if I could shoot an engagement session

lizzard_nyc

So I haven't shot an engagement session yet, but given the chance, I would like to do something like this. Just hang out w/ the couple for a while and catch them in the small moments, some a little posed some not.
Is it possible to really do a street version of an engagement session? I think maybe this is somewhat close, or at least it looks it.
Just wanted to share--plus who doesn't love Elvis? :lust
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/elvis-kiss-concert-photographs#slide=1


PS: I do have my first wedding booked in 2.5 weeks--so wish me luck.

bdcolen

"Engagement Sessions" are the bane of any sane photographer's existence. The problem is that the kind of couple who would want what you are suggesting - which would be terrific, by the way :-) - are very few and far between. I don't do Engagement Sessions but I do do weddings, but those I do are relatively far between because I do them my way - which is to say that I truly document the wedding day rather than create some fantasy version of the day. Thus the client pool is quite small, because it requires clients with a., the maturity to understand that a wedding is just a quick ceremony and a big party, not a reenactment of a scene from Cinderella, and b., an honest-to-God appreciation of photography. And good luck with the wedding shoot - and make sure that in addition to getting 700 La Liz photos, you get 300 that pretty much make you puke - because those will probably be the ones the couple wants. :-)

black mamba

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

So I haven't shot an engagement session yet, but given the chance, I would like to do something like this. Just hang out w/ the couple for a while and catch them in the small moments, some a little posed some not.
Is it possible to really do a street version of an engagement session? I think maybe this is somewhat close, or at least it looks it.
Just wanted to share--plus who doesn't love Elvis?
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/elvis-kiss-concert-photographs#slide=1


PS: I do have my first wedding booked in 2.5 weeks--so wish me luck.

I do wish you luck, Liz. I can't imagine any endeavor more stressful than shooting a wedding. I think, also, that BD has given you some sound advice.

I was fortunate enough to have spent two evenings with Elvis....one in '71 and the other in '72. These evenings entailed going to his tour show for that night and then up to his hotel suite ( hell, a whole damn floor ) for a party with him and his entourage. At the time, I was married to my first wife and it was through her Aunt ( who wrote the song " Heartbreak Hotel " ) that the evenings were arranged. After he got through hugging on my wife, I wasn't sure what my bedroom privileges with her were going to be for a while.

Nyarthlopic

bdcolen wrote: »

And good luck with the wedding shoot - and make sure that in addition to getting 700 La Liz photos, you get 300 that pretty much make you puke - because those will probably be the ones the couple wants. :-)

Nice, BD.

Nyarthlopic

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

So I haven't shot an engagement session yet, but given the chance, I would like to do something like this. Just hang out w/ the couple for a while and catch them in the small moments, some a little posed some not.
Is it possible to really do a street version of an engagement session? I think maybe this is somewhat close, or at least it looks it.
Just wanted to share--plus who doesn't love Elvis?
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/elvis-kiss-concert-photographs#slide=1


PS: I do have my first wedding booked in 2.5 weeks--so wish me luck.

Good luck with that wedding, Liz. You have more patience than I. Then again, you're a parent. ;-)

Angelo

Liz:

You might enjoy my two earlier Elvis threads

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=155559&highlight=wertheimer

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=153844&highlight=wertheimer


.

lizzard_nyc

Thanks for the good wishes all.
B.D. I know for a fact you are right. I have already discussed the "must have" shots w/ the bride. She has many relatives flying in from Colombia and she wants the typical posed group shots, that is what is most important to her, thoguh she likes my documentary style shots too. I have to be honest, that's what has me sweating bullets, the wrangling of the people to pose them and then to pose the lot of them and have them all have their eyes open all while trying to get my settings right and also trying to look competent. As a street shooter there is little need for conversation (it's better to actually keep quiet) but as a photographer of a wedding w/ posed requirements well you have to have some banter and maintain an easy flow all while trying to get "the shots" --holy crap I just scared myself!!!

One the one hand, it's a couple I'm very comfortable with. I'm not dealing w/ a young immature couple. One is a retired corrections officer w/ his own business and the lady recently retired from hotel managment. I was invited to their house last year for a pool party and I took my camera. Some might remember these shots.




Both are on their second wedding, both are fun loving and boisterous. I think it will be a very fun wedding to document--i'm just sweating bullets over the "must haves".

