We can all feel it in the air. Wedding season is upon us, and for many photographers that focus primarily on wedding, engagement, and elopement photography, this season is incredibly important. It’s make or break it, with serious money on the line. And with the market becoming increasingly saturated with new photographers, it’s important to stand out, and shoot bigger and bolder photos.
Your couples will want to be unique and stand out, and normally that means going somewhere beautiful in the outdoors. However, this can add elements to your session, that if you are not prepared for, can lead to a very stressful time for you as the photographer. So here are six tips that will help prepare you for your next outdoor engagement shoot, so that it is an incredibly successfully one.
1. Get familiar with who you are shooting
Every client is different and every couple’s dynamic is unique. Some couples are camera shy and need to be let out of their shell a bit, and some love the spotlight and the entire shoot is smooth sailing. However, if you are planning on shooting in the outdoors, you are working with elements that can affect those personalities if not addressed beforehand.
You need to take time to meet up face to face and get to know them on a personal level. Grab coffee or lunch and discuss their expectations, limitations, and comfort level. Do they like to get dirty or sandy? Do they mind the rain, wind, snow, or other weather elements that can happen during a shoot? Are they willing to hike in a mile or two or put some work in to get to their outdoor destination? All of these questions must be addressed beforehand so there is complete transparency. The worst feeling is getting to a shoot and the couple refuses to do something because they were unaware of the outdoor elements involved and then you are stuck with a frustrated couple, scrambling for a plan B. So get to know your clients and their expectations for the outdoor shoot.
2. Get familiar with where you are shooting
This is hugely important. You must take time to get to know where you are shooting. Take several hours before the actual session and really get to know the layout of the place. Try to have five to 10 destinations you plan to take your couple to shoot. You will most likely only have an hour or two to work with, so you need to know every place you want to take your couple, and how it will lay out with the light you are working with.
Understand sun trajectory and where the sun will rise or set. Have a game plan and timeline written down or mentally prepared, so the photoshoot can go smoothly, and you won’t be running around, like a chicken with your head cut off, trying to get a strategy in place, while trying to shoot great photos. That’s like a pilot taking off without a flight plan. You have to be able to know your course of action, or you will really struggle to get excellent shots.
3. Shoot afternoon into the evening
Unless the couple requests a morning session, I suggest going later in the day. This will give your couple plenty of time to get ready and get to the location when the light is great for shooting. Trust me, you don’t want to work with a grouchy, unprepared couple. Photography is already awkward for some people as it is, and adding the element of an early morning can really make it difficult on you, the photographer, no matter how good the light or elements are.
4. More time, more frames
No matter how much time you think you need and how many shots you think you should take, always plan for more time. Shooting with more time let’s you warm your couple up to the feeling of being photographed and a lens being pointed at them for several hours. It can feel awkward, so it’s good to have time to loosen up and make them feel relaxed and natural.
Shooting more frames than you think you need can really protect you from missing any moments you thought you had captured, when you really didn’t. Sometimes the frame after the one you meant to shoot is the better one of the two. It’s always good to shoot the same pose in different settings and get more variety to work with for post production. So don’t worry about taking too many photos or having too much time. It’s always better than the alternative.
5. Shoot natural in nature
Posed shots are the worst. We all know it. Yes, you will need the occasional posed shot or two, but when you are in nature, focus on the natural. Try to photograph the couple interacting and playing in the environment they are in. Get them to run down a road, play in the ocean, dance through a field, or whatever they feel in the moment. Get them to laugh and really showcase the joy they are wanting to remember when they look back on these pictures, as a constant reminder of why they married that person. Trust me, these natural shots will be the frames you will constantly look back on, and your clients will too. They will be the highlight of session.
6. Work with the elements, good or bad
When you’re in the great outdoors, sometimes it doesn’t like to play nice. Rain, snow, sleet, or wind can be in the forecast. Temperatures can rise or fall without notice. Just remember that if you are shooting outdoors, always do your due diligence and plan for the weather. Whatever the weather, go with it and work with what you have.
Let your couples know the forecast so they can dress for the weather and elements that are expected, and let that add to the character of your shots. It will tell a greater story than just rescheduling for a day that is sunny with the high of 75, and make your work much more meaningful to the couple.
What else you need to know:
I believe these six tips can really set any wedding and engagement photographer up for success. If you are prepared, you will appear professional and trustworthy, which will make your clients want to refer you to their friends. Word of mouth marketing is incredibly important for any photographer’s success, and if you have a great track record of execution, you will continue to experience the fruits of your labor.
While I am not solely reliant on wedding and engagement work, every one of the jobs I have done in the past, has been because of a referral or word of mouth on social media. These steps will work, as long as you put them to action. They’ve worked for me, and they are surely to work for you. So happy engagement and wedding season, and happy shooting!
