Focusing Questions

[stacyk]

To the professionals on this site and those with lots of experience, I am an amateur/hobbyist and have a few questions about focus. My questions are geared towards sessions with infants, toddlers, and children...all of which tend to move. It might be helpful to note that I am shooting with a Canon 40D, a 50mm prime ( f/1.8), and a 24-70 L lens. I shoot both indoors and out. When shooting indoors, I shoot with two Alien Bees strobe lights w/umbrellas. Outdoors, I utilize a 430 EX II speedlite.

1. Al Servo or One Shot? Does this tend to change with tiny infants or older children who don't move as much?

2. Focus points...center or all? Does this change depending if you are shooting in Al Servo or One Shot? What about when shooting more than one person in the session?

3. Meter modes...evaluative, spot, or center weighted? I was using spot, but then I heard that evaluative is better unless shooting in contrasting conditions.

4. HOW does one focus on the eyes so well???? Do I change my focus point or use the center and recompose?

Sorry, I must sound like an idiot! I searched and searched the internet for answers but found nothing worthwhile. I did find some information about focusing on the eyes, but still don't get it...or get results that I like.

Thank you for any help you can give me.

Stacy

[kencaleno]

1. Use AI servo, so you don't miss a fleeting glance,unique expressions, etc.,

2. center focus point

3.Center-weighted for portraits-always

4. Center point & recompose

Regards, Ken

[agresbach]

in regards to the focused eyes, advice i was given was to use the center focus point and lock it onto the inner part of one of the persons eyes. if you're using the 50mm 1.8 lens good advice i was given and i've noticed to be accurate is to suggest keeping the aperture set to 2.8 or 3.2 or above. although 1.8 will give you a great shallow DOF, until you get really good at a smaller aperture , you're likely to get one eye focused and one blurred due to the sharp drop off 1.8 will deliver
best thing I found for me was lots and lots of practice at it. eventually all this stuff will start to become 2nd nature to you! good luck!