Any tips on night portraits

[ldelacruz]

I got a volunteer to help me with some night portrait shots and wanted to see if you guys have any ideas?

I want to flash her but keep the city lights exposed correctly in the background.

[Tom]

I want to flash her

Goin' for the Abel method of making them smile?

[photojournalist]

Use a tripod. Take your flash off camera. Slow shutter small aperture. City lights always seems to work better for me with a small aperture.

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by photojournalist

Use a tripod. Take your flash off camera. Slow shutter small aperture. City lights always seems to work better for me with a small aperture.

I use a tripod. I also turn my flash down to less than full power and set it on 2nd curtain sync. That lets in the ambient light in the background, but gives some flash on the subject. I also try to shoot at twilight and get that pretty dark blue sky rather than a true night sky.

I got some nice ones of my husband and I in the garden at our hotel in Venice using this method.

[billseye]

We had this situation a couple of weeks ago. Not necessarily by choice, but it worked out pretty well. We were running out of time to do a bridal session, with the wedding rapidly approaching, and the days getting shorter. The construction company that I work for (day job) has recently built a very nice shopping center that I think would be a great shooting location. I'm going to add it in the locations forum as soon as I have some contact info.
I don't have the data available right now, (I'm not at my home computer) but I believe my daughter shot this with her D50 / SB800 as master set on manual, a 35-70mm f2.8, tripod mointed. With me holding an SB600 for a slave to the subject's right. We kept adjusting the flash power up and down till we liked it. The lights behind the bride are all ambient lighting.
I'm sure there are some other things we could have done with more lighting equipment. I'd appreciate any comments or critiques.
BTW , the shopping center is just east of 249 on Loueta. It's called Vintage Park. Lots of nice architecture and fountains and stuff.

Well I can't figure out how to put the picture in this box. It wants a url and I have it saved in my pictures.
Any advice?

[billseye]

Well , try this, http://sarahjosh.shutterfly.com/28

Thanks,
bill

[mbradley]

if you've got someone that can hold a pose, I usually open the shutter for about five seconds for back lighting and just before it closes, manually pop the flash to freeze the subject. camera is on tripod of course.

[Citex]

Originally Posted by six_o_seven

if you've got someone that can hold a pose, I usually open the shutter for about five seconds for back lighting and just before it closes, manually pop the flash to freeze the subject. camera is on tripod of course.

Works

[ldelacruz]

Thanks for all the info.

Bill,
Your photo looks like it turned out pretty good.

[humminboid]

Lonnie: Wassamatter with instant Grits? They all taste the same...it takes the GOOD stuff (butter and bacon) to make them taste good!

It looks like you have all the bases covered, except the most important one...security.

You will have expensive equipment, and will be concentrating on your photography. Be wise.

Not that you should go to the extent of one of my coworkers did. He hired a large, paroled murderer to watch his back whenever he had to go into the "inner city" to conduct business. (Only paid him half, till they were safely out, tho.)

A few years ago, we had a couple who were photographing the moonrise at a park. Some goblin, who they later caught and convicted, was hunting for someone to shoot with his .44 magnum. He killed the man, and crippled the woman.

So, be safe, whatever you are doing. Be aware of your surroundings, and remember: FEET, save the body!

[mbradley]

Carl,
This is Texas... didn't you know... we are all packin'

[humminboid]

Originally Posted by six_o_seven

Carl,
This is Texas... didn't you know... we are all packin'

Of course; silly me! WHATEVER was I thinking? My kind of people!

[ldelacruz]

[QUOTE=humminboid;807252]Lonnie: Wassamatter with instant Grits? They all taste the same...it takes the GOOD stuff (butter and bacon) to make them taste good!

Just a quote from My Cousin Vinny.

Thanks for the tips on safety because I tend to get careless since I actually grew up in the hood. Things are a lot different now and I find myself locking my car doors at red lights.