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Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend

Jenn M
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Oct 24, 2006, 3:11 PM

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Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend	Can't Post

I'm going to go through withdrawl... As of now, we don't have another schedule engagement shoot and I am just loving it. With the fall colors starting to dwindle, we probably won't see anymore action until next Spring. Frown

Here's the latest:
http://www.imagesbymoak.com/katieandjosh.htm

This batch has very little PP editing. They are more 'naked' but I adjusted color and contrast. One image still needs some correcting as it appears a little too blue. But I was impatient and wanted to get them up ASAP. That's bad, I know. You should only put out your best stuff. But I'm confident that the average viewer doesn't look at them like we do, so I'm sure it's fine....?

We, again, took Toogy's advice and made the images larger. It bugs me how it doesn't fit on my screen (the smaller monitor). I still think we need a different design for the gallery. Can't decide if I like this layout or not. Brian really wants a black background, too, but he hasn't had a wealth of time to 'play' with it. We're cranking out videos to stay ahead of the game before the holidays. arggg, videos. Wink

Anyway, any feedback welcome as usual...

Shadow
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Oct 24, 2006, 7:05 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Jenn,

Love the photos. You've really improved every time I love your photos more and more when you share them.

Not to worry, before too long you'll be booked up with lots of photo gigs

Thanks for sharing.
Heidi

p.s. the first one that comes up looks like something from a magazine!

DarrenS
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Oct 24, 2006, 7:22 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

There's no denying you've got special talent behind a camera.

Scott Brooks
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Oct 24, 2006, 8:49 PM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Jenn,

They're looking better all the time. Here you're doing all these engagement shoots ... I've not done any, but have been shooting weddings.

I received a call today from a bride that wants an e-session before the leaves fall off the trees, so she's hoping to make it over here in the next week. We're planning on going to one our local state parks.

BTW ... I like the gallery. Also ... adjusting for color, sharpness, and contrast was good enough for these photos. No need for excessive PS.

(This post was edited by Sparky on Oct 24, 2006, 8:52 PM)

JeffErie
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Oct 25, 2006, 6:52 AM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

I agree...saturation, composition, artistic perspective...all are much better!

Can I book my sitting with you in Jax now or should i wait? Wink

Jeff Natalie - President, ErieKIDS
ErieKIDS "In the Middle"

Jenn M
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Oct 25, 2006, 12:55 PM

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Re: [Shadow] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Shadow.

I don't know if I've been lucky or if perhaps I may be good at making the subjects feel relaxed (I hope so!) but we've worked with great couples so far and I feel like we've been able to capture some great stuff! I'm so worried that we'll end up with some stiffs and maybe it's not me at all. But all of the grooms that we've dealt with so far were very stiff and wary to start, but once we got going, were completely relaxed and this resulted in some nice content.

The very first bride we dealt with said that the groom did NOT want to do it - he just agreed to it to appease her, but it ended up that HE was the one showing family and friends the photos when they got them back. She said he really like working with us and it made him feel better to know that we weren't going to make him look 'stupid.' Ahhhh, that made my day.... and boosted my confidence, as well.

This is why I've really been pushing the engagment sessions. I really do believe it will make the wedding day so much easier b/c they will already feel comfortable with us being there b/c they 'know' our approach and won't have to worry about what we're going to do. I've also been explaining this to the couples so they go for the idea. Some people think e-sessions are corny and don't want to bother. But I assure them they don't have to do anything corny - just be themselves. It's 'free' - part of the package - so they have nothing to lose and more photos to gain.

Also, I like it b/c I learn little things about them. For example - this last groom tends to be a sloucher. Now I know to look for that on the wedding day.

Thanks for looking!

Jenn M
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Oct 25, 2006, 1:23 PM

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Re: [Sparky] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

I love shooting the e-sessions! You have the luxury of time to play... as long as the couple is willing. Wink

I find that brides are far more into it than the grooms. Big surprise. So I try to make sure I get a few solid shots before we start getting too crazy b/c the grooms get tired more quickly.

At the last one, the bride had a few more ideas on her wish list, but the groom grumbled - how many pictures do you need? Doh - the last thing I wanted to do was create a riff, so I assured her we had a ton of great stuff and put the groom at ease.

A few weeks ago we shot a wedding (video) with a dream couple - they had a 2.5 hour break between the ceremony and reception and both the bride and groom were totally into pictures. They were so much fun! Got a lot of great footage, but I found myself getting jealous b/c the photog had so much time with them. I, of course, just had to hang back and 'wait my turn' if I had any specific ideas.

Jenn M
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Oct 25, 2006, 2:25 PM

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Re: [JeffErie] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

ha ha-
hey, is Leslie coming with you?

I spy a name change - what up?

DarrenS
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Oct 25, 2006, 2:39 PM

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In Reply To

p.s. the first one that comes up looks like something from a magazine!

Not to take anything away from Jenn's images because they are certainly good, but it does help to have an ultra-kitten in front of the glass Wink

Shadow
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Oct 26, 2006, 12:13 AM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just curious, how many photos do you typically give couples? I gave the last couple 30 good photos, mostly different poses, but they were looking for more and wondered if that was all they got.

Jenn M
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Oct 26, 2006, 12:21 AM

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Re: [Shadow] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've given an average of 100 photos - BUT that's with 2 of us shooting for over an hour in different settings. I shot many of the same 'things' - such as several walking shots, from the front, from behind. When we worked with the animals we shot a lot more because of do-overs and just making sure we got the shot. I tend to shoot, shoot, shoot, and THEN look at the image - comes from film days, I guess, and shooting video. If I were shooting more standard poses, I'm sure I wouldn't have as many shots. But after getting a few of the 'posed' shots - the 'newspaper shots' I call them - I like to hang back, throw out the occasional suggestion and just keep shooting. That's where all the shots come from.

I think 30 is certainly reasonable, if you're doing mostly posed shots in one specific area. What were they expecting?

Postal Boy
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Oct 26, 2006, 9:44 AM

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Re: [Jenn M] Yet another engagement shoot... this time with man's best friend [In reply to]	Can't Post

My experience with bridal (pre-wedding) and engagement shots is that you are shooting them for a purpose - in other words, engagement shots for invitations and so forth, and bridal shots to highlight the bride...

A few really good photographers I have worked with don't deliver more than a dozen to two dozen of these shots, as if they are done well they have photos that fulfill both ends...in other words, the engagement shoot shouldn't "fill a book"...it should accomplish a purpose. The bridal shots shouldn't fill an album - they should also fulfill a purpose. After all, how many pictures does a couple need of them walking through a park in jeans, holding hands or kissing???

And how many shots do you need of the bride standing in a meadow in her wedding gown, or standing on a path with her flowers, or leaning against a tree?

-Postal