Ashley + Dustyn - Engagement Session - 9-23-2007

So I did my FIRST EVER Engagement Session yesterday. I've pretty much ONLY done 2nd shooting for weddings for other photographers, and friends/family shoots to build my portfolio. I pretty much just winged this entire shoot, I really had no idea how to direct them or what to say, but I think I did a pretty good job. This is the client that I made my previous custom contract for, which I sold them my top package! YAY FOR ME!!

I know this is a LOT of photos, but i'm like that, there were just sooo many that I liked, that I didnt know what to delete. GRR dont you hate that?? I'm sure they will like having so many to choose from though.

This shoot took about 2 hours from start to finish, we shot this at a historical park in Farmer's Branch, Texas (Dallas).

Also, when I got back to her place to say my goodbyes, her daughter was there and was LOVING the camera, so there are also a bunch of those. I also pulled out my 'strobist' light kit, and used some off camera flash and umbrella action. I didn't pull it out at the shoot outside, I know I should have, oh well.
CRAZY.

Again, this is a lot of photos, so sorry if you are overwhelmed. There are even more on my SMUGMUG, which can be found here: http://slantphoto.smug​mug.com/gallery/353173​4#199936915

I shot 750 photos (lots of eye blinks, weird smiles, hair in face, etc), and whittled them down to 177 that I posted online for them to choose from. Some of you may not like my processing, some of you might love it, I like it and hopefully they like it, and that's all that matters! SO BOOYA! lol..

Everything was Processed in Lightroom and NEVER touched photoshop. It took about 3 hours to go from 750 photos to 177, and edited to my likings. Lightroom is really a time saver, if you arent using this, you are CRAZY.

and now the photos:

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That's A LOT of photos! Can you please number them, because I'd like to comment on a few, but it's waay to overwhelming to go back and count them every time I need to reference one. Thanks!

ya sorry, i numbered them.. yes i know there are a ton of photos, and more then most people post.. oh well, im not most people lol..

I just hope the client is happy, I posted here before I presented them to my client and haven't put them on my blog yet.

and on the ones with 2 photos per #, use "2a, or 2b" etc.

cheers

figmented wrote in post #4001117
ya sorry, i numbered them.. yes i know there are a ton of photos, and more then most people post.. oh well, im not most people lol..

I think the mods may have something to say about that... They allow excess sometimes... but I'm not sure how 28 is going to fly!

I really like the set-up in a lot of them and congrats on your first engagement session!

Just a few critiques here and there, ones that I thought stood out the most:

#1 - the chimney(?) threw me off for a couple of seconds. I thought you spliced another photo on another layer or something... still not sure how I feel about the photo... kinda cool, kinda confusing at first glance.

#13a - the couple seems a tad uncomfortable here... #13b is much better with the spontaneity.

#15 - comes across as models doing a photoshoot, not necessarily a couple in love. I love what you've done with the PP though.

#16 - looks like they're finally warming up to you! This is a cute shot!

Good job on a lot of the shots, I'm sure the couple will love them!

bah, i dont see why a mod would care if I have a bunch of photos, it doesnt hurt the forum, or cause them bandwidth (I'm using my own bandwidth), if anything I'm driving more people to the site, because I link my friends to this forum for fun.


Yeah, it was an interesting place to take photos, ya it was a side of a building in #1, i liked the brick, but yeah not sure if the final pic is that great.

I actually thought 13a was pretty good, though he does look a little bit serious :P

Yeah, I really didnt give them much direction, I mean i did come up with a few ideas, but I kinda just let it flow, and whatever happened happened, I'm still learning on how this stuff goes, so I know I'm not perfect. There is still soo much to learn.

Thank you so much for your critiques.

definitely too many to comment on, but some great shots in there, and i do like the pp.

joshbehan wrote in post #4001344
definitely too many to comment on, but some great shots in there, and i do like the pp.

hah, thanks though.. I just wanna know which ones really suck, and which ones are really good.. :P

almost too much to comment on. You have some solid shots here mixed in with some ok ones. I like 1, 7, 9 and 13 especially.

Ya, I wanted to keep some of the 'ok' shots, just because they might want them for one reason or another, parents and what not.

I do have a problem with deleting shots though, i hate to get rid of stuff.. grr..

the other reason I posted so many, is because I'm sure people like to see lots of other peoples shots, I know I do.. I mean before I went on this shoot, i went through all the engagement posts on various forums to get some ideas. (opensourcephoto, fred miranda, here, etc) So this benefits others more then just critiques for me.

Again too much to comment on, but overall they are good

okay I deleted half of them, for the sake of me getting more response lol..

For me it is number 7 (where you cant see his expression) and number 16..........he seems like he was in a "do not want to be here" type mood. Otherwise they would be great.........men! We need to smile more.........