portrait shots

[pete500d]

hi just joined and very new to dslr photography , i have just purchased a tamron 90mm macro lens that i am told is also good for portraitive shots can i get some info on setting for taking indoor shots

many thanks pete

[Cutter]

Using flash? natural light? tugsten light? need more info! light is the main prob unless you use flash.
meanwhile have a look at this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbKa3...eature=related

[pete500d]

Hi sorry not enough info I have a ext flash and I have purchased a white background sp any ideas would be great

[Cutter]

has it got or have you got a soft box or umbrella to fire it through?

[GeoffWessex]

Unless you've got a Full Frame camera - several thousands of pounds worth - that 90mm is not a 'great portrait lens'! Whoever told you that is basing the idea on 35mm format, where 90mm was the perfect length.... but if you've got an APS-C camera sensor it will be working like a 135mm lens - and probably means the camera to subject distance will have to be increased considerably. Still, it's not a bad length.

Having one external flash for the camera doesn't really do the business with portraits..... more trubble than it's worth, really. You might like to consider some studio lighting (flash or the much cheaper 'continuous' lights) or use natural light and a reflector (far better light to work with anyway).

[Cutter]

Yes as Geoff says 1 light is very limiting, but have a look at this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWLdQi1uXU0

[Cathus]

Geoff, he didn't say it was a 'great portrait lens' he said he'd been told it was 'good for portraiture' so you might be a little harsh.

As for what is & what isn't a good lens for portraiture, it's not the lens, it's what you do with it & you can take some pretty stunning portrait shots with a Tamron 90mm lens, just as you can with a 600mm.

I think people get too caught up on what a particular lens can be used for rather than realising it's the photographer that makes the portrait, not the lens.

You can get great portrait shots with one flash, no flashes or 6 flashes, it's what you do not what you use to do it.

[Cutter]

guess we dont know wether Pete wants to use flash or natural light, that was my first question to him.

[GeoffWessex]

Er, yes, right. Sorry, I was a bit over the top there..... yes a 90mm lens on an APS-C camera is around 135mm.... which was always a useful length with film.

[KeithT]

For lighting you can't beat natural light and the use of a good reflector for fill-in. That's only my opinion of course and I say that because I hate flash light anyway. However, I am sure there are plenty of people who do use flash and use it successfully. A 44-75mm lens would probably be best for portrait with an APS-C camera.