Help Please?! Properly exposing the sky with People in the shot...

[FGPhotography]

I did an engagement session today and I was trying to expose the sky while getting the couple that were pretty much immediately infront of me properly exposed... But I couldn't expose the sky nicely AND get them good...With a few of the shots I did I managed to get the sky OK with some post work, but there was so much more to the sky than I managed to get...

Can someone help me?

This is the photo:

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 125
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Fired, Return not detected
The rest of the Exif data is here.

Thank you in advance!

[kelleyrie]

I expose for the sky and then let the flash properly expose the person, use a smaller aperture to get your shutter speed down to sync speed with your flash

* when I remember, that is*

[FGPhotography]

Could you maybe go into a bit more detail?

For example, with the picture I posted - what would the numbers look like? I used a flash for it, but not my sb 900 because it died (Grrr! LOL)... So, say I have my 900, i then make the aperture smaller, then shutter slower... Mmm, kay perhaps I'm trying to make sense of this to late at night... lol Thank you, though. I have a general idea of what your saying.. lol

Originally Posted by kelleyrie

I expose for the sky and then let the flash properly expose the person, use a smaller aperture to get your shutter speed down to sync speed with your flash

* when I remember, that is*

[ericariker]

Are you planning on photoshopping the image or reshooting?

[JeffSmith]

Use a GND - Graduated Neutral Density filter.



Rotate the density to where you want less exposure - prevent's blown-out skies and it's especially useful for sunsets. Perfect tool for that shot of yours

[kirbinster]

I think what was being said it let your camera meter for the sky and use those settings in manual mode but now use your flash to provide fill for the people. That way the camera will expose the sky correctly and the flash will compensate so the people will also be exposed correctly.

[FGPhotography]

Originally Posted by ericariker

Are you planning on photoshopping the image or reshooting?

I already photoshopped the image and am gonna leave it as it appears and I don't plan to re-shoot, the clients are very happy with the pictures as they are... I am just trying to educate myself for the next time is all. Thank you

Originally Posted by JeffSmith

Use a GND - Graduated Neutral Density filter.



Rotate the density to where you want less exposure - prevent's blown-out skies and it's especially useful for sunsets. Perfect tool for that shot of yours

Perfect!!! Thank you - I will definitely look into one of those! Funny cause I was thinking polarized filter, but that seems a lot better. Thank you!

Originally Posted by kirbinster

I think what was being said it let your camera meter for the sky and use those settings in manual mode but now use your flash to provide fill for the people. That way the camera will expose the sky correctly and the flash will compensate so the people will also be exposed correctly.

Thank you! That makes sense! Now so does the original post I replied to regarding this - I was just tired when I first read it lol. Thank you!

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by JeffSmith

Use a GND - Graduated Neutral Density filter.



Rotate the density to where you want less exposure - prevent's blown-out skies and it's especially useful for sunsets. Perfect tool for that shot of yours

Only problem with a GRAD is if you have people in the shot, and the horizon is cutting through them, you will have a subject with two different exposures.

[FGPhotography]

Originally Posted by RLucas

Only problem with a GRAD is if you have people in the shot, and the horizon is cutting through them, you will have a subject with two different exposures.

I was thinking about that.. I was a bit concerned about that... Hmmm...

But I do want to get one anyways, so, what one do you get for sunsets? the b&w one?

Thanks!