Hi Connie,
While I agree with my colleague Lea Murphy (north light is gorgeous) your questions are considerably more complicated than I think you understand. The camera does not matter (first). The key to learning portraiture is as varied as the leaves in the trees. The best way is to start to study the portraits of others that you like. You get books and magazines that contain images that you want to learn to emulate. This is a key first step. You need to have a good understanding on how light shapes faces. Portrait photography cannot be done without it. Kodak has several portait books and several hundred photographers have produced coffeetable books that show excellent images to view. Using the shadows, highlights and catchlights you can often locate the probable location of the light sources.
If you can set up a regular low end clamp light ($5 at any hardware store) and a wig head you can hand hold the lamp and shine it in the wig head to see how this happens. The old NY school of photography technique but it works great and I have used it with student hundreds of times. Lo tech but you clearly will get it quick. Light modifiers, diffusers, umbrelleas, etc are all later but you must understand the basics of how light falls, reflects and fills the curvatures of the human form. Don't go out an buy a ton of equipment, this takes study and will continue as long as you want to create images...
take care,
Les Baldwin
-----Original Message-----
From: Connie Blum Sadowski
Sent: Dec 3, 2005 8:39 PM
To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students
Subject: Canon EOS 10D & Home studio setup
-----Original Message-----
From: Connie Blum Sadowski
Sent: Dec 3, 2005 8:39 PM
To: List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students
Subject: Canon EOS 10D & Home studio setup
If anyone is interested in giving me some suggestions:
I purchased a Canon EOS 10D and want to set up a home studio to take our family photos (6 of us) and individual shots of the kids.
I am a novis. Specifically, I am looking for a floor plan for setting up studio and specific lighting, backdrop, props, seating.
I have looked into classes at the community college and am disappointed to see nothing like that is available. Can you make any suggestions, give me any websites to visit for this, etc.
Thanks in advance.
~Connie
