Shooting people...this or that?

[The Green One]

So I'm trying to get into people photography (modeling). I'm pretty new to still photography (as I disclosed to my possible client) and as such my equipment supply is pretty small. I'm shooting with a Rebel K2 with the basic 28-80 or 90 lens. My question is: for the best quality prints, would it be advisable to purchase the 50mm lens or to purchase lighting? I'll eventually do both but for now I'm not getting paid so it's all coming out of my personal budget so you know the story. I don't yet know the particulars of the shoot but I'm thinking it will be indoors under low light.

 

[Shaw]

For modeling you will probably want to go with the 90mm lens. Longer lenses are typically used.

 

[WaveRiderXIX]

You have a long road of trial and error ahead of you.

I do suggest at least taking a basic photography coarse like at a local college, and just get your feet wet with f-stop, aperture, iso, etc... to the dark room and the techniques for dodge and burn and learning basic terminology. I went to a photoshoot once... (a friend had asked to bring my cam and just take some pics) There was an analog photographer there who wanted me to shoot tests so that he could base his settings on my cam. He was asking me questions regarding the iso etc and I felt like a dumbass for not knowing any of that. stuff.

Especially for modeling photography, now you'll need a good flash to use as your main, and a flood light or slave. The brand of the lens is not nearly as important as the settings you have on your shutter and f-stop and how you use your flash when you take the pic . If you go lamps, you're look at a few 500w or couple 1000 watt lamps.

As for lens, you can get by with something like a Tamron 28-105 2.8
Sigma 28-105 is good too.

Just make sure your ISO is cranked up, f stop is low as possible depending on the distance and lighting setup. I'm still in the learning process myself regarding flash photography and lighting.

personally, when I do indoor shoots, I use a softbox and I have a slave in there triggered by my camera. (Depends, but usually I'll be using 5.6 on the flash and tilt it 45 degree up to bounce it off the walls. It's going to depend how the background/room size is. Good luck!

 

[shadowdweller]

I agree with waverider, you should definitely take a course on the basics just to get you up to speed. But as far as either a lens or lighting equiptment, I would say go with the lens first get yourself familiar with that and the rest of your equiptment and then move on to the lighting. This way you will understand what your basic needs are for lighting and then you can spend approiately. You have to crawl before you can walk.