Summer conjures up memories spent on the beach and in the water — but taking photographs on, in, or near the water presents a number of unique challenges. From dealing with the current to balancing on a floating dock, photographers need to be prepared when shooting near the water. This week, we’re featuring five photographers who captured incredible portraits on the water. Find inspiration in these images from Sally Schechner Gonzalez, Izabella Borycka, Lauren Dean, Alecia Asselin, and Jennifer Beckton.

Sally Schechner Gonzalez, Sally SG Photo

One of the challenges of taking photos in the ocean, Sally Schechner Gonzalez of Sally SG Photo explains, is respecting and staying away from the current. For this particular shot, with a couple who made the photo session part of a road trip, the water happened to be perfectly calm right at sunrise. The photographer used the Sony a7 IV and Sony 35mm f1.4 GM lens.

“The ocean represents freedom, beauty, strength, and delicateness all at the same time — just like a relationship, which is something I find beautiful,” she says. “When I take photos of couples at the beach, I love when they interact with each other and the water at the same time. It’s truly magical to me, and I’ve noticed how free and comfortable they feel when surrounded by it — all while focusing on each other. My goal is to capture the connection between two people in love.”

Izabella Borycka, iborycka.photo

Inspired by the contrast between the dark, rugged landscape and the soft curves of the human form, Izabella Borycka of iborycka.photo wanted to capture a mix of mystery and beauty in one image. The contrast between the skin tones and the rock with the model’s face partially obscured by shadows accomplishes that feel. Borycka captured the photograph with a Sony a7 IV and a Sony 35mm f1.8 lens.

“Shooting by the ocean was tough due to the harsh conditions and cold wind,” she says. “The wind made it difficult to keep the camera steady and also made it challenging for the model to pose comfortably.”

Lauren Dean, The Deans Photography

Lauren Dean of The Deans Photography asked this mother-to-be to imagine the moment she meets her daughter for the first time when a flock of seagulls happened to fly by. The result is an image that conveys both a sense of peace and a connection to nature. The photographer explained that she worked to brainstorm ideas and locations with the client for several days ahead of time. She captured the shot with the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and a 50mm lens.

“This specific location is a high traffic boating area,” Dean explains. “It was really important to not only portray the photo to look like we were on a remote island, but I also wanted my client to feel comfortable as she was partially nude. Additionally, I coordinated the timing of the sunset with the calm side of the island to avoid wind. Balancing time, location, and privacy were key elements in bringing this vision to life.”

Alecia Asselin, Alecia Patrick

For this image, Alecia Asselin of Alecia Patrick wanted to create an image that both conveyed a sense of place and a feeling of intimacy among the newlyweds. The couple takes center stage while the mountains and lake convey a sense of location. Asselin took the image with a Canon EOS R6 and the Canon RF 28-70mm f2.0 lens.

“The first challenge was stability,” Asselin explains. “Initially, I wanted the reflection to be pristine in the background, but the couple was engaging with each other and shaking the boat back and forth causing ripples in the water. For our style of photography, their connection was far more important than perfectly still water, so I left that expectation to the side and focused on the magic that was happening between them. The second challenge was my footing on the dock, I often get caught up in the moment with our couples, losing myself a bit in composition and engaging with them. In this particular instance, I had to really tune into my own footing as I was shooting from a floating dock that tended to bob with any movement!” 

Jennifer Beckton, Jennifer Georgette Photography

When this couple asked to go on a dory for their engagement session, Jennifer Beckton of Jennifer Georgette Photography knew she had to take the couple where the Newfoundland landscape looked beautiful from the water. The couple’s expression, the fog, and the background mix together to create an emotional engagement image. She captured the shot with the Canon 5D Mark IV and a Sigma 35mm Art lens with a Tiffen Black Pro Mist filter.

“There were a few challenges with working on the water,” Beckton says. “We had to work around the weather for the session and ended up starting at 5 am when the water was the calmest that day. Most of the session, we went pretty slow, but when we went fast, I had to deal with a lot of mist over the lens. But it did make for some dreamy photos.”

