***Davez***

hclavalley

Quick photog question for you.  

I'm going to take Valentine's pics of the boys tomorrow.  I have a backdrop that I'd like to use, but I'd like it to be blurred compared to the boys.  I have a Canon XTi and a mounted flash(if needed).  I was planning on using natural light from our sliding glass door.

What settings do you recommend? What tips do you have for how far from the background?  Any advice?  I think I'm going to have both boys in red shirts with jeans on, maybe white shirts if it looks better. I have a bunch of V-day type props for them to get into, and I'm hoping to catch something cute between them, just one... which you know is a tall order with these two. 

DavezWife

lol. good luck on that ;-)

You'll want them a couple feet from the backdrop if you can, that will help eliminate shadows on the backdrop, and help you with that "bokeh" (aka blurry background)

That's a depth of field thing, and basically you want your camera as wide open (meaning the smallest of your app numbers) as you dare go.  I'll presume you have your kit lens, and not to confuse you, but that has a variable apperatue, depending on your focal length. That lil' dial on the top right, dial it so the number is the smallest, I suspect about 3.5 or so. Then go back UP a couple clicks up, here's why.....

focusing on 2 moving kids is tricky, and if you have that narrow little "hole" to focus, you won't get them both in focus. one will be blurry. focus on their eyes, and hope for the best. You can't really tell if things are in focus in camera as well as on screen, so be prepared to have a few short sessions, rather than one long one.  I would stick with natural light as much as possible, having then perpendicular to the big windows or something.

I'm around tomorrow, shoot me a couple favs and I'll tell you if you're on track, or help you edit. Be AT their level, put stickers where you want them to sit and tell them to hide the bugs or whatever, and be prepared to be goofy and have fun.  In my siggy piks, Ava is not saying "cheese" she's mimicking my funny noises, like "whoop whooop!" (click) or "No WAY JOSE!" (click) or "aaahhhchoooooooo!" (click).

A stressed mom DEMANDING a good shot will never see it ;-)