Looking for the best portrait settings with Rebel T7

[joyan]

Hey everyone! I have a friend who can’t afford grad photos so I offered to do it for free considering I have a canon eos rebel t7 laying around. Haven’t used it in a while and never did portraits. What’s the best settings I can put as in shutter speed, iso, mode, etc. for grad photos? I have a few lenses laying around too that I can try on. (I’m new to photography so pls be kind as I’m trying to do right by my friend)

[kvbarkley]

Which lenses?

What kind of photo?

on-location?

studio?

headshot?

full body?

I suggest you schedule several sessions and go out and experiment. Make it an interactive process. Take notes so that you can go back to what you did before.

I kind of like this one, but it was a bit of a snapshot:

T6S

Probably my 18-135 lens

f/5.6, 1/160th sec, ISO-100*

114mm focal length

No flash was used, but a little fill flash might have added some eye highlights

*However, these were chosen by the camera in P mode.

[Ron888]

This is a massive subject with lots of styles possible. You should search the web for interesting ideas.That said,the most common style is a blurry background and nice lighting. Lighting can be a huge subject on its own!
Some basics: Try to have softer, even lighting and have some light reflecting in the subjects eyes- minimal flash as kvbarkley mentions above.Again,look online for lighting ideas.
Are you good at recognizing and avoiding color casts?
Be aware that some people will look great no matter what,while others you'll have to work hard to get usable images.Photogenic is a real thing.I for example look weird if i do a typical smile.For me it's lips closed and don't overdo it😂.
Viewing the shots on a large screen can be useful for you and the client,especially if they're fussy

[ebiggs1]

"Haven’t used it in a while and never did portraits."

Good as most graduation/senior photos are portraits. Yeah a couple but mostly they show the persona.  I have done these for four decades and am still doing them.  This work and weddings is a photographers livelihood.

My most used lens is my ef 24-70mm f2.8L and ef 70-200mm f2.8L. If you have the standard kit lens you have all the lens you need. Use no filter(s) The best way to go is a nice setting that is part of the senior/grads life. The school campus for instance. Have her/him bring along things that are associated with them. I prefer indirect sunlight if possible The settings are no different than any and P mode will do quite a lot. Shoot raw and get DPP4 from Canon it is free so why not.

Have them bring a couple clothes changes especially if it is a girl. Have them bring a few props if they want to. But tell them a boy or girl friend is not a prop! Pet is OK. Watermark your photos. I always include a copyright release form just in case.

A photographers job is to tell the story. You are trying to capture the grad. Personally I disagree with this and would avoid doing much that changes the person,..."Be aware that some people will look great no matter what,while others you'll have to work hard to get usable images.Photogenic is a real thing." Of course you never show a bad photo but you must show the grad as the grad is. I probably would not have kept the top photo (red cap and gown) offered in this reply. I typically take several hundred, 300 perhaps, and edit it down to 75 or so. Put the full size images on a thumb drive. Hope this helps if you have a further questions please feel free to ask.

[ebiggs1]

Boys do graduation photos too. But usually take along a whole different wants and needs.