Rookie engagement shots

[jefft]

Some friends asked me to take these for them, knowing that I've never taken engagement photos....you get what you pay for, I guess...

Any pointers _greatly_ appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[gpbusa316]

Well, I'm no engagement photographer... but these look very nice. However, in the first one, you should probably crop out the air conditioner on the left, and clone out the gutter drain coming out of her head.

[jefft]

Originally Posted by gpbusa316

...clone out the gutter drain coming out of her head.

But that's one of the things he really loves about her. Hadn't even really noticed it, I'll take care of it. Thanks.

[Michelle Allmon]

Hey, these look pretty good (except the background in the first one which has been addressed). You did a really good job.

Here are a few pointers for next time:

*with posed portraits always be aware of stray body parts (like the foot coming out of her lower back). a common one is a hand wrapped around someone so it comes out of their shoulder or waist. i think i see his fingers peeking out from her shoulder.

*with engagement pics, it's really important to show the ring and have them touching eachother. in #2 it would have been great to have them switch sides (so we get her ring hand) and have it resting on his collarbone. in #3 stop and turn the ring so it's centered on her finger. it's also a good idea to ask her to take it for cleaning at the jewelry store that morning so it's extra-shiny.

*think out of the box to get some variety for them. silouettes at dusk are great (have them look at one another and after a few seconds they'll lean in for a kiss). depending on the couple you can do some more creative stuff. you can get them playing frisbee with their dog, he can give her flowers, on rides at the carnival, getting a fake tattoo with the other's name...whatever fits their personality. ex: if they are "computer nerds" you can have them wear glasses & pen protectors. every pic doesn't have to be for display at the wedding, you can do some fun ones just for them (after the formal ones are done). i saw an awesome pic online of a hot couple in the water (clothed) kissing. it was sooo hot! if you PM me, i'm sure i can find the link for you.

overall, you did a great job! if it's not too late, run some ideas by them and get some more! :)

[specialist]

the lighting is pretty interesting.. hmm i really dont have any comments about them.. i actually love the last one... coz it really shows that its an engagement shot coz of the ring.. keep it up!

[Ronster]

Well done for the first time. The more of these you start to do the more you will learn what works and what doesn't. I think these work just fine excpet for the minor areas that Michelle touched upon. One of the hardest things about outdoor portraits is finding a great location with a consistent background...one that doesn't change from foliage to a building and tends to pull the eye away because it becomes to busy. Don't feel bad about not noticing the drain pipe...I had a shot that I really liked and then it was pointed out to me that their was a plant growing out of the subjects head.

[MarcoFromHouston]

Lucky guy..... she is beautiful.

She looks very natural & comfortable. Him....not so much.

A different color shirt on him would be more pleasing....

[jefft]

Thanks everyone for your comments and pointers. We were all fumbling around with these, so I'm happy that they turned out as well as they did. We tried several times to get a "romantic" pose, but he kept laughing- couldn't keep a straight faced to save his life. I've been pretty busy this week but I've got more to process. I'll post them when I can.
Thanks again.

[jefft]

P.S. Marco- I've been trying to find some time with her to try some "modeling" shots, but we've both just graduated and are trying to keep our heads above water as new ICU nurses. Soon, though.....

[Elsaspet]

Wow, what a pretty bride to be. She's a stunner. You did great.

[Elsaspet]

Originally Posted by Michelle Allmon

Hey, these look pretty good (except the background in the first one which has been addressed). You did a really good job.

Here are a few pointers for next time:

*with posed portraits always be aware of stray body parts (like the foot coming out of her lower back). a common one is a hand wrapped around someone so it comes out of their shoulder or waist. i think i see his fingers peeking out from her shoulder.

*with engagement pics, it's really important to show the ring and have them touching eachother. in #2 it would have been great to have them switch sides (so we get her ring hand) and have it resting on his collarbone. in #3 stop and turn the ring so it's centered on her finger. it's also a good idea to ask her to take it for cleaning at the jewelry store that morning so it's extra-shiny.

*think out of the box to get some variety for them. silouettes at dusk are great (have them look at one another and after a few seconds they'll lean in for a kiss). depending on the couple you can do some more creative stuff. you can get them playing frisbee with their dog, he can give her flowers, on rides at the carnival, getting a fake tattoo with the other's name...whatever fits their personality. ex: if they are "computer nerds" you can have them wear glasses & pen protectors. every pic doesn't have to be for display at the wedding, you can do some fun ones just for them (after the formal ones are done). i saw an awesome pic online of a hot couple in the water (clothed) kissing. it was sooo hot! if you PM me, i'm sure i can find the link for you.

overall, you did a great job! if it's not too late, run some ideas by them and get some more! :)

I agree that thinking out of the box is good, but I'm soooo much against the "standard rules" on this type of shoot. Engagement shoots, to me anyway, should be just be "funky date photos". Instead of showing rings, and making them touch each other, I'm waiting for them to do it on their own. I want them to just be themselves.
My children are grown, and they can tell you in a heartbeat if they see Velveta. They can spot it from a thousand miles away. They ask me when looking at old posed photos, "Mom, why do you look so weird???" Well, maybe because I am kinda weird, but made even moreso from all this posy, posy stuff.
On Engagements, I say just let them be themselves. Instead of telling them to put your hand there and move your leg there, just wait for the moment.
Don't worry about the rule of 1/3. Don't spend one nanosecond wondering if you have the whole toe in the photo. At one point or another, they are going to look at each other....."that look". If you are so busy posing them, you will never see this moment.
You did good my man. I think they look really nice. There is no cheese here. You have conveyed the love, and that's you went out there to do. Well done.

[boxofrocks]

Some good tips in this thread from both perspectives!

[boomerd35]

I like em, except for the a/c and drain pipe already mentioned. If flash was used in #2 and #3, I would increase the shutter speed to darken the background a little. Just my opinion.

Troy T.

[boomerd35]

Originally Posted by Elsaspet

My children are grown, and they can tell you in a heartbeat if they see Velveta.

LOL - I like that. I may use it in my slogan when I get my photo business going.

"Velveeta-free photography for your special event "

Darn, I just realized Kraft probably won't let me use that slogan. Oh well, back to the drawing board.


Troy T.

[LadyShutterBug]

On Engagements, I say just let them be themselves. Instead of telling them to put your hand there and move your leg there, just wait for the moment.
Don't worry about the rule of 1/3. Don't spend one nanosecond wondering if you have the whole toe in the photo. At one point or another, they are going to look at each other....."that look". If you are so busy posing them, you will never see this moment.

Amen, and hallelujah.

I generally spend a good 2 hours with couples for engagement sessions. You can look at each photo in succession and see the guy warming up to the camera throughout the session, and by the end we have some beautiful moments captured. I'm not a pose-instructor... I just tell them to "sit on that rock.. whatever's comfortable!" and go from there. People who are in love know how to relate to one another. Their candid moments can't be forced, and that which is not "made up" is more beautiful than anything you could create.

:) and jefft-- i love #3.