what am I doing wrong?

[terrtwins]

How can I avoid the blown-out hair and parts of faces? This is a rough shot so please dont mind the background.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Spot meter on the faces to read your exposure levels.

[terrtwins]

I used my light meter to grab a reading then used the flash to fill, and the differing lights still show a lot, IMO. Thats what I really want to avoid.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Are you using a camera mounted flash? If so get it off the camera! looking at the shot it indicates that you have the sun to your left coming from the side of the ladies and it sounds like your trying to fill in their faces with extra flash and your flash is dialed in about a 1/4 stop too high and blowing out their faces to some extent, since you already have some sunlight coming in from the side already lighting them to some extent.

First I would reposition them to have the sun coming in a bit more behind them which gives you a giant hair light then using extra flashes to fill in their faces and the rest of their bodies.

[ito4u]

I would under expose with your aperture or put the flash on manual and dial it down.

[terrtwins]

Flash was on the camera. Using strobes wasnt an option, the wind was not kind at all.

[kayumangi]

Care to share your EXIF info?

Since I can't read the EXIF from your image I'm just gonna assume your shutter speed was too slow. Checkout if your flash supports high speed syncing, because if it does, you can effectively kill sunlight.

[danchez]

either that, or meter the grass, then under expose by 2/3.... at least I think that's right.

[KdLaneJr]

Av mode. Spot meter on a face and let the camera and flash do their job.

The question I have here is... exactly how did you use your flash to fill?

[terrtwins]

After the reading and setting the camera, I setup the flash on manual at about 1/2 the power (i think, anyway).

[carrbowl]

Ok. Dave, I am no expert, but I know just enough to be dangerous...lets see if I can explain it well enough!!! I think what you are trying to do is meter for the face and then fill in the face, when in fact you need to meter for the back ground and then fill in the faces. So if you meter for the back ground, put the camera on aperture priority, then use the fill flash to fill the faces.

[terrtwins]

That makes sense. I guess i am uncomfortable "blending" the natural light with the strobe or flash to create one, shadowless, and properly exposed shot.

[Matt_G]

Using strobes wasnt an option, the wind was not kind at all.

sandbags are cheap.

They are facing the wrong way IMO... I prefer the sun in the background. Meter the backgorund about a 1/2 stop underexposed and use the flash to fill the subject. My typical fast and easy way for group/team photos.

With side light you are going to get the hot spot on their face unless you have strobes to counter it on the other side.

[terrtwins]

that seems easy enough, hopefully I can do another team shot outdoors again. Today was indoors and in black dresses, a little easier.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

Av mode. Spot meter on a face and let the camera and flash do their job.

The question I have here is... exactly how did you use your flash to fill?

Never AV mode for this. Your camera's job is to capture the image you tell it to. Take advantage of the great manual controls to really get what you want. Cloudy WB will make the girls appear a little more tan than they are, which they will probably appreciate.

Instead of having the sun on their side, get it behind them. While you are moving them, use a better background than that table and fence.

Expose for their faces, then just give a little puff of light to fill in the shadows with your on camera flash.