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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
2nd engagement shoot - some pics

Jenn M
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Sep 28, 2006, 11:53 AM

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2nd engagement shoot - some pics	Can't Post

According to what I read on another forum, horse + engagement session = cheezy. BUT this is how this couple got engaged. Her family owns a horse farm and they were on a trail with these 2 horses when he proposed, so there is meaning behind it. Anyway - it was great fun. I'm really a fan of the engagement shoots and I think I will push for them with future Clients. This couple felt a little awkward doing it at first, but by the end, they were totally into it and kept saying how glad they were that they decided to go ahead with it. We totally clicked, which will make it so much easier on the wedding day, which isn't far away. This was a last minute decision for them - to do the engagement photos.

(Brian tells me these are extremely low rez, so not as crisp as he had wanted for email size. Only editing was some brightness on the raw files. Other than that, straight from camera).

Any feedback very welcome:

Or this link will show you some more, but I posted most of them here. We ended up with about 70 'keepers' and 75 'second best.' I lost several shots on focus issues when they were walking and riding b/c I was using servo mode and I didn't change my focus point, so I couldn't lock in the focus. Also, sometimes my shutter went to low and I got blur when the horses made a quick movement.

All things you realize in hindsight, which is why constant practice is a very good thing.

(This post was edited by Jenn M on Sep 28, 2006, 12:01 PM)

Colvin ADTR
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Sep 28, 2006, 12:54 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Like them all except the horse butts. No animal backsides are photogenic. My fave = http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h229/videobymoak/Rebekah%20and%20Vince/engage0081.jpg

(This post was edited by Colvin ADTR on Sep 28, 2006, 12:59 PM)

Jenn M
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Sep 28, 2006, 1:02 PM

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Re: [Colvin ADTR] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Like them all except the horse butts.

HA! I completely agree. In fact, I said this to them before I took the shots of them walking away - I said, "I don't know how this will look with the horse butts...." But she, the bride-to-be, said she liked the idea and didn't mind. I just told myself, "Okay, well, she's looking at them (the horses) in a completely different way than I am, so to her, it might be fine." They're kind of like her babies. Poeple think babies butts are cute, too, and I just don't get it.

So funny that you pointed that out right away. I knew I was 'right'! Wink

Jenn M
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Sep 28, 2006, 1:05 PM

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Re: [Colvin ADTR] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

PS Thanks for looking! And I like #81, too. I sent her an email with that one in it. Smile

Toogy
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Sep 28, 2006, 5:05 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Some nice poses, but they seem to be lacking some "pop". Maybe try bumping up the contrast and saturation in Raw conversion?

Also what are you using to resize (compress) the images? They don't look very good to me on my screen, very "pixely".
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AlanB
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Sep 28, 2006, 9:01 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, horse butts, bad. I also like #81 the best. #79 is my second choice.

Alan

szerangue
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Sep 28, 2006, 11:27 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Jenn,
Those are nice shots. I do like the close ups the best. I like the one where the 4th one where they are kissing between the horses, I only wish it were a little closer. Would you have needed a wider angle lens for that shot? I like the one that Colvin linked to the best also. I am just a big fan of the closeup. Beautiful surroundings and beautiful horses. I think you did a good job. I agree that perhaps a little photoshop is in order to try to get them to pop, but what do I know, really. Good job, you know they will be happy with them.
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RustyB
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Sep 29, 2006, 12:47 AM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

I wore that same damn red shirt in my engagement pics. Laugh

My witch, I mean fiance, bought it and a pair of jeans, and made me wear them. (I didn't own a pair of jeans, or a cheap golf shirt, at the time.) Why does everyone dress like slobs for their engagement pics???? The photog even posted them online for the whole world to see. I was going to tell her to take them down, but she really needed them for her portfolio, although I'm not sure how much business pictures a fat boy and a carnival freak will get her.

Sorry to get O.T....nice pics!

Yeah, I'm sure those horse butt shots sounded like a good idea at the time...I'd have probably took them too. But a horse's ass is a horse's ass...I should know. Laugh

I plan on having lots of butt shots on my photography website soon. But no horses, or other farm animals...unless they pay better. Tongue

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Jenn M
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Sep 29, 2006, 11:57 AM

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Re: [Toogy] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for looking Toogy, and everyone. Yes, I realize they are a little 'flat' after looking at the many polished images, BUT I'm working on it. I'm learning CS2 right now. We calibrated our monitor yesterday so that will help, too, I'm sure.

