OUR APPRENTICE SAYS…

I ended up using aperture-priority mode, which allowed me to have complete control over the aperture and the depth of field. Rather than rely on matrix metering, Kate suggested I try spot metering, taking an exposure reading from the faces of the family to ensure these areas were correctly exposed.

Although I don’t own a fast 70-200mm f/2.8 lens like Kate, my slower 70-300mm still gave a fast enough shutter speed for sharp handheld shots without having to set the ISO too high. In this situation, the flexibility offered by the zoom was handy, as I could quickly change from a full-length group portrait to a close-up of mother and daughter. Using a combination of the longer end of the range and a large aperture diffused the dappled background beautifully.