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: hillary.grigonis@emeraldx.com.

[Read: Make Engagement Photography Magic at Lake Como]

The post Photos of the Week August 5: Portraits on the Water appeared first on Rangefinder.

Digital photographers have the luxury of choosing whether an image should be in color or monochrome after the image is taken. But what makes great black and white photography? We asked five photographers responsible for some stunning black and white wedding and portrait photos how they make the decision to edit in monochrome. This week, find inspiration from Chrissy Marsman, Barbara Duchalska, Marzena Bobruk, Giannis Kritikos, and Francisco Álvarez.

Chrissy Marsman, Chrystin Melanie Photography

When this couple asked for candid wedding party photographs, Chrissy Marsman of Chrystin Melanie Photography delivered with this black and white shot. The photographer explained that she asked the wedding party, “What if we pick someone up for the next shot?” When the wedding party grabbed the couple, Marsman captured the moment as the two kissed in the arms of their friends. She used the Canon R6 and the Canon EF 16-35mm lens for this image.

“The wedding party colors were already neutral tones. The groom had a black tux, and it just felt right to switch it to black and white,” Marsman explains. “The image popped so well when I turned it into black and white. You could just feel the moment. In a great black and white image, I look for strong contrasts, the play of light and shadow, and the emotions conveyed. These elements become more pronounced and impactful without the distraction of color.”

Barbara Duchalska, Barbara Duchalska Photography

For Barbara Duchalska of Barbara Duchalska Photography, the Goetz Palace in Brzesko, Poland, was a location she’s dreamed of photographing for years. When she finally had the opportunity, she planned to leave most of the shots in color to show off the deep greens and dark woodwork, but the dark background in this shot makes the couple and the bride’s veil pop. She captured the photo with the Canon 5D Mark IV and a Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art lens.

“Initially, I was planning to take the majority of the photos in color,” she says, “because I love the mix of green shades in the vintage wallpaper and deep dark brown woodwork. But in the end, I couldn’t resist and took a lot of black and whites to 1) emphasize the classic and timeless atmosphere a little bit more, 2) to focus viewer’s eyes on the couple’s gestures and silhouettes, and 3) to bring out contrast between the light and shadows which were surrounding the couple. I always use black and white editing on my favorite photos from every wedding season. I notice that I cherish black and white ones the most.”

Marzena Bobruk, Venti Photography

Marzena Bobruk of Venti Photography whisked the newlyweds away for a few intimate shots with the idea of capturing something reminiscent of classic New York City films. The lighting in the hallway highlights the movement of the bride’s dress, while the black and white and the inability to see the bride’s face adds a sense of mystery to the image. While Bobruk says she typically uses her full-frame camera, for this shot, she wanted a look closer to analog and so she reached for her Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II and the Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f1.7 lens.

“My passion for black and white photography lies in uncovering the soul of the moment,” she says. “Each image should come alive and allow the viewer to feel the emotions present at that time. Black and white enhances the elegance and emotional depth of every story. For me, a great black and white image must possess a strong contrast that highlights the subject, evokes emotions, and creates a timeless feel. It strips away distractions and focuses on the core elements — light, shadow, texture, and emotion. This approach brings out the raw beauty and genuine essence of the scene, making each photograph a piece of art.”

Giannis Kritikos

Inspired by the rock structure and lighting, Giannis Kritikos captured this dramatic frame within a frame shot. The photographer explains that he’s always vigilant about looking for interesting locations during a shoot. He captured the shot with the Nikon Z6 and Nikkor Z 40mm f2 lens.

“I considered that editing the photo in black and white would eliminate distractions from other elements in the frame, allowing the silhouettes to stand out,” Kritikos says. “In my view, a striking black and white photograph requires solid framing, ample contrast, and shadows. However, without emotion and intent, even a photo with all these elements won’t be compelling.”

Francisco Álvarez, Francisco Álvarez Photography

Francisco Álvarez of Francisco Álvarez Photography considers this photo the “end credits” of a surprise marriage proposal he photographed. The photographer explains that the couple are transplanted New Yorkers, and he wanted to capture the city as part of the story. He decided to focus on the Freedom Tower rather than the couple in order to let their favorite city take the leading role in the shot. He got the shot with the Canon R6 Mark II and the RF 50mm f1.2 lens.

