Engagement C+C

[ErinP709]

I have to admit that it pains me a little to post here and have my photos cut up, but I know it is for my own good. Here are a few I shot on Monday.

Tell me what you think...I can take it.

Thanks in advance!

**note - the tree was important to them - I would have liked to blur the background more but they wanted some detail

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:

1. It's a nice shot, but I'm not seeing any real romance or excitement. I suspect that she's sitting on his knee, but with this crop, you really can't tell, so it just looks like she's a head taller than he is. I think a vertical orientation to include more of the couple would have worked better.

2. A bit under-exposed. You were shooting with a fairly bright background, which caused the subjects to be about 1/2 stop under-exposed.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[ErinP709]

Thanks for the feedback!

In the first photo, they are kind of standing on a hill, he is below her. I didn't see that it looked strange until you pointed it out. This one makes more sense I think.

I definitely have to work on my metering. Sometimes I get focused on being creative that I lose the technical and sometimes I focus on the techincal and lose my creativity. I guess it takes practice to just be able to work without thinking too much one way or the other.

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Here's my two cents...always shoot what *they* want. Then shoot a few for what *you* want. They might be surprised to see that the alternates out-do what their imagination thought was best and feature them better. This last one is more the money shot I think.

 

[tirediron]

The second one does make a lot more sense. You'll find that with practice, the technical side will become second nature.

 

[subscuck]

I have to agree with John. Nothing really says "engagement". It could be any couple posing for any reason. On a technical level, you've mostly nailed it, tho they look a bit flat to me. I'm a contrast nut, tho, so it's more personal preference than a technical issue. Attractive couple and a good example of how an older generation Rebel is still capable of nice pics. Keep shooting, you're getting there.

 

[KmH]

Your use of light could use some improvement.

The couple is under exposed in the second photo you posted. According to the EXIF data you used Partial metering. For most portraiture you will want to use Spot metering, and some supplimental light either reflected or strobed. I see from the XTi specifications, it doesn't have Spot metering. also the EXIF indicates that :

Flash = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode

They were to close to the foliage in #1 and #3, making the far limit of the depth-of-field (DOF) to close to the foliage, which is why the foliage is not more more out-of-focus (OOF) though you used a lens aperture of f.2.5 for both shots. Check out this tutorial; Understanding Depth of Field in Photography

I missed that the foliage was important to them. In that context I would have told them they would have to find someone else to make their photos. But, that's just me.