I have had some people email me recently asking me for help/pointers on photographing an engagement session. I am so humbled and honored that anyone would even ask me this. It was good for me to sit down and think..what do I do? So, after thinking, cups of coffee, listening to Ryan Adams and lots of writing and deleting, I figured out parts of what I do or what goes into an engagement session for me. Partly all of these sessions come about because my head is in the clouds and I love romance, and love creating it. I imagine one day sitting on a cloud with eternal joy sitting before me and my heart exploding with love, this is often in my head. Before any session begins I pray before photographing anyone. I still get nervous.. some call it adrenaline, I call it needing to depend on the original creative one.
Onto the photography..
First.. I …
Love the Narrative
I love the story. I love the narrative. I find out a bit about the couple before I photograph them. If I don’t know them prior we either email several times, meet or chat on the phone. I ask some general questions (these are questions that every girl wants to know when someone gets engaged …or when you find out your best friend has a boyfriend and she is falling in love) you ask questions about him, about her, what she likes best about him/best about her. How he proposed, when did you know you were going to marry him, what are your favorite things to do together etc.. Your clients are all ready writing a narrative with their lives, get to know it so you can expose it!!
This information is so important to me and I use it to begin writing their story on film. I bring out the familiar with them in conversation when setting them in a pose and recall facts about their love story and the organic nature takes over. Familiarity and remembering/recalling the beginning sends butterflies anew. ( I talk a lot..esp during our session)
The lantern was a gift that Ryne gave to Brittany in a real moment of honesty in their relationship, it represented a promise of light in darkness, leadership from him in their home and for their future marriage. I knew this because I love the narrative and wanted to reflect their story that they are writing presently so they will remember.
Pre-visualization
Pre-visualization has always been something that I have always depended on..mainly because in the beginning I was so nervous (and still am) it helped calm me knowing the direction I wanted to take us in. I scout out a location and study the light, where it lands, how it filters through the trees and I plan an handful of poses/positions as well as often bring somethings along to help in creating the moment. I think that the details are crucial in telling the story. I have to remind myself, big picture, then details. Just like a book. I want to be able to see the setting that we are in, so my eye can naturally follow the tale as it unravels. Going wide and then tight with details.
The details are often created in the interaction between the couple in the glances, touches, and grins. They are also in their hands, their feet, what they are wearing as well as in the things that I often bring along to help create familiarity and comfort when they are in front of the lens.
Matthew and Natalie love cooking together and drinking wine at home. Having a portion of our session with these things that they loved, gave them some familiarity and created sweet moments between them as they interact and remember.
The Light & Location
Oh my this is so so important and forever I was afraid of the light and at times I still am. I used to pick a location based on how rad it was verses knowing the light. Now I pick based on the light. Photography is writing with light. So it is crucial. Finding even lighting is key. I am learning that I like how the light can wrap around a couple and create a soft glow at the right time of day. I photograph with wide open apertures, faster shutter speeds and my ISO is in the range of 100-350 for the most part when I am photographing in the natural light. The light is different every where and is different at different times of the day. I normally plan a session for an hour before sunset. Look for the light that isn’t splotchy, but nice and smooth, not harsh causing them to squint. When the light is spotted, find a patch where the light is even (shade) and tuck them there and create moments.
The original place that I had scouted was full of people (Yikes & always have a plan b) so we kept driving and I found this gorgeous spot near the edge of the park, the sun was setting and the trees were filtering the light and it was casting forest shadows all over the ground. This was tricky but I was able to find even lighting (shade) to where they would be properly exposed and not squinty face. I was sweating it at first but I loved how romantic the shadows of the trees are on the ground. It added a nice touch to the frame..
p.s. Have fun & laugh at yourself. Don’t forget to do that. If you have any questions email me. ks (at) kristinshyla (dot com)
Here’s to photographing the narrative!
with much anticipation,
ks
by Kristin Shyla
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