Engagement Session - FIRST ONE!

[Maddog12]

This is my very first engagement session ever. I am not a wedding photographer.

I am an amateur photographer that mainly shoots small children and babies, etc. Some good friends of ours asked me to take some engagement photos for them. It worked out for both sides.....I got to practice and they were pleased with pics.

There has been no PP on these pics...straight out of the camera.

How did I do?


#1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/1581436168_740e2c822b.jpg


#2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/1580546283_a52aaeb51e.jpg

#3
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/1581447974_d125095c5a.jpg

#4
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/1581442046_79924d8e94.jpg

[Flo]

I like the one of them on the dock:D I like the dog in the photo.would have liked to see them laying down as well. or on the rock wall with him,but thats just me.I have never done anything like what you are doing.~good on you!

[jamiewexler]

Very well exposed, nice traditional posing, very professional presentation. Your DOF looks very deep, did you use a PnS for these?

[dsc_1972]

You have caught really nice expressions on their faces in all of these shots. Some of them, I would crop or edit a bit, for technical reasons.
1) I think this is the best of your selection here.
2) I would have paid more consideration to the direct reflection from the water, and used a polariser to minimise it.
3) nicely posed. you could have got closer. she looks a bit rigid - I'd say that she's at a perfect right-angle - not very relaxed looking as far as the body is concerned, but i'ds a great capture - just look at their faces.
4) This one feels like too much flash and too much backlight. but look how happy they are! you are the emotion capturer! play about with the shots in software a bit and these wil be great!

I'm not a wedding tog either, just my humble opinion!

[cccp145]

Nice Job

[dlphotography]

It doesn't look like PnS, but I think your DOF is a bit high. Try using a wider aperture to put more emphasis on the subjects :D Aside from that, good stuff!

Just a little bit more blur in the background will help bring out the subjects

http://www.furiousphotographers.com/images/blog/angie-engagement/angie13.jpg

[Maddog12]

All shots were taken with my xti. Most of the photos were taken in RAW with the kit lens (the pic on the doc was with a 75-300mm lens). I used my Sigma Super flash in all pics.

The dog belongs to her parents (she was dog sitting) and we weren't going to take any pics with the dog. Should have done more with the dog, but daylight was fading fast. The bride-to-be did tell me she was very pleased and wants me to do another session in the spring. :)

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it.......keep it coming!

If I have time later I will post my camera settings as all of these pics were taken in Manual mode.

[restech]

Hi Mad,

nice shots. They look very rigid pose though.
Maybe on the next session, you could tell them to interact with each other and be more relax.

[jessiper]

Very well exposed, nice traditional posing, very professional presentation. Your DOF looks very deep, did you use a PnS for these?

I agree. Where are you located??

[Maddog12]

I agree. Where are you located??

I am located in Illinois.

they got more relaxed as the session went on.

Shot settings:
#1: f4.5, 1/80, ISO 100
#2: f4.5, 1/40, ISO 100
#3: f5.0, 1/80, ISO 100
#4: f5.0, 1/80, ISO 100

[tmonatr]

#4 shot at f5? Wow! Whole lot of DOF. What part of IL? I grew up there, near Springfield.

[MrsOpie]

the exposures are very nice. Most look like they are shot at f/8 or f/11 and I'm surprised they are at 4 and 5.

[Maddog12]

#4 shot at f5? Wow! Whole lot of DOF. What part of IL? I grew up there, near Springfield.


Near Champaign

[Maddog12]

the exposures are very nice. Most look like they are shot at f/8 or f/11 and I'm surprised they are at 4 and 5.

I was surprised too. I am sitting here wondering how to blur out the background when they come in clear at f4-f5.

Would my flash or autofocus have anything to do with it?

[ImagesByInku]

I was surprised too. I am sitting here wondering how to blur out the background when they come in clear at f4-f5.

Would my flash or autofocus have anything to do with it?

What's the focal length of your lens?

[JJacula]

#4 shot at f5? Wow! Whole lot of DOF.

That would be because the focus fell on the bridge behind them, not on the couple ... the couple is OOF.

#1 Cute pose, but a little too flashy and I'd like to see a tighter crop.
#2 Very nice! A little flat, maybe mess around with your curves a little to add some depth.
#3 They look stiff ... it's just never good to pose people on their knees, unless there's a row of people in front of them.
#4 Couple isn't in focus. Angle isn't great - you were at the short end of the kit lens, yes? Stepping back, zooming in and getting a little lower would have made this shot oodles better.

[Maddog12]

What's the focal length of your lens?

18-55

JJacula....thanks for your comments. I believe JJacula is correct in her comment regarding my autofocus, it probably was focused on the bridge more than the couple.

[Maddog12]

#4 Couple isn't in focus. Angle isn't great - you were at the short end of the kit lens, yes? Stepping back, zooming in and getting a little lower would have made this shot oodles better.

Focal length was 28 mm on my 18-55mm lens in pic #4