Even though Sam and Natasha knew I'd never done an engagement shoot before, they were willing to let me take a crack at it based on other work of mine that they've seen. I've only processed a few shots, but figured I put them out there for comments before I process the rest.

1


2


3


4


5


6


Ok, sorry that was more than a few.

Thanks!
-joel

Good job! I would correct the horizon on unnumbered #5.

Well...what do you think about this kind of shooting?

Sam

Originally Posted by Sam Good job! I would correct the horizon on unnumbered #5. Well...what do you think about this kind of shooting? Sam

Thanks, Sam! I enjoyed the shoot, which was not without a couple of minor snags to add to the stress level. But the couple was just super to work with and we had a lot of fun.

You're right about the horizon in #5. Oops.

The whole set is really good. The last three are the best with 5 and 6 being my favorites. There is some blur on the last one, but it works for me.

Nice work!!!

Originally Posted by BlueSkyPhotos The whole set is really good. The last three are the best with 5 and 6 being my favorites. There is some blur on the last one, but it works for me.

Thanks very much for your comments, Jacek. You're right, there is some motion blur on the last one due to a slow shutterspeed because the light was pretty much gone at that point. I'm happy it works though.

EDIT: Wow, the work on your website is awesome.

Originally Posted by FlyNavy Nice work!!!

Thanks, John!!!

I really like #6 - wonderful color execution, nice pose, nice expression, lovely colors. My feedback would be: be very conscious of expression when you select shots. Based on that, I would eliminate #1 out of the set. While we photographers look at lighting, composition, hue and saturation, clients look at themselves with a microscope & lots of baggage. Does my nose have a pimple? Is my expression weird? That's my fat side! etc, etc.
Hope that helps :)

Originally Posted by sphynge I really like #6 - wonderful color execution, nice pose, nice expression, lovely colors. My feedback would be: be very conscious of expression when you select shots. Based on that, I would eliminate #1 out of the set. While we photographers look at lighting, composition, hue and saturation, clients look at themselves with a microscope & lots of baggage. Does my nose have a pimple? Is my expression weird? That's my fat side! etc, etc. Hope that helps :)

Thank you, Caroline! I looked at your website, great stuff!

You nailed me perfectly. I'm terrible at reading expressions. I think everyone looks great all the time. That being said, #1 is the client's top pick out of 260 proofs. Just goes to show ya, huh?

These were all their top picks except for #3 which I threw in there for something different.

Thanks again for the input!

-joel

Originally Posted by kdog EDIT: Wow, the work on your website is awesome.

Thanks Joel

#6 is super awesome! Love it.
#5 is fun :) love that rocky area on Baker Beach

#4 at the Palace of Fine Arts bugs me that your background is entirely 100% in focus, I'd love to see some difference in depth of field to help the couple pop in the photo.

You have some additional good shots from this set on your website, good stuff :)

Love #2! Nice set!

Originally Posted by Shima #6 is super awesome! Love it. #5 is fun :) love that rocky area on Baker Beach #4 at the Palace of Fine Arts bugs me that your background is entirely 100% in focus, I'd love to see some difference in depth of field to help the couple pop in the photo. You have some additional good shots from this set on your website, good stuff :)

Thank you VERY much Cat! And thanks for caring enough to look in the gallery as well. I see your point about #4 needing a shallower DOF. There were some trade-offs made there complicated by flash synch speed and the fact that I didn't want to blow out the sky. And of course it's hard to get a shallow DOF in a wide-angle shot like that. But you've got me curious now if I can do better next time. For example, I was shooting with a long lens on my 5DMKII and shooting the wider shots with my 7D. Now I'm thinking maybe it would work better the other way around. I'll have to play with that.

Thanks again!

-joel

Originally Posted by AmazingGrace0385 Love #2! Nice set!

Thanks very much! That's my favorite of the day as well.

I love two,that is a fun creative shot, like 4 also.
5 you really got some personality in that one.
I don't love the flashed look in a couple of them but still nice shots, I understand the need to freeze the movement.
You did a good job I bet they love them.
Being a good photographer to begin makes this stuff not that hard and you will improve very fast as you gain confidence.

As long as she looks good that is the main thing.....like 1.

Originally Posted by zoomer I love two,that is a fun creative shot, like 4 also. 5 you really got some personality in that one. I don't love the flashed look in a couple of them but still nice shots, I understand the need to freeze the movement. You did a good job I bet they love them. Being a good photographer to begin makes this stuff not that hard and you will improve very fast as you gain confidence. As long as she looks good that is the main thing.....like 1.

Thanks for the feedback, Zoomer! Yeah, the flash was pretty much mandatory on the beach shots because it was very dark out by then.

Yes, they like the shots.

I really appreciate you checking in.

-joel

Great work. Number 1 could have been great but Ill blame the groom to be

#2 is my fav.... good posing and composition.

#1 would work better if you were able to get a better expression from his face.