E-Session For Friend Advice needed

[Niccas9]

Here is the run-down of my situation.

A good friend of mine and his fiance asked me to take their engagement photos. I told them that I wouldn't mind doing this for them for free, but couldn't promise that they would turn out how they liked and they may want to hire a real pro.I also told them that I would not even consider doing the actual wedding regardless of if they like the e-photos or not. As far as experience goes I have done a couple of senior portrait sessions for some people I know and it went fairly well. I am assuming this session will be sometime in the spring and will be a traditional outdoor, natural light kind of deal.I have started recording the poses and themes I have seen used in other e-sessions.

Here are questions-
Once I find out what kind of scene they want (beach, country etc.) should I take some time to go scout?

Should I plan on more than one session since this is my first time doing this?

Anyone else have any other advice that may prove to be beneficial?

[scorpio_e]

Once I find out what kind of scene they want (beach, country etc.) should I take some time to go scout? Absolutely

Should I plan on more than one session since this is my first time doing this? Hopefully you can do it on the first try.

Anyone else have any other advice that may prove to be beneficial? Scouting the location and being prepared is the best advice I can offer.

[gonzogolf]

You have to scout a location, and have at least some concept before you get on site. Of course its possible to find an idea once you get on site, but you need a couple of concepts nailed down before you leave for the shoot. Plan on doing one session. You dont want to end up spending more time on an E session than you would for the entire wedding. E sessions are nice, but in the whole they arent that important so relax and do your best. Just try to make them comfortable and let them be natural and loving. I dont know your experience or gear, but try to avoid shooting in the hard light in the middle of the day. Use fill flash if you know how, or a reflector. if not try to get them in even soft light.

[PhotoMatte]

There's a sticky at the top of this topic that has a lot of wonderful advice for shooting e-sessions.

Here it is.

[DavidGee]

Take about an hour to scout, find one or two spots that you know you can get great shots at. Make sure you visit those spots during the session. Other than that, just approach it casually and see what you get.

[Christopher Steven b]

Not only should you scout out the location, you should bring your camera on the scouting mission and grab shots of the areas you want to use. Over the next day or so, re-examine the images looking for ways to bring the couple into the scene.

What should you look for ? Objects that can 'frame' the couple, props that the couple can lean against, sit on etc. and obviously look for lovely backgrounds.

Bonus tip: go scouting at about the time of day that the shoot will occur. You want to get an idea of what the light will likely be doing during the shoot. I'd aim for about 1.5 hours prior to sunset.

Above all, one of the most difficult things about this work, I think, is that it can sometimes be incredibly easy to look and not see. The more you stop and actually look at what you are photographing, the better the shots will be. As an exercise, try to, just after the couple is posed and ready (or frolicking and not ready !), drop your camera, and do, like, a scan of the scene: is there a lamp-post, growing out of their head ? Are his hands kind of awkward ? do these guys look comfortable with one another ? can I make an adjustment now that will save me PP time later ? And THEN shoot.

Good luck !

[form]

Be realistic, relaxed, look for flaws before clicking the shutter. Ask yourself what you like about the angle, what idea is conveyed in the image, what the center of attention is supposed to be and if anything distracts from that...and avoid those things that detract, distract, etc...

If you think they look good in the image, it's one step closer...

[SMP_Homer]

scout the location, only if you know what scouting the location means! I've seen people walk up to a beach or a field, and their scouting pretty much ended at "I know how to get here", and never explore the 'here'...
To me, scouting the location is seeing the location at various times in the day... looking for shade/shadows, where's the light reaching and not reaching... looking for background stuff, like buildings or things specific to a location (i.e. a beach may have a pier or lighthouse); looking to see when/where people go there... finding out when is the public allowed/not allowed to be there; finding out if this location has any events planned (you'd hate to get somewhere for an eshoot only to find out there's a fair happening that day and thousands of people are around when you're planning a nice quiet location with few people around - or arriving at a beach to do an eshoot only to find out there's a wedding going on!)... and search online to see if anyone else has done an engagement there or in similar locations