Instructional Love Story Session - Content Heavy

[Robert Watcher]

2 weeks ago, I posted 4 or 5 images that I quickly selected right after getting home from this early morning Love Story Session in Stratford Ontario. Last night I completed the full edited series and have uploaded for the couple to make their print and album choices.

It may be interesting for some less experienced photographers, to see the process that I take in taking and deciding on the final selection of images - as well as including all of the final selection with exposure details. I always have the couple make the decision on where they want the Love Story Session photographed. I then look for 4 or 5 distinct shooting scenarios in close proximity to each other at that location.

My main goal is Variety - both in posing and processing - - - with the final selection made up of small sequences or stories that are not just romantic, but attempt to reflect the couple's "realness". My visual style is a grungy organic feel to the resulting images.

This couple selected Stratford Ontario for their shoot - and mentioned the Shakespearean Gardens as a place they like. A few challenges that had to be dealt with - were the fact they are a very reserved couple who aren't very animated and seldom talk - the resulting overcast day that creates heavy shadows in the face when there were no places with overhead light control to use (other than the coffee shop) - and that the man is a construction worker who is quite tanned, but wears a baseball cap resulting in a less tanned upper face. They informed me that they do not really like to smile in pictures - and so when I was making so much effort to get them to smile and be somewhat animated for certain series - - - they were convinced by the end of the shoot that all of the pictures that I had taken, had them smiling. I informed them that there was a mix of all expressions and not nearly as many smiley shots as they presumed. As for getting personalities to come through and to see some emotion, it simply required more involvement and direction on my part than it might with others who are more outgoing. The lighting had to be tolerated and when possible to neutralized with a silver reflector.

After the hour and a half drive to get to the location by 6:00, once there I drove around and selected 5 scenarios - the foggy river and shooting across to the island, the gardens they chose, main street walking, back street with interesting elements and seating, and finally a trendy coffee shop full of people.

Location 1 (getting the couple comfortable with the camera) - the foggy river and shooting across to the island - 6:32 AM to 6:59 AM - 148 shots
Location 2 (the heart of the shoot) - Shakespearean Gardens - 7:08 AM to 7:50 AM - 479 shots
Location 3 and 4 - main street walking, back street with interesting elements and seating - 7:52 AM to 8:28 AM - 387 shots
Location 5 (the wind down) - a trendy coffee shop full of people - 8:35 AM to 8:53 AM - 263 shots


----

Location 1 - 6:32 AM to 6:59 AM - 148 shots

24mm equiv - f2.8 @ 1/60'th - 400 ISO (+2/3 comp)


32mm equiv - f3.0 @ 1/80'th - 400 ISO - I climbed up on the bench and shot down on them to get them laughing at what I was doing and relax.


66mm equiv - f3.6 @ 1/50'th - 400 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

400mm equiv - f3.5 @ 1/400'th - 800 ISO - I shot with an extreme tele lens, across the river to the couple sitting at the edge of the island


400mm equiv - f3.5 @ 1/800'th - 800 ISO


400mm equiv - f3.5 @ 1/640'th - 800 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

Location 2 - 7:08 AM to 7:50 AM - 479 shots

36mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO


42mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO


104mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

42mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO - I was positioned quite high on a rock wall shooting down through holes in shrubs and flowers


96mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO


128mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO


120mm equiv - f4 @ 1/500'th - 400 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

400mm equiv - f3.5 @ 1/400'th - 400 ISO


400mm equiv - f3.5 @ 1/400'th - 400 ISO


24mm equiv - f4 @ 1/500'th - 400 ISO (+0.7 comp)


120mm equiv - f4 @ 1/500'th - 400 ISO (+0.7 comp)

[Robert Watcher]

24mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO (+0.7 comp)


24mm equiv - f4 @ 1/250'th - 400 ISO


34mm equiv - f4 @ 1/250'th - 400 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

100mm equiv - f4 @ 1/400'th - 400 ISO (-0.7 comp)


110mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO (-1.0 comp)


158mm equiv - f4 @ 1/400'th - 400 ISO (-0.7 comp)

[Robert Watcher]

100mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO


120mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO


----


Location 3 and 4 - 7:52 AM to 8:28 AM - 387 shots

42mm equiv - f4.5 @ 1/80'th - 400 ISO

[Robert Watcher]

158mm equiv - f3.1 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO - the manikin had almost the identical sweater on


184mm equiv - f3.2 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO


294mm equiv - f4 @ 1/200'th - 400 ISO


134mm equiv - f3.0 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO (-0.3 comp) - the couple liked the signs and bright colors on this back street and so we started the series with that

[Robert Watcher]

100mm equiv - f2.8 @ 1/800'th - 400 ISO (-0.7 comp)


100mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO


100mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO


100mm equiv - f4 @ 1/320'th - 400 ISO