Camera Mode for Portraits

[xzebra]

I was wondering what mode on your camera most of you use when doing portraits.

I have used manual at times but when my daughter who is about 20 months old runs around and the lighting changes here and there it seems hard to adjust quickly. Are there any tips that you may have for this?

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by xzebra

I was wondering what mode on your camera most of you use when doing portraits.

I have used manual at times but when my daughter who is about 20 months old runs around and the lighting changes here and there it seems hard to adjust quickly. Are there any tips that you may have for this?

I usually shoot in aperture priority mode for portraits. It works well for me photographing young kids - I control the DOF I want, and the camera compensates for shutter speed changes with lighting variations. I also keep it on auto ISO for the same reason when photographing active kids. For older kids that will sit still, I usually set the ISO manually.

I've found it very difficult to shoot in full manual when photographing very young kids!

[LoveDSLR]

Options in general (Disclaimer: ...including the kitchen sink):

a) Manual method one
Take an exposure reading (average reading), then set the aperture, shutter speed (ss) and ISO. Use higher ISO, faster SS and a smaller aperture.

Use a wider coverage and pan your shoot at equal distance if possible. Obtain the initial focus and adjusts the manual focus ring to compensate any changes or step in sync with the child to keep the distance equal.

b) Manual method two
Preset the camera and pre-focus a spot where the kid is coming then shoot.

c) Semi-auto method for fast action (is there such a thing as fast action portrait?)
Setting: TV mode, smaller aperture (larger DOF) and high ISO.

d) Grab and shoot method
1D3 & D3 etc.: 7-11 fps, focus tracking, TV/AV mode, auto ISO up to 3200/6400.

e) P&S method
Use wide angle such as 24/28mm (FF) & hyperfocus (everything in focus from large DOF with a small aperture) + TV mode and high ISO.

[OsmosisStudios]

Manual. Always manual.