a newbie

[lchaudoin8]

hello everyone! i'm the newest member to these forums it looks like! so, i'm just having a fun time with my fairly new canon. i've taken some candids and landscapes in florida and also some family pictures for friends recently. i am going to take some senior and 8th grade pictures for friends soon and started researching digital photography basics and found this site... which is perfect! i'm going to do some outdoor portraits for these girls and need all of the advise i can get -- again, for a beginner who doesn't have much camera lingo/knowledge/background - searching for some guidelines and tips. Thanks anyone and everyone!
Lacie

[Tito87]

Welcome to DPS. This might help you some.
Graphics.com >> Sections >> Insight >> Photographing People Outdoors

[autofocus]

along with what Tito suggested above I would say start looking at outdoor photos by others. And when I say start looking I mean really look over the photos and start making some judgments. Where is the light coming from?...what is the source of the light?..what does the background look like?..how are the subjects posed? etc. Make mental notes of what you see and what you like, and start asking how can I accomplish this? Direct some specific questions to us here on DPS, and I'd guarantee, you will get results and answers. Remember, you are starting out from scratch, and in time you will develop more of the skills needed to take really great photos. But, don't expect it to happen over night

[lchaudoin8]

thank you guys ~ i think i got some pretty good shots and created a book on my mac to give to her to choose from to see which she wants to get prints.
i did all of them with automatic settings and although i was pleased with them for the most part, i really want to figure out the manual way to go about it. i know it's going to take practice and trial and error and time. i appreciate the advise - and enjoyed the pics on your website!

[jimmysen]

Hi everybody I am jimmy sen from Scotland, UK
Nice community and forum.
I get here lot of new friends....