Portrait shot in front of Christmas tree

[PhotoFan33]

Hey guys, I need your input. I've been tasked with taking some portrait shots for my wife's company Christmas party. Ideally I'd like to take shots of people in front of a Christmas tree. However, the problem I've come across in attempting this before is that either I set it to where it does a great job capturing the Christmas tree in its natural lighting from the bulbs on the tree and the people in front are then dark. Or I use the built in flash and capture the people fine but then the lights on the tree are basically blown out to where the tree looks like someone is shining a flashlight on it. Are there any suggestions for taking it to where I get the people at the right lighting, no doubt using the flash, but at the same time capture the tree behind with it's lightning and not having the flash drown it out?

What I'm using is a Canon XSi with it's built in flash and the stock lens that came with it. Is this even possible to do? I've seen others do it before with using an external flash for scenes like this but unfortunately that's not something I have yet. Thanks for the input!

[RABaker]

I don't have the same camera (I'm a Nikon guy) but what you are describing is a need to balance the flash exposure with the ambient light exposure - the flash creates a lot of light compared to the relatively darker ambient light conditions. There are various ways to accomplish this, and a search will probably turn up several articles on the subject. However, I did go to the Canon website and look at the XSi manual and it has a built-in feature that may do the job for you (*maybe*). Look at your camera manual table of contents for Basic Shooting and Image Playback/Shooting Portraits at Night (page 51 on the version of the manual I saw). If you set the camera's mode dial to "Night Portrait" the camera is supposed to automatically take an exposure that attempts to balance the flash exposure with the relatively dark ambient light. I suggest that you give this a try in circumstances similar to what you expect at the party as soon as you can so that you can determine if this feature will work for you. Be aware that the camera will use a slower shutter speed than normal to capture enough light from the darker background, so your subjects should be warned to hold still. If they move at the time of the exposure they may be blurred. (Actually, since the main exposure for your subjects will be the flash, any movement during the longer shutter speed would more likely show up as "ghost" images on the body parts that are moving.)

Good luck,
Richard

[PhotoFan33]

Excellent suggestion! I had frankly never bothered with that night setting. Never had a reason for it. Just did a test shot, dogs as the subjects, and it seemed to turn out really well. Should do nicely for the party. Thanks Richard!

[RABaker]

Glad I could help. By the way, since your camera will be using a longer shutter speed than normal you will have to be more careful to not move the camera during the exposure (as well as asking your subjects to be still). Ideally, the camera would be on a tripod so that there is no movement. But if you have to handhold it, just be aware that you need to be extra steady so that the tree/lights are not blurred by camera movement. As with all new techniques we learn, practicing ahead of time is highly recommended.

Good luck,
Richard

[PhotoFan33]

Oh yeah, for this upcoming event I'm just going to have it on a tripod. I did a couple shots last night on the tripod and then did several shots just holding the camera down at the floor kind of looking up at the dogs to catch the top of the tree and those actually came out fine as well. But I definitely noticed the shutter was a touch slower. Tripod and I got a remote so I'll be ready to go for this party.

[TotalGraphy]

i took a a fabulous picture of my christmas tree with my dog! it look awesome!

[photopros]

on camera flash is not that great you can buy decent small flash for $65.00 dollars bump up your ISO and use a bigger F stop
go to Cameta camera.com Adorama.com i got mine at this company