Full Tutorial: How To Photograph An Engagement Session




Full article:

Gear Used:

FujiFilm X-T3 Mirrorless Camera: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1433839-REG/fujifilm_16588509_x_t3_mirrorless_digital_camera.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

FujiFilm 90mm f2 lens: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1149216-REG/fujifilm_16463668_xf_90mm_f_2_r.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

FujiFilm 16 – 55mm 2.8 lens: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1110879-REG/fujifilm_xf_16_55mm_f_2_8_r.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

FujiFilm 50 – 140mm 2.8 lens: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1454485-REG/fujifilm_xf_50_140mm_f_2_8_r.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

Profoto B10 OCF Flash Head: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1427115-REG/profoto_901163_b10_ocf_flash_head.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

Profoto 3′ Octa Softbox: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/900597-REG/Profoto_254711_3_RFi_OCTA_Softbox.html/BI/6857/KBID/7410

Manfrotto Manhattan Mover-30 Backpack: https://www.manfrotto.us/manhattan-camera-backpack-mover-30-for-dslr-csc

Music provided by Musicbed. Learn more about their subscription here: https://mscbd.fm/fstptm

Acdsee Photo Studio Professional 2020: https://www.acdsee.com/en/products/photo-studio-professional/?utm_source=fStoppers&utm_medium=Video&utm_campaign=Engagement2020

In this video, Patrick Hall of Fstoppers walks you through an entire engagement session photoshoot. Even though this session takes place on the beach, all of these techniques can be used no matter what sort of environment you are shooting in.

This photography session focuses around using the FujiFilm X-T3 camera, the 16 – 55mm f 2.8 zoom lens, the 90mm f 2.0, and the 50 – 140 f 2.8 zoom lens. This combo of camera and lenses works well for outdoor portraits because FujiFilm handles skin tones really well and also is easily able to capture super wide dynamic range scenes like you would find at the beach.

When the light gets too dark or you want more dramatic effect, Patrick uses the powerful and portable Profoto B10 strobe. This strobe is super useful for lighting up a scene and because the battery is built right into the unit, it’s super easy for an assistant or friend to hold while you capture epic looking images.

All of this gear can easily fit in the Manfrotto Manhattan Mover30 backpack. This backpack is great because not only does it look like a slick urban style backpack, but it also easily converts from a photo backpack with dividers to a normal backpack when you remove the inside shell.

Finally, all the images in this video were edited using Acdsee’s Photo Studio Professional 2020. This powerful software lets you cull, edit your raw files, and add artistic effects to each of your images quickly and easily.

The top comment in our videos is often “what is the music at timestamp”? Every song in this video is from the music licensing website Musicbed. If you ever need a soundtrack or atmospheric music for a video, tutorial, or slideshow, Musicbed is your one stop shop for finding the perfect song for your project.
Gear and Workflow Recommendations:

Our Favorite Gear –
https://fstoppers.com/fstoppers-gear-guide-0

Music
Artlist.io – https://artlist.io/artlist-70446/?artlist_aid=Fstoppers_346&utm_source=affiliate_p&utm_medium=Fstoppers_346&utm_campaign=Fstoppers_346
Epidemic Sound – https://www.epidemicsound.com/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=paid&_us=affiliate&_usx=fstoppers3&utm_campaign=fstoppers3

Software
Adobe Creative Cloud – https://bit.ly/3hjVXdE
Luminar 4 – http://skylum.evyy.net/M6RAM
Capture One – http://captureone.38d4qb.net/NO29q

Support Fstoppers by shopping at:
B&H – https://www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=6857&KBID=7410
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3hkTEXS

Original source


29 responses to “Full Tutorial: How To Photograph An Engagement Session”

  1. My Photojournalist lecturer (Roger Hutchings- Photographed the Yugoslav war early 90s) said something to me which has always resonated with me: "How many Young photographers start off in the trade with this statement: When I become professional, I want to be a Wedding Photographer!"
    The only Weddings I've ever shot are for my Friends, because I'm sure as shit not going to let them be overcharged and get a product of mediocrity. Also saves them a tonne of money, and its a great gift to them. One of my close Friends decided not to, and the results…..well – I see why a lot of people end up being Wedding photographers – not good enough to cut it anywhere else.
    There are some very Good photographers in that trade (you always will in every discipline), but yeah – I'm throwing shade on the Wedding industry.

  2. Thank you Patrick!! You're easy to watch and listen to – no shenanigans… just helpful information – and no less, a full length video showing what you do and how you do it, while we get to listen in on your directing of the couple and so much more. THAT is soooo hugely helpful. Thank you!!

  3. I'm curious as to how many photos in total you took, and (on average) how many photos you deliver to a client? I know it usually depends on the contract. But what is your standard contract saying for photos delivered?

  4. Acdsee is a weird animal, part non-destructive, part destructive image editor, but with no clear info on what is what. They should have a list of what functions are non-destructive, and where the edits are actually saved(xml, separate project file, internal database?) I hate using software in the dark like this. Deal breaker for me is you can't even crop non-destructively. Too bad… me still looking for a Lightroom alternative.

  5. Nice shooting and lots of good product introductions. I want to try Fuji MILC cameras… but my gosh, I think the depth of their menu settings would give me a headache! 🤕
    @19:17 Camera – Drive Setting – BKT Setting – BKT select – Film Simulation BKT (enable)
    BKT Setting – Film Simulation BKT – Film 1 – Velvia (select)
    BKT Setting – Film Simulation BKT – Film 2 – Classic Chrome (select)
    BKT Setting – Film Simulation BKT – Pro Neg STD (select)

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