First Engagement Shoot...

[TonyD315]

So about a month ago I shot engagement photos for my brother and his fiancé...Since it was me shooting we were able to take our time and shoot at a couple different locations over two days. The photos were taken at a garden, the boardwalk, the beach, and a winery. Despite my effort to try to get the shots at the winery taken later in the day, I was over ruled and they were shot mid-day...The ones at the boardwalk and garden were taken on a cloudy/rainy evening and the ones at the beach were taken early in the morning, 7-8am. This was my first time taking pictures for anyone other then myself...there's always room for improvement but over all I'm pretty happy with them...Here are a small sample of some of my favorites...there are plenty more where these came from...any and all feedback is welcome!

 

[TonyD315]

 

[TonyD315]

 

[Krs_2007]

Tony, they look pretty good. I would limit the amount of photos if you really want critique. But a few are cropped really tight, example photo 9 from the top, with both of them looking at the camera is really nice but maybe leave a little more room on the right side. I like the photos so really to me it would be little things like that.

Its hard doing shoots like this because you dont want to mess up. I was nervous on my first one and just as nervous on number 5, but I really enjoy the feeling when I get back to the computer and see that they turned out.

The last one and the number 9 one I mentioned are two of my favorites. The first one if you were more to the left where you could see her face more would be another one. The one with the ferris wheel in the back is maybe a tad underexposed but its a nice composition and makes me wonder if this place has special meaning to them.

Good work all around, hope this helps

 

[TonyD315]

Tony, they look pretty good. I would limit the amount of photos if you really want critique. But a few are cropped really tight, example photo 9 from the top, with both of them looking at the camera is really nice but maybe leave a little more room on the right side. I like the photos so really to me it would be little things like that.

Its hard doing shoots like this because you dont want to mess up. I was nervous on my first one and just as nervous on number 5, but I really enjoy the feeling when I get back to the computer and see that they turned out.

The last one and the number 9 one I mentioned are two of my favorites. The first one if you were more to the left where you could see her face more would be another one. The one with the ferris wheel in the back is maybe a tad underexposed but its a nice composition and makes me wonder if this place has special meaning to them.

Good work all around, hope this helps

I probably jumped the gun a little with the amount. I"ll admit I was excited and wanted to get them out there. For every one I posted there are 5 that I like and didn't!

I'm still learning better composition and editing. I definitely see what you are saying about the cropping. I'd have to go back and check, but I am probably able to re-crop that one, as well as change the exposure on the ferris wheel one. You are right about the locations. All were shot down at the "Jersey Shore", more specifically the Wildwood Boardwalk and the Cape May Winery...

Question, would it be easier to link my Flickr to the thread? I have them on my Flickr, but set to private. I can always change that...

 

[Krs_2007]

I probably jumped the gun a little with the amount. I"ll admit I was excited and wanted to get them out there. For every one I posted there are 5 that I like and didn't!

I'm still learning better composition and editing. I definitely see what you are saying about the cropping. I'd have to go back and check, but I am probably able to re-crop that one, as well as change the exposure on the ferris wheel one. You are right about the locations. All were shot down at the "Jersey Shore", more specifically the Wildwood Boardwalk and the Cape May Winery...

Question, would it be easier to link my Flickr to the thread? I have them on my Flickr, but set to private. I can always change that...

You can link, I know some do but I actually just upload photos to my gallery on Nikonites. That way you keep your stuff private if you want. I have smugmug and keep clients stuff private so its just easier to upload versions of what I want to show here and keep my site private with the exceptions of a few folders. Thats really your call, I am a privacy nut so to speak.

Jersey Shore, hope to get there one of these days.

Oh and shooting midday is hard but it can be done if you have a reflector that has a diffuser screen in it which most do. But this would require another person to hold it between the subject and the light source. It works really good as long as its not windy. Just a thought as you progress, but the reflector's are a great tool to have.

 

[Browncoat]

Looks like the guy was a bit stiff, which is normal. Most guys don't get into this kind of stuff.

You have to pull these guys aside and give it to them straight: Tell them that these photos are very important to her. Yeah, sure, he'd rather be watching football, working on his car or whatever...but for her, this is a big deal. Works every time. You have to keep the couple laughing and talking to each other. Tell over the top corny jokes, whatever it takes. Asking how they met and fell in love will usually get them in a mushy mood for engagement photos.

Technically:

1) Watch your composition and crops. You're a bit tight on some of these (#2,3,4). Watch cutting off hands and feet, and remember that some of these could wind up in a picture frame. It's good practice to shoot a bit wide because you can always crop in post.

2) You need to blend out her pantie lines in some of these, they're very obvious. She may not see it today, or even tomorrow...but at some point, SOMEONE is going to notice and then she's going to be embarrassed. This is one of the things that separates the good photographers from the bad.

Some of these compositions are a bit cliche, but it's hard to avoid that these days. The wemmins see something they like on Pinterest or Facebook, and we're all doomed to replicate it. Don't be afraid to suggest and try new things.

 

[ShootRaw]

I think your last shot was the strongest ...The main thing lacking in most of the pics is expression..Definately practice your processing as well..If possible get you a flash to light subjects face versus the harsh sun's highlights..I retouched one creative pic you did and feel it has more impact in B&W and a minor crop...

 

[TonyD315]

Looks like the guy was a bit stiff, which is normal. Most guys don't get into this kind of stuff.

You have to pull these guys aside and give it to them straight: Tell them that these photos are very important to her. Yeah, sure, he'd rather be watching football, working on his car or whatever...but for her, this is a big deal. Works every time. You have to keep the couple laughing and talking to each other. Tell over the top corny jokes, whatever it takes. Asking how they met and fell in love will usually get them in a mushy mood for engagement photos.

Technically:

1) Watch your composition and crops. You're a bit tight on some of these (#2,3,4). Watch cutting off hands and feet, and remember that some of these could wind up in a picture frame. It's good practice to shoot a bit wide because you can always crop in post.

2) You need to blend out her pantie lines in some of these, they're very obvious. She may not see it today, or even tomorrow...but at some point, SOMEONE is going to notice and then she's going to be embarrassed. This is one of the things that separates the good photographers from the bad.

Some of these compositions are a bit cliche, but it's hard to avoid that these days. The wemmins see something they like on Pinterest or Facebook, and we're all doomed to replicate it. Don't be afraid to suggest and try new things.

Thank you for the advice. I know what you mean about cutting off hands and feet...also about some of the compositions...I think my biggest downfall is getting creative. I have gotten better, but I'm still not there, I understand that. Being my first time, I asked them which poses they like, and I also tried to do some research on my own...that's where Pinterest did come in...I don't want to use it as a crutch, more as a basis to start...some poses came from a app that I downloaded also. As I said, these are not all of them. I have some with them laughing and playing around. I can dig some of them out.

I think your last shot was the strongest ...The main thing lacking in most of the pics is expression..Definately practice your processing as well..If possible get you a flash to light subjects face versus the harsh sun's highlights..I retouched one creative pic you did and feel it has more impact in B&W and a minor crop...
View attachment 96334

I actually considered that one in black and white, I'm just not sure why I went back to color...I also see what you mean about the cropping...As for the processing, I will admit, i'm 100% self taught...trial and error...what suggestions would you make?