______________

Tom, that is the coolest story--I can't believe you met the King! Tell me you have photos!
That's a hell of a story to have in your backpocket

Angelo--Thank you for your links and lol "who is Elvis Presley?" That's so great that you got to meet Wertheiner and to think what a baby he was when he shot Elvis! I just absolutely love that series of photos Wertheiner took and it's the first time I've really seen them. Thank you for the links, I can't open the second one from here, so I will wait to get home and see those.

Nyarthlopic--you would think right? it's kind of thin these days. Must work on that.

Nyarthlopic

Dang! He got some AIR! :-D

Liz, you may find it worthwhile to check out Scott Kelby's Digital Photography series. There is a ton of great information in there, and he hits on weddings in the first two books. For the large groups, he recommends doing them all right away, then sending the folks away who don't need to be there much longer. That will help with having to get everyone together. I've gotten a ton of value out of all 3 books. He also gives some good recipes for cool bride shots. Just a thought!

redleash

Liz, it would also help to take someone else along, especially if you could have a second shooter for some of the background shots. I went along with a friend when she shot a wedding and I took pre-wedding shots of the guest book, the rings, flowers, etc. while my friend shot the all the pre-wedding people shots (this was a place where the reception was in the same building as the ceremony so it made it easier to get all the "must have shots"). Then she did all the shots during the ceremony and all the posed postwedding people shots; I did candid shots during the reception. Other than shooting a few candids at family weddings, this was my only experience so I'm certainly not one to give you advice on how to do it. I do frequently hear about "second shooters" at weddings and I saw first-hand how valuable that could be. If you don't use a second shooter, it would still be useful to have a helper who could assist you with rounding up folks for shots and also as a second eye. When my friend was shooting the group shots, I checked the scenes--and found a couple instances where people seemed to have things growing out of the hair, or faces were covered up, etc. I know the photographer should catch all of that but under the stress of the moment it helped to have a second set of eyes.

Best of luck with the event. Having watched your work the last couple of years, I have no doubt you will do a fine job!

Lauren

lizzard_nyc

Nyarthlopic wrote: »

Dang! He got some AIR! :-D

Liz, you may find it worthwhile to check out Scott Kelby's Digital Photography series. There is a ton of great information in there, and he hits on weddings in the first two books. For the large groups, he recommends doing them all right away, then sending the folks away who don't need to be there much longer. That will help with having to get everyone together. I've gotten a ton of value out of all 3 books. He also gives some good recipes for cool bride shots. Just a thought!

Hey there,
I actually have a couple of his books. I got them when I first got my first DSLR. I should dust them off They haven't been cracked open in a couple of years.

Thanks for the reminder.

lizzard_nyc

redleash wrote: »

Liz, it would also help to take someone else along, especially if you could have a second shooter for some of the background shots. I went along with a friend when she shot a wedding and I took pre-wedding shots of the guest book, the rings, flowers, etc. while my friend shot the all the pre-wedding people shots (this was a place where the reception was in the same building as the ceremony so it made it easier to get all the "must have shots"). Then she did all the shots during the ceremony and all the posed postwedding people shots; I did candid shots during the reception. Other than shooting a few candids at family weddings, this was my only experience so I'm certainly not one to give you advice on how to do it. I do frequently hear about "second shooters" at weddings and I saw first-hand how valuable that could be. If you don't use a second shooter, it would still be useful to have a helper who could assist you with rounding up folks for shots and also as a second eye. When my friend was shooting the group shots, I checked the scenes--and found a couple instances where people seemed to have things growing out of the hair, or faces were covered up, etc. I know the photographer should catch all of that but under the stress of the moment it helped to have a second set of eyes.

Best of luck with the event. Having watched your work the last couple of years, I have no doubt you will do a fine job!

Lauren

Hi Lauren,
I am taking a second shooter, my brother. He started photography about a year ago. He is the artist in the family, giong to Parsons school of design now. He is a quick learner and pretty much self taught at everything. I know he will do wonderful work w/ the "ring" shots, flower shots etc. I can shoot all day and not quite nail those shots the way I envision. He has taken a serious load off me though knowing that I have a back up. I will do the "must have" shots and the candids. He will do all the still life and some of the candids w/ the groom and his men and also some other candids.
He has only been at this one year, but what a difference that year makes! So I'm pretty happy to have him as a second shooter and coffee fetcher . Who knows when I'll have another second shooter, might as well use him to the max.

