Lighting tips

[Thumbell]

Hi,

I have taken some pics of my partner for lit but we are really struggling with the lighting. With the flash off and lights high it is too blurry. With the lights low and the flash off they're too dark. With the flash on they look like they were taken in a hospital. I do only have a camera phone but it is supposed to be 5 megapixels which is ok right? I will invest in a proper camera soon but just wondered what other people do and if anyone has any tips they use to get good sexy lighting. Thanks

 

[Barret7sc]

The big thing about lighting is that indoors there never is quite as much as you see with your own eyes. Getting a real camera will help some, but it really depends on how wide the aperature on the camera can open. A digital SLR will give you the freedom to get multiple lenses to suit your situations, but they are quite spendy.

Long story short. Get a real camera, and get more lights in the room. Once you get a real camera, try putting a flash diffuser on it if you can't get enough light from the ambient light in the room, it will help make the flash look less harsh.

 

[85bird]

Try to utilize natural light in addition to any other sources....from a window or door, etc...may limit the shooting time frame but your pics will look so much better...

Also use something to steady the camera with, a chair, bed, dresser, wall, door, steady knee....I find this always helps....

 

[Superfly84]

Frustratingly, natural light isn't such an easy thing to come by. At this time of year, it's dark by the time we both get back from work and are in the mood for a photo session. Still, since it's the weekend, we'll hopefully give it a go tomorrow during the daytime though. I believe there's plenty of that out on the balcony. Hello, Birmingham...

 

[Thumbell]

thank you

for your tips guys. Will try some natural light pics while saving up for a camera. Any features we should look out for if we are intending to do this kind of photography? Our budget is about £120 unfortunately

 

[tcook]

5 MP is fine
wider fstop range is better
Aperture proirity/manual mode ( allows more tweaking, if affordable) Many cameras have preset "scenes", usually includes a night portrait mode, this is better than nothing.