My first engagement shoot: Katie and Wes

[lisarhinehart]

So, this is my very first time trying anything like this. I was nervous, excited and actually stayed up until the wee hours uploading and viewing these images.

Is it normal to blend posed color protraits, black and white photojournalistic style and everything in between?

1 They really wanted one in black and white for the newspaper
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565107688_X4BDV-L.jpg

2
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565100632_ohc8u-L.jpg

3 I took a few cute romantic ones
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565105567_hhtQd-L.jpg

4
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565109581_aB9po-L.jpg

5
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565110217_FBXsu-L.jpg

6
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565110504_X2qWS-L.jpg

7. I really like black and white candids, but when I flip through the slideshow it seems a little awkward, like it needs a transition(?)
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565108116_RTtRE-L.jpg

8
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565102476_KWjyV-L.jpg

9
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565108281_Qy9d9-L.jpg

10
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565104797_JKn4c-L.jpg

11 This is the home they just bought
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565111413_6YXKi-L.jpg

[Qarik]

Lisa,

Overall you did good. The focus and exposure are good. The composition was okay for most. The only issue is the posing. There is a distinct lack of variety. The "hugging couple" pose is literally in 3/4 of the shots. I know for me posing is/was the last piece of the puzzle. Getting good exposure and lighting and framing the subject is hard enough as it is right?:scratch :huh Now you have to direct the couple? It's hard.

That said..I think 8 and 9 are fabulous.:thumb truly good shots.

[Mishka]

These are good! I like number 4 and 5 the most. I would agree that some more variety of poses would be nice--but overall I think the couple will be pleased.

[lisarhinehart]

Thanks! I am thrilled to hear the exposure is good-- I've been putting a lot of work into that but didn't really think it was. :ivar

I probably have about 60 pics-- it always takes me a while to know which ones are good. I should have probably loaded them all onto smug mug and had you guys comment b/c it's really hard for me to tell. About a quarter of people's favorites on my site were ones that I almost didn't upload b/c I didn't think they were good, lol. :rofl

I hadn't noticed about all the hugging, but you are right they did hug a lot. Here are a few more shots:

12
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565442533_eJ9N8-L.jpg

13
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565452727_Wo5xR-L.jpg

14
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565104538_zWfYg-L.jpg

15
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565102768_6PDiq-L.jpg

16
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565103285_6BLD6-L.jpg

17
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565442747_heEqV-L.jpg

18
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565110985_VSJJN-L.jpg


Most of the posing I did was get them out of the habit of thier usual way of looking at the camera, which wasn't very flattering (see below). Getting them to stand a little straighter, angle thier chins down and open thier eyes and have thier heads apart (they tended to be joined at the cheek and cover up eachother's face)-- also shooting from above them as it brought the focus from necks and chins to eyes and hair.

19 before
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565454369_vQttq-L.jpg

20. after
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/photos/565100632_ohc8u-L.jpg

[Jeff_Milo]

My favorites are 4, 5, 8 & 12. Sometimes the trick to posing is not posing them and I think you did that in these pictures. I like to put my clients into comfortable postition and shoot their interaction. I think you get the real them when they forget the camera is there and they are just enjoying each other.

[lisarhinehart]

Do you really think posing is my biggest weakness? I just think that the quality of the pics isn't that good-- like the exposure and focus are lacking. I mean for a first attempt and with a rebel and on-camera flash, I guess they are fine. I dunno. --Lisa

[Moogle Pepper]

:dunno

I think they are pretty good. Especially since this is your first time shooting an eSession. I remember my first... >.> :rofl

If you feel that it is lacking, than use that to motivate yourself to do better than this try.

I like the intimacy of #8 and #15

[Qarik]

Do you really think posing is my biggest weakness? I just think that the quality of the pics isn't that good-- like the exposure and focus are lacking. I mean for a first attempt and with a rebel and on-camera flash, I guess they are fine. I dunno. --Lisa

My honest assessment is that overall this set is better then average for an good ameteur but just below par for a pro..with exception of a couple shots which are "pro" caliber.

[divamum]

Lisa -

I think these came out great! I'm sure they're pleased. I agree with some of the nits mentioned so far, but having watched you work up to this, I think you can (and should) be very happy with the results. I think 5 and 11 are my favorites.

Do you really think posing is my biggest weakness? I just think that the quality of the pics isn't that good-- like the exposure and focus are lacking. I mean for a first attempt and with a rebel and on-camera flash, I guess they are fine. I dunno. --Lisa

Now, now - don't be a gear snob! I believe that Jeffreaux shot with a "mere" Rebel until just a few months ago, and I don't think anybody found his pictures from last summer lacking because he was using an entry level camera :D

The ones which looks slightly soft to me are all the BW, so I suspect it's a loss of contrast when you converted rather than lack of sharpness (in colour) and then boost your bw's wherever they need it to match that (this is something I'm still working on myself thus it's much in my mind - I'm all about bw conversion at the moment, and while very satisfying... it can be tricky!)

[MA-FOTO]

My honest assessment is that overall this set is better then average for an good ameteur but just below par for a pro..with exception of a couple shots which are "pro" caliber.

+1....
but the cool thing is your colors are there ... maybe add a little more 'pop' and you are working w/ B&w which is good - just work on your curves.

thoughts: (no order)

#18 move the couple in the grass and have them either slowly walking in to the sunset or her in his arms and you are shooting 'over' there shoulder so to speak.....

