Engagement session

This was my first engagement session ever. I did this under very harsh sunlight using a reflector and a 580ex II off camera (first time ever using both under sunlight), please bring your best criticism!

1

Ill give it a go. I know harsh sun is hard to deal with, but I think you did a fairly good job. The first thing I have to critique though is the time of day. I feel I dont have to say this, but if you can do it later (I understand that sometimes that is not an option - but I felt compelled to say it)

1. Im not a big fan of the composition. I would have liked to see the hands in a corner, leading me to the subject. Also, if they could close their hands together I feel it would work better, it feels a bit posed.

2. I dont know why you focused on the sidewalk. There is no subject. If you were to put her ring/shoes/a photo/anything there, it would give it more of a story.

3/4. I would have shot these both vertical, and combined them in post, one right next to the other. That being said, Im not a fan of the flashy look, and it is pretty cheesy.

5. Shooting from the side doesnt do anything for me. I would have probably shot from behind or in front (or both and combined them in post again). I really like vertical shots, and would have probably placed them low in the frame and shot fairly wide. If you wanted a horizontal, i would have shot them from the front and put them on a 1/4-1/3rd of the frame to fill a 3/4 spread (I dont know if that makes sense)

6. Again, I dont like the angle. The sun is fairly harsh, and shooting in front of them and blowing out the sky, or using a diffuser above them to get soft even light would have worked better. This of course requires someone to help you hold the reflector. This is why I bring an assistant, but if you ask them to bring a friend you can always put them to work too!

Thanks Red Tie. I agree with all of your advice. I need to try to get some HHS triggers. Also my cousin was holding the reflector, but we had no idea what we were doing with it (first time using it under harsh sunlight). Thanks again!

For my reflector, I basically use 3 different options. I use the white side when the light very harsh, and I just want a bit of light to kick in. I use the "sunburst" side when I am in a little harsher environment. This side is mixed with silver and gold to give a warm feel. Finally, I take off the reflective panels and use the diffuser. I place this overhead to give super soft light. The biggest problem here is you then have a large exposure difference between your subjects and your background.

Poses need work. The ideas are there but it wasn't executed properly.

Perfect Example - These were great ideas but...
Pic #3 Her head is too distracting it's like one big brown glop in the middle of your shot. It would've worked better if you showed some of her face.
Pic #4 It's not a flattering angle of your dude and he's chopped off.

One of the things I've learned real quick is to always get feedback from your subjects. Ask them what their favorite features are and pose them to highlight those features. Being a big dude myself, you gotta help us pose in good angles and hide some of our girth. You actually accomplished this in Pic 5 & 6 but like Red Tie said above, it needs work as well.

First question: Why do this at this time of day? And mind you, I've been shooting for oh, about 20 years and have YET to do a session like this in the middle of the day. I've just always found a way around it. Because it's almost impossible to get great light at this time. Of course, shot plenty of weddings and outside shots surrounding the events at this time of day... But a portrait!? When you can select the time? Just... try not to do that.

Now, having said that: Next time, look for shade. There's definitely some around. That eliminates most of your problems associated with such harsh light.

Biggest crit here is that you will learn that the most important person in ANY photo? The woman. Yep. Focus on her. If you're shooting Kobe's wedding, focus on the bride. C'mon, in 99.9999% of the cases they look far better than us dudes. And the better looking the people, the better the photo. So shoot the woman. (Yes, this definitely applies to this couple!) More of her, less of him. Hide some of his ... ah, bulk with her in front. Put him behind her. You get the idea.

Thanks Pilipino and Collier. I will take both of your advice and run with it to get better. The reason I chose that time was because I had a wedding to do after this shoot and his fiance live in Mississippi and she was down for two days. Trust me I will always try to get around that time lol. Thanks again everyone.