I've recently began to do a little pet photgraphy and I plan on maybe doing it semi-professionally. I'm mostly interested in outdoor action shots,profiles and portraits. I currently use a Canon 30D( upgrade to 50D impending) and 300 mm F4 L series lens. I also have a 70-300, but it is a pretty cheap lens and the results aren't as sharp as I would like. I"m considering the 70-200mm F4 L series,without IS due to cost( is this a must? I'd probbaly be using the 300mm for most action anyway).
Also, if I was to start doing some portraits indoors,can someone tell me what type of gear I would need to get things off the ground.
Thanks in advance for your time...
Dave Brown
12-02-2008, 08:00 AM
Jim Poor
Hi Dave,
For indoors, I've found that the 24-70 is often better than the 70-200 because quarters can get cramped real fast. If you get a pet bigger then a chihuahua, you might not have enough room. Mind you, I'm a Nikon shooter, but I've been really happy with both of those lenses. I choose which one to use based solely on how much room I have. The 24-70 shows very very little wide angle distortion unless you move the subject to the edge of the frame in a creative attempt to distort it a bit more.
Other things you'll need.
Some sort of backdrop (or multiple backdrops) Don't get sucked into the "real" ones when you can buy material and make them much more economically. Nobody in my house can sew very well, but we've managed. This week we made three 9'x15' muslin backdrops for under $50 U.S. Right now, they are all high-key white, but as they get dingy with use, I'll dye the first one another color or pattern and switch to the second.
Lighting. I use anywhere from two to three SB-800s / 900's on light-stands with shoot-through umbrellas. I control them with an SU-800, but any of the flashes could just as easily be the master. Some day, I'd like to get some portable strobes, but there is really no pressing need.
A set of background stands / poles to hold your background on.
Some scissor clips / clamps for attaching the background to other things or holding whatever you need held.
Props, toys, treats and a "show leash." The show leash can be used to help control dogs and even cats who aren't so great at sitting still. The show leash is thin enough that it is really easy to clone out or remove.
Other nice to have items:
A couple of super clamps. It is great not to need the light-stands and clamp the flashes to something else out of the way.
An EZ-up style tent. It makes a great light tent outside, is portable and comes in several sizes. I use an 8'x10'.
Trivia:
I almost always go hand-held because the subjects are highly mobile and I like to be able to roll around on the floor to follow the action.
More on backdrops:
Seamless paper is wonderful for easing post production and getting a very smooth, elegant look. It is fragile and easily ruined, plus if you end up in a space that is too small (not wide enough), you can't fold up part of the roll. You're stuck.
Muslin and other fabrics are flexible, lightweight and easily adaptable to smaller spaces by folding or rolling. They wrinkle and don't give the smooth look of paper though you can stretch and clamp it to eliminate a lot of the wrinkles.
Canvass is heavier, less flexible and more wrinkle resistant. A great choice for a studio, but not so great for on-location shooting in many cases.
Vynil is an alternative that I'm looking into. It seems easier to clean than paper, is wrinkle free, but can be folded over for tight spaces. It is more durable. The downside is that it is heavy and expensive.
Hope this helps
Jim
12-03-2008, 07:22 PM
Michael Pancier
The Canon 24-70L is the sharpest zoom in the wide to short tele range. I only use it indoors since it's heavy to carry a long ways. The 70-200 f/4 is a great lens too for close ups. you can't go wrong with those, but if money is an issue, go with the 24-70L by itself. the 2.8 aperture comes in handy too
