A few engagement photos from the shoot this weekend

[996GT2]

Updated w/some edited photos instead of the originals (which were basically straight out of camera).

 

[angry hampster]

Bokeh with Canon's cheap 50s is extremely distracting. I'd advise trading up to an 85 or Sigma 50. Also..don't be afraid to back off a little. Some of what I feel are my best engagement shots are ones that show the couple in their own element, not posed and camera-aware.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Bokeh with Canon's cheap 50s is extremely distracting. I'd advise trading up to an 85 or Sigma 50. Also..don't be afraid to back off a little. Some of what I feel are my best engagement shots are ones that show the couple in their own element, not posed and camera-aware.

If you want to backup and let the couples do their own thing, I would find it hard to do it with a 50mm lens on a 5D. I mean even with a 50mm lens on a crop I'd find it a bit tough. I'd give them a bit space and shoot with a 70-200 or something. I think an 85mm or 135mm prime on a 5D would work. I would target an 85mm on a crop camera.

I'm no e-session guy though. I've been meaning to try with one of my friends (not really an engagement shoot, but more just a couples shoot), but from the outdoor portrait work I've done even 50mm on a crop you have to get close to capture the intimate moments... not sure how couples feel about you being that close if you want them to do their thang

 

[xchangx]

1) Girl's skin tone looks a little blue. My monitor here at work isn't calibrated, so I"m not 100% if that is a right assessment. See if you can match her skin tone in #2. Couple of hot spots in the bottom left a slightly distracting.

2)Would agree with the above that the bokeh is pretty distracting. Perhaps you can run it through PS and smoothen it out a little. Also her eyes are looking to something off you her right and his is looking at their hands.

3) I would crop this so that there isn't so much space at the top. Also, she's not looking at the camera... little distracting.

Good stuff either way, and I hope you don't take any offense to what I had to say. I can't say that I'm a pro, but I believe in critiquing as it only helps you.

 

[ElFenix]

bokeh is way nervous. the second photo could use some crop at the top to get rid of some of it. i'd also apply some blur to the remaining bokeh there to try to calm it. the position of the guy's arm and head just make my eye skip right up his arm, past their hands, and into the bokeh.

i think i'd like a little more on the bottom side of the top photo.

 

[troytime]

1. composition is weird. floating head with her hands rising from nowhere.

2. bokeh is more interesting than the couple or their pose. also, seems like the girl is looking at the lens, the guy is looking at their hands.

3. composition is weird again. she's looking at his mole, or a bird or something. and he's looking right into the camera.

 

[OulOat]

I agree with the other posters, the bokeh is not very pleasing to the eye. You will need to blur the background in all of these pics. For your second pic, you will have to try hard to keep the viewer's eye on their hands. I did a quick and dirty edit in PS for the second pic.

I desaturated and blurred the background. The transition from colors can be smoother, and you will have to fix the original's problem of not having continuous colors in the hands.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

is this the chopped bokeh effect? Yeah the 50/1.8's bokeh is not too pleasing. i'd try the Sigma 50/1.4 for some creamier bokeh...

 

[angry hampster]

I agree with the other posters, the bokeh is not very pleasing to the eye. You will need to blur the background in all of these pics. For your second pic, you will have to try hard to keep the viewer's eye on their hands. I did a quick and dirty edit in PS for the second pic.

I desaturated and blurred the background. The transition from colors can be smoother, and you will have to fix the original's problem of not having continuous colors in the hands.

Selective coloring really does suck, ya know?

 

[alfa147x]

Yeah sorry man but that selective color effect sucks hard

 

[pdo]

Yeah sorry man but that selective color effect sucks hard

Yup selective coloring is so 80's... LOL

 

[996GT2]

Updated the OP with some pics that are actually edited a bit.