First ever engagement pictures!

[Daniel Bates]

...and, in fact, my first ever posed pictures. I've got nowhere to go but up!

The guy is a friend of mine, and he's agreed to do a TFCD deal so he gets pictures and I get practice. I think I'm going to need a lot of the latter...

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Comments and (especially) critiques would be much appreciated! I need to get better at this! So, hit me with anything you've got.

--Daniel

[OversighT]

Hey Daniel... these are pretty good. You showed that the couple has a good connection. A couple of specific critiques...

2. Not crazy about the shadow at all. It reminds me of the a Batman villain.
3. I think it would have been a stronger image if they were either looking at the camera or at each other. As it is I'm left to guess what they are looking at.
7. Love it.
9. Why does she have her hand on the statue?

Overall I think you did a good job and I think they'll be happy.


T.

[Daniel Bates]

Thanks for commenting, Troy!

The shadow--yeah, I was trying to get some rim light and completely forgot where the shadow was going to end up. Oops...

The hand on statue--probably because I suck at posing? I'm not sure... I was trying to change up the usual hold-each-other's-hands pose, but I guess it didn't work too well.

--Daniel

[photobykim]

no, no, you did good daniel.

#1 - Need to have more of her face, she's kind of a shadow, maybe have her tuck her hair of shift just slightly.

#2 - not crazy about (remember to be careful about shooting up at people, get nasty nose shots)

#3 - not so crazy about, maybe drop him down on one knee like he's proposing having her look at him.

#4 - I really like it, I like the angle and the lines flowing behind them, their pose is good, like they're dancing

#5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - are all good as well. on #7 I dont know if I'm to crazy about that giant tree growing out of his back, might need to let him know he should have that looked at. liking the conversion in #9, the hand on the statue doesn't really bother me to much, she looks causal, kind of like they were out for a walk and they stopped to rest and he is cuddly.

All in all, I think you did well for your first time at the rodeo! I like how you decided to jump right out of the box and say to hell with the normal kissy face goo-goo eyes!! rock on!

[Daniel Bates]

Thanks, Kimberly! I really appreciate the advice--and that kneeling pose you mentioned for #3 is the pose I was trying to remember the whole day. I knew I'd forgotten one of the important ones...

Again, thanks! I'll try to do better next time--hopefully I'll be able to get this posing thing figured out.

[photobykim]

you're welcome! I just got home from a session (out door, soooo cold). I think I got a couple good ones. was hard with everything so cold and bare.

All you can with each time is to try to be better than the next!

[ShutteredEye]

#4, Love the pose. Going to have to steal that one....

#7, love the perspective. Nice job!

on the shots with her just in a sweater, I would have made him take off his jacket. It makes him look frumpy...

[Daniel Bates]

Thanks Robert!


On #4, I just told them to dance a waltz, and they took it from there.


and the jacket--yeah, I should've seen that. Oh well, next time, I guess...

[fran reisner]

Daniel, I think these are an outstanding first attempt. Rather than critique them I'm going to share a few basic rules of thumb and then you can take a look at the images and re-critique them and draw your own conclusions.

Clothing; always best to suggest avoiding pattern and contrast because they tend to draw the eye. I also suggest that the outfits suit one another, i.e. all dressy or all casual, and of the same season.

You don't want to pose people straight into the camera, nor should you shoot straight into the shoulder. Roughly a 3/4 turn is better. And if they're standing have them shift their weight to their back foot, especially women. It's more flattering.

Shooting from below adds weight, where shooting from above tends to diminish it.

Avoid busy details and points of strong contrast in the background. Again, they draw the eye.

Make sure that your light flatters both subjects.

These are just traditional rules, and although I believe there's often a good reason to break them, they're good to know.

My favorite, by the way, is #5. Imagine though, how much more connected they would feel if she placed her right hand on his chest, or better yet up under his left jaw line... fingers slightly covering his ear. By doing so she'd also be less square to the camera. That and eliminating the distraction of her sweater and the bright window behind her would make this a winner!

Good job Daniel. Be sure to post your next one.

[Daniel Bates]

Thank you very much for the advice, Fran! I'm going to copy all that into a "to do" list for next time.

[simon]

I think #5 is the best of the bunch, too. Well done, Daniel, you are getting better. The crop is a little unfortunate (right across the top of her head), Fran had a good suggestion for the posing, and I think the lighting is a little flatter than you might have done... but they have wonderful smiles and `fit' well together.

By the way, ever one of the `pillar' shots seems a little blown on the lit pillar. Might just be the web version but I suspect you aren't checking your highlights....

[Daniel Bates]

That was blown in post, actually. I was trying for a specific "look"... hmmm, maybe I should rethink that one.

[HotHolly]

Great job Daniel! Its a total pleasure to stop what Im doing and look at these.

I think you are straddling a line where your work is tettering on the point of a noticeable change. You seem to be seeing things differently (angles, colors, lines) and your noticing them and trying to tie them all together - I'm guessing, but that's what it looks like is happening as reflected in these images.

I love the color and the coloumns in the 1st few images. I like the shot down on the two of them too. I wish the posing were a little different (could see their expressions - a little) and/ or the colors were a little more tied together over all.

The guys jacket bugs me a lot. It looks frumpy. The stripes were a woops for her wardrobe. We hand out a wardrobe sheet with stuff like that on it ahead of time - about 95% of the time people actaully follow it. Then you have the 5% that like stripes and polka dots with logos all over. Did you make clothing suggestions here? Just wondering how that went down.

GREAT 1st engagements!

[Daniel Bates]

No, I didn't make any clothing suggestions for this shoot. I will next time though. I think I have your posing guidelines sheet--I'll steal some wardrobe tips from that.

I'm starting to pull all the "elements" together, I think... I've always been a candid / available light only photographer because I couldn't keep track of composition, exposure, focus, AND lighting and posing all at once. I still can't, but I'm trying to learn!

I'm going to look for a book on fashion and wardrobe styling... I think my female friends will be able to help me with that. I know of the existence of clothing "seasons", but nothing beyond that.

[HotHolly]

A clothing tip, that ususally helps if they pick something horrid, is that they bring an alternate shirt choice. That way if the couple clashes or someone is wearing loud stripes, you can suggest they wear their alternate choice - assuming its better. :o)

Engagement shoots usually dont have clothing changes. Seniors and children usually do.