need some help

[tomlinson]

so I have a fuji s3 pro and I and just getting started, well I like doing portriats and the cute newborn etc picture, well I have a 18-50mm sigma lens and it seems like my pictures are not smooth and having that "professional" look that I see in a lot of other peoples phoots, I'm not sure if this is my camera, or lens ? I know I have been told to use a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 lens, I am doing natural light indoors, so which one would be a better choice ? I really like the dof blurry background effects.
thanks!

[SusanH1970]

Why don't you post a photo that you have questions about in the critique section, we'd be better able to help you there.

[sk66]

Usually that "smooth" look is a "glamour" treatment done in post.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by sk66

Usually that "smooth" look is a "glamour" treatment done in post.

Not necessarily - on women, yes, sometimes. On kids and babies, no.

[tomlinson]

I don't really have any pictures to put up to give you an example. I plan to get either of the 2 lens I mentioned and I'm not sure which is the better for what I want to do.

[inkista]

The Nikon 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 are pretty evenly matched from most accounts, so it's up to you whether you want the extra two-thirds of a stop on the max. aperture. Also, be aware that there are multiple versions of the 50/1.4. There's the older AF 50/1.4D, and the newer AF-S 50mm f/1.4G. The 50/1.8 is still an AF D lens. Since you don't need to worry about the focus motor issue that entry-level Nikons do, you could go with any of these and probably be ok.

The thing about using a larger aperture to get thinner DoF and to shoot in lower light is that focusing becomes a lot more critical, so you do want to suss out your camera's AF controls and modes, and most pro portrait work is done with off-camera lighting. You may also want to look into the Strobist.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by inkista

and most pro portrait work is done with off-camera lighting.

Hate to disagree with ya, dear heart (you know I love you to bits) but no. There are so many amazing pro portrait photographers that use natural light only. My particular favorite is my buddy Lisa Holloway, but there are plenty more like her.

[inkista]

Let's just say I'm interpreting the OP's "smooth" and "professional" to mean commercial work, and I'm thinking more along the lines of editorial portrait shooting.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by tomlinson

so I have a fuji s3 pro and I and just getting started, well I like doing portriats and the cute newborn etc picture, well I have a 18-50mm sigma lens and it seems like my pictures are not smooth and having that "professional" look that I see in a lot of other peoples phoots, I'm not sure if this is my camera, or lens ? I know I have been told to use a 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 lens, I am doing natural light indoors, so which one would be a better choice ? I really like the dof blurry background effects.
thanks!

There are different definitions of 'smooth and having that "professional" look'. However, the Nikon 85 f/1.4 is the 'Cream Machine' to many portrait/wedding photographers and the 200 f/2 is another smooth lens.

IMO, the 50 f/1.4 should be better than the 50 f/1.8. For portraits, I prefer the following lenses besides 24-70 & 70-200: Nikon 105 f/2.5 AI, 85 f/1.4, 200 f/2, 105 DC, 135 DC, Sigma 85 f/1.4, Zeiss 100 f/2, Canon 85 f/1.2 L, 135 f/2 L and 200 f/2 L, .

[tomlinson]

thank you for your responses, I decided to go with the 1.8 d since I'm so new I thought i would test it out being its not to expensive.
and when refering to the smooth professional look I guess I don't know how to explain it I guess they just looks so clear, clean and crisp! as opposed to just an normal snap shot.