Rhonda & Dennis Engagement
I was so happy to hear that Dennis had popped the question and, as you can see by the smiles, the couple were eager to get started when I showed up. Just by sheer luck the weather had turned beautiful that day, so by the time I arrived with my camera and lighting rig it was pretty much already decided we would be shooting outside.
So we started off with something a little different from the usual loved-up couple I was expecting. Rhonda got the chance to show off that enormous rock on her finger while they both achieved an engagement shot that has something others don’t. They managed to symbolize their whole connection with one shot; so I took down the focus on the background and made it all about that moment. It’s definitely one for the mantelpiece.
Once everyone had relaxed into the shoot a little we started to capture a more natural type of shot. Sometimes when you first work with a photographer you need to establish a little trust with those first few reels. After a little fun and games to break the ice you start to see shots where everyone is enjoying themselves… just like this one.
Getting different levels and heights to your engagement photo shoot just gives the whole album more variety and edge. The weather was lovely, it was the end of the afternoon and the light was perfectly dousing the trees… Most importantly, you can see how happy each of them are with each other.
When the sun got a little lower and started showing between the trees we moved the angle again. The hand holding is what makes this shot – that and Rhonda’s killer shoes! The shape echoes the shape of the trees behind and it all blends nicely.
Aw shucks! I had a little blush. What’s an engagement photo shoot without a little kissing?
This shot gives a little less emphasis to shape and a little more towards color. It’s kind of blocked out into blues and greens. It’s their smiles that makes this shot very satisfying as a photographer.
The colors were so perfect at this point that we continued into a closer shot. The tighter frame just brings out their expressions more.
This is the scene stealer. The lovely shot that shows how loving the couple are together. Again, I blurred up the background because they are the focal point of the image. Don’t they make a handsome couple?
In the last few shots we got some simple happiness shots of the two. Sometimes the expression on a model’s face is all that is needed to make the image stand out.
For the final picture we had Dennis lift Rhonda a few times – which turned into a laugh all by itself. It was a great way to round up a great afternoon of filming. I left them with the best of wishes and returned to the studio… only to pencil their wedding day into the diary as soon as they had it.