“I wholeheartedly believe black and white photography should be used with great intent and purpose,” he says. “Black and white is naturally nostalgic, and it adds a flare of drama to an image when applied correctly. In this instance, I chose to use this traditional perspective as a way to enhance the storytelling process. A black and white image must speak to me; it should always tell me part of the story that’s transpiring and make me feel as if I was a character throughout the process. Black and white images have to capture a pinnacle moment throughout a photoshoot and convey a timeless emotion we all strive to showcase. Having Alysha say, ‘Yes’ to the ring, I figured it would be a great way to add an exclamation point to our private event.” 

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: hillary.grigonis@emeraldx.com.

The post Photos of the Week July 29: Black and White Wedding + Portrait Photography appeared first on Rangefinder.

Creative portrait photography at its best makes viewers stop and stare. Sometimes, that creativity comes in the form of an unusual composition. At other times, it’s a slower shutter speed, or even gear, like a prism or fog machine. This week, we’re featuring five examples of excellent creative portrait photography. Find inspiration and advice from Madison Bethune, Oren Sew, Danielle Veitch, Kayla Lisee, and Sharyn Hodges.

Madison Bethune, Maddy Bethune Photography

When Madison Bethune of Maddy Bethune Photography plans an engagement shoot, she encourages couples to select locations that are important to them even if they aren’t necessarily “beautiful.” For this particular couple, that meaningful location was the red line in Boston. Right after getting the couple set up for a shot from across the tracks, a train arrived and Bethune decided to keep snapping to try to grab a shot of the couple through the train’s windows. Her experiment was a huge success, resulting in this composition that perfectly frames the couple. She used a Canon EOS R6 and Canon 24-70mm lens for the shot.

“My advice would be to never be afraid to try something new, and use the couple’s story and interactions as inspiration for new ideas,” she suggests. “I don’t go into shoots with particular poses or set ideas because I really want the ideas to come to me as we work together. And a lot of the time, the best photos are the ones that weren’t planned for (a perfect example is this photo). If you feel like you’re stuck in a spot where you think a certain type of style or photo is expected from you, do those at the session, but also take some time to try new things to start building your portfolio with the type of work you want to lean into. Post the photos that you love on social media, not the ones you think others will love, and you’ll start to attract people who value your art specifically.”

Oren Sew, Oren Sew Portraits

Oren Sew of Oren Sew Portraits captured this shot after being inspired to explore the creative energy of dance, light and photography. Fog, along with a constant light modified with a blue gel, helped build the creative atmosphere. He captured the image with the Sony a7R III and a Sony 55mm lens.

“I think it is really important to play and be unconventional,” Sew says. “Set out to discover how things look from your own perspective. Try things for the fun of it — much like children. We could all use a dose of returning to our youth once in a while.”

Danielle Veitch, Danielle Veitch Photography

When Danielle Veitch of Danielle Veitch Photography was tasked with capturing her best friend’s surprise proposal, she knew she also wanted to capture the less seen side of London as part of that story. The London underground represents the couple’s commute, but what makes the shot is the couple’s unbothered posing and attire juxtaposed with the blur of the train in the background. She captured the shot with the Nikon Z6 II and a 35mm lens, using a 1/15th shutter speed to blur the train.

“Thinking about the story behind the image is important,” she says. “For me, I like my photos to tell a story both individually and as a collective. Of course, some moments are best left to spontaneity, but I like to put a lot of time in to pre-planning set frames that I think will best capture the essence of the couple in hand. I think a slow shutter speed, when used creatively and with purpose is one of the most beautiful ways to add a flare of creativity to an image. In this image, for example, it’s been used to freeze a moment in time. The background is obviously (and iconically) London, but the blur pulls your focus back to the couple.”

