Nikon SLR Cameras

Settings for baby portraits using nikon d3000?

mercy me
mercy me

What have you found to be the BEST settings for baby pics indoor and outdoor on the nikon d3000? Which iso for indoor, outdoor? What level apeture etc? I'm still getting to know this camera and have produced some very nice pics and some very bad ones with bad lighting. I need advice samples, etc

fhotoace
fhotoace

The important settings are these

White balance to match the primary lighting you are using
A fast portrait lens like the AF-S 50 mm f/1.4 to control depth of field
A dedicated electronic flash with flash diffuser.

That and your skills as a portrait photographer, should add up to a successful business.

Jim A
Jim A

This is an indoor example, not a baby but the idea is the same.
My settings on my Canon Rebel XS were:
Shutter: 1/200 (flash sync speed)
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 200
I used my on board flash - muted with filter material. I also used a slave flash to photo left, it was also muted. About all it did was highlight the hair at photo left.

Here's an outdoor portrait. Settings were:
Shutter: 1/200
Aperture: f/7.1
I used the on board flash for fill - no muting this time.

When ever I can I'll take a couple of light test shots when I'm using flash indoors or fill flash out doors. I always set the shutter at 1/200 and adjust the aperture to add or cool the light.

Another trick works well for me. In my manual settings I always leave 1/200, f/5.6. When I walk into a flash situation I simply roll to manual, pop the flash and fire. Again if the light is too hot or cool
I'll adjust the aperture not the shutter speed.