How not to shoot engagements

Saw this while I was out and about today. I really hope this couple is not paying for this session. They were at it for quite some time while I was at this shopping center and finally I had to grab a picture. Let's see:

• High noon outdoors
  
• harsh squinty raccoon eyes
  
• Shopping center rock fountain
  
• messy dead trees and parking lot in the background
  
• Gary Fong lightspere pointed up (for fill?)

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Did you intentionally frame it so that it looks like they're being photographed by a rodeo clown?

NO I'm guessing that that guy did the clowning thing all by himself. The "tupperware" pointed at the sky in noon lighting kinda gives it away.

I forgot to mention that I first encountered them shooting at the back of a furniture store. The photog didn't seem to be concerned about the SALE tags on the couch they were using as a prop.

classy pictures are classy.. lol ..

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maybe the couple choose that location for a reason? Maybe the couple also only provided the photog that time...

I've been in such situations where no matter what I say, the couple insist on a location that I don't think is very good or at a time that I know isn't good. Ehhh, what can you do.

As a side note, I've been meaning to start a thread on this for a while now but haven't gotten around to it, but was watching something on TV the other day and some behind the scenes of the Oprah Show came on... the Oprah photog was using a Gary Fong diffuser... and I bet he is getting paid way more than any of the users on this site.

If the Oprah photog was using the diffuser indoors then it might have been contributing something useful. But outdoors in full sunlight? The only useful purpose it could be serving under those conditions is as a big, blinking sign that says "hey everybody, look at the professional photographer!" That can be useful sometimes but I doubt it's worth the cost of the fresh set of batteries after draining them like that.

krb wrote in post #11943590
If the Oprah photog was using the diffuser indoors then it might have been contributing something useful. But outdoors in full sunlight?

I agree with what you're saying here... just thought it was amusing that time and time again I see the fong bashing on here and then I saw that on tv and couldn't help but wonder how much money his weekly paycheck is.

might aswell just use the flash bare & direct for a bit of fill

sctbiggs wrote in post #11943540
maybe the couple choose that location for a reason? Maybe the couple also only provided the photog that time...

I've been in such situations where no matter what I say, the couple insist on a location that I don't think is very good or at a time that I know isn't good. Ehhh, what can you do.

What can you do? Plenty, and this "photographer" did none of them it seems. Assuming that they insisted on this location at this time of day, she could have come PREPARED for that, which means using a scrim to shield them from that horrible harsh light. She could have had the know how to "FIND" suitable light, in open shade. She could have learned how to use the flash modifier correctly, cuz what she was doing in that shot was NOT it. There is no way in hell I will shoot something that will have MY name on it, just because "they wanted it that way." If that is the case, and it is a rare situation that I haven't been able to save such a couple from themselves, then we aren't a "match".

What is sad is..They placed their faith in this photographer. You know this will not end well.

Hopefully she is a relative *L*

I just found this site today: http://youarenotaphoto​grapher.com/

maybe you should submit!

Hey. Don't knock the great uncle that has a camera and is on sick leave from the rodeo circuit. He at least brought one prop, his barrell !!

josullivan79 wrote in post #11944833
I just found this site today: http://youarenotaphoto​grapher.com/

maybe you should submit!

Thats funny. It reminds me of the people of walmart website.

The sad thing is that that guy is what the wedding business has become, and they are your financial competition. Needless to say, I'm not in the business anymore...