1st try at Engagement photos-critique and new ideas please?

[Stina3246]

I've shot several weddings but this is my first set of engagement photos. I found that we had a lot of fun. This couple was willing to try anything I asked. This is one of my favorite shots


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It was shot with a Nikon D50 with a quantaray 28-80 lens.
It was shot at a focal length of 28 mm
ISO 400
1/400 Shutter speed and at F10
It was broud day light so I had some lighting challenges.
I've noticed the callibration on my computer is off and what looks great on my monitor may be a bit over saturated on others.
Please tell me what you think, what you may have done differrent and if you have ANY other interesting ideas for other poses let me know.
They were so happy with thier photos that they posted 140 of the shots I took on face book(They purchased the whole CD) and now I'm getting others requesting photo sessions!! ABEST ADVERTISING EVER! I NEED new ideas!!
AND suggestions on improvement.
THANKS!!

[jdabello]

Hi..I'm not a pro..but i think your ISO is too high...you can probably set it at 100...just my two cents.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

I feel a more tighter composition & a perfect horizon would help here. The flash too is a bit over here.

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by Gaurav Prabhu

I feel a more tighter composition & a perfect horizon would help here. The flash too is a bit over here.

I cropped it so that the sand and the shadow of thier legs showed but I can try cropping tighter. I could have actually cropped them dead center with the shadow off to the right, would that have been better? And what do you mean by perfect horizon? I wasn't sure on the flash. I think my monitor needs calibrating!

[SCusey]

Congratulations on getting the couple opened up, it's always so much fun when your subjects are willing to do anything!

In the future, I would be more conscientious of your background. The 'jumping shot' is always a fun and energetic photo, however, I feel like the complex in the background is extremely distracting.

As Gaurav Prabhu said, the photo is a bit on the bright side. It looks like it was quite a sunny day! I'd adjust the exposure a bit next time, or even try a low density filter for your lens?

As for poses....hmmm. You can always find out what it is that interests the two of them. Maybe he likes to play guitar. You can have him playing a song for the fiancé. Obviously that's just one example. My brother played a song at our wedding on his guitar, and the photographer took a million pictures of his guitar with our rings afterwards. It was a great integration of our interests, since my brother and I both play.

Another great one, is the couple walking along the beach, or even across a grassy knoll if you're not on the beach. Hand-in-hand, walking towards or away from you, both have a great affect of togetherness in this great big world.

Your imagination is the limit! Keep having fun out there!

[edbayani]

Originally Posted by Stina3246

I cropped it so that the sand and the shadow of thier legs showed but I can try cropping tighter. I could have actually cropped them dead center with the shadow off to the right, would that have been better? And what do you mean by perfect horizon? I wasn't sure on the flash. I think my monitor needs calibrating!

gaurav prabhu meant, level your horizon. it is tilting to the right.

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by SCusey

Congratulations on getting the couple opened up, it's always so much fun when your subjects are willing to do anything!

In the future, I would be more conscientious of your background. The 'jumping shot' is always a fun and energetic photo, however, I feel like the complex in the background is extremely distracting.

As Gaurav Prabhu said, the photo is a bit on the bright side. It looks like it was quite a sunny day! I'd adjust the exposure a bit next time, or even try a low density filter for your lens?

As for poses....hmmm. You can always find out what it is that interests the two of them. Maybe he likes to play guitar. You can have him playing a song for the fiancé. Obviously that's just one example. My brother played a song at our wedding on his guitar, and the photographer took a million pictures of his guitar with our rings afterwards. It was a great integration of our interests, since my brother and I both play.

Another great one, is the couple walking along the beach, or even across a grassy knoll if you're not on the beach. Hand-in-hand, walking towards or away from you, both have a great affect of togetherness in this great big world.

Your imagination is the limit! Keep having fun out there!

Thanks for the ideas. Yes BRIGHT sunny HOT day. I wanted to shoot early morning but this was the only time they could do it. I hadn't thought about a filter. GREAT idea. I have another one coming up but they are doing it around 6-7pm so should be perfect for lighting.
Thanks again everyone!!

[Laurenbiz]

The combination of ISO 400 and a shutter speed of 1/400 is screaming "BRIGHT!"

With this photo being taken in daylight, you should really use ISO 100. I crank up my ISO only when absolutely necessary, IE: Inside a restaurant, bar, or environment with low lighting.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

@stina3246 - The backdrop is looking tilted. I meant to get them perfectly horizontal in the photography. Also never ever crank up the ISO when you have ample of sunlight outdoors.

[Stina3246]

Originally Posted by Gaurav Prabhu

@stina3246 - The backdrop is looking tilted. I meant to get them perfectly horizontal in the photography. Also never ever crank up the ISO when you have ample of sunlight outdoors.

Ah...got ya. I need a better editor program, the one I have that I can tilt stuff also makes them grainy.
I THINK....I cranked up the ISO to 400 'cause it's a "faster" speed (Yeah, I used to shoot film) and they were jumping but apparently that wasn't neccassary.
Still learning......