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Archive 2014 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)

  
 
loosetrucks
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


So this was my first engagement session... ever. And also it was my first paid portrait session... ever. I was nervous to say the least. Session was at the beach, so I was expecting sand, sunsets, playfulness, etc. But I was greeted with an outdoor hike up the cliffs, and a somewhat shy couple carrying bulky beach bags. I got pretty flustered and didn't slow down enough for my liking. Fudged framing, lighting, etc. I blanked on posing. Here's the end results. I'm somewhat satisfied with what I salvaged vs. the feeling I had leaving the shoot, but I'd like some feedback. Comments and constructive criticism please! Be harsh if you have to (let's hope I don't regret saying that). I'm here to learn.

1. http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462eb9e4b0207406d6105d/1397108411148/Mae-and-Jeremy-1.jpg

2.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ebde4b0207406d61061/1397108414100/Mae-and-Jeremy-4.jpg

3.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ecfe4b0207406d61073/1397108432159/Mae-and-Jeremy-13.jpg

4.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ed8e4b0b4931a2a5724/1397108442330/Mae-and-Jeremy-19.jpg

5.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462edbe4b0b4931a2a572b/1397108444664/Mae-and-Jeremy-21.jpg

6.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ee4e4b0207406d61091/1397108453350/Mae-and-Jeremy-26.jpg

7.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ee9e4b0207406d61097/1397108458355/Mae-and-Jeremy-28.jpg

8.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462eeae4b0b4931a2a5742/1397108459274/Mae-and-Jeremy-29.jpg

9.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462eede4b0b4931a2a5744/1397108462458/Mae-and-Jeremy-31.jpg

10.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ef0e4b0207406d6109e/1397108466321/Mae-and-Jeremy-32.jpg

11.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ef0e4b0b4931a2a5751/1397108465661/Mae-and-Jeremy-33.jpg

12.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462ef5e4b0b4931a2a575b/1397108470619/Mae-and-Jeremy-36.jpg

13.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462efde4b0b4931a2a5765/1397108478666/Mae-and-Jeremy-40.jpg

14.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462f00e4b0b4931a2a5767/1397108482343/Mae-and-Jeremy-43.jpg

15.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462f03e4b0b4931a2a576c/1397108484432/Mae-and-Jeremy-45.jpg

16.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462f06e4b0b4931a2a576f/1397108488368/Mae-and-Jeremy-47.jpg

17.
http://static.squarespace.com/static/51f2c709e4b01b79caf00ebf/53462eb0e4b005cdcb171957/53462f07e4b0207406d610bf/1397108488318/Mae-and-Jeremy-48.jpg



Apr 11, 2014 at 10:04 AM
Nikon_14
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


#3 has terrific composition, and her expression conveys great emotion.


Apr 11, 2014 at 10:12 AM
Ziffl3
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


These are a great start.
I would remove #14 & #15 from the set and it will be stronger.You only need to show 1-2 images of the ring ... and you have a good solid close up.

the first one is done and done pretty nicely.
Take notes in your after shoot evaluations - pick 1 or 2 things to work on to improve on and go get the next one.





Apr 11, 2014 at 10:28 AM
Prettym1k3
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


Reggie, I really don't know what you can improve on here. These are brilliant.

I know you love the macro work, but as Ziffl3 stated, just a few ring shots will usually cover you for an engagement session. I typically, these days, will snap 8-12 ring shots, and deliver the best 2-4 at most.

#3 is the winner for me, here. And the diptych for #6 is brilliant. It's always good to take a far step back sometimes.

The best tip someone ever gave me for photography (that I often ignore or forget) is...

Wide, closer, closest. Often times moving from a wider shot, then in for an intermediate shot, and then for a close up/detail shot, you'll find yourself with lots of creative options to choose from as far as posing, framing, etc.

You got some great natural reactions out of them, and that's not an easy thing to do.

The only thing I might mention is with a setting like that. lots of very, very wide shots capturing them in the environment, even if it makes them like small specs (like #6). I think in that sort of backdrop, it's fitting.

We are our own worst critics, man. You did quite well here. I should show you my first engagement session if you'd like. You'd cry over it. It was that "good". Haha!



Apr 11, 2014 at 10:47 AM
AtelierPhoto
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


Overall, exceptionally well done, and especially so, considering all the wrenches in the air!

I assume there's significance in the location... thus, the first image posted, I'm guessing, was a required shot. Consider trying some alternate lighting techniques (if you have the time during, or after, the shoot) in future situations like this. A couple speed lights with triggers can take the required image to a professional level with a little practice, as opposed to looking like something anyone with an iPhone can duplicate. ( I sincerely don't mean that harshly, it's just the most relevant equivalence I can think of.)



