Flash or no Flash?

[erincarter]

I will be attempting to do my first outdoor shoot of someone other than my wife and kids. Sure, it's friends and their kids (mom, dad, 5yr old boy, 2yr old girl) but still it's the first time someone other than my wife and kids will actually be coming specifically for photos.
I'm going to take them to a park here in town that has some ponds, some walking bridges that go over the ponds...there's geese and ducks around and things like that. My plan is to just let the kids be kids and shoot as they go kind of thing. You know get the whole holding hands walking over the bridge, feeding the ducks...just being kids.

Since they are friends I know they won't mind if I try some other type of shots as well.
I do have an sb600 flash, light stand and umbrella and I would like to try using it outdoors as I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Any suggestions on the best way to use it outdoors in the middle of the day? Should I just find some shade under a big tree, set it up and start shooting?

Any advice or tips for something like this would be great. Thanks

[PSPhotos]

Originally Posted by erincarter

I will be attempting to do my first outdoor shoot of someone other than my wife and kids. Sure, it's friends and their kids (mom, dad, 5yr old boy, 2yr old girl) but still it's the first time someone other than my wife and kids will actually be coming specifically for photos.
I'm going to take them to a park here in town that has some ponds, some walking bridges that go over the ponds...there's geese and ducks around and things like that. My plan is to just let the kids be kids and shoot as they go kind of thing. You know get the whole holding hands walking over the bridge, feeding the ducks...just being kids.

Since they are friends I know they won't mind if I try some other type of shots as well.
I do have an sb600 flash, light stand and umbrella and I would like to try using it outdoors as I haven't had a chance to do that yet. Any suggestions on the best way to use it outdoors in the middle of the day? Should I just find some shade under a big tree, set it up and start shooting?

Any advice or tips for something like this would be great. Thanks

You don't need them to be in the shade for the flash to have a huge impact as long as you are doing it early/late in the day. I have done some experimenting with this and you will need the umbrella to shoot through as it looks really funky (or maybe I just haven't figured it out) with direct light.

One thing that can be interesting is using the sun to back light and then putting the flash off to one side of you facing them and use that light to make their features visable with a halo of light around them.

[dakwegmo]

If they're expecting to get some decent shots, I would do those first with whatever equipment and techniques you're comfortable with. Kids, especially 2 year olds, have very short attention spans, and you don't want to lose that while fiddling with your gear. Once you get the shots you need to get, then do some experimenting.

[wannabephotographer]

I almost always use my flash, indoors or out. To me a flash is an essential way to control light outdoors.

[PSPhotos]

Originally Posted by wannabephotographer

I almost always use my flash, indoors or out. To me a flash is an essential way to control light outdoors.

I try to do that too but the only issue for me is that camera mounted it flattens the image and off camera is a pain in the ass to set up. I need a better flash stand/umbrella.

[wannabephotographer]

Originally Posted by PSPhotos

I try to do that too but the only issue for me is that camera mounted it flattens the image and off camera is a pain in the ass to set up. I need a better flash stand/umbrella.

If I am using on camera, which I normal don't do, I use a small softbox and underexpose the background.

[Benji]

Originally Posted by wannabephotographer

If I am using on camera, which I normal don't do, I use a small softbox and underexpose the background.

Attempting to underexpose the background when lit by the full sun will take one powerful flash unit, somewhere around 800 to 1200 watt second when using an umbrella.

Benji

[wannabephotographer]

Originally Posted by Benji

Attempting to underexpose the background when lit by the full sun will take one powerful flash unit, somewhere around 800 to 1200 watt second when using an umbrella.

Benji

Make use of the surroundings and find some shade then.