?

Do I need a secondary flash or an umbrella and such?

Please advise

 

[ortega]

you need the setting
background
light/s for background
light/s for family
tripod

 

[Rashkae]

You need to set up and practice some shots, see which way bouncing the flash works best.

 

[eleveninth]

u need a 60" umbrella.

 

[one eye jack]

Hi All,

I am thinking of taking a family portrait at home due to my wheelchair bound grandmother who is not accessible to most photo studio.

Basically I have the following :

- Nikon D5100 with a tripod

- 3rd party basic flash

- A Wall that had a black textured Formica at my living room with is wide and long enough.

- 3 'Warm Light' Spotlight along the stretch of the area.

What else do I Need?

Do I need a secondary flash or an umbrella and such?

Please advise

Here are some ideas,the principle is the same. Good luck.

10 Ways to Shoot Stunning Portraits With Only One Light

Flash series pt 13: Details & Indoor Portraits | Wedding Photography Blog | Melissa Jill Photography

 

[Blur Shadow]

How big is your family? A simple solution with fairly pleasing results is to simply set the right exposure and bounce the flash off the ceiling.

If you want more precise lighting, you'd need to put in more work.

 

[pooh83]

How big is your family? A simple solution with fairly pleasing results is to simply set the right exposure and bounce the flash off the ceiling.

If you want more precise lighting, you'd need to put in more work.

It's basically 7 adults and 3 toddlers. Quite small actually.

But was worrying if I need another flash and e umbrella

 

[SkyStrike]

It's basically 7 adults and 3 toddlers. Quite small actually.

But was worrying if I need another flash and e umbrella

I think 1 flash no problem lar... 4 behind, 3 infront, toddlers sitting on lap or standing by sides.

If you want to test it out, just try out the ceiling flash bounce and see where the light falls off. The moment you see "vignetting" and the light is not enough to cover all your subjects, you know you will need additional lightings solution.

 

[Blur Shadow]

It's basically 7 adults and 3 toddlers. Quite small actually.

But was worrying if I need another flash and e umbrella

Yup. I agree with Sky Strike. I think bouncing off the ceiling should be quite adequate. Unless you are looking for more creative lighting...

 

[daredevil123]

If the wall behind you is white, you can use it to bounce as well.. here is a video on how to light a larger group evenly.

[video=youtube;L0pBaPRRg_o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0pBaPRRg_o[/video]

 

[catchlights]

Hi All,

I am thinking of taking a family portrait at home due to my wheelchair bound grandmother who is not accessible to most photo studio.

Basically I have the following :

- Nikon D5100 with a tripod

- 3rd party basic flash

- A Wall that had a black textured Formica at my living room with is wide and long enough.

- 3 'Warm Light' Spotlight along the stretch of the area.

What else do I Need?

Do I need a secondary flash or an umbrella and such?

Please advise

I don't recommend using mixed lighting, especially on human, you will have problem correcting the mixed White balance at the post.

even your formica is matt finishing, it still will have hot spot from your main light, you will be very limited on how the way you place your main light, so basically you can forget about using umbrella lighting, using ceiling bounce or just live with the hotspot.

It's basically 7 adults and 3 toddlers. Quite small actually.

But was worrying if I need another flash and e umbrella

you want three toddlers stay still for photo taking?

you can try
promise 3 sets of happy meal after the shoot, or
put a mini TV near the camera lens showing their favourite cartoon.

else duct tape and cable ties should help.

 

[wonglp]

you want three toddlers stay still for photo taking?

you can try
promise 3 sets of happy meal after the shoot, or
put a mini TV near the camera lens showing their favourite cartoon.

else duct tape and cable ties should help.

Maybe this one or x3?

Look Lock is an Inspector Gadget-Style Smartphone Holder for Child Photos

 

[Shizuma]

I don't recommend using mixed lighting, especially on human, you will have problem correcting the mixed White balance at the post.

even your formica is matt finishing, it still will have hot spot from your main light, you will be very limited on how the way you place your main light, so basically you can forget about using umbrella lighting, using ceiling bounce or just live with the hotspot.






you want three toddlers stay still for photo taking?

you can try
promise 3 sets of happy meal after the shoot, or
put a mini TV near the camera lens showing their favourite cartoon.

else duct tape and cable ties should help.

is it possible to determine where the hot spot is beforehand , then using a decoration or soft toy to sit in the spot?

 

[catchlights]

is it possible to determine where the hot spot is beforehand , then using a decoration or soft toy to sit in the spot?

hotspot is the reflection of the main light, imagine the whole wall is a mirror, how do you place the light and don't see the mirror reflection of the light?

anyway, since it is digital, just take a shot you will know where the hotspot is, so stick the softtoy or Christmas decoration on the wall will do, most probably is just above the subjects' head.

or else can lower the main light all the way and light it upward, definitely no hotspot, but..................

 

[catchlights]

Maybe this one or x3?

Look Lock is an Inspector Gadget-Style Smartphone Holder for Child Photos

that is interesting product, definitely help in children photography.

thanks for the pointer.

btw, one is good enough.

 

[pooh83]

What happens if you decide to mount a flash? How sia?

 

[catchlights]

What happens if you decide to mount a flash? How sia?

Than you put on a pooh bear costume lor..

 

[pooh83]

Wah idea SIA..

ThAnK you so Much nor 😄*LoL*😂