1) What lens or lenses are you using?
Nikkor 50mm f/1.8, 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR2
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6
2) How do you approach them for a photo taking session in India? Do you have to pay them for a session?
no, i dun do salon art.
i just smile and raise my camera to my upper chest, if no objection, just snap. usually they will pose on their accord when you do that. if i have a gut feeling they will ask for money, i dun bother to approach.
i may at times gesture them to move their direction if their back is facing the sun, that is about all i will ask, otherwise it will become too artificial for me. the reason why i will bother to change their posturing against the sun to avoid a silouette is becos some of them requested to have their photo taken (not that i approach them) and they wanted to see their face on the DSLR panel, hence i think the last thing i want is to show them their silouette.
3) What lens would you recommend for a newbie like me for portraits? I am thinking of getting the 85mm f1.4
i'm also a newbie who learnt portraits from travel partners. for me, i used my 50mm f/1.8 as my primary streets portrait. in fact, when i run around the streets, not sure of whether i'm shooting near or far, i even used my 18-200 to shoot portraits. when i have the time to change lens, i do 50mm. i used a thinktank waist system, hence given about 10-15s, i can change lens quite conviniently.
not sure about the other lens. you can try checking it out at other subforum. if your shots are predominantly studio-like effects, can ask the poses and portraits section (mostly studio shooters, artistic portrait shooters); if you shoot a bit more event and indoor, can ask the wedding photographers; if more for travel and environmental portraits, maybe at nikon or general equipments subforum