EDIT: YOu are so lucky to have been a second shooter before. I tried but was not really given a shot. So it's trial by fire for me.

zoomer

One tip for weddings for your first shoot.
Bring an able assistant that can be a bogie for you. There will be times when you just get stuck....never let them see you sweat. This is when your bogie steps in and distracts everyone so you can have a moment to get your gear or thoughts where you want them. Take the pressure off for a few seconds.
Take charge...never appear indecisive or appear to be fumbling with your gear. If you appear confident and competent....then things go much easier.
Don't Tell Anyone It Is Your First Wedding.

Engagement shoots are pretty easy....put the couple in good locations in good light and tell them to interact....take pictures.

Have fun.

lizzard_nyc

zoomer wrote: »

One tip for weddings for your first shoot.
Bring an able assistant that can be a bogie for you. There will be times when you just get stuck....never let them see you sweat. This is when your bogie steps in and distracts everyone so you can have a moment to get your gear or thoughts where you want them. Take the pressure off for a few seconds.
Take charge...never appear indecisive or appear to be fumbling with your gear. If you appear confident and competent....then things go much easier.
Don't Tell Anyone It Is Your First Wedding.

Engagement shoots are pretty easy....put the couple in good locations in good light and tell them to interact....take pictures.

Have fun.

thanks Zoomer.
MY assistant/brother and I are going to spend a little time together this weekend to go over a few things and I will mention this (bogie). I had something very similar happen on my first big gig at the beginning of the summer. I had an all day shoot at a hairsalon. Right at the start I could not get my Canon 5D to work, from shot one! So I started fiddling w/ it a bit. I put it down and picked up my back up Oly E620 and started shooting. I gave my sister (I took her as my assistant, she's a graphic designer and dabbled in photography) a quick look and well being related she knew I was in trouble. I handed her the back up and she started shooting for a few frames (while I walked to a backroom to "grab coffee". W/ shaking fingers I finally figured out what I had done wrong and walked back into the room and continued on as if nothing had happened and we swapped places. I learned long ago--fourth grade really "never let them see you sweat" it works on bullies, it works at work, it just works. I appreciate the tips. I will talk about it w/ my brother though just to make sure he understands it as well.

THANK YOU!

bdcolen

lizzard_nyc wrote: »

Thanks for the good wishes all.
B.D. I know for a fact you are right. I have already discussed the "must have" shots w/ the bride. She has many relatives flying in from Colombia and she wants the typical posed group shots, that is what is most important to her, thoguh she likes my documentary style shots too. I have to be honest, that's what has me sweating bullets, the wrangling of the people to pose them and then to pose the lot of them and have them all have their eyes open all while trying to get my settings right and also trying to look competent. As a street shooter there is little need for conversation (it's better to actually keep quiet) but as a photographer of a wedding w/ posed requirements well you have to have some banter and maintain an easy flow all while trying to get "the shots" --holy crap I just scared myself!!!

One the one hand, it's a couple I'm very comfortable with. I'm not dealing w/ a young immature couple. One is a retired corrections officer w/ his own business and the lady recently retired from hotel managment. I was invited to their house last year for a pool party and I took my camera. Some might remember these shots.

Both are on their second wedding, both are fun loving and boisterous. I think it will be a very fun wedding to document--i'm just sweating bullets over the "must haves".

______________

Tom, that is the coolest story--I can't believe you met the King! Tell me you have photos!
That's a hell of a story to have in your backpocket

Angelo--Thank you for your links and lol "who is Elvis Presley?" That's so great that you got to meet Wertheiner and to think what a baby he was when he shot Elvis! I just absolutely love that series of photos Wertheiner took and it's the first time I've really seen them. Thank you for the links, I can't open the second one from here, so I will wait to get home and see those.

Nyarthlopic--you would think right? it's kind of thin these days. Must work on that.

LOVE that first shot!

So as to posing the group shots:
I tell brides that I will take "informal formals." What that means is, first off, I do not herd cats - if a bride wants group shots, it is up to her to pick a member of her wedding party who knows who is supposed to be in the group shots, and who is responsible for herding all the cats into position. It also means that I do not fool around with arranging the folds of brides dresses, telling grooms where to put their hands - and where not to - and so on. If that works for the bride, great. If not, I don't get the job. Life is much too short, and doing regular wedding photography is much, much too painful for me to do it any other way. Which explains why I shoot a limited number of weddings every year.

P. S. Love the second shot as well.

redleash

Liz - Sounds like your second shooter will be a good one, and good practice for your brother too. Best of luck!