This what I would like to see.....

[sydneysteelers]

I have a Nikon D500 and two kit lens (18-55mm & 55-200mm)

Now after searching this site and everyone I can find on the net I can't seem to find how to take portraits with kit lens as an amateur.

I found lots of sites that show us how to do this if we buy better lens and better cameras and the best lighting set you can buy.

Then site that say you can take portraits with work lights.

I would love to see a photo shoot in someones house using work lights (clamp lights) and not 500w work lights that will set my house on fire, when using kit lens or do I have to spend lots of money in order to take portraits.

This site is the best but we would need a lot of money to do most of what I have seen here. Can we take pictures or does it mean these cameras and kit lens are really just a high price point and shoot.

Just wondering.
Thanks

[IABoomer]

Camera Model: NIKON D5000
Lens: 55.0-200.0 mm f/4.0-5.6
Focal Length: 55mm (35mm equivalent: 82mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
ISO equiv: 1250

This is a quick candid snap of my sister-in-law outside on a cloudy morning. No softbox. No SB 600/700/900 flash. No 70-200 f/2.8 lens. Just natural light and the kit lens on a D5000.

Now, granted it's not a formal posed portrait, but it does show that the lens is capable of getting good detail in the face, rendering good color, and getting some separation between the subject and the background (which would have been better had I moved back and zoomed in more).

Working on your indoor portrait scenario, you might want to search for "ghetto lighting photography", since using clamp lights, desk lamps, etc. is often referred to by this term. You might also want to check out Flickr groups like this one for inspiration: Flickr: GHETTO LIGHTING

[RichardTaylor]

For a good example of portraits using a kit lens (I believe) and a 50mm F1.8, have a look at Susan Harrington's people pics on her flickr stream.
Susan is a DPS member (SusnaH1970).

Flickr: Susan Harrington Photography's Photostream

[ccting]

Dear Richard,

kit lens with widest aperture f/5.6? I believe Susan is not using her kit lens for those images as f/5.6 for me, it is not possible (according to my experience) to get those very soft background like seamless background paper, regardless how far the background is. with widest f/5.6 (for my kid lens) , you should get the background blur same as the above pics..

Look at Susan's cat portrait, I just can't get that shallow DOF even with 55mm f/5.6 @ nearest distance.

[jdepould]

One of the (often overlooked) keys to creating depth in an image is to make sure the scene actually has depth. Boomer did a nice job of it above.

A lot of the time, you'll see someone put their subject right up against a background, be it a wall, window, christmas tree, whatever. That's fine for snapshots, but it's never going to be as interesting as it would be if you put some distance between your subject and the background. Even shooting at smaller apertures, it'll do a lot.

Rimlight (backlight) is another good way to create separation between subject and background, though it can be tricky to nail the exposure.

[RichardTaylor]

My mistake - most of the portraits appear with with the 50mm F1.8 (see the exif)

[MNRookie]

I started with the exact same kit as you have. I did use a couple of the clap lights from HomeDepot, but bought a florescent 300w bulb ($10-13) from the same place. The portraits turned out alright. I am assuming that you are looking at just taking photos indoors? I have always had better luck outdoors with portraits. I will see if I can find a couple to share with you that I took with the clamp lights.

[MNRookie]

Originally Posted by MNRookie

I started with the exact same kit as you have. I did use a couple of the clap lights from HomeDepot, but bought a florescent 300w bulb ($10-13) from the same place. The portraits turned out alright. I am assuming that you are looking at just taking photos indoors? I have always had better luck outdoors with portraits. I will see if I can find a couple to share with you that I took with the clamp lights.

One of the first ones that I took. At work, so not too much to show.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by ccting

Dear Richard,

kit lens with widest aperture f/5.6? I believe Susan is not using her kit lens for those images as f/5.6 for me, it is not possible (according to my experience) to get those very soft background like seamless background paper, regardless how far the background is. with widest f/5.6 (for my kid lens) , you should get the background blur same as the above pics..

Look at Susan's cat portrait, I just can't get that shallow DOF even with 55mm f/5.6 @ nearest distance.

--Huh? It is too possible, you just have to get closer. Although, this is not a "kit" lens (70-300vr), it is slow.
This was shot in late afternoon, sun positioned to the subject's back, coming over her left shoulder. I was wearing a white shirt to bounce some of the light back in to her face.
Shot with a D40, which is about as entry level as you can get. If you don't believe me, I will do some shots with someone today, with my 18-55, and post this afternoon.


EXIF:
Exposure 0.013 sec (1/80) Hand held.
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 200