Kayla Lisee, Beneath the Trees Photography

A simple accessory like a prism can add flare to creative portrait photography. In this image by Kayla Lisee of Beneath the Trees Photography, a prism adds repetition on the edges of the frame that helps draw the eye to the couple during the formal portraits for a Valley of Fire wedding. She captured the shot with a Nikon Z6, Tamron 35mm, and a prism.

“Step outside of what the norm is. Take your time and play with lighting/angles and a prism. Have fun,” she suggests.

Sharyn Hodges, Sharyn Hodges Photography

Sharyn Hodges of Sharyn Hodges Photography was on her way to the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon in Iceland during an elopement when she said, “Stop the car!” There were several lupine fields and the sun was hitting just right. After taking a few portraits, Hodges wondered what the field would look like from above and got out her DJI Mavic 3 Pro. The light hitting the bride’s face and dress makes the couple pop despite being surrounded by beautiful wildflowers.

“I am a huge believer in ‘visualization,'” Hodges explains. “Before all my shoots, I take 20 – 30 minutes. I lie down anywhere — couch, bed, floor, grass — and just close my eyes and visualize what I would want to create. Visualize where the sun will set. Visualize your couple standing at that spot — how are you going to ’pose’ them, etc.”

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: hillary.grigonis@emeraldx.com.

As a thank you to our readers, we’re pleased to offer you a Rangefinder exclusive discount code to get 25% off The Portrait Masters course below. Use the code RF25 at checkout to redeem. This code cannot be used in combination with other sales.

The post Photos of the Week July 22: Creative Portrait Photography appeared first on Rangefinder.

Animals can instantly add interest to a portrait. But, creating portraits with animals — and particularly wild animals — requires patience and an emphasis on safety. Understanding the animal and keeping everyone involved safe is key. This week, we highlight three stunning portraits with animals. Find inspiration from these shots by Dallas Kolotylo, Raini Rowell, and Tamara Masovic.

Dallas Kolotylo, Dallas & Sabrina Photography

Dallas Kolotyo of Dallas & Sabrina Photography was taking photos in the lava fields on Lanzarote, Spain, when a herd of camels started walking down the pathway. Because the camels never stopped moving, he had to work quickly. He backed up until he could get the full scene and focused on the couple as the animals passed through. He captured the shot with the Nikon D750 and the Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art.

“Patience,” Kolotylo says. “Anticipate and place yourself in a position ahead of time where you think will be the best location to capture the image. Animals are unpredictable, so you have to just be prepared and work with whatever they are doing.” 

Raini Rowell, Raini Rowell Photography

Highland cows are an iconic sight in Scotland (where they are called helian’ coos), so when Raini Rowell of Raini Rowell Photography spotted the herd grazing by a loch, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. When the cow picked his head up to look at the couple, it created a brief moment of connection for this photograph. She captured the shot with the Nikon D780 and the 35mm f1.4.

“Safety first — especially with wild animals,” Rowell stresses. “It’s important to make sure you understand the general temperament of the animals (which can change during certain seasons) and adhere to general safety guidance. It can be tempting to try and get too close to animals, especially when they look cute (like these cows), but it’s not worth risking the safety of your clients or yourself.”

Tamara Masovic, Stories by Tamaris

Tamara Masovic of Stories by Tamaris was on a post-wedding shoot when these wild horses appeared, providing immediate inspiration for a series of portraits. This shot with the groom has a timeless feel with the horses drawing the eye to the groom at the center. She captured the shot with the Canon 6D and a 50mm lens.

“Be calm and do not expect a certain outcome,” Masovic advises. “Let them become curious, and let them come to you.”

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to 5 images at a time) to: hillary.grigonis@emeraldx.com.

The post Photos of the Week June 10: Inspiring Portraits with Animals appeared first on Rangefinder.

Let’s face it, the last few years have been a rollercoaster ride for wedding photographers. 2020 was the year we all probably want to forget. Then came the feeding frenzy of 2021 and 2022. The engagement gap finally hit many of us in 2023 as fewer relationships were started in 2020 that directly resulted in fewer engagements and weddings in 2023. The engagement gap is likely going to be present throughout 2024 as well. According to The Wedding Report’s 3rd quarter business survey in 2023, 2024 bookings are down by 10% and couples are cutting guest counts and budgets by at least 15%. One solution to gaining more clients is to learn how to book wedding proposals, which can lead to more weddings on your roster.

