Choosing engagement session locations

Tags

brides, engagement sessions, wedding photographer, wedding photography

Greg and Melissa’s engagement session

Written by Chuck Jackson

Engagement session locations can be wide ranging. When considering an appropriate location to do the Bride & Groom’s engagement session, I always use their personality and “likes” or preferences as my guiding factor. The location and theme (if any) must say something about who the couple is, what they are all about, and/or what makes their relationship special.

I ask them to reflect on a special place in their relationship, their favorite place to spend time together, or a place that epitomizes the kinds of activities they enjoy doing. This not only empowers the happy couple, but helps ensure that they will be motivated and excited about their engagement session. When direction is needed on my part, I offer couples a variety of choices and let them decide.

Ultimately it is all about the Bride & Groom so their input is critical in deciding the location for their engagement session.

Ashley & Andrew’s engagement session

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

3 Quick Tips for Photographing Sunsets for Engagement Sessions

Tags

engagement sessions, sunset photography

Written by Chuck Jackson

While there are other tips (and photographers write somewhat comprehensive articles on this subject), here are a few things to try the next time you want to nail that perfect sunset picture! Sunset pictures are particularly beautiful client pleasers during weddings and/or engagement sessions (as in the example above).

1) Underexpose: Typically, I underexpose sunset pix by 2/3 to a full stop (or more ) if sunset is farther than 10-15 minutes away. Bracketing your shots at 1/3 stop intervals is always a safe bet!

2) Timing: The best, most colorful/vibrant sunset pix are usually just as the sun is about to touch the horizon or for a few minutes following the actual “setting” of the sun (the window of about 10-15 minutes before and after sunset).

3) Sunglasses: This is a personal decision but after doing this a while you realize that looking into the direction of the sun (Note: You should never look directly at the sun!), setting or not, can actually wreak havoc on your vision (momentarily – I am sure staring at the sun with unprotected eyes can have long-term permanent effects, as well, if one is careless…). So to mitigate that, I wear shades when looking through the viewfinder – this helps (again, never looking directly at the sun)!

Chuck Jackson is a wedding photographer for PhotoActive Photography in Tampa, FL. Check out http://www.photoactivephotographytampa.com to see wedding images and samples from other photography genres, as well!

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