For now I would just be happy knowing that I am taking a decent picture and using the proper settings. I still find myself 'panicking' a little at certain times and dialing the wheel randomly until I see the proper meter reading (shooting manual). I would rather 'know' the look I want and go for that specifically, which comes with practice. I can do it when I give myself time to think it through, but I realize with event photography, same as videography, you have to act on the fly, so you gotta be ready. Practice, practice, practice. I've been dreaming this stuff at night.

I'm still nervous about flash indoors - those big dark venues. I know the look I want but I'm not yet confident that I can get it. First of all, I need an opportunity to try. sigh. Hopefully I'll get a chance soon.

Toogy
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Sep 29, 2006, 12:35 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just curious, why are you shooting full manual outdoors? I shoot in AV mode 90% of the time outdoors. Plus the flash defaults to "fill" flash mode when in AV mode. I just have to worry about the desired depth of field I am looking for.
I use Manual for indoors shots though.
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Jenn M
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Sep 29, 2006, 12:50 PM

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Re: [Toogy] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

B/c I'm stupid.
Wink

Actually, on the first shoot, I did much of it in AV mode. But at this last one, I shot a lot in Manual. I really couldn't tell you why except that I've gotten so used to shooting in Manual.

I'll have to pay more attention to that next time. We have another shoot next Monday. I'll have to remember that.

So are you saying that with AV mode, I don't need to adjust flash exposure compensation? By adjusting that, does it override auto fill flash?

Brian said he was shooting in AV mode a lot of the time.

Let me ask you this - when doing walking shots, for example, do you shoot Servo? See, my problem was I did, and then I forgot to switch it back to One Shot and so when using the center point focus (which I tend to prefer) I couldn't lock in my focus and recompose my shot, so a good portion of wide shots were out of focus. I was too stupid to figure this out on the spot. I realized it later.

Jenn M
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Sep 29, 2006, 12:55 PM

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Re: [Toogy] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

By the way, I set the flash in high speed synch mode.
See, this is what is frustrating... I don't have a 'mentor' to turn to and say, "Am I doing this right?" and physically show him/her what my settings are, etc. So it seems like I'm shooting in the dark most of the time. I've tried to find someone willing to let me learn from them, but they're all too threatened.

Another videog friend told us that there is already a buzz about us offering photography. And I find it kind of funny that 2 of the photographers he mentioned that are talking about it are 2 we don't work with (haven't for years). I wish I could be a fly on the wall and hear what they are saying. He said they all keep saying we'll find out it's much harder than it looks, there's so much more work than we realize, blah blah blah... I say, have they ever worked with video???

Anyway, part of that is my motivation for wanting to get better. I know I shouldn't care, but I really want to prove myself...

Scott Brooks
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Sep 29, 2006, 3:12 PM

Post #13 of 15 (1501 views)
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Re: [Jenn M] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Jenn ...

When you say you were shooting in manual and dialing the wheel till the exposure meter was centered ... which wheel were you dialing? The reason I ask is that it will make a huge difference in your dof.

My natual tendancy is to use the larger wheel, but in manual I believe it's the small wheel on top that controls the shutter speed. If I start using the larger one then I'm screwing up my aperture and will not get the dof that I really would like.

I've started shooting more in Av mode myself just to maintain the desired dof. While on vacation I shot as much as I could in manual and that definately helped me understand the camera better, but when stuff is moving fast I will still switch to program if needed.

Jenn M
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Sep 29, 2006, 7:26 PM

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Re: [Sparky] 2nd engagement shoot - some pics [In reply to]	Can't Post

Both wheels actually - when I'm in a panic and not thinking clearly, I just start turning both dials. I have to stop and think, 'okay - shutter on the top, apeture on the back...'

Scott Brooks
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Sep 30, 2006, 2:12 AM

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In Reply To

Both wheels actually - when I'm in a panic and not thinking clearly, I just start turning both dials. I have to stop and think, 'okay - shutter on the top, apeture on the back...'

Note ... when you go into panic mode ... go to Program immediately till you have time to recompose. Not the camera ... but yourself. Unsure

It's so natural to want to use the dial on the back because that's what we do when we're in Tv or Av mode. Manual is a whole different animal. I got so tired of dialing in the aperture ... it drove me nuts. Still ... it was a good excercise over the course of a week.