First engagement shoot! - DPChallenge Forums

Sony SAL-50F14 Normal 50mm f/1.4 Autofocus Lens for the Sony

01/14/2008 02:23:34 PM · #1

Let me just say that taking pictures of couples is HARD! I am so used to worrying about dof and focus on one person that expanding it to two people was a HUGE challenge for me, but here is some of the stuff I came up with. I will be adding more as I edit them. I would love some feedback.

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ladyhawk22

Sony DSLR-A700

01/14/2008 03:10:21 PM · #2

What a lovely couple! And I really like the shots you got :-) They look very comfortable and natural.

01/14/2008 05:53:30 PM · #3

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Here is another one :)

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

01/14/2008 06:16:22 PM · #4

The images are well done, and they look very happy together. Well done!

The one bit of feedback, and this is my own personal preference/style, is that I like to see more of a connection between the two of them. Less of a posed-looking-at-the-camera and more of a looking-at-each-other style. I shoot both, of course, because you need the posed shots too. But I prefer the engagement pictures to look more like I was a fly on the wall observing their love for each other.

And although I get a lot of them actually kissing ... I use very few of those. I much prefer the "almost kiss". The "anticipation" of what's to come. The expectancy. I'll use those kinds of shots many times more than actual kissing.

Again, just person preference/style... but thought I'd throw it out to let you ponder it.

01/14/2008 06:30:21 PM · #5

Thanks! I actually did get a ton of love looking into eachother's eyes and kissy pictures, I will edit a couple and put them up. Those were just my favorite posed shots

01/14/2008 06:48:04 PM · #6

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01/14/2008 08:02:00 PM · #7

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dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

01/14/2008 08:02:57 PM · #8

I was at work, getting ready to head home when I wrote before. Now that I'm home, I've taken the time to post a few comments.

Keep 'em coming! I'd love to see more.

breadfan35

Nikon D3

01/14/2008 08:15:00 PM · #9

I like your work here. In my (relatively) short amount of time doing engagement/portrait shooting, one thing I find difficult is getting the couple or person to loosen up and take direction. By that I mean get comfortable enough to take my ideas and work with them. Some people take to my ideas great and seem to have fun working, but if someone is shy or just not liking my ideas, I find it hard to loosen them up. I like to get candid type shots, but it can be difficult to get people to relaxed enough to just let me move around and snap away. They don't always understand why I wouldn't want them too look right in the camera and smile every time.

Are there any thoughts or advice either of you have as to what your approach is?

01/14/2008 08:20:11 PM · #10

[thumb]633221[/thumb] haha there you go...pre kiss! I have the kiss shot too I just don't feel like putting it up at the moment

Message edited by author 2008-01-14 20:24:29.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/14/2008 08:23:49 PM · #11

Originally posted by breadfan35:

Yeah this is a very good point. I think a major portion of my attraction to portrait is that I seem to get along with my subjects very well. The bride is the sister of a close friend of mine who was nervous about trusting me with the photography of stuff that was so important to her, but then my friend brought her over to talk to me about the shoot and what she is looking for and after that she was just totally excited about it. I just strive to be the goofy, open, relaxed person I am when I shoot and talk to them so that they don't feel like the camera is imprisoning them. I let them just do whatever the heck they want for a bit and then give them some direction and then tell them to relax and give them little pauses where I look through what I just took so they aren't constantly staring at the camera.

Wow...I am not sure if that made any sense...

:)

alanfreed

Nikon Z9

01/14/2008 08:33:31 PM · #12

Great job -- you definitely have a knack for it!

01/15/2008 01:53:35 PM · #13

:) thanks

smurfguy

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

01/15/2008 02:19:40 PM · #14

These are just great! Fantastic work, Claire!

My only comment, just a nit really, is on Engagement: Bride - while it's a very cute shot and a great idea for showing off the ring, her hand/wrist looks a little strained/unnatural in the position it's in. Maybe because we can't see any hint of her thumb...

I really enjoy every new project you post. Thanks!

Message edited by author 2008-01-15 14:20:36.

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Canon EOS-5D Mark II