Engagement Sessions: Tips and Tricks or "How To"

[jlozano180]

Great job, very helpful, thanks

[nate.the.great]

+1 on the sticky request. very good post.

[S-S]

this is really generous and helpful of you - very very cool!

don't suppose you do maternity shoots do you? LOL care to post a similar thread for that? i found your advice on direction particularly helpful - i'm a wedding photojourno (by nature i think LOL) and find direction quite foreign and a bit of a struggle tbh... im full of ideas leading up to the shoot but at the time most of it goes straight out of my head and after i leave, it all comes limping back, to remind me that i suck LOL
well, you know what i mean

[zorz]

Isn't this timely? Going to an e-session on a beach in an hour. Thank you, picked up some tips!

[Aaagogo]

This is an awesome post.

I just got to understudy a few local wedding photographers and I'm doing my few test e-shoots for 1 of them soon and this post really prepares me for it.

[Aaagogo]

I say Sticky this thread too..

very valuable

It amazes me that there are some members here who just shares.

It is my plan to one day, be able to share and give back to this forum

[auroraskye]

I also agree.. Sticky! sticky! Everybody chant it with me now.. :P

[S-S]

...sticky... sticky... sticky... - oh, wait - did i get out of time?

thats like the mexican wave guy who wasnt paying attention and he gets up when his area has already sat down again

[scejas]

Very helpful...maybe deserves to be tacked?

[Michael]

Phil! You are officially the coolest person ever! Seriously, the write-up was frigging awesome! I have made it in to a PDF for myself to keep on me, it's just great.

I'm a 16 year old looking to get in to wedding/portrait, and your advice on being professional is so true, thinking on your feet and being quick is so important, and makes the client feel way more comfortable!

Phil, I think I speak on behalf of all of the forum members when I say: You da man! Seriously, thanks so, so much for this! Your time, talent and effort is greatly appreciated!!

[EL Photo]

BOOKMARKED! I have got to read this thru again before this weekend. I have my first E-shoot scheduled for Sunday...

[zorz]

Adding few tips...

1. Have a spray-type bottle of water. Similar to "fresh" still life photography (fruits, plants, etc.), adding drops to skin using that bottle not only works well into the beach environment, but also saves you time from running to the sea to sprinkle seawater onto hair and skin.

2. In cold weather (as it was for us two days ago), have blankets to wrap around the couple between the series of shots or during setting up, especially if elaborate lighting is involved. Otherwise, they will start looking like frozen fishes, affecting initial enthusiasm and cooperation.

Here's a shot from last e-session past Saturday, a collage with few more is in this thread.

[jsimpson06]

your the man!

[Philco]

Hi Ed,

Really nice backlight on that shot.

If you're gonna bring that stuff, you may as well put it in a backpack because you or your second shooter will invariably be required to carry the happy couple's sunglasses, and very likely a purse as well, for the duration of the entire shoot. It's good to have a bag you can do that with.

Also-

Part of the reason I have couples site nearby first off also has to do with this - often they've just removed their sunglass and they're still squinting as their eyes are adjusting. Sitting and kissing/chatting/etc. gives them a minute to acclimate and you a minute to stow their belongings.

[collierportraits]

Ok, different take, but often when I first start out on a shoot, I literally just stand there and look around, and act really relaxed and happy, actually longer than is comfortable. (I'm completely comfortable..)

I know it sounds weird, but strangely enough, I have found that it tends to tell them that:

a. I'm relaxed
b. We're going to be here for a while
c. We're going to relax and enjoy this!

It is actually genuine. I am somewhat destressing myself, because the happiest, most relaxing thing I do is create photos, and I just enjoy the quiet time with my couple, bride, etc. (Please note: This does not always apply to children...) Anyway, I trust the images will be really good and I have to get/be "in the moment", so to speak.

Awesome thread! Thanks! Just some of my longtime observations, they may or may not work for you...