Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | People Photography | Join Upload & Sell

Archive 2016 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Hellow People section...I had an opportunity to do something new to me a few weeks ago, I shot my first engagement session...and to make it even more interesting, it was at a race track...the weather didn't cooperate and we had all of 35 minutes to get the images we wanted. I thought I might post them here and get some feedback from the talent here, this is something I am starting to do more and would love some feedback. Thanks in advance.

Mar 22, 2016 at 11:21 AM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Last two.

Mar 22, 2016 at 11:22 AM

DougVaughn
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Hey Travis, different and kind of cool. Of course I'm a racing fan.

Any chance that's the Barber course near Birmingham?

Mar 22, 2016 at 12:49 PM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

DougVaughn wrote:
Hey Travis, different and kind of cool. Of course I'm a racing fan.

Any chance that's the Barber course near Birmingham?

Hey Doug, Yes very different. When they first contacted me I was surprised, I thought it was because of the coincidence of us both scheduled to be at the same place at the same time..but no, they wanted the track to be an element...they both love the track and the atmosphere...

And yes, good eye sir...that is Barber Motorsports Park.

Mar 22, 2016 at 01:15 PM

fstop212
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

awesome shots. I love them all

Mar 23, 2016 at 11:16 AM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

fstop212 wrote:
awesome shots. I love them all

Thanks, very kind of you.

Mar 23, 2016 at 11:19 AM

PhilF
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

The thing that really makes me wonder.... shooting heavy set people in a particular pose that makes them look heavier is a bit odd. I always get this request when shooting portraits... "Hey make me look skinnier". This is then an exception? They want to look heavier in their pictures? Just curious.

photography wise ...its good.

Mar 24, 2016 at 01:33 PM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

PhilF wrote:
The thing that really makes me wonder.... shooting heavy set people in a particular pose that makes them look heavier is a bit odd. I always get this request when shooting portraits... "Hey make me look skinnier". This is then an exception? They want to look heavier in their pictures? Just curious.

photography wise ...its good.

I don't know that we did anything with the intention of making them look heavier, in fact I tried to avoid things like that, but they are who they are, and they are comfortable with who they are. I am not a people expert, but I don't know how anyone could make someone look like a runway model if they are not in fact a runway model...unless you like a lot of photoshop and don't mind making people not look like who they really are...

Mar 24, 2016 at 01:40 PM

PhilF
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Travis Rhoads wrote:
I don't know that we did anything with the intention of making them look heavier, in fact I tried to avoid things like that, but they are who they are, and they are comfortable with who they are. I am not a people expert, but I don't know how anyone could make someone look like a runway model if they are not in fact a runway model...unless you like a lot of photoshop and don't mind making people not look like who they really are...

I was trained in classic portraiture to have your subjects look as best as they could.... no matter how comfortable they are with their appearance. In my experience when shooting heavier set subjects they always appreciate it when they look good in pictures. The particular pose I am talking about is sitting them down on the track. When heavier set people sit down like that , it will show the heavy sides of things. if you have them stand or lean and avoid shooting straight on to them. It will come out flattering. If you shoot at a higher angle it's more flattering. There are a lot of things you can do when it comes to posing, lighting, angle and framing...even cropping... to make people look as best as they can. These people come to you and it's your job to make them look good in their pictures....unlike shooting documentary/journalistic style.... you just shoot what is in front of you.

Mar 24, 2016 at 03:29 PM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

PhilF wrote:
I was trained in classic portraiture to have your subjects look as best as they could.... no matter how comfortable they are with their appearance. In my experience when shooting heavier set subjects they always appreciate it when they look good in pictures. The particular pose I am talking about is sitting them down on the track. When heavier set people sit down like that , it will show the heavy sides of things. if you have them stand or lean and avoid shooting straight on to them. It will come out flattering. If you shoot at a higher angle...Show more →

thank you for the constructive advice, I will keep these things in mind the next time I am presented with a shoot like this.

Mar 24, 2016 at 08:30 PM

Marty Bingham
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Hey Travis. They look relaxed and happy. I like that.

I have an engagement shoot at a dirt track on Saturday, What are the odds?

Marty

Mar 24, 2016 at 08:36 PM

Travis Rhoads
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Marty Bingham wrote:
Hey Travis. They look relaxed and happy. I like that.

I have an engagement shoot at a dirt track on Saturday, What are the odds?

Marty

Thanks Marty, they were very happy, and relaxed...I know them outside of doing their photos so I think that helped.

Wow...at the dirt track...I hope you can post some...

Mar 24, 2016 at 08:39 PM

Lightsearcher
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

Fantastic set and very creative, I really like the picture of the mirror.

Marcelo

Mar 25, 2016 at 12:19 PM

OlafSiebert
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

I love how the background merge in the mirror in #6!
Agree with Phil though regarding posing.

Mar 25, 2016 at 04:31 PM

Chris Cooke
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Engagement Session at the Race Track

The posing could use some help. Larger folks (myself being on of them) need to look longer and taller. In 1,2,4,5 having him hunched over isnt helping. It makes hime shorter and appear larger. Also hand positions in # 2 and 5 bring makes size more noticeable since they seem to be straining or trying to hard to "hold" each other.

Keeping and creating negative space with larger people help make their bodies not seem as big and helps to shape them in a more flattering way. And anything you can do to elongate their upper bodies will help soften their shape as well.

Its tricky getting people to look their best, even fit people need coaching. Its not about if they are comfortable with who they are its how the camera perceives them and how we as photographers make sure they portray who they are in the best possible way, just because they might be happy with their appearance or accept what they are doesnt mean we cant try to give them photos with the best possible representation of what they bring to the table. (I hope that makes sense...)

Mar 30, 2016 at 01:15 PM


FM Forums \| People Photography \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.