Engagement Photos...What lens?

[PATWRIK]

Hello all,
I've been asked to take some engagement photos and I am looking for advice on glass selection.

Currently I have a T1i, kit lens, and a 50mm 1.8. I've been looking around and was looking at a 85mm 1.8 and possibly a 70-300 4-5.6 IS.

Going to be shooting on the beach, some flower beds, and/or a park an hour before and after sunset. What would you recommend?

Patwrik

[shadokachr]

I normally use my 28-70, but your 18-55 kit lens should work fine.

[Mark1616]

I would use the kit lens generally then go for some shallow dof shots with the 50mm. I would also take/get an external flash so you can do something nice with the sunset.

[PATWRIK]

okay dokay....

any recommended reading on technique? posing? etc?

[shoturtle]

The 85 1.8 will give you more working distance for face portraits and give you the shallow dof option also. The 50 will require you to get up close for face shots.

Also since you are shooting on the beach make sure you have lens hoods to help combat flare. You may also want to consider having a cpl as some of the shots will be in very bright lighting. It will help with reflections, that is something else you can use cpl for besides bring out the blue of the sky.

[Mark1616]

Originally Posted by PATWRIK

okay dokay....

any recommended reading on technique? posing? etc?

This is one area where Steve's doesn't have the people shooting very often as we are mainly a group of amateurs enjoying ourselves.

For inspiration in this area I personally look at http://photocamel.com/forum/weddings/ there are not many engagement sessions (look for E-Session as you go through the pages), you can also do other searches as well for different sites.

Some of the general wedding stuff is worth looking at as well.

Originally Posted by shoturtle

The 85 1.8 will give you more working distance for face portraits and give you the shallow dof option also. The 50 will require you to get up close for face shots.

Also since you are shooting on the beach make sure you have lens hoods to help combat flare. You may also want to consider having a cpl as some of the shots will be in very bright lighting. It will help with reflections, that is something else you can use cpl for besides bring out the blue of the sky.

I wouldn't worry about the CPL, it just adds something else into the mix if you are not used to using it. Shoturtle, it won't be bright as it's only an hour before/after sunset. I never use a CPL in any of me wedding shoots, I use the flash to allow me to control the ambient light to give enough colour rather than it being washed out. Lens hoods should be used at all times IMHO as you never know when there will be some random light messing up your shot.

Here is an example (not the best, but it was easily to hand) of using flash to allow the background to be a better exposure.

[shoturtle]

Mark,

On your shot, did you use a flash for a filler?

[Mark1616]

Yep, I shoot the majority of my outdoor work with flash.

[shoturtle]

It looked like it, that is something else that patwrik may want to consider using also.

[PATWRIK]

Yup, I got a 430ex II flash...Reading up on how to fill flash outdoors...any advice? Reading materials?