DIY Engagement Photo Shoot

It’s wedding season, and that means several things simultaneously: uncles abusing the open bar and splaying an embarrassing performance on the dance floor, micromanaging mothers, and lots of smooches, happy tears and laughter. As notable as the occasion is to commit yourself to one person for the rest of your life, it comes with a freakish financial sacrifice that starts with the engagement photo shoot. This tradition to commemorate the proposal averages around $200-$500! While my partner and I wanted to partake in this tradition, we weren’t about to shell out that much, or rather any money, for something we figured we could do ourselves...so we decided to do just that. With a camera and some confidence, we made our way up the PCH to the beaches of Santa Barbara where we first met. Here we set out to do our very own DIY photo shoot. After hours in front of the lens, many mishaps, and awkward stares, we’ve come up with a selection of shots we’re proud of. Here are some things we’ve learned during our experience so that you can achieve those professional-grade photos yourself.

E Q U I P M E N T

While you can skip the service, you can’t skimp on a quality camera. There’s no cheat to this. Point-and-shoots just won’t cut it. They don’t offer that bokeh effect, or that buttery-smooth blur in the background that’s signature of professional shots. Invest in a DSLR with a good quality lens. It’s a must to buy a lens with a large aperture (small f-stop number). Here’s a list of budget-friendly lenses that’ll achieve that orgasmic background blur: https://www.thephoblographer.com/2016/07/03/best-bokeh-budget/

In addition to the camera, you’ll need a triad of legs for it to stand on. Amazon boasts a large selection of tripods for cheap. Just make sure that it elevates to eye-height and allows you to pan a full 360 to get varied shots, creating the illusion that there’s a mastermind behind the lens.

We used the 10 second self-timer function to snap our shots. If the thrill and panic of running into place doesn’t fancy you, you could also purchase a remote or see if your camera offers one with its phone app. As my partner and I are novices to photography, we stuck to the Aperture-Priority mode and used the largest aperture setting (in our case, f/1.4) to achieve that dreamy blur. Make sure you set your camera to shoot in RAW format rather than JPG so you can edit afterward without compromising the quality of your shots.

For our shoot, we used the following equipment:

Camera body: Nikon D3300, an easy-to-use model perfect for beginners

Lens: AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G (Though it isn’t on the aforementioned list, we love its Bokeh effect for its price point.)

Tripod: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074QV4MW7/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 

L I G H T I N G

As practically everyone is an Instagram photographer these days, it should come as no surprise that lighting is an important factor. Optimize your camera by shooting in what I like to call hazy daylight. Avoid shooting in direct sunlight when the sun is overhead, but rather opt for when the sun is either in the lowest parts of the horizon or covered by clouds. Overcast weather creates a soft haze that’s the perfect lighting for a shoot. Because we couldn’t avoid shooting during midday, we found shaded areas to block the harsh sunlight, like the Goleta Pier. Make sure the shade doesn't cast strange shadows on your face!

We got to capture this photo on the bluff at dusk.

Picasso once said, “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” His words ring true for this medium of art as well. The best way to get the look of a professional photographer is to imitate their work. Before the shoot, take to Pinterest and draw up an Inspiration Board. That way you’ll have a hand-selected pool of poses whenever your creativity runs dry. If you find yourself too easily sidetracked on Pinterest to stay on task, I’ve got you covered with my Inspiration Board: https://www.pinterest.com/sallybythec/engagement-photos/

P L A Y   W I T H   D E P T H

Don’t be afraid to experiment with setting your camera at different angles, heights, and distances. That variation is key to making your shots seem like the work of a great photographer. Don't be afraid to get intimate! Let's be honest, the ring is the star here. Let it shine by setting the tripod very close up to you. These tight shots will help to portray a mood of romance and intimacy.




Here are a few examples of how to add depth to your shot:

1. Create an out-of-focus foreground. Shoot in between tree branches, through vines, or anything to create a soft blur in the foreground to add visual interest to your shot. In this photo, we placed the camera in a small bush to capture the foliage in the foreground.

2. Use leading lines as a backdrop. Lines are often used in photography to lead the viewer’s eyes toward a focal point. In the next series of photos, you’ll see how we positioned the camera to incorporate leading lines. Rather than facing the camera directly in front of us, we angled it to show more of the length of the pier, extending the background to add more depth. This helps to draw the viewer’s attention.

Here we used the line of trees to create a zooming effect that focuses in on us as the subject.

E D I T

Once you’ve finished your photoshoot, make sure you take the time to edit your shots afterward. Adjust the lighting, saturate or desaturate colors, crop out awkward intrusions along the borders. Play around with your images to get the exact look you’re going for. I use Adobe Lightroom for editing, but there are plenty of free online softwares like Picmonkey. After expending all that energy on capturing your shots, don’t miss out on having them reach their fullest potential! 

While it takes a great deal of patience to pull this off, you’ll ultimately feel a greater sense of satisfaction from your photos knowing they stemmed from your own creativity and cost nothing to achieve! Now, if you’re not up for this labor of love or have tried and failed miserably, here are two fantastic photographers in the LA and OC county that will leave your wallets happy and you even happier:

Brian Dao - Brian is an innovative artist who captures stunning landscape imagery and portrait shots. With a creative flair for editing, he turns them into works of wonder.
https://www.instagram.com/briandaoo/?hl=en

Jonathan Gernes - Jonathan is an amazing photographer with a refined sophistication for portraiture and travel photography.
https://www.facebook.com/jgernesphotos/