Engagement Portraiture - Master Techniques for Digital Photographers

129 Pages·2011·233.891 MB·English

by  Tracy Dorr

ENGaGEMENT

PorTraITUrE
MaSTEr TEcHNIQUES For DIGITaL PHoToGraPHErS
Tracy Dorr
Amherst Media®
publisher of photogrAphy books

To Bill, who makes any dream a reality.
Copyright © 2012 by Tracy Dorr.
All rights reserved.
Front cover photograph by Jeff Fisher.
Back cover photograph by Tracy Dorr.
Published by:
Amherst Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 586
Buffalo, N.Y. 14226
Fax: [phone]
www.AmherstMedia.com
Publisher: Craig Alesse
Senior Editor/Production Manager: Michelle Perkins
Assistant Editor: Barbara A. Lynch-Johnt
Editorial Assistance from: Chris Gallant, Sally Jarzab, John S. Loder
ISBN-13: 978-1-60895-227-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011924257
Printed in Korea.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani-
cal, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher.
Notice of Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the author’s experience and opinions. The
author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.
Check out Amherst Media’s blogs at: http://portrait-photographer.blogspot.com/
http://weddingphotographer-amherstmedia.blogspot.com/
TabLE oF coNTENTS
about the author 4. Types of Engagement Sessions
............................. 6 ............... 40
Formal.................................... 40
Introduction
................................ 7 Informal .................................. 42
Addressing Wardrobe......................... 44
1. The Importance of the Engagement Session
..... 10
The Client’s Perspective....................... 10
Setting the Stage for the Wedding Day ......... 10 Photograph by Tracy Dorr.
An Emotional Connection................... 11
Filling a Gap............................. 13
Personalizing the Wedding .................. 13
The Photographer’s Perspective................. 13
A Preview of Your Work .................... 14
Boosting Perceived Value ................... 14
Establishing a Relationship .................. 16
A Better Understanding of Your Client ......... 16
Increasing Your Studio’s Visibility............. 18
2. The booking Interview
...................... 20
Understand What They Want................... 20
Show Examples of Your Work .................. 21
Engagement Sessions at the Consultation.......... 23
3. Planning and Packaging
..................... 24
The Session................................ 25
Editing ................................... 27
Quantity of Images .......................... 30
Proofing .................................. 32
Preparing the Proofs ....................... 32
Delivering the Proofs ...................... 36
Ordering.................................. 37
Timeliness................................. 39
TabLE oF coNTENTS 3
5. Photographic Style
........................ 51
The Traditional Shoot ........................ 54
Classic.................................. 54
Relaxed................................. 56
The Creative Adventure....................... 61
Embracing the Unknown ................... 61
Postproduction........................... 67
A Photojournalistic Attitude ................... 67
Limiting Direction ........................ 67
Choose a Zoom Lens ...................... 68
Editing the Shoot ......................... 68
The Sexy Session ............................ 70
An Artistic Approach......................... 75
Capturing the Details......................... 77
Choosing Your Personal Shooting Style........... 79
Riccis Valladares: Fine-Art Documentary........ 80
Jenean Mohr: Fashion-Forward Fun ........... 81
Nicole Knauber: Dramatic and Artistic ......... 81
Rick and Bernadette Unis-Johnston:
Docu-Narrative-Journalism............... 82
My Own Style: Fairy-Tale Photojournalism...... 82
6. Personalizing the Session
................... 84
Choose the Right Style ....................... 84
Select a Location ............................ 85
Add Props................................. 88
Use the Sun................................ 92
7. Increasing Sales
.......................... 94
Perceived Value ............................. 94
Add-On Products ........................... 95
Prints .................................. 96
Custom Framing.......................... 97
Digital Files.............................. 97
Signature Boards.......................... 98
Signature Albums ......................... 99
High-Quality Albums ...................... 99
Personalized Merchandise.................. 100
Involving the Family ........................ 102
Proofing Web Sites ....................... 102
Top photograph by Rick and Bernadette Unis-Johnston.
Bottom photograph by Riccis Valladares.
4 ENGaGEMENT PorTraITUrE
Photograph by Dave and Quin Cheung.
8. Editing Techniques
Advertising Your Proofing Sites.............. 103 ........................ 110
Mom and Dad: The Big Spenders ............ 105 Retouching the Skin ........................ 111
Engagement Photos in the Adding Mood with Special Effects.............. 112
Wedding-Planning Process .............. 105
conclusion
Engagement Announcements ............... 106 ............................... 120
Save-the-Date Cards ...................... 106