How Do We Market Ourselves in this Stormy Climate?

I have been shooting weddings and events for ten years now. For the first six years of my career, I was lucky. I had a pretty solid referral system with past and recurring clients and barely needed to have a website, and my Instagram was filled with street photography and not client work. When I moved from New York City to Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2021, I lost all of that and instantly regretted not having spent more time on my website, content marketing, and SEO (search engine optimization.)

As I learned more and more about how to optimize my website to be found on Google, I came across the same SEO and content marketing advice. It is basically to write blogs that target search queries made by brides and grooms before they typically hire a wedding photographer. In general, this will be the venues, the wedding planners, and the dress shops. This is done with the intent that you position yourself as an expert and get found ahead of other photographers. The articles should first and foremost help couples navigate wedding planning, which hopefully then leads to a booked wedding for you. Topics to write about include Top 10 Wedding Venues in X City and The Best Bridal Shops in X City.

I quickly realized that there aren’t that many topics to write about that have a significant search volume in my market. My market in and around Northwest Arkansas is approximately 700,000 people, so niche wedding topics have low search volume. This pressured me to find ways of getting to couples earlier in the wedding planning process, and that’s how I landed on marketing for proposals.

I wrote my 10 Best Places to Propose in Northwest Arkansas article in April 2022 and by December 2023, had booked and shot 26 proposals and currently have a 33% wedding booking rate from clients who ended up planning their wedding in my service area. These figures do not include couples who were both from out of state and moved here for work and were always planning to have the wedding where their families are, as I realistically never had a shot at landing those jobs.

How to Book Proposals

Google organic search is going to be your best bet to market yourself without advertising. Search something like “where to propose near me,” and see how the top pages are structured as well as what search intents they target besides the location. Think about what those looking to propose are searching for online and write about that. More than likely, they’re looking for locations, restaurants, engagement rings, and jewelry shops in the area. In an effort to cast as wide a net as possible, I have one main long-form article that targets multiple search intents, and a few shorter supporting articles.

The main article includes my ten favorite proposal locations (a mix of nature, urban, and restaurant locations), how to work with a photographer, an outfit guide, and my pricing. The supporting articles are about engagement rings, stones, different cuts, and jewelry stores that all have internal links to the main article. I would only list locations you’ve shot at before and have images from. Portraits from standard engagement sessions will do just fine. You can also visit the locations to show you’ve at least been there and shot there. The reason I like the location guide with package prices included is that it can convert searchers who are just looking for a location and might not know they can get it professionally captured. It also fulfills the intent of those who are looking to book a proposal photographer.

How Much Should You Charge to Shoot a Proposal?

I charge 30% more for proposals as opposed to my standard one-hour portrait sessions. This is to accommodate for more client communication before, the magnitude of the shoot, early arrival, and the necessary prep and location scouting.

How to Convert Them into Wedding Clients

Use the time immediately after the proposal and while you are doing the ring shots and portraits to get to know the couple more. Ask them open-ended questions just like you would during a consultation call for a wedding. Just being the photographer who captured the proposal should automatically put you in the running to book the wedding, but you need to follow up accordingly. I always deliver 5-6 day-of, sneak-peek images — and I follow my proposal clients on Instagram, post a story, and tag them. This sets me up for a relationship where I can keep a casual conversation going.

The day after delivering the final gallery, I send them my wedding pricing sheet and include a link to schedule a meeting. A week or two after delivering the gallery, I send my final email with a link to my resources page where they can browse wedding planning articles on my website. After that, I stay in touch on Instagram and add them to my general email blast list.

Why Should You Add Proposals to Your Repertoire?

I think you can expect to book a wedding from somewhere between 20-40% of the proposals you capture. Out of all the weddings I photographed in 2023, 14% of them were couples whose proposal I captured. I am not sure if I would have been hired if I hadn’t been the one to capture the proposal. Wedding proposals make for amazing social media content, especially if you can attach your phone to the hot shoe and capture video for TikTok or Reels as well.

