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Nervous About Engagement Shoot |
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June 11th, 2009 by BridalBuds
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Our photographer includes an engagement shoot in the package we chose, and it’s scheduled for this Friday! I am super nervous, but I’m sure everything will work out fine. Especially because the main purpose of this shoot, in my mind, is to allow for Lotus Dude and I to get to know our photographer and become more comfortable in front of the camera.
Neither of us has a lot of experience in front of the camera. I get a weird, frozen look and he makes goofy faces. So since this is just a test run to work out the kinks before the wedding, I’m not sure why I’m nervous. After all, no one will have to see these if they turn out horrible. Maybe I’m just worried that if these don’t turn out well it bodes ill for the wedding also.
For those of you that have already had an engagement shoot, do you feel like it actually worked to help you relax and be more natural in front of the camera? After all, I’m not asking for miracles. I just want us to be comfortable and look like ourselves!
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Categories: Archived, Wedding Photography, Wedding Planning |
8 Comments |
June 11th, 2009 at 8:25 am
All I can say is be yourselves, interact with each other and look at each other in the loving way you do when your alone. I know having a camera in you face it scary but the e-session is to be fun and relaxing. Were something comfortable and that expresses who you guys are. Listen to your photographer and most important breath! Enjoy it and I can’t wait to see.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:37 am
The engagement shoot serves as a wonderful platform to get accustomed to your photographer. Neither my lovely fiance nor I enjoy being set up for a photo shoot, but we slowly warmed up to it over time and I’m sure we’re more ready for the big day’s shoot because of the experience. Best of luck!
June 11th, 2009 at 8:58 am
As a wedding and portrait photographer in Maryland, I love shooting engagement sessions. They definitely do ease the nerves and function as a test run. It helps us photographers get an idea of how much creative direction we need to give you as a couple. Hopefully what drew you to your photographrapher in terms of his personality will also draw out YOUR personalities during your shoot. It’s mostly a skill in making people comfortable – but that is on the photographer!
One small tip – if he asks you to kiss, don’t pucker your lips and stick them straight out! It is an unnatural kiss and not a way to show your love. Is that how you kiss when you are alone? I’m not advocating a full make out session, but a passionate kiss is better than a pucker. But what I like even better is the sense of intimacy of the almost kiss… those moments right before the kiss or right after.
Have fun and enjoy your shoot!
Kimberly Brooke
http://www.kimberlybrooke.com
http://www.kimberlybrookeblog.com
Kimberly Brookes last blog post..Meet Kari { s t u d i o m a n a g e r }
June 11th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I had my engagement shoot a few weeks ago…. it definitely helped us to grow more comfortable with our photographer and in front of the camera. It was a little awkward at first because we’re not used to taking pics as a couple like that… but I do believe it helped us for the future. Best of luck! And yes… try to be yourselves
Kristas last blog post..Greek Dinner Date
June 11th, 2009 at 10:39 am
From a photographer’s perspective, the engagement shoot is a good time for me to get to know the couple as well. My partner and I usually engage our couples in conversation, asking them to retell the story of their meeting and the proposal story. More often than not, the couple will become so excited in the retelling of the story that they cease to notice us. That’s when the really great shots happen!
The one piece of advice I would give is to choose a location that matches you! We’ve had stunning beach shoots because the couple was at home on the beach. Other couples are more comfortable in urban settings. Choose something that makes you happy!
Most of all, enjoy the time. Don’t worry about your facial expressions or posing. Just be yourself!
Janas last blog post..Photo Shoot in the Hollywood Hills
June 11th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I am a wedding photographer based in Detroit and working all over Michigan/Midwest. We always encourage our couples to take advantage of our complimentary engagement sessions. It really gives us a chance to connect with our couples and for *everyone* (photographer included!) to relax and get used to the process.
We encourage our couples to think outside the box when it comes to choosing a location. People often just consider the location as “pretty scenery”. The truth is that a good photographer can rock out any location, from a gorgeous natural landscape to a gritty urban alley. The location is not as important for visual candy as it is for a place to make you feel your best. While something like the park is a safe bet, it’s often times a lot more interesting to choose a location that has meaning for you as a couple and engages your interests. Incorporating an activity into your engagement shoot not only gives you something to focus on, but the familiarity of whatever it is you love to do will set you at ease as well. It also will allow you to get some shots that scream YOU, which you will love.
We generally will stay pretty far back at the beginning of a session and kind of feel the couples out. We encourage them to interact as normally as possible, talk to each other, look at each other (and not us). If the couple is really stiff or struggling we will then come in and gently guide them into poses, but our goal is to shoot as much photojournalist style as possible.
Remember too that every couple is different. If you are normally not much of a PDA type of person, but are envisioning a lot of romantic poses, realize that may feel a bit uncomfortable. We’ve done sessions where we practically didn’t have to give any direction, and those where one person was very uncomfortable with showing affection in front of the camera. In those cases, the session usually turns more into something with either more stylish/urban shots or silly/fun shots. Think about what kind of overall feel you want your session to have and if you plan to use these photos for your guestbook or a display print at your reception.
Above all, talk to your photographer! Tell him or her what your concerns are and what kind of images you’ll hope to get from the session. You should be able to put your heads together and find great location that will make your session a blast!
Lynns last blog post..Chicago Engagement Session: Amanda & Dave | Part 2
June 11th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Believe me, you are not alone. Most of my couples are nervous about their engagement sessions. Probably because they haven’t had a formal photo done since senior portraits (which for some is a very long time ago) if at all.
I know from experience it can be intimidating to have a camera following you around, but I’m sure you hired a pro to photograph your wedding. Thus, she/he will know exactly how to calm you and photograph you with a natural relaxed look.
I explain to my couples that engagement portraits are just practice sessions – it gives you a chance to “practice” in front of the camera and also gives your photographer insight on how you react to the camera before the big day. These are very important to make sure your wedding photos are the best the can be.
It’s also a great way to get to know someone who’ll take a very important role at your wedding. Plus, after the first 10 minutes – you’ll forget why you were so nervous! Just have fun and laugh alot!
Kim Shokouhis last blog post..Online Wedding Style Guide Magazine Free
June 11th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I am in the same boat as you Lotus. We have the 2nd half of our engagement photos coming up this Sunday and I am still nervous even though we’ve done some already last winter, but I think at this point it is the extreme excitement that is making me a bit nervous (if that makes sense).
Similar to you and Lotus Dude, Orchid Dude and I get very silly when we know people are watching us be lovey-dovey. Orchid Dude is the king of ruining pictures with his goofy faces, and I tend to giggle a lot when I am nervous and the attention is all on me.
But in the end, the pictures we took last winter turned our great (you can see one on my “Meet The Bridal Buds: Orchid Bud” post” and because of our goofiness, the photographer captured a lot of great candid shots.
Kim is right – give it about 5-10 minutes, and your nervousness will be gone and you’ll get right into the swing of things!