Engagement Portraits, C&C welcome

jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
edited October 12, 2009 in Weddings
The guy is my cousin, I'm doing this and his wedding as my gift. I think his fiancee bears an uncanny resemblance to Erin Gray.

Conditions ranged from bright overcast to heavy overcast. Today was our only opportunity for this. These are in chronological order, and straight out of the camera, will do the full treatment when they pick their favorite.

C&C welcome...

1.
670165763_pMPp7-L-1.jpg

2.
can't decide if I like the red tree or not...
670171967_ks4nU-L-1.jpg

3.
670174492_FLnCL-L-1.jpg

4.
just for fun...
670179339_kAFPe-L-1.jpg

5.
I will take care of the shine...
670181577_oGpXz-L-1.jpg

6.
670185447_tMSdi-L-1.jpg

7.
670186426_2YPp7-L-1.jpg

8.
670190217_m3TjQ-L-1.jpg

9.
670187378_va44N-L-1.jpg

Thanks for looking!

full set is here:
http://jmphotocraft.smugmug.com/Portraits/Randy-and-Natalie
-Jack

An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.

Comments

  • fedoragentfedoragent Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited October 4, 2009
    The Last Photo is Phenomenal
    The last photo is phenomenal. The problem that I have noticed in all of these shots is his eyes. They seem dark and over shadowed...but that is the way he looks. Were these processed in Photoshop?

    FG.
  • catspawcatspaw Registered Users Posts: 1,292 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2009
    fedoragent wrote:
    The last photo is phenomenal. The problem that I have noticed in all of these shots is his eyes. They seem dark and over shadowed...but that is the way he looks. Were these processed in Photoshop?

    FG.

    straight out of the camera per OP
    //Leah
  • kidzmomkidzmom Registered Users Posts: 828 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2009
    WOW, they have SO MUCH to choose from! I'm sure they will be beyond thrilled! I love the variety of your shots. You really did a wonderful job! BRAVO! I'm axious to see what they pick and also your photoshop version when it is done! :)
    __________________________
    Kelly
    My Photostream :D
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/freezethemomentphotography/


    http://www.kfsphotography.smugmug.com
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2009
    Thanks! I will give his eyes some attention in post. Other than that I will do some blemish removal, skin smoothing, teeth/eye whitening, and probably a little vignette. Otherwise I don't go crazy in PS.

    So far my cousin's favorite is 7, but "the boss" hasn't weighed in yet.
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • VayCayMomVayCayMom Registered Users Posts: 1,870 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2009
    They are awesome!! Love the last one, a lot! I think get rid of the orange tree.. because it is a long distance from her face, so I think it draws the eye to 3 points of interest instead of just 2.
    Trudy
    www.CottageInk.smugmug.com

    NIKON D700
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited October 5, 2009
    thanks! you're right about the tree, that is the problem with it. fortunately I took another shot of that pose without the tree.
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • ivarivar Registered Users Posts: 8,395 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2009
    Very nice clap.gif the last three are more favorite as opposed to the first ones, with my favorite being the last one thumb.gif The backgrounds just seem a lot nicer, especially since their clothes are fairly light also, color-wise. I'm missing some color or contrast in the first few. #4 is a bit too 'posed' for me, especially by 'the boss' lol3.gif
    Ivar
    www.ivarborst.nl & smugmug
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited October 7, 2009
    ivar wrote:
    Very nice clap.gif the last three are more favorite as opposed to the first ones, with my favorite being the last one thumb.gif The backgrounds just seem a lot nicer, especially since their clothes are fairly light also, color-wise. I'm missing some color or contrast in the first few. #4 is a bit too 'posed' for me, especially by 'the boss' lol3.gif

    Thanks! 4 was a joke. He faked a "thoughtful" pose and she's laughing at him.
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • JimFuglestadJimFuglestad Registered Users Posts: 152 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2009
    Hi Jack,

    These are nice, and I'm sure they will be happy with their likenesses in them. A couple seem to have a bit too much fill (I'm assuming you used some fill flash?). The ones toward the end have a much more natural light feel to them.

    It's also fun when doing engagement sessions to get them to interact naturally with each other. Some great photos can be captured when the couple is looking at each other, rather than the camera. It's even okay to tell them to nuzzle! iloveyou.gif

    Jim
    Live with intention.
    Walk to the edge.
    Listen hard.
    Pratice wellness.
    Play with abandon.
    Laugh.
    Choose with no regrets.
    Appreciate your friends.
    Continue to learn.
    Do what you love.
    Live as if this is all there is.
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2009
    Thanks. 3,4,5,6,8,9 had fill, the others did not. I didn't think to have them look at each other or interact. Next time! Although generally I am personally not a fan of pics where the couple gaze at each other all starry-eyed. There's a fine line there between cute and corny.
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • QarikQarik Registered Users Posts: 4,959 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2009
    these are very pleasant photos.thumb.gif I like the latter 1/2 the best.
    D700, D600
    14-24 24-70 70-200mm (vr2)
    85 and 50 1.4
    45 PC and sb910 x2
    http://www.danielkimphotography.com
  • joshhuntnmjoshhuntnm Registered Users Posts: 1,924 Major grins
    edited October 8, 2009
    JimFuglestad wrote:
    Hi Jack,

    These are nice, and I'm sure they will be happy with their likenesses in them. A couple seem to have a bit too much fill (I'm assuming you used some fill flash?). The ones toward the end have a much more natural light feel to them.

