Lessons Learned: My First Engagement Shoot
I met Nick and Jenn in August 2013, my freshman year at SUNY Oneonta. Nick lived across the hall from me, and I walked into his room during move-in day hoping to introduce myself to his roommate. Soon after, I also met Kevin, Nick's next-door neighbor and a Syracuse University fanatic. As the three of us bonded over our inside jokes, an unlimited dining plan, and freshmen year anxiety about making friends, we became a tight-knit trio.
I met Jenn during the same period. One morning, while having breakfast with Nick and Kevin, Jenn and her roommate joined our table. We all hit it off, and I didn't want breakfast to end. During those breakfasts, I watched Nick and Jenn's friendship develop into a romantic relationship. It happened quickly, and after only three weeks into the semester, I nudged Jenn and said, "So... Nick Costo." Her reaction confirmed what Kevin and I already suspected. That night, we told Nick that he had to act on the mutual feelings between him and Jenn. The following Monday, Nick and Jenn were officially a couple.
Watching their relationship thrive over the years has been a joy and a privilege. When Nick proposed last year, I was thrilled and couldn't wait for their wedding. When I visited them a few weeks ago, I realized that the wedding was only a year away. When I learned they hadn't planned on having engagement photos taken, I decided to take some impromptu shots of them while apple picking.
As a photographer, I'd like to share some things I learned during my first engagement shoot. These tips are specific to my experience photographing Nick and Jenn, but they're almost universal to all photography.
Have your inspiration on hand. Nowadays, with Instagram and Twitter hashtags at our fingertips, it’s almost inexcusable to not have a gallery of “Inspo Images” saved as a collection in your Saved Photos. I spent about an hour scrolling through the #engagement, #engagementphotos, and #engagementtime hashtags to study and save any that inspired me.
Be firm, but fun. As much as I love Nick and Jenn, getting them to pose was a challenge. It's important to direct your subjects firmly while still making the experience fun.
Know your locations. It's important to scout your locations ahead of time to avoid any surprises.
Use props. Props help create unique and memorable shots.
Shoot raw. Shooting raw provides greater flexibility in post-processing.
Photography is an art that requires inspiration, preparation, and technical knowledge. These five tips can help any photographer, whether you specialize in portraiture, architecture, landscapes, product, or any other type of photography.