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03/04/2014 04:30:33 AM · #1 |
//500px.com/HeavyJ/sets/engagement_toshi_ayaka
password is: hawaii
He's my best friend and after seeing him mess around for 15 years, he's finally met someone to settle down with. She's a lovely girl. Anyways, I needed a bit of practice with engagement photography and they let me shoot them. I prepared for different locations depending on whether. I asked a friend to assist and he CANCELLED last minute (Literally 10 minutes before we were suppose to meet.) But that's OK, I wasn't paying him.
I'm not sure if it's a Japanese thing but to get them to get 'romantic' took a while. There was a lot of joking around to get them to laugh. At the end of the day I went through about 300 photos. Pulled some of the best ones and did a slight edit. These are the ones I put up for them to take and print. I'm not sure how many of them are 'worthy' of prints or how many you would normally deliver to a couple. I have 2 other friends getting married this year and both want engagement photography. If DPC could guide me on do's and don't's I'd be very happy!!
Let me know what you think!? |
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03/04/2014 04:59:05 AM · #2 |
First, and I've learned this the hard way myself: Always specify the number you will deliver BEFORE. No confusion there, ever.
Next, I'm personally not a fan of the edit style, but it's popular today so that's personal preference. I'd personally prefer some decreased foreground elements, as I find them distracting from what should otherwise be a photo completely about the couple. To me, engagement photos are about the people, the environment is secondary and should thus be subdued and complement them, not bring any prominence. Cultural differences aside, they seem natural and I think the poses are good, the couple seems comfortable. Grain of salt: I don't look at a ton of engagement photos, but this is my feedback if I was looking at the engagement photos a personal friend was provided. |
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03/04/2014 05:40:44 AM · #3 |
Thanks. All CnC are welcome.
By edit style, do you mean the colors? |
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03/04/2014 08:01:59 AM · #4 |
You are a vehicle to serve the purpose of documenting their intense attraction for each other and to remind them why they want to go through with this public proclamation of such a serious commitment. Each shot should remind them why and in 30 years when they look back at the pictures I would hope their love reignites and they are reminded of their original feelings. So I would keep to the couples shots.
Less is more. Instead of having several shots of the same type of background where they may say, "oh...I'm not sure which one I like better....hmmmm" (thus finding fault with one)
offer up YOUR choice for that specific setting and present it with confidence. Let them choose between settings, rather than shots of a setting.
We live in a time of excess. Too much of something becomes a burden. A scaled back, simple presentation speaks more than a heavy coffee table book no one will look at. You will do better to find an elegant album in which to present several larger pictures, 5x7's perhaps, than a bunch of smaller photos that they don't look at as often. Also, if they can leave it out to share with friends and family, more people will look at it and drum up business for you, if you are so inclined.
Having said this. You have some really lovely images of both of them. Remember, my words are only my opinion. I have always done better when people ask for more from me than presenting too much.
And I agree with the other commenter as far as numbers go. Don't promise a specific number. That's really not the important part. It's quality, not quantity. And you have some quality shots, especially the ones where you can see the love in his face for her.
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03/04/2014 08:41:37 AM · #5 |
first off i think you did a fantastic job capturing the fun. its easy to look at these and smile.
I'd pick the best of of them and id even create a diptych or triptych of some that have a similar scene like the bench of the tree.
shoots like this are why i love engagement photography. |
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03/04/2014 10:31:30 AM · #6 |
| What beautiful photos. (I don't have any advice, but I would sure be happy if these were my engagement photos.) Good luck. |
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03/04/2014 11:17:32 AM · #7 |
They look great to me. My question is about this "cultural" thing. Why do we feel the need to have them laughing and smiling? That's how WE do it in OUR culture. Do they express their love in some other way? Would that make for interesting photos? Or are you saying they were just uncomfortable having their picture taken.
