Canon Rebel EOS T5 outdoor images

[Felicia65]

 I have the Canon Rebel EOS T5 DSLR camera w/15-55mm lens and would like to know the best settings/functions to use for outdoor and indoor prom pictures. Most of the picutures will be taking outside.

[ebiggs1]

First time?  

 Out door, daylight or cloudy, just put the camera in "P" mode.  Actually how you compose the photo is the more important.  Watch your background. It can be more important than your subject.

Indoors is a little different.  If all you have is the tiny camera top flash, don't use it.  Change the setting to tungsten or fluorescent or what ever availible light you have.  You will need to set your ISO higher, too.  1600 should do it but do some rest shots first.  You can use "P" here also.

As you get more experience, you can do other stuff.  But for now I would stick with "P".  It stands for "Professional" after all. 

[Felicia65]

Thank you, most helpful

[amfoto1]

If outdoors in full sun, use the flash as "fill", to open up heavy shadows.

Better yet, move your subjects into the shade and don't use flash.

Indoors you will almost certainly need flash unless it's an unusually brightly lit situation (not likely, at a prom).

Using flash, it's always better to use an accessory flash, off-camera, rather than the built-in flash. The built-in is pretty weak, draws heavily on the camera's battery and being close and right over the lens, is in the worst possible place for redeye and ugly shadow effects. An accessory flash is much more powerful, has it's own separate power supply, and when used off to the side and higher up on a flash bracket, attached to the camera via an off-camera shoe cord, can greatly reduce redeye and put shadows down and behind subjects. Of course, an accessory flash, bracket and cord all involve some add'l out of pocket cost and mean more gear to carry around. But you'll almost always see event photographers using flashes this way. Canon flashes and other flashes designed to be used with Canon cameras can be very easy to use... ETTL or ETTL II mode is highly automated.

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Alan Myers

San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7D(x2), 50D(x3), some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
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