Born in Iceland, Kári Bjorn is a Connecticut-based photographer, who started as a Michelin chef before pursuing his passion of photography full-time. His work has been featured in magazines like Vanity Fair. He also offers mentoring and consultations to other photographers on SEO-optimization.

As a thank you to our readers, we’re pleased to offer you a Rangefinder exclusive discount code to get 25% off The Portrait Masters courses below. Use the code RF25 at check out to redeem. This code cannot be used in combination with other sales.

Photographing Couples In Love by Kristina Wikle

The Location Lighting Series

The post Book Wedding Proposals to Get More Wedding Clients appeared first on Rangefinder.

Engagement photography can be daunting because it’s really just about capturing one thing: the unique relationship between two people. There aren’t any wedding details, schedules or group shots to worry about, but at the same time, the challenge of engagement photography is its simplicity.

Many photographers resort to overused poses or cheesy props, and the photographs soon become overcomplicated or fall short of what makes the couple special. Here are five pointers on how to create authentic and romantic portraits of couples.

The Location Doesn’t Matter

I often tell my couples that details like attire, location and props don’t make an impact on your shoot. I could photograph a couple in a random parking lot and create beautiful images for them. I don’t say this because I think I’m an amazing photographer; I say this because in truth, a portrait of a couple isn’t about the periphery details—it’s about the relationship between two people.

As long as you capture that, you’ve succeeded. All the other details are just the cherries on top. Don’t overcomplicate your shoots with fancy attire or locations. Focus on telling the story of two people and their love.

3 Trends Impacting the Tastes and Styles of Engagement Session Clients

Get Comfortable by Getting Uncomfortable

My couples are usually a little nervous during their engagement shoot, and that’s normal. Instead of starting with simple poses, I actually ask them to do something they may find uncomfortable or challenging.

For example, I might ask the groom to dip the bride and give her a kiss. The dip itself may not look great, but the moments before and after result in silly giggles and laughter, or even hugs as they support each other. That’s when the real, worthwhile moments can be captured.

Direct Movements, Not Poses

Sometimes we focus too much on the final image instead of figuring out how to get there. Remember, some of the best photographs were created candidly and accidentally!

In order to get that print-worthy moment with your couples, ask them to perform movements rather than frozen poses. If you’d like to capture your couples kissing, don’t just ask them to kiss; ask them to kiss and walk at the same time. You’ll find that the movement engages the couple in an activity where they’re more likely to kiss “naturally” and let natural emotions emerge.

You might also be able to capture any happy accidents that happen, like a kiss landing on a nose—those will result in some of the best images from your session.

Mind the Gap

Relationships are intimate, but photo shoots, especially engagement shoots, are public. Most engagement shoots are happening outside, and the couple finds themselves posing in front of someone who is basically a stranger. Because of this, couples don’t hug as tightly, they don’t kiss as passionately and generally they leave more space between themselves. These types of images end up looking awkward and fake.

Try to be aware of this gap and ask your couples to squeeze each other tighter and move in closer. I physically push my couples together so that my images look cozy and sweet.

More is More

Usually I am a “less is more” person, but not when it comes to direction. One of the biggest mistakes amateur photographers make is to think that natural poses come from less direction, or letting the couple do what they want.

When I first began shooting engagements, I remember walking around New York City, following my couple around and giving them no direction at all. As you can guess, the resulting photographs were literally paparazzi-style photos of my couples, walking. There was no variety, no artistry and no sense of the couple’s personality. 

If you don’t provide solid, confident direction, all it results in is confusion. Work on your directing, not only so that you can capture authentic, natural images, but also so that you can infuse the images with your own, unique, artistic eye.

Jen Huang is a fine-art wedding and portrait photographer who, over the last decade, has photographed in over 20 countries and on six different continents. A photography educator who offers a variety of instructional and inspirational materials, she recently came out with a new book, The Master Guide to Fine Art Wedding Photography.

