Engagement Session

Christie Photo · Feb 13, 2006

Session from last week. PLEASE... I would love any critiques. OTE.

Thanks!
Pete

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

MotorPsycho · Feb 13, 2006

look really professional to me, except 4... maybe its my bad eye rearing its ugly head, but he looks way out of focus...

Big Mike · Feb 13, 2006

#4 is meant to be 'soft focus' I'm sure.

I like them, #2 & #5 especially. The clothes work well together and with the background. The vignette is really nice. I really like the pose & crop in #2.

They do look a tad dark, but that may be my monitor.

Great stuff Pete, I'm sure they are thrilled with them.

Canon Fan · Feb 13, 2006

I like them alot. However I am not so hot on #4 either. It just looks plain out of focus to me. I know the effect you are going for I think though.

ONLY for #4, Just a question/idea/comment from a total studio newbie :blushing: Would the background/soft focus/subject type, work better with a Rembrandt or Side type lighting setup rather than the (correct me if I am wrong) standard loop variation set-up you have there?

Christie Photo · Feb 13, 2006

Canon Fan said:
ONLY for #4, Just a question/idea/comment from a total studio newbie :blushing: Would the background/soft focus/subject type, work better with a Rembrandt or Side type lighting setup rather than the (correct me if I am wrong) standard loop variation set-up you have there?

Uh... I guess I'm outa the loop. I'm not certain what "standard loop variation set-up" means. The side lighting (split lighting?) is a good thought though. Maybe someone else here can address this.

Thanks to all for the comments!

Pete

elsaspet · Feb 14, 2006

Really pretty. I like the clothing choices and the vignetting!

Taralyn Romero · Feb 15, 2006

In my humble and unprofessional opinion, I think you did an amazing job on the lighting and positions!!!! However, their expressions seem so pasted on to me.... I would like to see more natural (candid looking) expression in engagement photos but that is merely my personal opinion. Otherwise, I love the tones and lighting you used in these.

ShutteredEye · Feb 15, 2006

#2 is my fav--it definitely has the most intimate feel.

#1, they seem really far apart vertically, he's towering over her.

#3, I like except their hands. For some reason it feels awkward to me.

#4, I think she's much prettier with a smile on her face. And I really struggle with this type of pose. It feels natural for the guy to have his arms around her waist, but no matter how you do it, it just looks awkward!! He's hunched over, and I hate that!! LOL

#5, the expressions seem most genuine in this picture. They both have really long faces, and a portrait crop seems to accentuate that fact.

Overall, the skin tones look great, and I like the brownish background with the green outfits. His teeth could use a tad bit of whitening to bring them closer to hers. Her "T" zone and tops of her cheeks are tad shiny in some of them, and she could use some "smoothing" of the lines under her eyes. I do like the vignetting.

If they were looking for that professional studio flavor, I think you nailed it spot on! Good looking couple!

photogoddess · Feb 15, 2006

I agree - for formal engagement portraits - you nailed this one. :thumbsup:

Christie Photo · Feb 15, 2006

Taralyn Romero said:
...their expressions seem so pasted on to me....

Oh, yeah. These two were tough. I agree their expressions don't seem genuine.

photogoddess · Feb 15, 2006

Some people are just like that. The second they think you're taking the shot, they get that tense look. Seems like both of them are good at that. :roll: I wonder how they'd do in a more "candid" session where you were just able to capture them interacting together.

Christie Photo · Feb 15, 2006

ShutteredEye said:
#4, I think she's much prettier with a smile on her face. And I really struggle with this type of pose. It feels natural for the guy to have his arms around her waist, but no matter how you do it, it just looks awkward!! He's hunched over, and I hate that!! LOL

This one was a departure for me. I too feel this is awkward. In fact, this can even look profane. I wanted to try "something different." I suppose I should have remembered to make it good too.

THANK YOU for you detailed critique. I'm grateful for you time and feedback.

Pete

Christie Photo · Feb 15, 2006

photogoddess said:
Some people are just like that. The second they think you're taking the shot, they get that tense look. Seems like both of them are good at that. :roll: I wonder how they'd do in a more "candid" session where you were just able to capture them interacting together.

I guess I'm gonna find out soon enough. I'm doing the wedding this July. YIKES! Wish me luck.

And... BTW... These were the BEST of the session. You can imagine the others.

Thanks!

Pete

photogoddess · Feb 16, 2006

Christie Photo said:
I guess I'm gonna find out soon enough. I'm doing the wedding this July. YIKES! Wish me luck.

And... BTW... These were the BEST of the session. You can imagine the others.

Thanks!

Pete

I certainly hope they relax some before July. :lol:

I'm sure you'll do awesome - just like always. Good luck! :hugs:

Alison · Feb 16, 2006

Christie Photo said:
I guess I'm gonna find out soon enough. I'm doing the wedding this July. YIKES! Wish me luck.

And... BTW... These were the BEST of the session. You can imagine the others.

Thanks!

Pete

I don't know how I missed these! I don't have much to add to what has already been said, but I wanted to echo that I love the vignetting in these. That is something I've really learned from you. I never used it before and I see now how much impact it can have on the photo.

I also wanted to say that I did an engagement shoot a few years ago where the couple was very nervous and had "fake" smiles, but when their wedding day came they were so much more relaxed and the pictures showed it. I know it will be fine for you, too :thumbsup: