Our first shot of a couple

[Brett and Sara]

This is the first chance we have had at shooting an engaged couple. These were taken close to mid-day (only time both were available). Want to know if the lighting was right, should we have changed the angle of the shot, is the crop good? We are just learning the art of photography and want to produce good photos. Thanks.

Camera: Olympus E500
Lens: 45/150 telephoto
Camera: Olympus E-500
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: On

[Snowdust]

I think for this one, a tighter crop would help it, and would remove alot of the distracting background. Think about the rule of thirds, and control your DOF on shots like this to give some more impact to them.

[laurie millar]

You need to provide exif data. It's on the picture's flickr page, on the right towards the bottom under additional information. Just click "more properties" and then copy and paste it. It can make critiques easier for people.

I think Snowdust is right but I will add a little more. With this kind of pose you either come in tighter to focus on the expressions or I would come out completely and show the whole picture so that you can see them holding hands or hugging, and her leaning into him. With it being in the middle, it looks more like a cheesy and cute snapshot.

Something to try...crop it closer and make it black and white. I think that would be pretty.

[Brett and Sara]

Is this better?

[Jim Bryant]

your background is killing the picture. Try to pick a better background that's not so ugly. Find a park without buildings in it. Just flowers, trees, bushes, anything but not white buildings. Never shoot on mid day where the lighting is so overhead, harsh and contrasty. Try scheduling your shoots in the early evenings when the light is warmer and not contrasty as the mid day sun.

[inspire]

Originally Posted by Brett and Sara

Is this better?

to me thats a better one... not too much background...

[EOBeav]

It's a snapshot and not really a portrait. Way too much going on in the background, and the pose itself doesn't really lend itself to an engagement pic.

That said, convince the couple that they need re-takes, and go find a park or some run-down buildings somewhere so you can get a better background. In the meantime, google some engagement pics to come up with some different ideas for poses. Fixing those two things will go a long ways in you going form snapshot to portrait. And, please post back here when you get that done so we can all see the difference!