Engagement on the Lake

Engagement on the Lake

- A Follow-Along

Engagement sessions can be so much fun. I always look forward to meeting my couples prior to their wedding day and working with them in front of the camera. It is time that allows us to get to know each other, as well as getting to know how I work a portrait session. This always helps us cut back portrait time on the wedding day, as the couple usually remembers exactly how I directed them on their engagement session and they roll right back into the posing so naturally. 

One complaint I hear from photographers all the time is when their couples want to schedule a session to happen during the worst of lighting conditions. We can all agree that an hour or two prior to sunset is some of the best lighting conditions to shoot in. You get that soft diffusion of the low sun coming through the atmosphere, which turns into a golden glow near sunset, then transitioning into a beautiful soft light during blue hour. However, sometimes we don’t get the choice to shoot in the best light. Especially on a wedding day, when our allotted portrait times usually happen midday.

With this styled engagement session, I wanted to give us the worst lighting situation possible, and scheduled the shoot to happen right at the point when the sun was highest in the sky. This allowed me to show you how I work with difficult light, while also having a very fun and energetic couple’s session. I wasn’t constrained to the deep shade, forcing us to work in a small area and getting repetitive shots. Instead, I embraced the sunshine and used it to my advantage, looking for areas of the environment that would bounce back that strong

midday light and give us some beautiful open shadows.

In this session, you will learn:

• How I use all types of light to get the results I want. Our focus will be on the harsh midday sun most photographers try their hardest to avoid.
• You’ll see how I build a quick and simple story for my couples to play through, getting me those fun and energetic portraits.
• I discuss the importance of reflective surfaces, and talk about the quality and quantity of bounce light. I also go over reflective colors and why it is important to heavily consider the colors of surfaces before choosing to shoot over them, as they can impact the tones of your subject's skin and shadows.
• You will see how I meter my film for harsh light, and why I choose the film stock I do.
• We will also go over how I scout locations, choose the proper attire for my couples, and work with vendors to create the best possible end result.