The post Posing Couples for Naturally Romantic Engagement Photo Shoots appeared first on Rangefinder.

When I first started shooting weddings, I had not even considered offering engagement shoots. It wasn’t until my clients started asking me about engagement shoots that I began to offer them. The engagement photos that I remember were the kind you’d see in The New York Times: a couple wearing sweaters, embracing on a rock in Manhattan’s Central Park. As a matter of fact, a handful of my clients wanted their engagement announcement in the Times, which came with strict rules: the couple had to be sitting next to each other and their eyes had to line up horizontally. Usually we took photos in an iconic New York neighborhood like the West Village or South Street Seaport. Our shoot consisted of about an hour of walking around, avoiding taxis and parked cars, trying to find interesting backdrops for them to cuddle in front of. 

My first engagement photos weren’t terrible, but they weren’t very inspiring. I would usually ask couples to kiss or hug in more or less the same arrangement while I tried to find clever compositions. I rarely, if ever, asked about attire or hair and makeup in advance. My couples showed up in whatever they wanted, wherever they wanted. At least I knew the most beautiful light was right around sunset, so I would suggest the timing. 

Over the years, as I began to grow tired of the monotony in my work, I started to experiment and change my methods, to insert myself in the process and to create the look that I’m known for now: artful, meaningful, romantic, light-filled portraits, where one image is strong enough to tell the whole story.

Changes to my work started once I began to see my role as not just a photographer but a creative director. As a wedding photographer, you don’t have a team of full-time assistants, designers, stylists and directors around you. However, some of the finest portrait work that we know today (think big fashion photographers) is created with a huge team of creatives. For the everyday human getting married, it’s not possible to hire an extravagant team, so if you want to create the big-ticket photos, you have be the team.

[Michael Busse’s Approach to a Creative Couple’s “Anti-Engagement” Shoot]

That doesn’t mean that you need to aim for Annie Leibovitz-level productions, but it does mean taking a bigger role in the creation of the engagement shoot—and, of course, increasing your rates to cover that. Engagements used to be a “wedding package” add-on for me, but now they exist as a separate project. For many of my clients, my engagement shoots look more like elopements, or editorial wedding shoots. They’re longer, full-day affairs, involving multiple wardrobe changes, a full-time hair and makeup artist, a beautiful paid location and various props and details. 

I had wondered why none of my clients wanted a more involved engagement shoot like this until I realized that I actually had to start offering it first. I began to dream for my clients, giving suggestions and options. Little by little, I found that my clients were genuinely surprised by my suggestions, that they loved my ideas but never realized it was within their reach. After sharing their “dream” engagement shoots (which I now present as “Editorial Sessions”), they went on to inspire other inquiring clients. Naturally, it gained momentum from there. 

It’s not a new concept. When I visited China many years ago, my family that lived there explained that in Asia, most couples would book a full day to do a couple’s portrait session with rented outfits and painted backdrops. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but I realize now that while the photography style in Asia is very different from mine, the idea is the same: to build a dream for a couple.

The only thing I’ve changed is that I try to create novel concepts from client to client, rather than reusing the same rental clothing or props (and, as always, I prefer shooting in natural light and in natural environments). 

Of course, this type of engagement session won’t work for everyone. The time commitment is huge—it’s almost like a mini-wedding. I spend hours on the phone with clients to understand their vision and style. I connect with vendors, prepare schedules and props. I conduct a mountain of research so that I can find the best locations, great outfits and new concepts.

[Upselling Albums to Wedding Clients and Playing the Long Game]

And creating an engagement shoot like this is expensive. Many of my current clients have the budget to make these shoots glamorous, but when I first started shooting, I paid for everything myself. I used profits as an investment and purchased expensive fabrics, attire, bridal hair accessories, styling tools, a trove of antiques and even furniture. I continue collecting everywhere I go because I’m passionate about creating new content instead of recycling old. 

This isn’t something you would do unless you actually love the process, which I do. All of this is a lot of work and a huge commitment, but it’s very close to my heart and it keeps me motivated and inspired.

