Tips to getting the correct exposure fast

Today’s question is from Garry who asks:

Question:

I’ve recently started doing family portraits, but I’m finding that I’m taking a lot of photos just to get the exposure right.

I start to get nervous because I feel i’m making the family wait along time for a simple photo. I normally photograph landscapes and i bracket my exposure but using this technique for portraits is taking too long.

What are some tips to getting the right exposure fast?

In today’s episode: Tips to getting the correct exposure fast?

• Practising before the session
• Setting Shutter speed, Aperture and Iso
• Using your hand to set your exposure
• Using the grass to set your exposure
• Using spot metering.
• Setting your exposure as you walk to the location
• Using the one of the family members people as a test
• Telling them you’re taking a test shot

Podcast Transcript

This is episode 1 of the Ask A Photographer Podcast. My name is Mike and i’ll be answering your photography related questions on workflow editing business and marketing.

Today’s question is from Gary and he says I’ve recently started doing family portraits but I find that I’m taking a lot of photos just to get the exposure right i start to get noticed because i
 feel i’m making the family wait too long just for such a simple photo I not only photograph landscapes and I break my exposure but using this technique for portraits is taking way too long

What are some tips to getting the right exposure fast?

Hey Gary thanks for your question

Yeah that can be daunting especially when you’re just starting out.

You know you’ve got people looking at you, and I can understand exactly where you’re coming from. I used to feel the same way when I first started and I did exactly the same thing.

You know the family is right there, and they would be standing patiently waiting for me.

The thing is you’ve just got to get your exposure right. Before you put them in front of the camera. So you can concentrate on them, interacting with them and getting to laugh.

Practising before the session

So what I would do is practice without people in front of the camera. That’s going to be the easiest way. Because you know you’re not going to get nervous you’re not going to get people looking straight at you.

Using objects like trees if your indoors, simple objects like a bowl of fruit, whatever it may be. I would only change one sitting at a time, so we know that we’ve gotta go set ISO, shutter speed and aperture.

Setting Shutter speed, Aperture and Iso

I would set my shutter speed first then my aperture knowing that if I’ve got know one person oy might be F2.8 or F 4 or a group people, could be F5.6 or even F8 if it’s a big group of people.

Then using just the iso, go up and down the iso until the needle is in the center.

Now of course you know you can change the shutter speed to fine-tune or even the aperture to get to you for your exposure but for this exercise. I just want you to concentrate on changing one setting at a time.

Using spot metering

Pointing the camera at the object and using the spot metering.

Spot metering uses the centre AF point autofocus point and what I like about using that. The cameras only uses a small portion of the frame.

When you’re pointing to the camera at a really bright object. You are gonna get
 different rating. If it’s dark and it’s going to give a different rating,

Whereas the other exposure modes take a larger portion of the scene, and can give you a
 little bit of funny exposures or bit difficult bit harder to get your exposure going because there could be other elements within the scene could be dark and it could be lightened and you know that’s that’s what I would start with.

When I’m taking photos of people i actually have much my exposure
 pretty much set before i even get there or get together in front of the camera.

I do this by first of all scouting the area and knowing the time a day of
 when i’ll be photographing.

This helps me you know my settings. But of course experience by shooting in the same places also plays a big part too.

Using one of the family members as a test

Use a Using one of the family members as a test to find the exposure is another way. Starting with your aperture 1 to 2 people like in an engagement session. Will be F2.8 or f 4. For a group of people it could be f5.6 to f8. From here you setting your shutter speed and ISO.

Setting your exposure as you walk to the location

As im walking to a location with the couple or family what I generally do is lift my camera and point in the general direction as i’m chatting to them, but not taking a photo at this point just
 lifting it up and pointing in the general direction.

I can see when where my needle is and I can make a couple of changes before we even get there and that that helps a lot.

Using the grass to set your exposure

Another thing is using the grass as a way to meter. This is something I do when shooting sports photography.

I before the teams come out, I point my lens into the grass about 20–30 meters in front and and try to get the exposure.

That way there will only be slight shift of maybe the shutter speed. No need to change your aperture or the iso as that is already set, But that’s a good starting point.

Using your hand to set your exposure

Another thing you can try is extending your hand out front and pointing fingers up. When you take a photo you’re exposing for a skin tone, which is perfect for portrait.

It’s only you that needs to be there, so you know you don’t have to have any of the family in front of you. I find it’s just a good way to see how the light is falling on your skin.

Telling them you’re taking a test shot

Having the confidence to just say look “I’m taking a quick test shot give me a second they’ll understand completely. Take a couple of photos and you should at a point only having to make slight changes

And that’s it really, but most of all it’s you just gotta be practice and knowing where you’re photographing in your environment helps a lot.

so if you’re photographing indoors you know your your lens choice, shutter speed and aperture. And of course if you’re outdoors this will be different again. so I have those tips help you for next time when you are trying to find the correct exposure.

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