Engagement Shoot Ari & Simeon

o hey tyler · May 20, 2012

Cactiflower said:
I do want c&c but telling me to move to another forum was a little rude and i dont think telling people to buy equipment is much of a critique i did thank him for the advise on the shadows but what he failed to do is how to correct those more efficiently.

Use off camera flash through a big diffuser, or use a reflector to aim sunlight back at your subjects. Straight on, direct flash is rarely ever a good idea.

Tarayn · May 20, 2012

Derrel said:
Was he mackin' on her throughout the entire shoot? I like the sunset silhouette with dual leaps...romantic!

Cactiflower · May 20, 2012

Thank you i just got a reflector so hopefully that will help in future shoots.

Tarayn · May 20, 2012

my favorite is #3

manaheim · May 21, 2012

I wouldn't dicker with you over what's pro or not, as I've always found that argument pointless, but equipment choices, including how to best use what equipment you have, can be key.

In this case some of your pictures are taken at a wide angle close up, and that does some very unfortunate things to people. This is made even worse by the fact that you have the people more towards the edge where distortion is amplified.

You can minimize the effect with a bit of post processing, btw. Probably won't get it perfect, but...

Aside from that, I suggest you try to thicken up the skin a bit. You're going to have challenges if you're going to be defensive about your work.

Cactiflower · May 21, 2012

Thank you for the advice on the wide angle. I know not everyone is gunna like my work and that's ok. I appreciate any tips i can get to improve my skills but just saying what's wrong with it and no description of correction isnt really a critique. But that's all behind me he did give me some points to use so i am thankful.

KBM1016 · May 21, 2012

I think it's a good start, posing and interacting to catch some true emotion (see comment on "macking" :lol:

) but what I would really like to see is a shallower DOF. It will really make your subjects become more prominent and pop them off the background.

Derrel · May 21, 2012

There is very little wrong with on-camera flash as fill light. Fill light works well when it is directly on the lens axis. When shooting outdoors, it takes a MASSIVE light source to soften the light, and if the sun is illuminating the people, then the light is already "hard", and therefore, on-camera fill-flash is fine for this kind of stuff. The idea that one must have a flash off-camera misses the mark on using flash as FILL outdoors. FILL light belongs as close to the lens axis as possible...ergo, right in the hotshoe is a good place for a fill light.

Use the light from the SUN as the MAIN or key source of light,OR as a rim light or back-light, and then use the light from the sky as the main light. In all of these three types of cases, on-camera,direct,unmodified FILL flash is fine.

camz · May 21, 2012

In addition to what's been said about the ligthing I think you need a little versatility on your poses. 3 out of the 4 shots has the guy puckering up kissing. Maybe have atleast 4-5 different poses on the same location with 4-5 different crops per pose.

It'll make your life easier as you don't have to move clients as much and it will also give you more images to select from.

For example for #1 with them on the rocks.

You can have her lean her head on his chest w/ him looking masculine and eyes on camera.
You can have him step down and her staying on the rock leaning on him having both of them looking on camera. Transitioned to have her chin on his shoulders kissing his hand. Then transition to cheek to cheek. Transitioned to looking at each other. Transitioned to hands on her waist. Then forehead to forehead. Transitioned to a lift. Then maybe a shoe shot, then a ring shot and maybe a close up, then a half body, then a reflection from the water, maybe a silhouette shot against the sun... etc etc..

You can change your angle, your lens, your framing, DOF, lighting(natural, on-board, ocf) too without having to move your clients much and you will get variety. Lot of options!

I do beach shoots too and being from Cali as well there isn't much but sand and water to work with, it's the changes mentioned that make the shoot abundant.

Cactiflower · May 21, 2012

Thank you very much. That is very helpful. I will definitely try that in my next shoot. Sounds so fluent and logical lol i always find the posing to be the most challenging when it comes to variety!