Apr 11, 2014 at 10:59 AM
loosetrucks
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


Nikon_14 - #3 seems to be the winner for everyone. To be honest, this was probably the least planned shot of that day. They were joking around (which happened very few times) and I rattled off a few. Lucky, I guess

Ziffl3 - Great feedback. Note taken on cutting back the amount of ring shots. And I'm definitely going to take lots of notes on things to work on

Mike - Thanks for the feedback and tips. I was actually trying to implement the wide, closer, closest, but the nerves got the better of me. And you know me too well. I promise; I'm working on going more wide!

AtelierPhoto - Don't worry, I totally understand what you're saying. Note taken



Apr 11, 2014 at 11:11 AM
kjunus
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


Really like #3, 6, and 16! Good job


Apr 11, 2014 at 01:51 PM
dhp_sf
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


As a first session, these are really well done. But I'm going to critique you as if you've been doing this for years, if that's okay...

2) looks sort of snap-shot like to me given her expression looks like she's in the middle of saying something and while I can see you're trying to frame them with some foreground elements, I don't think it is adding much here with that tight crop. Also her head is floating. Personally, I'm not a fan of people gazing off the frame and you don't have any context of what they are looking at--it appears a bit disconnected to me.

3) agreed that this is a great moment. how can it be imrpoved? if you were a step to the left the rail post wouldn't be jutting out of her back. I can see an argument for keeping the rail line in as a leading line, but I feel like one thing by itself doesn't constitute enough importance to include. Also with the background pretty blown out, we're not seeing a lot of context here so keeping a lot of dead space to the right doesn't help the photograph. The "moment" here is what is really important and so I think that should be pretty much the only thing in the frame that you see.

4a) Prom-pose is common but I think it generally looks more cheesy/unnatural when the subjects are looking at the camera--it's what makes people thing "prom-pose." However it is a great base for being able to see but their faces and light hitting them similarly. The cropping feels a bit loose here as well, particularly the upper 1/3 of the frame. Also, the heart pendant is a sideways (unless it's supposed to hang that way). I'm also not a big fan of hands on the belly (but that may be a more personal thing).

4b) The ring is slightly out of focus here and my gut tells me it may have looked better as a landscape crop. Not sure.

5) Nice image--might be better if their heads were turn towards each other. A lot of people forget that even though you're photographing from the back, you can actually position them to still see a face or recognizable features. Turn their heads toward each other next time and it'll be a better shot.

6a) Again, I think they ought to be more engaged with each other and facing each other. Compositionally though it's a beautiful image.

8) May have been difficult to pull off but best to try to avoid having the horizon cut through the head. It's a nitpick though. You have a better image in #10 of a similar perspective. They look much more natural there as well

9) Nice expressions here--not sure the whitespace to the right is helping. Feels like it could work as a very symmetrical crop.

10) They look very natural here. I sort of wish the guy had his head turned towards the girl more. The hands here look GREAT so it would have been a better shot to zoom in on the rings. Nice use of directional light.

11) Ah ha! the ring close up--although from the previous shot I thought they were holding hands. I think that would have added more here. But otherwise a nice capture. Watch for cutting off the finger tips.

13) This pose feels a little bit forced. But aside from that, watch the shadows--his head is casting a bit of a shadow onto her face which is slightly distracting. And it doesn't feel like a real moment so I imagine you could have made that adjustment in their posing. Next time, wait for a better moment too if you feel like you had some potential. I like the rocks in this image. Watch the extremities--you cut off the feet.

14) I think this is redundant--also is that your shadow in the shot on the left?

15-17) these feel similar to me. I like her expression most in 15, the lighting most in 16, and the cropping the most in 17 (others feel a little too tight, esp 16 where there's a lot of empty space above his head and her head ends at almost exactly center of the frame).

Hope that helps--there's a lot of nitpicking above but since it's your first shoot, I think it would be helpful to keep some of this stuff in mind. Again as a first session, these are fantastic and you should be extremely happy. But we can all improve!



Apr 11, 2014 at 02:22 PM
sherijohnson
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


for this being your very 1st, you did an outstanding job


Apr 11, 2014 at 02:47 PM
loosetrucks
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


Thanks Duy for taking the time to pick apart my set, photo by photo. I really appreciate the nitpicking as it gives me a tangible basis for improvement.

Again thanks to everyone for their time and input! Definitely learned a lot from this first session!



Apr 11, 2014 at 03:23 PM
vinmunoz
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


impressive.


Apr 12, 2014 at 08:35 AM
beecap
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · M+J Engagement Session (17 Images)


First session?! These are awesome! Great light, great color, great processing


Apr 29, 2014 at 03:30 PM





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