about the Photographers
Invitations.............................. 106 .................... 121
Ceremony Programs ...................... 106
additional resources
Thank-You Cards ........................ 107 ........................ 123
Photo DVDs............................ 107
Index
Wedding-Day Slide Shows.................. 108 ................................... 124
TabLE oF coNTENTS 5
aboUT THE aUTHor
T
racy Dorr is the author of Advanced Wedding Photojournalism:
Professional Techniques for Digital Photographers (Amherst Media). Her
work is also featured in the books 500 Poses for Photographing Brides, 500
Poses for Photographing Couples, and 500 Poses for Photographing Men
(Michelle Perkins; Amherst Media). She holds a
dual major degree from the University at Buffalo
in writing and photography. She was awarded
y.
three Awards of Excellence at the Wedding and Ph
a
R
Portrait Photographer’s International (WPPI) g
o
T
o
print competition in Las Vegas, NV. Her work h
P
R
appears in the 2009 and 2010 WPPI hardcover h
o
M
albums, and she teaches Master Classes at the n
a
e
n
WPPI convention. She lives in Buffalo, NY, with e
y J
B
her husband Bill. For more information please o
T
o
visit www.tracydorrphotography.com. h
P
6 ENGaGEMENT PorTraITUrE
INTroDUcTIoN
E
ngagement portrait sessions are a traditional rite of passage for engaged
couples and a long-standing service provided by photography studios
worldwide. They offer a chance for photographers to get to know their
clients prior to the event, make a memorable personal gift for brides and
their families, and increase the client’s confidence in the photographer’s work.
Engagement sessions can also be an excellent boost to your profits and offer
Today’s clients are looking for highly
a wide range of applications for add-on sales. In the digital era, engagement
stylized work that also suits their
personalities. The range of approaches photos have taken on new life with contemporary twists on stylization and
you can take to each session is as technique. By modernizing your techniques and increasing the style content
unlimited as your clients’ personalities
of your finished product, you can boost sales and find success with these rich
and your creativity. Photograph by
Riccis Valladares. and varied sessions.
INTroDUcTIoN 7
In this book, you’ll find inspirational examples from perfect your style, or transform it into something new,
professionals at the top of their game. Each selection innovative, and original. These photographers are pushing
was made according to style and finishing qualities; these the envelope in every session, transforming the traditional
are photographers who go above and beyond in their engagement photo into something unique and bringing it
engagement sessions to provide a spectacular preview of into the future with grand force.
the wedding day. Utilize these examples as inspiration. Each photographer has their own distinctive style
Light a fire in your creative mind, hone your posing skills, and brand qualities. They have developed the look of
The locations and poses
you choose should reflect the
individuality of the couple and
add a specific drama, humor, or
mood to your images of them.
Photograph by Riccis Valladares.
8 ENGaGEMENT PorTraITUrE
their specific product over the course of
many years, utilizing a massive platform of
experience. In order to produce a product
that inspires respect and incites demand from
clients, you need to define a particular style
and overall look for your company’s images.
The more consistent your work is, and the
better quality you continually produce, the
higher in demand your product will be.
As you look at each example in this book,
notice how the mood of each image works
for it and learn from the photographer’s
mastery of style. Engagement photos should
no longer be underestimated as a minor or
peripheral feature of a wedding package.
After seeing the unique and varied ways you
can direct these types of sessions, you’ll be
able to recharge your batteries, start fresh,
and never think of engagement photos the
same way again.
ToP The more specific and consistent
your style is, the stronger your brand name
becomes. If customers can immediately
recognize your work and respond personally to
it, they will be delighted and hungry for more.
By developing your approach, then customizing
it to each engagement session, you will
earn a solid reputation as an engagement
photographer. That will lend itself well to
both your wedding and portrait photography
pursuits. Photograph by Tracy Dorr.
BoTToM Consistency within an engagement
shoot is very important. If you provide the
couple with fifty images that are all of excellent
quality, they will be impressed with your skill
and enthusiastic about what you will capture
at the wedding. If you provide them with less
than ten images—or with a bunch of images of
varying quality with a host of errors included—
your clients will be dissatisfied and concerned
about your ability to document their wedding
day. It may even lead them to cancel their
booking! Take the same care and cautious
attitude with these portraits as you would with
the actual wedding shoot. Photograph by Tracy
Dorr.
INTroDUcTIoN 9