#3 great setup and exposure, just have the couple walk thru the path.
that way the viewer feels like they are catching a moment w/ the couple.
Take several pictures when the couple is in roughly the same place.

#5 / #6 very nice..... simple composition w/ no clutter in the back ground.
The background is blurred to help create a focus point. (hence the need for fast lens f2.8)
This is good stuff.

#9 i like this shot - just use more DOF to help isolate the subject.

one area i see that takes away from the pictures that has not been mentioned is the dress.
In several pictures it is competing w/ the back ground.
5 and 6 work because the back ground is a solid color.
I would suggest a solid color dress......

just my 2 cents... hope it helps

Later,
_Mark

[DarosK]

I really like #3, and I like what Mark said ~ having them walk through down the path to capture 'a moment'.

#5 and 6 are precious!

I love the shots where they are backlit - like #8 and similar, very nice!

I think overall you did a good job - the colors are fab, and if you process them a little to make them pop, they'll be great.

This is my personal thing - I like a lot of contrast, so that might add a little more impact if you work the curves in photoshop. Strong contrast is pretty important in B/W work, because otherwise it seems flat.

[lisarhinehart]

Hello all!

I showed the couple a few of the pics today and I am thrilled to say that they were pleased! They seemed to enjoy seeing all those little moments, like the Wes whispering in her ear in #5. They also liked the artsy ones like #8 and the colors in #3. They liked how the pictures flattered them-- for example 19 is technically better lighting and exposure, but they think they look 'hot' in 20, so they def prefered it. I'm excited to get to the getting better at exposure part, get that with a flattering shot and oh, that'd be great.

I am excited to have the opportunity to second shoot for three weddings before I take on katie and Wes' wedding-- thanks Mary!You all have lot's of intersting things to say-- so watch out here come the quotes!

Especially since this is your first time shooting an eSession. I remember my first... >.> :rofl

That's refreshing:lust . It would be interesting to see people's first shoots. You've to start somewhere. Maybe a good thread to start?

My honest assessment is that overall this set is better then average for an good ameteur but just below par for a pro..with exception of a couple shots which are "pro" caliber.

I'll take it! :wink

I agree with some of the nits mentioned so far, but having watched you work up to this, I think you can (and should) be very happy with the results. Now don't be a gear snob!

Thanks for supporting me all of the way-- your encouragement means a lot to me. You are right I have only just started and I didn't mean to be snobby-- me of all people, right? LOL- the one with more than half her shots on a finepix and powershot! I've just been starting to move off the green square over the last few months, so I think it's more about exposure than anything else.

if you process them a little to make them pop, they'll be great.

I just have elements, but will be hopefully getting cs4 soon. What do you recommend?

+1....
but the cool thing is your colors are there ... maybe add a little more 'pop' and you are working w/ B&w which is good - just work on your curves.


What's +1?

I thought about increasing contrast, but when it did, it changed dark grays to black and light grays to white which seemed to flatten them, but make them look more artisitic. I am just sliding the bar from more to less contrast on elements. Again, I'm just learning here so I could be way off.

Well thanks again for taking the time to comment on my post! --Lisa

[MA-FOTO]

+1 = i agree with previous post or quoted post.

personally - i think you will get more out of LightRoom 2.3.

It will help you process images quicker and still create a wide varieties of images.

LR (lightroom) is designed by photogs for photogs.
give it a trial run for 30 days.

'pop' mean add contrast or clarity or vibrancy.... plus the use of curves.

Later,
_Mark

[DarosK]

'pop' mean add contrast or clarity or vibrancy.... plus the use of curves.

Yup :)

[Moogle Pepper]

LIGHTROOOOOOM and the Adobe CS will be your BFF with photography. :D

[lisarhinehart]

Hello all :)
I have posted the whole session in my gallery at:
http://lisarhinehart.smugmug.com/gallery/8630721_jbNQ3/1/569397876_z7boZ

I'm thinking of weeding out a few before I show it to the couple-- are there any you see that are just aweful? I'm also trying to figure out whcih ones are the best to use for my portfolio and am up for suggestions. I'm guessing the easiest way to refer to shots, should you choose to help me out in this area, woudl be by number which is at least in the slide show? What do you think?

--Lisa

[lisarhinehart]

I hear that cs4 has a lot of things I wouldn't need/use, but lightroom (which includes the bridge?) would be helpful, especially for sorting tons of wedding photos. Any suggestions? I can get the student discount, so cs4 is about $300 I believe. --Lisa

[zoomer]

Another vote for Lightroom here....love it!!!
Then a simple Photoshop Elements program as well, I am still using Elements 4.

[MA-FOTO]

lightroom vote here.
LR data management is very handy

+1 on Zoomers comment

you will find that LR you will use 85-95%
Elements or photoshop the rest of the time.

Also, remember LR love a good computer processor (dual core okay - quad and up i7 better) and lots of RAM (more than 2 gig).
video card does not have to be great.

Later,
_Mark

[Qarik]

another vote for lightroom. As was mentioned earlier it was designed by photogs for photogs. It has 95% of the tools you will need for most editing purposes and it heads and tails easier to manipulate then PS.

[wadesworld]

Are you PC or Mac? If you're Mac, another option is Aperture. Aperture and Lightroom are similar in function, but both have their strengths and weaknesses.