Engagement photo

[swilliams61]

Took some more engagement photos of my son and his fiancee. Does it look "flat"? If so, what could I have done to improve it?




Canon Rebel xTi
f/4
1/200 sec
ISO 400
75mm focal length
no flash
Aperture Priority

[Big Nick]

It looks like the sun was behind the camera. This is why the clock has the glear and looks "flat" shoot into the sun, spot meter the subjects so their faces are not under exposed.

[MrJones]

I think it would have looked better if you didn't cut him off on the right side. you have lots of space on the left and it just feels weird that way.
it seems like this was shot on a cloudy day cause it has nice soft lightning.. just not sure how you got that flare on the clock
I don't like the pose, don't like the holding on the post cause it gives an unnatural look IMO. I think it would have worked better with him leaning on the pole with his back and hugging her. but that will be changing the entire picture.

[Ginger Pixie]

Is there a significance in the clock or the time? If not, it's very large and distracting, not to mention bright, in the frame.

You have too many competing elements in this shot, which should be about the couple, in my opinion.

I think the shot needs more punch and could do with a levels adjustment.

[oneronnalee]

Agreed with Ginger Pixie about the distracting elements but I do like the pose, it's a very endearing photo.

Just some ideas to improve the composition: if you moved around the post a little so you'd shoot more of the clock's corner the balcony in the background would be gone (which to me is one of the unnecessary elements). Also I'd include more of the couple here, so position yourself to include them below the hip, a crop this high up seems a little awkward to look at to me, and like Mr Jones said, avoid cutting one of them off.

Another idea, and this is a matter of opinion, but what could work with this location if you abandoned the rule of thirds and positioned yourself at a 135 degree angle to the face of the clock's (basically shooting dead on on the clock's corner) and had the couple also positioned centrally. I think a composition like this could be more powerful.

Better yet, simplify - try this in a different location and a simpler background, 'cause I really think the couple looks lovely and they don't need anything to support them in this photo.

[3bayjunkie]

yeah, there is a lot you could do to have helped this photo as it has already been said, but i was wondering if we can see some more!

[swilliams61]

Thanks for all the advice! I'll be shooting some more of them at a later date, so hopefully I can apply all this! Didn't think about the clock being distracting; it's kind of a landmark at the race course I shot at, but you're right...the COUPLE should be the focus! 3Bayjunkie, just click on the pic and it will take you to the link to see more.

[BrianD]

Shooting up on a couple isn't normally that flattering...though if you could rotate around where the couple was in the bottom third and the clock was in the opposite upper third, mostly blown out but recognizable, leaving just sky behind it.

[EOBeav]

Yeah, this is a pretty busy image, especially for an engagement photo.