I also shoot simpler engagement shoots for clients that don’t want a giant production. But even in those cases, I’m there with them throughout the planning process. I scout locations, I create a story, I advise on wardrobe and accessories and provide referrals for hair and makeup artists. I also work with my couple to find the style that resonates most with them. Some of my couples are glamorous; some are casual. In those cases, it’s important to make sure casual doesn’t look too shabby, and glamorous doesn’t look too overdone. That’s where I come in, to edit and curate the shoot so that it will look the best that it can.

[3 Trends Impacting the Tastes and Styles of Engagement Sessions]

Some of my shorter engagement shoots are still part of larger wedding packages and are generally more popular among those who prefer something simple and classic, but I find that many clients find me specifically for my elevated engagement shoot experience. Some couples who have already been married but want to be photographed by me actually book my engagement sessions as anniversary shoots. 

Many of my clients come to me knowing what results they want, but they’re not exactly sure how to put it all together. They’re relieved to know that I can tell the story for them, and that increases my value as a photographer.

Remember that your client is looking to you as an artist. They choose you because of your unique aesthetic. Have confidence in yourself, and provide the direction that your clients need in order to create work that reflects your personal style and vision. 

Jen Huang is a fine-art wedding and portrait photographer who, over the last decade, has photographed in over 20 countries and on six different continents. A photography educator who offers a variety of instructional and inspirational materials, she recently came out with a new book, The Master Guide to Fine Art Wedding Photography.

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This couple lives in Australia and traveled all the way to their homeland of Latvia to have engagement photos done with Zanda Markitane, who suggested having the shoot at a local deer park to incorporate the natural beauty of the country. Fortunately, the couple was very enthusiastic about the idea.

During the shoot, the soon-to-be-newlyweds quickly became comfortable around the friendly animals. “The couple loved them,” Markitane says, but from her perspective, they were a bit challenging to capture on camera. “I can’t tell deer what to do, so it was hard to get the right frame with all of them looking nice at the same time,” she says. Luckily, she managed to get a few frames filled with both the animals and the couple’s romance. “My favorite part of this frame is that the focus is on the deers and it looks like the couple is hiding in between them, just having a great time.”

(Captured using a Canon 5D Mark III with a Canon 35mm f/1.4 lens.)

Photo © Zanda Markitane

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Photographer Aleksandra Błaszkowska captured this engagement portrait on a rainy day in a forest in her native Poland. It had been downpouring all morning before the portrait session, but fortunately the rain let up just as they were about to begin, leaving behind some puddles, mud and gorgeous light.

But trailing through the soggy forest wasn’t the hardest part of the session, Błaszkowska explains—it was getting the couple to feel natural in front of her lens. “Photography for me is 90 percent psychology, 10 percent taking pictures,” she says. And once the couple started to relax, the natural elements worked in their favor to produce some beautifully lit imagery. “I treat the photo shoot with couples literally as a walk—we merely stop at places with beautiful light,” the photographer explains. “For me, a natural photo like this emphasizes the incredible connection between them.”

(Captured using a Canon 6D with a Canon 50mm f/1.2 lens.)

Photo © Aleksandra Błaszkowska

Check out more Photos of the Day, and email submissions to rangefinder@emeraldexpo.com.

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When this couple contacted photographer Cheyanna De Nicola to capture their engagement portraits, they told her they wanted “an honest and authentic reflection of who they are,” she recalls. That request fueled the session, which took place at the bride-to-be’s family farm in Oxford, Ohio.

The weather wasn’t perfect on the day of the shoot, mostly cloudy and moody, De Nicola says, and it wasn’t long before they had lost all natural light and had to resort to the groom-to-be’s headlights to illuminate the session. “I asked them to sit down in front of the truck and told them to get close and to go in for a kiss,” De Nicola explains. “At that exact moment, it started pouring.” Fortunately, the couple didn’t mind the rain, and De Nicola was pleased with the way the droplets complemented the scene. “There’s something about the way they are about to kiss, their body language and the rain that makes it feel so romantic.”

(Captured using a Nikon D750 with a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ART lens.)

Photo © Cheyanna De Nicola

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