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9LIGHTING

INTRODUCTION

If you still think of engagement photos as the standard posed

portraits of couples that appear in the announcements col-

umn of your local newspaper, think again. Engagement images

can be fun and whimsical, intensely passionate and sexy, sen-

timental and romantic. For that maer, engagement images

don’t even necessarily have to be for a couple’s engagement

at all: Some couples, whether they are about to be married

or have been married for years, might just want an excuse to

have romantic pictures of themselves. Whatever motivates

a couple to commission you to shoot engagement images,

the session opens up a new market for your photographic

talents and comes with all sorts of other benefits, too—from

challenging your creative skills in new ways to geing to

know your clients before the wedding shoot.

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THE ART OF ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY10z

For the couple, the engagement session is a special

opportunity to pose in a stress-free environment of

their choice, without the time constraints and pres-

sures of the wedding day. This is the time of their lives

when they feel young at heart, are caught up in the

throes of romantic love, and look and feel their best.

An engagement sessions allows them to capture the

moment. For you, shooting an engagement session is

a chance to explore a variety of concepts, themes, and

styles.

Millions of photographers are now shooting

engagement sessions. If you don’t, you’re definite-

WHY ENGAGEMENT

PHOTOGRAPHY?

ly lagging behind your competition. In today’s tight

economy, more and more couples are opting for sim-

pler, more intimate gatherings rather than big-budget

weddings, leaving some extra money for a unique

engagement shoot. Learning how to stylize and cus-

tomize an engagement session requires a bit of work

and thought on your part, but these images could take

your photography business to the next level.

As a wedding photographer, I see four compelling

reasons to shoot an engagement session.

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11INTRODUCTION z

#1: Increase Your Income

The main reason to include an engagement session in

your list of services is the opportunity to increase yourincome. With a few basic Photoshop skills, you can

provide services every bride and groom want and need

by creating a variety of items to be included in the

wedding: handmade invitations, save-the-date cards,

thank-you notes, digital projection shows, framed

prints for the parents and bridal party, montage boards

for the guests to sign at the registry table, and dozens of

other items (see chapter 2). You might also later recycle

the images into fine-art prints or stock images (see

chapter 10).

The image is from my standard session, what I call my “NobelEngagement Session” package—this includes one location andbasic retouching. Giving your clients a choice of a few differentpackages ensure that there is a choice for everyone’s needsand budget.

Nikon F100, 28–105mm Nikkor lens, Kodak BW 400CN film, 100ASA, f /5.6 at 1/125 sec., natural ambient light

Opposite: Here are examples of different ways to sell a prod-uct. The image is from what I call my “Deluxe Engagement Ses-sion” package, which includes a retro-style theme option alongwith professional hair and makeup and a vintage wardrobe. Itwas inspired by the 1940s film Nightmare Alley, starring TyronePower and Joan Blondell.

Nikon F100, 105mm Nikkor lens, Kodak 400NC film, 200 ASA,1/125 sec. at f /2.8, natural ambient light with gold fill reflector

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THE ART OF ENGAGEMENT PH OTOGRAPHY12z

#2: Practice Your Shooting Skil ls

Shooting an engagement session prepares you for

the pressurized wedding day shoot, when you will

be required to handle multiple issues simultaneously,

successfully, and effortlessly. Think of the engagementsession as the prerequisite to shooting a full-blown

wedding—sort of the Junior Olympics version of the

Olympics!

You will get the chance to learn your gear better,

hone your directing and posing skills, and create

images in a relaxed and fun environment. You’ll also

pick up some of the confidence, coordination, timing,

and production skills you’ll need for the wedding. After

all, wedding day shots are some of the most important

images the couple will ever possess, so why not get all

the practice you can?

#3: Establish a RelationshipBetween Yourself and the Client

Shooting an engagement session establishes your rela-

tionship with the couple, enables you and your clients

to become familiar with one another, and, barringa disaster, ensures that the wedding day shoot runs

smoothly. A successful engagement session will also

help establish your credibility. Chances are, the couple

will be pleased with their choice of photographer as

they show off the images to their friends and family,

and, by the time the wedding day arrives, you will have

gained their respect and trust. And with that comes

the freedom to create dynamic images!

These wedding invitations use images from engagementsessions. I designed the cover image (le) and invitation insert(opposite) in Photoshop and printed them on my home printer.These are just some of the numerous items you can create andsell to your clients.

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13INTRODUCTION z

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THE ART OF ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY14z

Images from a couple’s montage frame show that creativeabstract images traditionally make a strong statement, while aclassic portrait can have a strong effect, too, if it is distinctive.

Nikon F100, 85mm PC Nikkor lens, Kodak BW 400CN film,100 ASA, 1/500 sec. at f/ 2.8, natural ambient light

Le: A detail from a couple’s montage frame (above) shows howa classic portrait can have the appearance of a fine art piece.

Nikon F100, 85mm PC Nikkor lens, Kodak BW 400CN film, 100ASA, 1/500 sec. at f /2.8, natural ambient light

Opposite: I used these images in a special advertising portfolioto show to ad agencies and landed a huge ad campaign for adeluxe hotel chain.

Nikon F100, 85mm PC Nikkor lens, Kodak 400NC film, 200ASA, 1/125 sec. at f /2.8, natural ambient light

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15INTRODUCTION z

#4: Take Your Portfolio to theNext Level

Shooting an engagement session could be the bridge

between earning a few hundred dollars and earning

several thousand dollars! After you’ve captured a half

dozen sessions or so, you should have enough imagesto make a presentation portfolio book dedicated to

engagement photography. Your one-of-a-kind, highly

stylized engagement images might not only impress

your clients, but they may also catch the eyes of maga-

zine editors, ad agencies, fine-art gallery owners, stock

photo agencies, and décor art companies. Who knows

where you next assignment might come from?

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