    It's also fun when doing engagement sessions to get them to interact naturally with each other. Some great photos can be captured when the couple is looking at each other, rather than the camera. It's even okay to tell them to nuzzle! iloveyou.gif

    Jim

    i totally agree!
    Josh
    Las Cruces Photographer / Las Cruces Wedding Photographer
    Other site
  • JimFuglestadJimFuglestad Registered Users Posts: 152 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2009
    jmphotocraft wrote:
    Thanks. 3,4,5,6,8,9 had fill, the others did not. I didn't think to have them look at each other or interact. Next time! Although generally I am personally not a fan of pics where the couple gaze at each other all starry-eyed. There's a fine line there between cute and corny.

    Well, noone likes corny! ne_nau.gif

    However... it doesn't have to be cute OR corny. It can be real, or perceived, or natural... it's just as corny to stare at a camera with arms around each other. It's an engagement session! It's a session about two people getting married who love each other and are committing their lives to each other. Man... it should be about some passion, love, and naivete. Beginnings. Hope. Confidence.

    It's not corny to them! Well, maybe... I don't know. They didn't do engagement "sessions" when I got married. They only took pictures for the newspaper.

    Here's what I mean... corny or not, they enjoyed the photos... I don't think most of these are "corny."

    engagement007.JPG

    engagement008.JPG

    engagement021.JPG

    engagement024.JPG

    engagement030.JPG

    engagement036.JPG

    engagement065.JPG
    Live with intention.
    Walk to the edge.
    Listen hard.
    Pratice wellness.
    Play with abandon.
    Laugh.
    Choose with no regrets.
    Appreciate your friends.
    Continue to learn.
    Do what you love.
    Live as if this is all there is.
  • kidzmomkidzmom Registered Users Posts: 828 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2009
    Jim these are impressive, your work? I wish I had these memories for our time before we got married, had 4 kids and well...started getting OLD! Laughing.gif! These are tremendous....BTW, I completely copied you yesterday....went down to those rail tie wooden stairs and took pics of my boy. I'm so happy you posted your Nikon shoot because now I have these memories of my son that I wouldn't have done otherwise thumb.gif
    __________________________
    Kelly
    My Photostream :D
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/freezethemomentphotography/


    http://www.kfsphotography.smugmug.com
  • jmphotocraftjmphotocraft Registered Users Posts: 2,987 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2009
    Yeah, those are cool, Jim, thanks for the ideas. Except 6 is a little sexy for my idea of an engagement announcement, lol! 7 is toeing the corny line imo, just because of the hand clasp. Which of course is the move I went with at the alter!
    -Jack

    An "accurate" reproduction of a scene and a good photograph are often two different things.
  • JimFuglestadJimFuglestad Registered Users Posts: 152 Major grins
    edited October 9, 2009
    jmphotocraft wrote:
    Yeah, those are cool, Jim, thanks for the ideas. Except 6 is a little sexy for my idea of an engagement announcement, lol! 7 is toeing the corny line imo, just because of the hand clasp. Which of course is the move I went with at the alter!

    Heheh.. well, yes, I totally agree, I would not use #6 for an announcement. ha

    Regarding #7... it's not corny - at all. It was an actual shot of the two of them while I was on the phone. I had my phone crunched between my neck and ear and took the shot while they were waiting for me. That shot is 100% real. It's as real as love gets.

    As I think about this... I don't think I've ever taken a keeper image of a couple standing for a portrait unless they're walking and interacting. Sitting always seems to work better and more natural.
    Live with intention.
    Walk to the edge.
    Listen hard.
    Pratice wellness.
    Play with abandon.
    Laugh.
    Choose with no regrets.
    Appreciate your friends.
    Continue to learn.
    Do what you love.
    Live as if this is all there is.
  • ElginetPhotosElginetPhotos Registered Users Posts: 134 Major grins
    edited October 12, 2009
    JimFuglestad wrote:
    Heheh.. well, yes, I totally agree, I would not use #6 for an announcement. ha

    Regarding #7... it's not corny - at all. It was an actual shot of the two of them while I was on the phone. I had my phone crunched between my neck and ear and took the shot while they were waiting for me. That shot is 100% real. It's as real as love gets.

    As I think about this... I don't think I've ever taken a keeper image of a couple standing for a portrait unless they're walking and interacting. Sitting always seems to work better and more natural.

    Looks like it's dialing in just fine!!
    Bill O'Neill - Media and Fire Photography
    ________________
    www.elginet.com - www.elginet.smugmug.com
    Toys: Nikon D3x, D300s w/MD10 grip, D300, Fuji S3Pro &S2Pro,
    Nikon 18-200 VR, Nikkor 80-200 2.8, Nikon 105mm 2.8
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