If you are planning to do this professionally, you clearly have the technical chops. I'd like to see something tailored more specifically to each couple. Find out what they like to do, where they met, etc. Add a bit of concept. Make the image significant in more ways than just "loving looks" for each other. |
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03/04/2014 02:10:29 PM · #8 |
I think they are great. You've really captured some nice natural moments there. Mike's idea of selecting a few of the best ones and making some diptychs/triptychs is a very good one. A good way to present them as some are a bit similar in composition. I really like the colour/processing although Derek is right that it's a taste thing and this sort of slightly filmlike style is very in at the moment. It's certainly the processing approach i take at the moment. These sorts of thing you've got to be careful that the 'in-thing' isn't going to look totally naff in a few years (hello selective colour) which is why good old black and white is always a safe bet but i think this kind of cinematic style is kind of timeless if done well and quite subtle.
Derek also makes an interesting point about location being secondary to the couple, which is totally true of course, but i think there is room for a wider approach. With engagement shoots i often take a hugely wide, landscape approach mainly because i make a lot of effort to have the shoot in a location which is very special to the couple. Sometimes where the proposal happened or where one, or both, used to live/explore as a child or just somewhere that is very special to the both of them. Due to where i live this often means up mountains or old quarries or beaches so i really try and make the landscape a large feature of the shoot. It makes no sense for us to trek miles up a mountain if i'm going to do headshots and half bodies. That's just my approach and people tend to know what to expect.
Johanna also makes a good point about smiling etc. i've no idea if its a cultural thing or not but obviously every couple is different and some are far more at ease in front of the camera than others. My approach to portraits is very much hands off with only the barest of direction. Some couples need more than others (which is one of the great things about engagement shoots- you can get to know all this before the wedding) and various tips can help with getting them at ease and smiling. Saying that though, i don't think there is anything wrong with non smiling portraits. Most of mine aren't to be honest (although i wouldn't give a couple a whole shoot with morose faces!). I tend to approach the shoot as mor of a fashion/lifestyle type thing and i'll tell them that. Some of my favourite engagement shots the couple are looking away from each other and you can't even see their faces. |
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03/05/2014 02:22:17 AM · #9 |
Thanks for all advice DCPers
I didn't set a number simply because I wasn't being paid and this was for my portfolio and I just wanted them to have all the good ones, even if some were very much the same. Had it been a paid job I would have left several out, but never thought about combining them in a dip/tri style shot.
Originally posted by tanguera:
They look great to me. My question is about this "cultural" thing. Why do we feel the need to have them laughing and smiling? That's how WE do it in OUR culture. Do they express their love in some other way? Would that make for interesting photos? Or are you saying they were just uncomfortable having their picture taken.
If you are planning to do this professionally, you clearly have the technical chops. I'd like to see something tailored more specifically to each couple. Find out what they like to do, where they met, etc. Add a bit of concept. Make the image significant in more ways than just "loving looks" for each other. |
The cultural thing is that Japanese aren't usually too keen on hugging and kissing in public places AFTER they've been dating a while. In the beginning they could care less...but as time goes on, they get less 'adventurous'. Most of the girls I know don't mind, it's more the guys really. I have a friend getting married in November. Her soon-to-be husband doesn't want to kiss her at the ceremony. They chose to do a Japanese/Western Fusion style wedding where there will be NO kiss. She's not too happy, but she knew that's the kinda guy he is. She also knows at some point I'll end up pushing for them to kiss (Not as photographer, but as guest).
I actually do Christian wedding ceremonies as a wedding minister here in Japan. As part of the bridal planners order sheet, one of the 'details' marked yes or no is whether there will be a kiss at the service. Most choose to kiss, but on the cheek. Even then, I have to remind them at the rehearsal that they should try to kiss for 3 seconds so that people can take advantage of the 'shutter chance' as they say in Japanese.
Again, all the help is much appreciated!! |
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03/05/2014 03:34:39 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by heavyj:
I actually do Christian wedding ceremonies as a wedding minister here in Japan. As part of the bridal planners order sheet, one of the 'details' marked yes or no is whether there will be a kiss at the service. Most choose to kiss, but on the cheek. Even then, I have to remind them at the rehearsal that they should try to kiss for 3 seconds so that people can take advantage of the 'shutter chance' as they say in Japanese. |
Wow! We are SO desensitized here in the US!!! Fascinating :) |
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03/05/2014 06:19:52 AM · #11 |
You're a good photographer; you got quite a few delightful images.
Heed us in that you don't want to swamp them with everything.
Do a speed sort, grab the ones you're really happy with, and go from there.
Relax.......They *will* love them......really!
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