Engagement/Anniversary Portraits - C&C please!

[Sissyphotog]

It's been a while since I did these sessions, but I wanted to repost in this section to see if I could get more CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. They were also my first times shooting couples ever. My very dear friends Meranda & Ben and Natalie & Jared let me do their anniversary and engagement portraits respectively.

My husband and I met Meranda and Ben in a park close to both our houses. Ben did NOT want to be there, so we were very quick. Ben ended up having a great time, and I think we got some great shots.

Jared proposed to Natalie after 8 years together. Finally! As an added bonus, he did it on the 50 yard line at DKR Staduim in Austin! They're both UT alums, so we went to campus and just kind of wandered around. Fun was had by all, and I hope the pictures show that. I'll be in their wedding in May 2012

On another note, I got to test drive my brother-in-law's 5D for the weekend. Big mistake!!! Nothing will ever compare. He sent along a 50mm/f1.2, but I'm ashamed to say I never used it. I needed the flexibility of the 24-70/f2.8.

Let me know what you think and where I can improve!

Sorry there's so many of Nat & Jared! We were together for over an hour and having such a great time. And the camera loves them!

Meranda & Ben
1.

Randa & Ben 1 by Kississy, on Flickr

2.

Randa & Ben 2 by Kississy, on Flickr

3.

Randa & Ben 3 by Kississy, on Flickr

4.

Randa & Ben 4 by Kississy, on Flickr

5.

Randa & Ben 5 by Kississy, on Flickr

Nat & Jared
6.

IMG_7594 by Kississy, on Flickr

7.

IMG_7600 by Kississy, on Flickr

8.

IMG_7666 by Kississy, on Flickr

9.

IMG_7435 by Kississy, on Flickr

10.

IMG_7465 by Kississy, on Flickr

11.

IMG_7510 by Kississy, on Flickr

12.

IMG_7685B&W by Kississy, on Flickr

[Sissyphotog]

Really? All those views and no comments? They're either that bad or so good no one can comment? C'mon! I'll take anything at this point! Tell me they're okay. Tell me they suck big wind. Anything? Bueller?

[LSCSN.com]

"Tell me they suck big wind"

ROFL . . . that was funny.

I'm not a "portrait" photographer by any stretch, but I'll throw you a bone for what it's worth.

I think you did a good job of catch the first couple "in their moments".

For me the couple gets lost in No. 6. No. 7 seems very unnatural and unflattering. It screams look at this ring or else. The pose just seems very forced.

No. 8 seems to be a lot more natural, except the pinky sticking out.

For me I would try to capture the entire gate in No. 9. The way it is cropped looks awkward.

No. 10 is a nice photo, except for the horizontal light. There is something green sticking out on the left-hand side and it needs to be cropped a little tighter on top (again at least for me).

No. 11 and 12 are your best photos I think. I really like No. 12 although I wish he weren't squinting his eye. However, that might be natural for him. Not sure. the only thing I would change about No. 11 is to crop a little more off the unfocused left-hand side.

Hope these comments are at least somewhat helpful!